r Knight Raslanei, pardon me
for having offended thee!" And the Knight's Head answered: "Yaroslav
Lasarevich, thy youth and want of understanding have made thee speak
thus. Thou hast taken my sword indeed; but even with this thou mayest
still lose thy life; nevertheless, I wish thee well, and will teach
thee understanding. When thou comest to the city, and the Tsar sees
thee, he will descend from his throne for joy, welcome thee in the
midst of his Court, and give thee gold and silver and precious stones.
Then deal him a single blow upon his head with the sword; but beware
of striking a second blow, or he will revive and kill thee."

[Illustration: AND SO SAYING, HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND TO TAKE
THE SWORD.]

Yaroslav bowed himself to the Knight's Head, and rode to the city; and
no sooner had he reached the castle, and the Tsar saw him bringing the
sword, than he sprang from his throne, flung away his sceptre,
received him in his Court, and said: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, in return
for this service I grant thee one place opposite me, the second by my
side, and a third where thou wilt. My treasures are open to thee--take
towns and handsome villages, and if thou wilt have my daughter the
Princess Nasaria for wife, I will give thee one-half of my kingdom."
And so saying, he stretched out his hand to take the sword; but
Yaroslav struck him a blow which cleft his head, and the Tsar fell
dead on the spot. Then all the princes and boyars cried aloud:
"Yaroslav Lasarevich, strike him a second blow!" But he answered: "A
knight deals one blow, and that is enough." Forthwith a number of
princes and boyars and the twelve knights fell upon him, and were
going to put him to death; but Yaroslav set his lance under his arm,
seized the Tsar with his left hand, and clutching his sword with his
right, he fell to slaying the princes and knights on all sides.

Soon the other princes and inhabitants of the city cried aloud: "O
Yaroslav Lasarevich, cease killing and slaying! It is the will of
fate--live with us and rule over our land!" But Yaroslav replied:
"Choose a Tsar from among yourselves: I am no Tsar for you." He
ceased, however, slaying the people, and taking some of the Tsar's
blood, put it into a phial; then mounting his horse, he rode out of
the city and away, until he came to Sir Raslanei, and, taking the
headless body, he set the head upon it, and sprinkled it with the
blood. Thereupon the Knight stood up, as if awakened