knights." "But how do you know my name?" replied Yaroslav. Ivashka
answered: "My Lord, I am an old servant of your father, and have
tended his horses in the fields for three-and-thirty years, and I come
to your father once every year to receive my wages. Thus it is that I
know you." Yaroslav answered: "I am going to the chase, and am
wandering about in the open fields. He who has not tasted the bitter,
does not relish the sweet. While still a young boy I ran about in the
courtyard, and played with the children of the princes and boyars. But
when I seize anyone by the head, his head falls off, and, when I take
him by the hand, his hand falls off. This was not agreeable to the
Tsar, and he banished me from his kingdom; but this punishment was
nothing in comparison to another greater grief which pains me sorely.
I am already fifteen years old, but can find no horse in my father's
stable that might serve me for life." Then said Ivashka: "My lord,
Yaroslav Lasarevich, I have a horse, which is called Podlas: he must
be caught, and he will serve you for ever and a day. If you do not
catch him now you never will." "But how can I see the horse, brother
Ivashka?" Ivashka answered: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, you can see this
steed early in the morning, when I take the horses to the sea to
drink, but if, when you see him, you do not seize him on the spot, you
never will." Thereupon Yaroslav Lasarevich went into his marble
palace, laid the horse-cloth under him, and the Tcherkess saddle and
the bit under his head, and stretched himself out to sleep. The next
morning he rose early, went into the field, and took the bridle, the
Tcherkess saddle, and the leather whip with him. He concealed himself
under an oak tree; and presently saw Ivashka driving the horses to the
sea to water, and, as he gazed upon the sea, he observed that where a
steed drank, the waves foamed and roared fearfully. Above the oak
tree screamed the eagles, and on the mountains roared the lions, and
no one could approach the spot. Yaroslav wondered greatly, and when
the horse came to stand opposite him, he leaped out from the oak and
struck him with the back of his hand. The horse fell on his knees, and
he seized him by his mane and said: "My trusty steed, who shall ride
on you if not I your master?" Then he threw the bridle over him, put
the Tcherkess saddle on his back, and rode to the marble palace, and
Ivashka followed. Then said he to Ivashka: "What name shall I give