The Miraculous Hen

Beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth realm—it was not in our kingdom—once an old man and an old woman lived in great need and poverty. They had two sons, who were very young and as yet of no use for field work. So the old man got up himself, and himself did all the work; he went out and looked after the labourers, and for all that he could only earn a few pence.

Di balik tiga puluh negeri, di kerajaan ketiga puluh—bukan di kerajaan kita sendiri—dahulu kala hiduplah sepasang suami istri tua dalam kemiskinan dan kesulitan yang besar. Mereka mempunyai dua putra, yang masih sangat muda dan belum bisa membantu bekerja di ladang. Maka si kakek sendirilah yang bangun dan mengerjakan semuanya; ia keluar dan mengawasi para buruh, dan meski begitu ia hanya bisa menghasilkan beberapa keping uang saja.

As he was going home one day he met a sorry drunkard, who had a hen in his hands. “Will you, old man, buy my hen?”

Ketika ia sedang pulang suatu hari, ia bertemu seorang pemabuk malang, yang membawa seekor ayam betina di tangannya. "Maukah kau, kek, membeli ayamku ini?"

“What do you want for it?”

"Berapa yang kauminta untuknya?"

“Give me fifty kopeks for it.”

"Berilah aku lima puluh kopek untuknya."

“No, brother; take these few pence—that will be enough for you; you will get a pint and can drink it out on your way home and go to sleep.”

"Tidak, saudaraku; ambil saja beberapa keping ini—itu sudah cukup bagimu; kau bisa membeli seperempat liter minuman dan meminumnya sepanjang jalan pulang lalu tidur."

So the drunkard took the pence and gave the old man the hen.

Maka si pemabuk itu pun mengambil uangnya dan memberikan ayam itu kepada kakek tua tadi.

Then the old man returned home. But they were very hungry there; there was not a crust of bread. “Here,” he said, as he came in, to his wife, “here is a hen I have bought you.”

Kemudian si kakek pulang ke rumah. Tetapi mereka sangat kelaparan di sana; tidak ada sepotong roti pun. "Ini," katanya, ketika ia masuk, kepada istrinya, "ini seekor ayam yang kubelikan untukmu."

But his wife turned on him fiercely and scolded him. “What an old fool you are! You must have gone utterly mad: our children are sitting down at home without any bread, and you buy a hen which you must feed!”

Tetapi istrinya membentaknya dengan garang dan memarahinya. "Betapa bodohnya kau ini, orang tua! Kau pasti sudah benar-benar gila: anak-anak kita duduk di rumah tanpa sepotong roti pun, dan kau malah membeli seekor ayam yang harus kauberi makan!"

“Hold your tongue, foolish woman; does a hen eat so much? Why, she will lay us an egg and will bring us chicks; we can sell the chicks and then buy bread.”

"Diamlah, perempuan bodoh; apa ayam makan sebanyak itu? Nah, ia akan bertelur untuk kita dan akan memberi kita anak-anak ayam; kita bisa menjual anak-anak ayam itu lalu membeli roti."

So the old man made a little nest and he put the hen under the stove. In the morning he looked, and the hen had laid a jewel of absolutely natural colours. So the old man said to his wife, “Now, old lady; amongst other folks the hens lay eggs, but our hen lays jewels: what shall we do?”

Maka si kakek pun membuat sebuah sarang kecil dan meletakkan ayam itu di bawah tungku. Keesokan paginya ia melihat, dan ayam itu telah bertelurkan sebuah permata dengan warna yang benar-benar alami. Maka si kakek berkata kepada istrinya, "Nah, nyonya tua; di tempat orang lain ayam-ayam bertelur biasa, tetapi ayam kita bertelurkan permata: apa yang harus kita lakukan?"

“Take it into the city; possibly somebody may buy it.”

"Bawalah ke kota; barangkali ada orang yang mau membelinya."

