the sixty knights, and fled out of the kingdom.

When the Tsar Saltan heard this, he instantly commanded the trumpets
to sound, and collected his knights to the number of a hundred
thousand, pursued Bova Korolevich, and surrounded him on all sides.
Bova had neither a good steed, a sharp sword, nor a steel lance--he
had nothing with which to defend himself. Then he seized one of
Saltan's warriors, and began to fight with him; but he saw that he
could not slay them all, and gave himself up prisoner. So they seized
him, bound his hands, and led him before Saltan Saltanovich. As soon
as the Tsar saw Bova he ordered the hangman to be fetched, to hang
him.

Just then the Tsar's daughter, the fair Princess Miliheria, fell on
her knees before her father and said: "My gracious lord and father, do
not let Bova be hung, but allow me to speak; his death will not bring
either my brother or your army to life again. Rather grant him his
life, turn him to our faith, and make him the successor to your
throne. Then will he be a defence in war to your old age."

The Tsar answered: "My dear daughter, Miliheria, you comfort me with
your tender words and wise advice; I give Bova into your hands, and if
he embraces our faith he shall be my successor and your husband, and I
will resign to him all my cities and villages, my treasures of gold
and jewels."

The Tsar's daughter made her obeisance to her father, left the hall,
and ordered Bova to be brought before her. Then she endeavoured with
gentle speech to persuade him to adopt her faith; but Bova answered
that neither for the whole kingdom, nor all the treasures of gold and
jewels, would he consent to change his faith.

Then Miliheria commanded Bova to be led to prison, and the entrance to
be stopped up with sand, and that he should have no food nor drink for
five days. At the end of this time she put on a gold-embroidered
dress, adorned with jewels, and went to the prison. Then she ordered
the sand to be removed, and the door to be opened, and, going in, she
said to Bova: "Now, young fellow, have you considered the matter? Will
you change your faith, and live, and rule over my father's kingdom,
or have you not yet overcome your obstinacy and will rather end your
life on gallows?"

"Never, as long as I live, will I deny my faith," answered Bova, "nor
abandon it for yours. Tempt me not in vain with cunning words and
promises; I will rather suffer death than be a despicable man."

The