ABSTRACT
In a certain tsardom, in a certain country, there lived and dwelt Ivan Tsarevich. He had three sisters: one was Maria Tsarevna, the next was Olga Tsarevna, and the third was Anna Tsarevna. Their father and mother died. And as they were dying, they instructed their son: “Whoever first starts courting your sisters, give them up to him. Don’t keep your sisters long about you.” The tsarevich buried his parents and in grief went off with his sisters to take a walk in a green garden. Suddenly there appeared in the sky a dark storm cloud, a terrible thunder storm was getting up. “Sisters, let’s go home,” said Ivan Tsarevich. They had just got back into the palace when there was a clap of thunder, the ceiling split open, and into the room flew a bright falcon. The falcon threw himself onto the floor and became a fine young lad, and he said, “Greetings, Ivan Tsarevich. I used to come as a guest but now I’ve come as a matchmaker. I want to court your sister, Maria Tsarevna.”