So the old man went into the city, went into all the inns by turns and showed his precious stone. All the merchants gathered round him and began valuing the stone. They valued it and valued it, and it was at last bought for five hundred roubles.

Maka si kakek pun pergi ke kota, mendatangi semua penginapan satu per satu dan memperlihatkan batu berharganya. Semua pedagang berkumpul di sekelilingnya dan mulai menaksir nilai batu itu. Mereka menaksirnya berulang-ulang, dan akhirnya batu itu terjual seharga lima ratus rubel.

From that day the old man went on trading in precious stones which his hen laid him, and he very soon became enriched, had himself inscribed into the merchants’ guild, put up a shop, hired apprentices, and set up seafaring ships to carry his wares into foreign lands. One day he was going into foreign parts, and he bade his wife have a great heed to the hen: “Treasure her more than your eyes; should she be lost, you shall forfeit your own head.”

Sejak hari itu si kakek terus berdagang batu permata yang dihasilkan ayamnya, dan tak lama kemudian ia menjadi kaya raya, mendaftarkan dirinya ke serikat pedagang, membuka sebuah toko, mempekerjakan pekerja magang, dan mendirikan kapal-kapal untuk membawa barang dagangannya ke negeri-negeri asing. Suatu hari ia hendak pergi ke negeri asing, dan ia berpesan kepada istrinya untuk sangat menjaga ayam itu: "Jagalah ia lebih dari kedua matamu; jika sampai hilang, kau akan kehilangan kepalamu sendiri."

As soon as he had gone the old woman began to think evil thoughts. For she was great friends with one of the young apprentices.

Begitu ia pergi, si nenek pun mulai berpikiran jahat. Sebab ia sangat akrab dengan salah satu pekerja magang muda itu.

“Where do you get these precious stones from?” the apprentice asked her.

"Dari mana kaudapatkan batu-batu permata ini?" tanya si pekerja magang kepadanya.

“Oh, it is our hen that lays them.”

"Oh, ayam kamilah yang bertelurkannya."

So the apprentice took the hen, looked, and under the right wing he saw written in gold: “Whoever eats this hen’s head shall become a king, and whoever eats her liver shall spit out gold.”

Maka si pekerja magang itu mengambil ayam itu, memeriksanya, dan di bawah sayap kanannya ia melihat tertulis dengan huruf emas: "Siapa yang memakan kepala ayam ini akan menjadi raja, dan siapa yang memakan hatinya akan memuntahkan emas."

So he told the wife, “Bake me the hen for supper.”

Maka ia berkata kepada si istri, "Panggangkan ayam itu untuk makan malam."

“Oh, my dear friend, how can I? My husband will be coming back and will punish me.”

"Oh, sahabatku, bagaimana bisa? Suamiku akan pulang dan akan menghukumku."

But the apprentice would not listen to any argument. “Bake it,” he said—that was all.

Tetapi si pekerja magang itu tak mau mendengar alasan apa pun. "Panggang saja," katanya—itu saja.

The next day the old woman got supper ready, made ready to twist the hen’s neck and to roast it for supper with the head and the liver. The cook twisted the hen’s neck and put her into the oven, and himself went out. But in that time the two little children of the house, who were at school, ran in, looked into the oven, and wanted to nibble. The elder brother ate the head and the youngest ate the liver.

Keesokan harinya si nenek menyiapkan makan malam, bersiap memuntir leher ayam itu dan memanggangnya untuk makan malam lengkap dengan kepala dan hatinya. Sang juru masak memuntir leher ayam itu dan memasukkannya ke dalam tungku, lalu keluar sendiri. Tetapi pada saat itu kedua anak kecil rumah itu, yang sedang bersekolah, berlari masuk, melihat ke dalam tungku, dan ingin mencicipi. Kakak sulung memakan kepalanya dan si bungsu memakan hatinya.

When supper-time came, the hen was put on the table, but when the apprentice saw that both the head and the liver were missing he was very angry, quarrelled with the old woman and went home. The old woman followed him and wheedled, but he still insisted: “You bring your children, take their liver out and brains, and give them me for supper; otherwise I will have nothing to do with you.”

