Part 10
Lavender was quite certain that Relya had come up only to bring them safe back from the Mountain. She ran to Primrose, took him by the hand, and both crossed over to Relya by the little bridge which they had fashioned with their own tiny hands across the reeds.
XV
A doughty hero was Relya, and he felt strange talking to children. But the children did not feel in the least strange talking to a hero, because they thought kindly of everybody, and there was no guile in their hearts.
Primrose took hold of Relya’s hand and looked at his great sword. The sword was twice as big as Primrose! Primrose reached up with his little hand; he stood on tip-toe, and yet he could scarcely touch the hilt of it. Relya looked, and never had he seen such tiny hands beside his own. Relya was now in a sad quandary; he forgot all about the Girdle and Cross as he thought: “What shall I say to these poor orphan babes? They are little and foolish, and they do not understand.”
Just then Lavender asked Relya:
“And how shall we get out of the mountains, my lord?”
“Well, that is quite a sensible little girl,” considered Relya. “Here am I, marvelling how small and foolish they are, and never thinking that, after all, we have to get out of the mountains.”
Then Relya remembered what the Votaress had told him about the taper and censer.
“Listen to me, little girl! The Votaress has gone to call her sisters to help her, and I am going on to the Mountain to meet them. Please God, I shall overcome the Votaress Fairies, return to you by the Holy Lake, and lead you away from the Mountain. But if the fairies should overcome me, if I perish on the Mountain, then do you start the fire that is not lit with hands, light the taper and censer, and you will pass over the Mountain as though it were a church.”
When Lavender heard this, she was sadly grieved, and said to Prince Relya:
“You must not do that, my lord! What shall we poor orphans do if you perish on the Mountain? You have only just come to be our protector, and if you were to leave us straightway and get killed what should we do? Let us rather set to at once and start the fire, so as to light taper and censer, and do you, my lord, go forth with us over the Mountain.”
But at that Relya became very angry, and said:
“Don’t talk foolishness, you silly child! I was not born a hero for taper and censer to lead me while yet I wear sword by my side.”
“Not taper and censer will lead you, but God’s will and commandment,” replied Lavender.
“Don’t talk foolishness, you silly child! My sword would rust were I to be led by taper and censer.”
“Your sword will not rust when you go a-mowing in field and meadow.”
Relya was troubled. It was not so much Lavender’s words as the sweet, serious look in the little girl’s eyes that troubled him. He knew well enough that he would scarcely overcome the fairies and monsters, and that he would most probably perish if he were to go out to fight on the Mountain.
Little Primrose flung his arms round Relya’s knees and looked at him coaxingly. And Relya’s princely heart beat quick in his bosom, so that he forgot about Cross and Girdle and fight and castle, and all he could think was: “Well, I have to protect and save these faithful little orphans.”
So he said:
“I will not throw away my life out of sheer wilfulness. Come, children, start the fire, light taper and censer; your little hands shall lead me.”
XVI
A few moments later, and there was a wondrous marvel to be seen on Mount Kitesh.
A wide path opened all the way down the Mountain, and on the path grew turf as soft as silk. On the right-hand side walked little Primrose, still in his little white shirt, and in his hand he held an ancient wax taper, burning serenely and crackling softly, as though it were talking with the sun. On the left walked Lavender, wearing the Golden Girdle and swinging a silver censer, from which rose a cloud of white smoke. Between the two children strode Relya, tall and strong. It seemed strange to him, in his strength and valour, that taper and censer should thus guide him and not his own good sword. But he smiled gently at the children. His great sword hung over his shoulder, and as he strode on he said to the sword:
“Do not fear, my faithful friend. We shall go a-mowing in field and meadow; we shall clear scrub and forest; we shall hew rafters and build steadings. The sun will gild thee a thousand times while thou art winning bread for these two orphan babes.”
So they went across the Mountain as though it were a church. A thin wraith of smoke rose from the taper, and sacred odours spread from the censer.
