am called to rule over the country, I must learn to do so with
justice."

When the Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa heard these words from
their son, they were overjoyed, and gave him their consent to travel;
but only for a short time, and making him promise to have no
companions, nor expose himself to any great dangers. Upon taking
leave, Lyubim bethought him how to provide himself with a knightly
steed and a suit of armour; and as he went musing thus to the city, an
old woman met him, who said: "Why are you so sad, my dear Lyubim
Tsarevich?" But he did not give her an answer, and passed by the old
woman without saying a word. But then he bethought him that old folk
are wiser than young ones, turned round, and going up to the old
woman, accosted her. And Lyubim Tsarevich said to her: "At the first
meeting, mother, I disdained to tell you why I was sad, but it came
into my mind that old folk must know more than young ones." "There it
is, Lyubim Tsarevich," said the old woman, "you can't easily get away
from old folk. Say, why are you sad? Tell the old wife." And Lyubim
Tsarevich said to her: "I have no good horse and no armour, yet I must
travel far and wide in search of my brothers." Then the old woman
said: "What think you? There is a horse and a suit of armour in your
father's forbidden meadow,[A] behind twelve gates, and this horse is
fastened by twelve chains. On that meadow is also a broadsword and a
fine suit of armour."

[A] The "royal forbidden meadows" were those belonging
to the Sovereign, the use of which was strictly
forbidden to his subjects. When an enemy came into the
country they first pitched their camp in these fields,
as a declaration of hostilities.

When Lyubim Tsarevich had heard this, and thanked the old woman, he
went straightway, overjoyed, to the forbidden meadow. On reaching the
place where the horse was, he stopped, and bethought him, "How shall I
break through the twelve gates?" At last he made the attempt, and
presently broke down one gate; then the steed perceived by his scent
the presence of the brave youth, and with a great effort burst his
chains; and then Lyubim Tsarevich broke through three more gates, and
the steed trampled down the rest. Then Lyubim Tsarevich surveyed the
steed and the armour; and put on the armour, but left the steed in the
meadow; after which he went to his home, found his parents, and with
great joy told them all that had befallen him,