Ketika waktu makan malam tiba, ayam itu dihidangkan di meja, tetapi ketika si pekerja magang melihat bahwa baik kepala maupun hati ayam itu hilang, ia sangat marah, bertengkar dengan si nenek dan pulang. Si nenek mengejarnya dan membujuk-bujuk, tetapi ia tetap bersikeras: "Bawalah anak-anakmu, ambil hati dan otak mereka, dan berikan itu kepadaku untuk makan malam; kalau tidak, aku tidak mau berurusan lagi denganmu."

So the old woman put her children to bed, called the cook and bade him take them whilst they were asleep into the wood, there kill them and extract their liver and their brains and get them ready for supper. The cook took the children into the slumbrous forest, stopped, and made ready to whet the knife.

Maka si nenek pun menidurkan anak-anaknya, memanggil si juru masak dan menyuruhnya membawa mereka ketika mereka sedang tidur ke dalam hutan, di sana membunuh mereka dan mengeluarkan hati serta otak mereka dan menyiapkannya untuk makan malam. Si juru masak membawa anak-anak itu ke dalam hutan yang sunyi, berhenti, dan bersiap mengasah pisaunya.

The boys woke up and asked, “Why are you sharpening the knife?”

Kedua anak lelaki itu terbangun dan bertanya, "Mengapa kau mengasah pisau itu?"

“Because your mother has bidden me take out your liver and brains and cook them.”

"Sebab ibumu telah menyuruhku mengambil hati dan otak kalian dan memasaknya."

“Oh, grandfather, little dove, do not slay us; we will give you all the gold you desire, only pity us and let us free.” So the younger brother filled his skirt with gold, and the cook was contented with this and he set them free.

"Oh, kakek, burung merpati kecil, jangan bunuh kami; kami akan memberimu semua emas yang kauinginkan, kasihanilah kami saja dan bebaskanlah kami." Maka si adik pun mengisi rok bajunya penuh dengan emas, dan si juru masak puas dengan itu dan membebaskan mereka.

So the boys went forth into the forest and he turned back. Fortunately for him a bitch came his way, so he took her two puppies, took their livers and brains, roasted them and gave them for supper. The apprentice was very pleased with the dish, swallowed it all, and became neither a king nor a king’s son, but simply a fool.

Maka kedua anak itu pun pergi ke dalam hutan dan si juru masak kembali. Untung baginya seekor anjing betina lewat di jalannya, maka ia pun mengambil kedua anak anjingnya, mengambil hati dan otak mereka, memanggangnya, dan menghidangkannya untuk makan malam. Si pekerja magang sangat senang dengan hidangan itu, memakannya habis, dan tidak menjadi raja ataupun putra raja, melainkan hanya menjadi orang dungu.

The boys went out of the wood on the broad road, and went whither their eyes gazed—maybe far, maybe short, they went. Soon the road divided into two, and a column stood there, and on the column it was written:

Kedua anak lelaki itu keluar dari hutan menuju jalan besar, dan pergi ke arah mata mereka memandang—entah jauh, entah dekat, mereka pun berjalan. Tak lama kemudian jalan itu terbagi menjadi dua, dan sebuah tiang berdiri di sana, dan pada tiang itu tertulis:

“WHO GOES TO THE RIGHT SHALL RECEIVE A KINGDOM, WHO GOES TO THE LEFT SHALL RECEIVE MUCH OF EVIL AND OF GRIEF, BUT HE SHALL MARRY A FAIR PRINCESS.”

"SIAPA YANG PERGI KE KANAN AKAN MENERIMA SEBUAH KERAJAAN, SIAPA YANG PERGI KE KIRI AKAN MENERIMA BANYAK KEBURUKAN DAN DUKA, TETAPI IA AKAN MENIKAHI SEORANG PUTRI YANG CANTIK JELITA."