But woe and alas for the Votaresses on Mount Kitesh! wherever the smoke and the odour of incense spread upon the Mountain, there the Votaresses perished and died. They made an end, each one as it seemed most beautiful and fitting to her.
One turned herself into a grey stone, and then hurled herself down the rocks into a chasm, where the stone broke into a thousand splinters.
The second changed into a crimson flame, and then at once went out, puff! into the air.
The third dissolved into fine coloured dust, scattering herself over rock and fern. And so each of them chose what seemed to her the most beautiful way to die.
But it really didn’t matter in the least. One way or another, they all had to leave this world, and even the most beautiful ways of dying could not make up for that!
In this way all the seven Votaress Fairies perished, and that is why there are no fairies, nor dragons, nor monsters now on Mount Kitesh or anywhere else in the world.
But Relya and the children reached the valley in safety, and Lavender took them to their cottage. And only then did Relya remember why he had gone up Mount Kitesh.
XVII
They went into the cottage and rested a little. Lavender, who knew where was her mother’s modest store cupboard, brought out a little dry cheese, and they refreshed themselves.
But now Relya was puzzled what to do about those two orphans. Ever since they had come down into the valley, Relya’s mind had begun to run once more upon the castle and upon his promise to his mother that he would bring her back the Cross and Girdle.
Therefore Relya said to Lavender:
“Listen to me, little girl: you will have to give me the Golden Girdle and Cross now, you and your brother, because they belong to me.”
“But we belong to you too, my lord,” said Lavender, and looked at Relya quite astonished, because he had not grasped that before.
Relya laughed, and then he said:
“But I must take the Girdle and Cross to my mother.”
When Lavender heard that, she cried out overjoyed:
“Oh, sir, if you have a mother, do go and bring her here to us, because we have no mother now.”
A stone would have wept to hear little Lavender speak of her mother in that poor and bare little cottage! A stone would have wept at the thought that so lovely a child should be left all alone in the world, when she turned to Prince Relya and begged him to bring them a mother because their mother was dead.
Again Relya was filled with pity, so that he almost wept. Therefore he bade the children good-bye and went away to fetch his mother.
XVIII
It took Relya seven days to return to his mother. She was waiting for him by the window, and when she saw him coming, lo, there was Relya coming home without sword, Cross, or Girdle. Relya never gave her time to ask questions, but called to her in a gentle voice:
“Make ready, mother, and come with me, that we may guard what is ours.”
So they set out together. And on the way the Princess asked Relya whether he had found the Cross and the Girdle, whether he had raised an army and had reconquered their castle and lands?
“I found the Girdle and Cross, mother; but I raised no army, neither have I reconquered our lands. We shall do better without an army, mother, for you shall see what is left to us of our heritage,” said Relya.
After seven days’ travel they reached the cabin where Lavender and Primrose were waiting for them.
Oh, my dear! but there is great joy when kind hearts foregather! The princess hugged Lavender and Primrose; she kissed their cheeks, eyes, hands, and lips, and would scarcely let them go, so dear were they to her, those orphan children from her lost lands!
XIX
And so they lived together in the valley, although the little cabin was rather too small for them. But Relya had strong hands, and he built them a little house of stone. Their lives were uneventful, but there was a blessing upon them. Primrose tended the ewes and lambs, Lavender looked after the house and garden, the princess span and sewed, and Relya worked in the fields.
The people of the village got to know the wisdom of the princess and Relya’s strength. Presently they remarked how well the Golden Girdle became the princess, and, although none of them had ever seen the princess before, they said:
“She must be our noble princess.” And so they gave Relya and the princess a great piece of land in the valley, and begged Relya to be their leader in all things and the princess to be their counsellor.
God’s blessing was with Relya’s strength and the princess’s wisdom. Their fields and meadows increased; other villages joined them; gardens and cottages sprang up in the villages.
Meantime the fine lords in the castle went on drinking and feasting as before. Now this had gone on far too long, and although the vaults and cellars of the castle had been the richest in seven kingdoms, yet after so many years of waste there began to be a lack of precious stones.
