d pledged him your
word to marry no one but him. Therefore I have had the boldness to beg
alms in his name."

"Ah, my good man," said Drushnevna, "where did you leave Bova
Korolevich? If I but knew where he was I would instantly go and seek
him, were it through thrice nine lands to the thirtieth country."

"He was released from prison with me," replied Bova; "and I came to
this kingdom in his company; he stayed behind, and whither he is gone
I know not; but I wandered to this city." As he spoke, King Marcobrun
entered, and saw tears in Drushnevna's eyes; he asked her why she
wept, and whether anyone had offended her. "No, King Marcobrun, I wept
on hearing from this man that my father is lying on his death-bed."
Then Marcobrun ordered Bova to go away, and tried to comfort the
Princess. "My dear Drushnevna, grieve not for your father's illness;
he will recover; your grief cannot help him, and will only injure your
health: your dark eyes will be dimmed with tears, and sorrow will
destroy your beauty."

As the King was speaking, Bova went into the stable, where his trusty
steed stood fastened with twelve chains. And when the horse heard his
brave rider approach, he began to burst through the iron doors and
break his chains; and having done so, and escaped into the open
fields, he galloped up to Bova, seated himself on his hind legs, and
tried to embrace him. Bova seized him by the mane and stroked his
neck.

When the grooms saw this they went and told it all to Marcobrun. And
the King hastened into the courtyard, and saw Bova and the horse;
then, calling to him, he ordered him to serve in the stables of his
court and to tend his war-horse. When the Princess Drushnevna heard
this, she summoned Bova and asked him how he could undertake to tame
this steed, which no one ever ventured to approach on account of his
rage. And Bova answered: "Gracious Princess, this horse is restive and
fierce to King Marcobrun's grooms, who have never ridden on him; but
he knows his former master in the kingdom of Sensibri Andronovich, and
him he obeys. The horse recognized me at once, and you have thrice
spoken with me, and have not discovered that I am Bova Korolevich!"

So saying, he was going away, but the Princess held him back, and
said: "Trouble me not with your prate, old man, nor mock my grief; I
know Bova Korolevich; he is young and handsome, but you are old and
grey-headed."

"If you believe me not," replied Bova, "order some wa