So the brothers considered this inscription, and decided to go in different directions; the elder went to the right and the younger to the left.

Maka kedua kakak beradik itu mempertimbangkan tulisan itu, dan memutuskan untuk pergi ke arah yang berbeda; sang kakak pergi ke kanan dan sang adik ke kiri.

The elder went on and on, and soon came to an unknown capital city. He also saw a mass of people, only they were all mourning and sad. So he begged shelter of a poor old widow. “Will you protect,” he said, “a foreigner from the dark night?”

Sang kakak berjalan terus dan terus, dan tak lama kemudian sampai di sebuah ibu kota yang tak dikenal. Ia juga melihat kerumunan orang, hanya saja mereka semua berkabung dan sedih. Maka ia meminta perlindungan dari seorang janda tua yang miskin. "Maukah kau melindungi," katanya, "seorang perantau dari malam yang gelap?"

“I should be very glad to have you,” she said, “but I cannot put you anywhere, I am so closely packed.”

"Aku akan sangat senang menerimamu," katanya, "tetapi aku tidak bisa menempatkanmu di mana pun, rumahku sudah begitu penuh sesak."

“Do let me in, bábushka; I am such a simple youth, just as you are; you can find me some small space, some kind of nook for the night.”

"Izinkan aku masuk saja, bábushka; aku hanyalah pemuda sederhana, sama seperti dirimu; kau pasti bisa mencarikan sedikit ruang untukku, semacam sudut untuk bermalam."

So the old woman admitted him, and they began to speak.

Maka nenek tua itu pun mengizinkannya masuk, dan mereka mulai bercakap-cakap.

“Why, bábushka,” the stranger asked, “is there such a throng in the city, why are rooms so dear, and why are the people all mourning and melancholy?”

"Mengapa, bábushka," tanya sang perantau, "begitu ramai orang di kota ini, mengapa kamar-kamar begitu mahal, dan mengapa orang-orang semua berkabung dan bersedih?"

“Well, our king has just died, and the boyárs have sent the town-crier out to announce that old and young are to assemble, and each of them is to have a candle, and with the candles they are to go into the cathedral, and whosesoever’s candle lights of itself is to be king.”

"Yah, raja kami baru saja wafat, dan para bangsawan telah mengutus penyeru kota untuk mengumumkan bahwa yang tua dan yang muda harus berkumpul, dan setiap orang harus membawa sebatang lilin, dan dengan lilin-lilin itu mereka harus masuk ke dalam katedral, dan siapa pun yang lilinnya menyala dengan sendirinya akan menjadi raja."

So in the morning the boy got up, washed, prayed to God, said the grace for the bread and salt and the soft bed which his hostess had given him, and went into the cathedral. When he got there, if you had been there three years you could not have counted all those people. And he took a candle in his hand, and it lit up at once. So they all burst upon him and began to blow out his candle, to damp it, but the flame lit all the brighter. There was no help for it: they acknowledged him as their king, and dressed him in golden apparel and led him to the palace.

Maka keesokan paginya pemuda itu bangun, mandi, berdoa kepada Tuhan, mengucap syukur atas roti dan garam serta ranjang empuk yang telah diberikan tuan rumahnya, dan pergi ke katedral. Ketika ia tiba di sana, jika kau berada di sana selama tiga tahun pun kau tak akan bisa menghitung semua orang itu. Dan ia mengambil sebatang lilin di tangannya, dan lilin itu langsung menyala. Maka semua orang serentak menyerbunya dan mulai meniup lilinnya, membasahinya, tetapi nyala api itu makin menyala terang. Tak ada jalan lain: mereka mengakui dia sebagai raja mereka, dan mendandaninya dengan pakaian keemasan lalu membawanya ke istana.

But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely. But she was very grudging, and she announced in all countries that she would only marry the man who could feed her army for three whole years; yet every one had to try his luck. So the boy went there, and he went on his way, went on the broad road. And he spat into his little bag, and spat it full of pure gold.