First of all the gems gave out in the treasure vaults, and then the mother-o’-pearl in the passages. Yet a little while, and there was no more bread for the servants, who had grown lazy. At last there was not even meat for the bloodhounds and guards. The faithless servants rebelled, the hounds ran away, and the guards left their posts.
But all this did not trouble the fine lords, because they had dulled their wits with drinking and feasting. But one fine day the wine gave out. _Then_ they decided to hold a council! They met in the great hall and debated upon where they should get wine, because round about the castle all was desolate: the inhabitants had left, and the vines had run wild in the vineyards.
So the fine lords debated. But their vengeful and rebellious servants had cut through the rafters of the great hall, and when the lords were in the midst of their conference the roof fell in upon them. They were buried under the ruins of the great tower of the castle and all of them killed.
When the servants heard the tower crashing and falling, they too deserted the castle.
And so the castle was left without hounds, servants, or fine lords, ruinous and deserted, and dead.
Soon the news of this spread through the land, but not a soul troubled to go and see what had happened in the dead castle. From all sides they flocked together and went to the foot of Mount Kitesh to beg Relya to be their prince, because they had heard of his strength and courage and of the wisdom of the noble princess. Wherefore the people promised with their own hands to build them a new castle, all fair and stately.
Relya accepted the people’s offer, because he rightly judged that God had given him such great strength and courage, and had delivered him from his hot and cruel temper, so that he might be of use to his country.
So Relya became a prince; and the princess, who was getting old by now, yet lived to see great happiness in her old age. And when the princess and Relya, with Lavender and Primrose, entered their new and stately castle for the first time, the village children scattered evergreens and sweet basil on their path, men and woman pressed round the princess, seized the hem of her robe and kissed it.
But the princess, radiant with joy, remembered that but for the loyalty of Lavender and Primrose none of this would ever have come to pass. She clasped the children to her breast and said:
“Happy the land whose treasure is not guarded by mighty armies or strong cities, but by the mothers and children in shepherds’ cots. Such a land will never perish!”
* * * * *
Later on Prince Relya married Lavender, and never in the world was there a princess sweeter and more lovely than Princess Lavender.
Primrose grew up into a brave and handsome youth. He rode a fiery dapple grey, and he would often ride over Mount Kitesh, upon whose summit men were building a new chapel by the Holy Lake.
Notes
Interpretation of Names, Etc.
THE original names in these Fairy Tales are either taken from Slav folk-lore or chosen or composed so as to convey a suitable meaning. In the English text the translator has therefore tried to render the significance of the original names in English in preference to reproducing the Slav names in English spelling.
HOW QUEST SOUGHT THE TRUTH.
1. _Bjesomar_ (Rampogusto). The name given by the old Slavs in some regions to the ruler of evil and malignant forces. Analysed, the name might be translated as Cherish-goblin, one who cares for hobgoblindom.
2. _Svarožić_ (All-Rosy). The ancient Slavs pictured the sunshine in the form of a beautiful youth named _Svarožić_, All-rose.
The names of the grandfather and his three grandsons—Witting, Bluster, Careful and Quest—are as near as possible equivalents of the original names _Vjest_, _Ljutiša_, _Marun_ and _Potjeh_.
FISHERMAN PLUNK AND HIS WIFE.
1. _Zora-djevojka_ (the Dawn-Maiden). To this day many old folk-tales of the Slavs tell of the Dawn-Maiden who sails the sea in the early morning in her boat of gold with a silver paddle and dwells in the Island of _Bujan_.
2. _The Sea King._ Slovenes and Slovaks alike tell of a mighty and wealthy Sea King who reigns in the depths of the sea.
3. _The Island of Bujan_ (the Isle Bountiful). This is a wonderful island, so named for its abundance and fruitfulness and luxuriant vegetation. It was the ancient Slav’s conception of Paradise. To this day the Russians mention it in refrains and spells against sickness, for a plentiful harvest, etc.
4. _The Stone Alatir_ (Gold-a-Fire). Is mentioned in ancient Slav tales as “the white burning stone on Bujan,” and may perhaps be taken to stand for the sun.
