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Updated: May 28, 2025
Polkan attacked them bravely, and slew one with a single stroke; but the other lion he could not overcome so easily, and after a long fight Polkan and the lion at last both fell dead. Shortly after Drushnevna went out of the tent, and when she saw the dead bodies of Polkan and the lions she thought that Bova must also have been killed by these wild beasts.
"If you believe me not," replied Bova, "order some water to be brought, and you shall see whether I speak the truth." So they brought a basin of water, and Bova washed himself before the eyes of Drushnevna with the white powder, and instantly he was young and handsome as before.
And meanwhile it happened that the Chamberlain, jealous of the favour that the King showed to Bova, called to him thirty young fellows and said: "My friends, you see that this rascal Anhusei has deceived our King and the Princess Drushnevna, and, turning their favour from us, drives us from their presence.
Thereupon Bova made his bow and was going away, but the Princess Drushnevna called him back, and said: "Tell me the truth, young fellow, what class do you belong to of boyar or kingly race? Or are you the son of some brave knight, or of a merchant from a foreign land? And what is your true name? I believe not that you are born of common folk as you told my father."
When the Princess Drushnevna heard this, she summoned Bova and asked him how he could undertake to tame this steed, which no one ever ventured to approach on account of his rage. And Bova answered: "Gracious Princess, this horse is restive and fierce to King Marcobrun's grooms, who have never ridden on him; but he knows his former master in the kingdom of Sensibri Andronovich, and him he obeys.
On hearing this from the knights, Marcobrun sent immediately for Polkan, and said to him: "Sir Polkan, pursue Bova Korolevich and bring him and Drushnevna to me; I will reward you richly." So Polkan promised to fulfil his command, and hastened after Bova and the Princess.
Then the Tsar told the Tsarina how he had left his sons as hostages with Marcobrun and promised to deliver up Bova, Drushnevna, and Polkan. And the Tsarina replied: "My dear husband, it is impossible to give them up." At these words the Tsar struck her in the face, saying: "Women have long hair, but short wits."
Then Marcobrun ordered the trumpets to sound, and assembled an army of four million men, and said to his boyars: "My faithful servants, pursue Bova, and bring him and Drushnevna alive to me."
Then he surrounded the city of King Sensibri, and sent an ambassador to him, demanding the hand of the Princess Drushnevna; threatening, if he refused, to lay waste his city with fire and sword, to imprison all the inhabitants, to overthrow Marcobrun's army, slay both Kings, and carry off the Princess Drushnevna. But if Sensibri assented to his demand, Lukoper promised him his aid and protection.
So she took her two sons, mounted her palfrey, which was tied up to the tent, and rode away from that fearful spot as fast as she could. When Drushnevna arrived at the city of the Tsar Saltan, she dismounted and turned her palfrey loose in the fields, saying: "Go your way, rove where you will, my trusty nag, until you find a good master!"
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