Tetapi sang adik, yang telah berbelok ke kiri, mendengar bahwa ada seorang putri cantik di sebuah kerajaan tertentu yang keindahannya tak terlukiskan. Tetapi ia sangat pelit, dan ia mengumumkan ke seluruh negeri bahwa ia hanya akan menikahi lelaki yang bisa memberi makan pasukannya selama tiga tahun penuh; namun setiap orang harus mencoba peruntungannya. Maka pemuda itu pun pergi ke sana, ia menempuh jalannya, berjalan di jalan besar. Dan ia meludah ke dalam kantong kecilnya, dan meludahkannya penuh dengan emas murni.

Well, it may be long, it may be short, it may be near, it may be far, but he at last reached the fair princess, and he said he would accomplish her task. He had no need to ask for gold, he simply had to spit and there it was. For three years he maintained the princess’s army, gave it food and drink and dress.

Nah, entah lama atau sebentar, entah dekat atau jauh, akhirnya ia pun sampai kepada putri cantik itu, dan ia berkata ia akan menyanggupi tugasnya. Ia tak perlu meminta emas, ia hanya perlu meludah dan emas itu pun ada. Selama tiga tahun ia mempertahankan pasukan sang putri, memberinya makanan, minuman, dan pakaian.

So the time came for a jolly feast and for the wedding. But the princess was still full of wiles. She asked herself and she sought to know whence God had sent him such enormous wealth. So she invited him to be her guest, received him, honoured him. And the doughty youth fell sick, and he vomited up the liver of the hen, and the Tsarévna swallowed it. From that day gold fell from her lips, and she would not have her bridegroom with her. “What shall I do with this ignoramus?” she asked her boyárs, and she asked her generals. “He has had the idiotic idea of wanting to marry me.”

Maka tibalah waktunya untuk pesta yang meriah dan untuk pernikahan. Tetapi sang putri masih penuh tipu daya. Ia bertanya-tanya pada dirinya sendiri dan berusaha mengetahui dari mana Tuhan telah mengirimkan kekayaan yang begitu besar kepadanya. Maka ia mengundangnya menjadi tamunya, menerimanya, menghormatinya. Dan sang pemuda gagah itu jatuh sakit, dan ia memuntahkan hati ayam itu, dan sang Tsarevna pun menelannya. Sejak hari itu emas jatuh dari bibirnya, dan ia tak mau lagi bersama calon suaminya. "Apa yang harus kulakukan dengan si dungu ini?" tanyanya kepada para bangsawannya, dan ia bertanya kepada para jenderalnya. "Ia punya gagasan konyol untuk menikahiku."

So the boyárs said he must be hung, and the generals said he must be shot. But the Tsarévna had a better idea—that he ought to be sent to hell.

Maka para bangsawan berkata ia harus digantung, dan para jenderal berkata ia harus ditembak. Tetapi sang Tsarevna punya gagasan yang lebih baik—bahwa ia sebaiknya dikirim ke neraka.

So the doughty youth escaped and once more set forth on his road. And he had only one thought in his mind, how he should make himself wise and revenge himself on the Tsarévna for her unkind jest. So he went on and went on, and he came into the dreamy wood, and he looked and he saw three men fighting with their fists.

Maka sang pemuda gagah itu melarikan diri dan sekali lagi memulai perjalanannya. Dan ia hanya punya satu pikiran dalam benaknya, bagaimana ia harus membuat dirinya bijak dan membalas dendam kepada sang Tsarevna atas leloconnya yang kejam itu. Maka ia berjalan terus dan terus, dan ia sampai ke hutan yang penuh mimpi, dan ia melihat tiga orang lelaki bertengkar dengan tinju mereka.

“What are you fighting about?”

"Kalian bertengkar soal apa?"

“We have three finds in the road, and we cannot divide them; every one wants them for himself.”

"Kami menemukan tiga barang di jalan, dan kami tak bisa membaginya; setiap orang menginginkannya untuk dirinya sendiri."

