er they went they met with a joyful greeting.

'Ah, Prince Ivan! why, we never expected to see you again. Well, it
wasn't for nothing that you gave yourself so much trouble. Such a beauty
as Marya Morevna one might search for all the world over--and never find
one like her!'

And so they visited, and they feasted; and afterwards they went off to
their own realm.(3)

(3) Ralston.

THE BLACK THIEF AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN.

IN times of yore there was a King and a Queen in the south of Ireland
who had three sons, all beautiful children; but the Queen, their mother,
sickened unto death when they were yet very young, which caused great
grief throughout the Court, particularly to the King, her husband, who
could in no wise be comforted. Seeing that death was drawing near her,
she called the King to her and spoke as follows:

'I am now going to leave you, and as you are young and in your prime, of
course after my death you will marry again. Now all the request I ask of
you is that you will build a tower in an island in the sea, wherein you
will keep your three sons until they are come of age and fit to do for
themselves; so that they may not be under the power or jurisdiction of
any other woman. Neglect not to give them education suitable to
their birth, and let them be trained up to every exercise and pastime
requisite for king's sons to learn. This is all I have to say, so
farewell.'

The King had scarce time, with tears in his eyes, to assure her she
should be obeyed in everything, when she, turning herself in her bed,
with a smile gave up the ghost. Never was greater mourning seen than was
throughout the Court and the whole kingdom; for a better woman than
the Queen, to rich and poor, was not to be found in the world. She was
interred with great pomp and magnificence, and the King, her husband,
became in a manner inconsolable for the loss of her. However, he caused
the tower to be built and his sons placed in it, under proper guardians,
according to his promise.

In process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counselled the
King (as he was young) to live no longer as he had done, but to take
a wife; which counsel prevailing, they chose him a rich and beautiful
princess to be his consort--a neighbouring King's daughter, of whom he
was very fond. Not long after, the Queen had a fine son, which caused
great feasting and rejoicing at the Court, insomuch that the late Queen,
in a manner, was entirely fo