5. _Sea Maidens_ (Mermaids). In Slovene and Croatian folk-tales, as with us, this term is applied to fabulous sea creatures, which are beautiful women to the waist, and from the waist downward shaped like a forked fish tail.
6. _The dumb speech._ The Jugoslavs popularly believe that animals converse with each other in a special “language,” and that certain human beings can “speak” and understand this “language.”
7. _The Monstrous Snake_, the _Bird with the Iron Beak_, the _Golden Bee_. Three monsters which, according to folk-tales, stir up the waves, raise tempests, and provoke thunderstorms round the Isle of Bujan, whence the storms spread throughout the world.
_Palunko_ (Plunk) has no special significance, but the sound suggests a doleful, feckless sort of person.
_Winpeace_ is a translation of Vlatko.
REYGOCH.
1. _Legen_ (_Ledjan_) (Frosten city). An ancient marvellous city which is mentioned in Croatian folk-songs and tradition. _Leden_ means _frozen_, _icy_.
2. _Regoč_, _Regoc_ (Reygoch). A huge simple giant of fairy kin. He is mentioned by the poet _Gjorgjić_, of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), in his _Marunko_.
The name _Kosjenka_ is derived from _kose_ (hair), and indicates the little fairy’s flowing tresses.
Apart from being a simple fairy-tale, this story contains an allegorical element. _Reygoch_, the benevolent, simple-minded giant, is a character from _Marunko_, by the poet Gjorgjić, of Dubrovnik. The city of _Legen_, or _Ledjan_ (which, to all intents and purposes, means “frozen”), is to be found in Croatian folk-tales and ballads.
BRIDESMAN SUN AND BRIDE BRIDEKINS.
1. _Mokoš_ (Muggish). A mighty force which, according to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, ruled the earth, and especially in marshlands. She is mentioned in connection with the heavenly thunder god. _Perun_.
2. _Kolede_ (translated by _Yuletide_) A winter festival celebrated at the end of December in honour of the sun, whose power once more begins to increase in those days.
3. _Krijes_ (translated by _Beltane_). A festival in honour of the summer sun at the time of his greatest strength.
4. _Omaja_, _omaha_. Water which is flung from the mill-wheel. To this day peasants bathe children in this water so that evil may be turned away from them.
A _Ban_ is a Warden of the Marches.
_Neva_ means _bride_. _Nevičica_ is the diminutive of _Neva_.
STRIBOR’S FOREST.
1. _Domaći_ (“home sprites,” from _dom_, house, home), Brownies. In all Slav nations this is the name given to the little domestic sprites which haunt the hearth. They are sometimes harmful and sometimes beneficent.
2. _Malik Tintilinić_ (Wee Tintilinkie). Old popular name for one of the most lively of these _domaći_.
LITTLE BROTHER PRIMROSE AND SISTER LAVENDER.
1. _Kitež_ (Mount Kitesh). The Russian author Merežkovski mentions the mysterious Kitež region, an uninhabited forest, and the Lake Svetlojar (which latter name might very well be transliterated by the _Holy Lake_), which used to be inhabited by all sorts of monsters.
2. _Vile Zatočnice_ (Votaress Fairies). The term _Votaress snakes_ (_zmije zatočnice_) is popularly applied to snakes which are supposed to have taken a vow in the autumn not to go to sleep for the winter without having killed somebody.
3 _Relya_ (_Hrelja_). A Croatian ballad makes mention of a certain Hrelja as a better and stronger hero than even Kraljević Mark.
The names _Rutvica_ and _Jaglenac_ have simply been translated into _Lavender_ and _Primrose_.
_Bukač_ is derived from _buka_, noise. Hence _Belleroo_.
_Medunkda_, from _medved_, a bear (Bruineen).
The term _božjak_ (applied to Relya), which suggests a powerful, poverty-stricken churl, the translator has sought to render by _rowfoot_ (a rough fellow).
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● Transcriber’s Notes: ○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. ○ Typographical errors were silently corrected. ○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book. ○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).