“What are the finds? what are you contending for?”

"Apa saja barang temuan itu? Apa yang kalian perebutkan?"

“Look, this is a barrel: you only have to knock it, and a soldier leaps out of its mouth. This is a flying carpet: wherever you think it will take you. And this is a whip: strike a maiden and say ‘You have been a maiden, now become a mare,’ and she will become a mare at once.”

"Lihat, ini sebuah tong: kau hanya perlu mengetuknya, dan seorang prajurit akan melompat keluar dari mulutnya. Ini permadani terbang: ke mana pun kaupikirkan, ia akan membawamu. Dan ini sebuah cambuk: pukullah seorang gadis dan katakan 'Kau tadinya seorang gadis, sekarang jadilah seekor kuda betina,' dan ia akan langsung menjadi kuda betina."

“These are valuable gifts, and they are hard to divide. But this is the way out: I will send an arrow in this direction, and you all run after it; he who reaches it first shall have the barrel, and the second shall have the flying carpet, and the third shall have the whip.”

"Ini hadiah-hadiah yang berharga, dan sulit dibagi. Tetapi begini jalan keluarnya: aku akan melepaskan sebuah anak panah ke arah ini, dan kalian semua berlari mengejarnya; siapa yang sampai lebih dulu akan mendapatkan tong itu, dan yang kedua akan mendapatkan permadani terbang, dan yang ketiga akan mendapatkan cambuk itu."

“Very well; shoot the dart.”

"Baiklah; lepaskan panahnya."

So the youth sent out the arrow very far. The three darted after it and ran, and they never looked up. But the doughty youth took the barrel and the whip, sat upon the flying carpet, waved it one end, and he rose higher than the forest that stood there, lower than the clouds above, and he flew whither he would.

Maka sang pemuda pun melepaskan anak panah itu jauh sekali. Ketiganya melesat mengejarnya dan berlari, dan mereka sama sekali tidak menoleh ke atas. Tetapi sang pemuda gagah itu mengambil tong dan cambuk itu, duduk di atas permadani terbang, mengibaskan salah satu ujungnya, dan ia pun naik lebih tinggi dari hutan yang berdiri di sana, lebih rendah dari awan-awan di atas, dan ia terbang ke mana pun ia mau.

So he went back to the forbidden lands of the fair princess, began beating the barrel, and an enormous army came out; infantry, cavalry and artillery, with cannon and with powder waggons. And the mighty host rolled on and rolled on. The doughty youth asked for a horse, mounted it, and went up to his army and commanded it. The drums beat out and the trumpets sounded, and the army went at a pace.

Maka ia kembali ke negeri terlarang milik sang putri cantik, mulai memukul tong itu, dan sebuah pasukan besar pun keluar; infanteri, kavaleri, dan artileri, dengan meriam dan gerobak mesiu. Dan pasukan besar itu terus bergerak maju dan bergerak maju. Sang pemuda gagah itu meminta seekor kuda, menungganginya, dan mendekati pasukannya lalu memerintahnya. Genderang ditabuh dan trompet dibunyikan, dan pasukan itu bergerak dengan langkah cepat.

Then the Tsarévna saw from her rooms and was very much frightened, and sent her boyárs and generals to ask for peace. The good youth bade these ambassadors be seized, had them cruelly and savagely punished and sent them back to the Tsarévna, who was to come herself and ask for a reconciliation.

Kemudian sang Tsarevna melihat dari kamarnya dan sangat ketakutan, dan mengirim para bangsawan serta jenderalnya untuk meminta perdamaian. Sang pemuda baik itu menyuruh para utusan itu ditangkap, membuat mereka dihukum dengan kejam dan kasar lalu mengirim mereka kembali kepada sang Tsarevna, yang harus datang sendiri untuk meminta perdamaian.

