RUSSIAN GARLAND
friendship to fulfil thy promise and give me up this sword; for I have given my word to the Tsar to take it to him, and shall die a cruel death if I perform not my promise." But the Knight's Head answered not a word. Then Yaroslav dismounted from his good steed, fell on his knees before him, and said: "Sir Raslanei, let me die not thus in vain—give me, I pray, the sword from under thee."
Thereupon the Knight Raslanei raised himself, and Yaroslav took the sword, bowed to the Knight's Head, and mounting his steed, rode off to the city of Shtchetin. And on the way he said to himself: "Hitherto I have been victorious over Tsars and knights, but now indeed I am forced to bend before a Knight's Head, and entreat him to give me a sword!"
Raslanei heard this, and cried with a loud voice: "Ho, Sir Knight! return!" So Yaroslav turned round, and went back to the Head; and the Head reproached him, saying: "Thy sword could not touch my helm." Then Yaroslav fell on the ground and said: "Sir 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;
226