Well, there was no help for it: so the Tsarévna herself got out of her carriage, recognised him and swooned. But he took the whip, struck her on the back: “You are a maiden, now become a mare!” And the Tsarévna turned into a mare. He bridled and rode her, and went to the kingdom of his elder brother. He galloped at a full pace, put both spurs into her back and used a scourge of three iron rods, and the army followed him, an unbelievable host.

Nah, tak ada jalan lain: maka sang Tsarevna sendiri pun turun dari keretanya, mengenalinya lalu pingsan. Tetapi ia mengambil cambuk itu, memukulnya di punggung: "Kau adalah seorang gadis, sekarang jadilah seekor kuda betina!" Dan sang Tsarevna pun berubah menjadi seekor kuda betina. Ia memasang kekang dan menungganginya, lalu pergi ke kerajaan kakaknya. Ia memacu dengan kecepatan penuh, menghujamkan kedua sepatunya ke punggung kuda itu dan menggunakan sebuah cambuk dari tiga batang besi, dan pasukan itu mengikutinya, sebuah pasukan besar yang tak terbayangkan.

It may be long, it may be short, at last they came to the boundary, and the doughty youth stopped, collected his army into the barrel, and went to the capital. He went straight to the royal palace, and the king himself saw him and looked at the mare and began to wonder: “What is this great hero approaching? I have never seen such a fine mare in all my life.” So he sent his generals to trade for that horse.

Entah lama atau sebentar, akhirnya mereka sampai di perbatasan, dan sang pemuda gagah itu berhenti, mengumpulkan pasukannya kembali ke dalam tong, lalu pergi ke ibu kota. Ia berjalan langsung ke istana kerajaan, dan sang raja sendiri melihatnya lalu menatap kuda betina itu dan mulai terheran-heran: "Pahlawan besar apakah yang mendekat ini? Aku belum pernah melihat kuda betina sebagus itu seumur hidupku." Maka ia mengutus para jenderalnya untuk menawar membeli kuda itu.

“No, what an envious king you have!” said the youth. “It would evidently be out of the question in your city to come here with a young wife; if you are so greedy for a mare, you would certainly take away my wife.”

"Tidak, betapa dengkinya raja yang kaumiliki ini!" kata sang pemuda. "Sudah pasti tidak mungkin di kotamu ini datang ke sini bersama seorang istri muda; jika kau begitu tamak akan seekor kuda betina, kau pasti akan merampas istriku."

Then he went to the palace and said, “Hail, brother!”

Kemudian ia pergi ke istana dan berkata, "Salam, kakak!"

“Oh, I never knew you!”

"Oh, aku tidak mengenalimu!"

So they set to kissing each other.

Maka mereka pun saling berpelukan dan berciuman.

“What sort of barrel have you?”

"Tong seperti apa yang kaumiliki itu?"

“That is for drinking. How should I journey forth on the road otherwise?”

"Itu untuk minum. Bagaimana lagi aku bisa menempuh perjalanan di jalan?"

“And the carpet?”

"Dan permadani itu?"

“Sit down and you will find out.”

"Duduklah dan kau akan tahu."

So they sat on the flying carpet, and the younger brother shook it at the corner and they flew higher than the forest, lower than the wandering cloud, straight back to their own country. So they flew back, took a room with their father, and as to who they were they never told their father and mother. So they then thought they would give a feast to all the christened world. They assembled all the people in countless hosts, and for three whole days they gave food and drink to all without requital, without any charge.

Maka mereka pun duduk di atas permadani terbang, dan sang adik mengibaskan sudutnya, dan mereka terbang lebih tinggi dari hutan, lebih rendah dari awan yang mengembara, langsung kembali ke negeri mereka sendiri. Maka mereka pun terbang kembali, mengambil sebuah kamar di rumah ayah mereka, dan siapa mereka sebenarnya tak pernah mereka beritahukan kepada ayah dan ibu mereka. Maka mereka pun berpikir untuk mengadakan sebuah pesta bagi seluruh dunia yang beriman. Mereka mengumpulkan semua orang dalam rombongan tak terhitung banyaknya, dan selama tiga hari penuh mereka memberi makanan dan minuman kepada semua orang tanpa balasan, tanpa bayaran apa pun.

And afterwards every one began saying had any one a tale of wonder to tell; let him start. But no one would say: “We, it is said, are strange folk, but——”

Dan setelah itu setiap orang mulai bertanya apakah ada yang punya kisah ajaib untuk diceritakan; biarlah ia mulai. Tetapi tak seorang pun mau berkata: "Kami, katanya, adalah orang-orang aneh, tetapi——"

“Well, I will tell you a story,” said the younger brother; “only do not talk until the end. Whoever interrupts three times is to be ruthlessly punished.” So they all agreed.

"Baiklah, aku akan menceritakan sebuah kisah kepada kalian," kata sang adik; "hanya saja jangan bicara sampai selesai. Siapa pun yang menyela tiga kali akan dihukum tanpa ampun." Maka mereka semua pun setuju.

And he began to tell how the two old folks had lived together, how they had had a hen which laid jewels, and how the mother had made friends with the apprentice. “What a lie!” interrupted the mistress. But the son went on with his tale. And he narrated how they had twisted the hen’s neck, and the mother again interrupted. At last the story went up to the point when the old woman wished to take away the children, and again she would not stand it: “It is untrue!” she said. “Could ever such a thing happen? Could ever a mother wish to be torn from her children?”

Dan ia mulai bercerita tentang bagaimana kedua orang tua itu telah hidup bersama, bagaimana mereka mempunyai seekor ayam yang bertelurkan permata, dan bagaimana sang ibu telah berteman akrab dengan si pekerja magang. "Apa bohong!" sela sang nyonya rumah. Tetapi sang putra melanjutkan kisahnya. Dan ia menceritakan bagaimana mereka telah memuntir leher ayam itu, dan sang ibu kembali menyela. Akhirnya kisah itu sampai pada titik ketika si nenek ingin membawa pergi anak-anaknya, dan sekali lagi ia tak tahan: "Itu tidak benar!" katanya. "Bisakah hal semacam itu terjadi? Bisakah seorang ibu ingin dipisahkan dari anak-anaknya?"

“Obviously, it is possible. Look at us, mother; we are your children.”

"Tentu saja bisa. Lihatlah kami, Bu; kami adalah anak-anakmu."

Then the whole story came out, and the father bade his wife be chopped up into bits. He tied the apprentice to the tail of horses, and the horses broke in every direction and scattered his bones over the fields. “Let the dog die a dog’s death!” said the old man. And he gave all his property to the poor and went to live in his elder son’s kingdom.

Maka seluruh kisah itu pun terungkap, dan sang ayah menyuruh istrinya dipotong-potong. Ia mengikat si pekerja magang ke ekor kuda-kuda, dan kuda-kuda itu berlarian ke segala arah lalu menyebarkan tulang-belulangnya di ladang-ladang. "Biarlah si anjing mati seperti anjing!" kata si kakek tua. Dan ia memberikan semua hartanya kepada orang miskin lalu pergi tinggal di kerajaan putra sulungnya.

But the younger son smote his mare with the back of his hand and said, “You are a mare; now become a maiden!” So the mare turned into the fair Tsarévna. They made peace, became friends and wedded. It was a magnificent wedding.

Tetapi sang putra bungsu menepuk kuda betinanya dengan punggung tangannya dan berkata, "Kau adalah seekor kuda betina; sekarang jadilah seorang gadis!" Maka kuda betina itu pun berubah menjadi sang Tsarevna yang cantik. Mereka berdamai, menjadi sahabat, dan menikah. Itulah sebuah pernikahan yang megah.

I was there, I drank mead and it flowed up to my beard, but none came into my mouth.

Aku ada di sana, aku minum madu dan madu itu mengalir sampai ke janggutku, tetapi tak setetes pun masuk ke mulutku.