The snake spoke in a human voice. Russian folktale

Cossack, a kind person! Deliver me from death.

How can I deliver you? There are flames all around, there is no approach to you.

Put your pike into the fire, I will use it to get out.

The Cossack put his pike into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.

Don't be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you come to that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. If you perform this service, you will be happy!

The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom.

It took a lot of time, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, but at the end of the seventh year I reached steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.

The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall opened in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that same moment, a snake fell from his neck, hit the damp ground, turned into a maiden soul and disappeared from sight - as if it had not been there.

The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to examine the rooms. There are mirrors, silver and velvet everywhere, but nowhere is there a single human soul to be seen. “Eh,” the Cossack thinks, “where did I go? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, we’ll have to starve to death!”

I just thought, lo and behold, the table was set in front of him, there was plenty of everything to drink and eat on the table; he ate and drank, and decided to go and look at the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse is standing in the stall and eating oats.

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Well, this is a good thing: it means you can live without need.

The Cossack remained in the tin castle for a long, long time, and mortal boredom took over him: it’s no joke - he’s always alone! There is no one to exchange a word with. He decided to go to freedom; only wherever you throw yourself, there are high walls, there is no entrance or exit. Out of annoyance, it seemed to him that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the palace and started breaking mirrors and glass, tearing velvet, breaking chairs, throwing silver: “Maybe the owner will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.

The Cossack went to bed. The next day I woke up, walked around and decided to have a snack; he looks here and there - there is nothing for him! “Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, since she reaps uncleanly!” You caused trouble yesterday, and now go hungry!” As soon as I repented, now food and drink are all ready!

Three days passed; The Cossack woke up in the morning, looked out the window - his good horse, saddled, was standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, got dressed, took his long pike and went out into the wide yard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared:

Hello, good fellow! Seven years are over - you saved me from final destruction. Know this: I am a king's daughter. Koschey the Immortal took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; So he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; He will reward you with a gold treasury and semi-precious stones; you don’t take anything, but ask for the barrel that is in the basement.

And what kind of self-interest is in it?

Roll the keg in right side- the palace will appear immediately, if you drive to the left, the palace will disappear.

“Okay,” said the Cossack.

He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls moved apart in front of them, and they set off on their way.

Whether long or short, the Cossack and the queen arrive to the king. The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank him and gives the Cossack bags full of gold and pearls.

The good guy says:

I don’t need either gold or pearls; give me that barrel in the basement as a souvenir.

You want a lot, brother! Well, there’s nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! I don’t even feel sorry for the keg for her. Take it.

The Cossack took the royal gift and will travel around the world.

He drove and drove, and an ancient old man came across him. The old man asks:

Feed me, good fellow!

The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment a wonderful palace appeared.

They both went up into the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.

Hey, my faithful servants! - the Cossack shouted. - Give my guest something to eat and drink.

Before I could say anything, the servants were carrying a whole bull and three pots of beer. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three pots of beer, grunted and said:

It’s not enough, but there’s nothing to do! Thank you for the bread and the salt.

We left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel into left side- and the palace was gone.

“Let’s switch,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you’ll give me the keg.”

What's the use of a sword?

But this is a self-cutting sword; All you have to do is wave - no matter how immense the force, it will beat everyone! You see, the forest is growing; Do you want me to try it?

Then the old man took out his sword, waved it and said:

Go, self-cutter sword, chop down the dense forest!

The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in fathoms; chopped it up and returned to the owner.

The Cossack did not hesitate for long, gave the old man the barrel, took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted his horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; The Cossack saw the countless army-force and waved his sword at it:

Self-cutting sword! Do yourself a favor; cut down the enemy army!

Heads rolled... And not an hour passed before the enemy force was gone.

The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him.

The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding, I drank honey and wine, it was running down my mustache, it wasn’t in my mouth.

One day a Cossack was driving along a path and came into a dense forest; in that forest there is a haystack in a thawed patch. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down next to him and lit a pipe; he smoked and smoked and didn’t see how he set a spark in the hay. The Cossack mounted his horse and set off; I didn’t even have time to take ten steps when a flame broke out and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around and saw that a haystack was burning, and a red maiden was standing in the fire and said in a loud voice:

- Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.

- How can I save you? There are flames all around, there is no approach to you.

“Put your pike into the fire, I’ll use it to get out.”

The Cossack put his pike into the fire, and he turned away from the great heat.

Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slid onto the Cossack’s neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took the tail in her teeth.

The Cossack was afraid; won’t figure out what to do and how to be.

- Don’t be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and if you come to that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. If you perform this service, you will be happy!

The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom. It took a lot of time, a lot of water under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year I reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.

The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall opened in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment a snake fell from his neck, hit the damp ground, turned into a maiden soul and disappeared from sight - as if it had never existed.

The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to examine the rooms. There are mirrors, silver and velvet everywhere, but nowhere is there a single human soul to be seen.

“Eh,” the Cossack thinks, “where did I go? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, we’ll have to starve to death!”

He just thought, lo and behold, the table was set in front of him, there was plenty to drink and eat on the table; he ate and drank and decided to go look at the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse is standing in the stall and eating oats.

- Well, this is a good thing: it means you can live without need.

The Cossack remained in the tin castle for a long, long time, and mortal boredom took over him: it’s no joke - always alone! There is no one to exchange a word with. He decided to go to freedom; but wherever he rushes, there are high walls everywhere, there is no entrance or exit. Out of annoyance, it seemed to him that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the Palace and started breaking mirrors and glass, tearing velvet, breaking chairs, throwing silver: “Maybe the owner will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.

The Cossack went to bed. The next day I woke up, walked around and decided to have a snack; He looks here and there - there’s nothing for him!

“Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, since she reaps uncleanly!” You caused trouble yesterday, and now go hungry!”

As soon as I repented, now food and drink are all ready!

- Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you saved me from final destruction. Know this: I am a king's daughter. Koschey the Immortal took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; So he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; He will reward you with a gold treasury and semi-precious stones; you don’t take anything, but ask for the barrel that is in the basement.

- What kind of self-interest is in it?

“If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear; if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.”

“Okay,” said the Cossack. He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls moved apart in front of them, and they set off on their way.

Whether long or short, the Cossack and the queen arrive to the king.

The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank him and gave the Cossack bags full of gold and pearls.

The good guy says:

“I don’t need either gold or pearls; give me that barrel in the basement as a souvenir.

- You want a lot, brother! Well, there’s nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! I don’t even feel sorry for the keg for her. Take it.

The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to travel around the world.

As he drove and drove, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:

- Feed me, good fellow!

The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment a wonderful palace appeared. They both went up into the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.

- Hey, my faithful servants! - the Cossack shouted. - Give my guest something to eat and drink.

Before he had time to say anything, the servants were carrying a whole bull and three pots of drink. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons, grunted and said:

- It’s not enough, but there’s nothing to do! Thank you for the bread and the salt.

We left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left - and the palace disappeared.

“Let’s switch,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you’ll give me the keg.”

- What's the use of a sword?

“But it’s a self-cutting sword: you just have to swing it, and no matter how innumerable a force it is, it’ll beat you all!” You see, the forest is growing; Do you want me to try it?

Then the old man took out his sword, waved it and said:

- Go, self-cutter sword, chop down the dense forest!

The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in fathoms; chopped it up and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for long, gave the old man the barrel, took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted his horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; The Cossack saw the countless army-force and waved his sword at it:

- Self-cutting sword! Do your service: cut down the enemy’s army.

Heads rolled... And not an hour passed before the enemy force was gone. The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him.

The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding too, I drank honey, it was running down my mustache, it wasn’t in my mouth.

The Cossack was driving along the road and drove into a dense forest; in that forest there is a haystack in a clearing. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down near the haystack and lit a pipe; he smoked and smoked and didn’t see how he set a spark in the hay. After resting, he mounted his horse and set off; I didn’t even have time to take ten steps when a flame broke out and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around and saw: a haystack was burning, and a red maiden was standing in the fire and said in a loud voice: “Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.” - “How can I save you? There are flames all around, there is no approach to you.” - “Put your pike into the fire; I’ll get out on it.” The Cossack put his pike into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.

Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slid onto the Cossack’s neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took her tail in her teeth. The Cossack was scared; he couldn’t figure out what to do or what to do. The snake proclaimed in a human voice: “Don’t be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and if you come to that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. If you serve this service, you will be happy!”

The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom, a lot of time was spent, a lot of water had flown under the bridge, and at the end of the seventh year he reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall. He galloped up the mountain, the wall opened in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment a snake fell from his neck, hit the damp ground, turned into a maiden soul and disappeared from sight - as if it had never existed. The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to examine the rooms. There are mirrors, silver and velvet everywhere, but nowhere is there a single human soul to be seen. “Eh,” the Cossack thinks, “where have I gone? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, I had to die of starvation!”

I just thought, lo and behold, the table was set in front of him, there was plenty of everything to drink and eat on the table; He ate and drank, strengthened his strength and decided to go look at the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse is standing in the stall and eating oats. “Well, this is a good thing: it means you can live without need.”

The Cossack remained in the tin castle for a long, long time, and mortal boredom took over him: it’s no joke - he’s always alone! There is no one to exchange a word with. Out of grief, he got drunk and drunk, and he decided to go to the free world; only wherever he rushes, there are high walls everywhere, there is no entrance or exit. Out of annoyance, it seemed to him that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the palace and started breaking mirrors and glass, tearing velvet, breaking chairs, throwing silver: “Maybe the owner will come out and set him free!” No, no one is. The Cossack went to bed; the next day I woke up, walked around and decided to have a snack; he looks here and there - there is nothing for him! “Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself because she reaps uncleanly! You caused trouble yesterday, and now go hungry!” As soon as I repented, now food and drink are all ready!

Three days passed; Waking up in the morning, the Cossack looks out the window - his good horse, saddled, is standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, got dressed, prayed to God, took his long pike and went out into the wide courtyard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared: “Hello, good fellow! Seven years are over - you saved me from ultimate destruction. Know: I am a royal daughter; Koschey the Immortal fell in love with me, took me away from my father, from my mother, wanted to marry me , yes, I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let’s go to my father; he will reward you with a gold treasury and semi-precious stones, you don’t take anything, but ask yourself a barrel, which is in it's in the basement." - “What kind of self-interest is in it?” - “If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear; if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.” “Okay,” said the Cossack, mounted his horse, and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls moved apart in front of him, and he set off on his way.

Whether long or short, he comes to the said kingdom. The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank him and gave the Cossack bags full of gold and pearls. The good fellow answers: “I don’t need either gold or pearls; give me that barrel that’s in the basement as a souvenir.” - “You want a lot, brother! Well, there’s nothing to do: my daughter is dearer to me than anything else! I don’t even feel sorry for a keg for her; take it with God.” The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to travel around the world.

He drove and drove, and an ancient old man came across him. The old man asks: “Feed me, good fellow!” The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment a wonderful palace appeared. They both went up into the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table. “Hey, my faithful servants!” the Cossack shouted. “Feed and drink my guest.” Before I could say anything, the servants were carrying a whole bull and three pots of beer. The old man began to write and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three pots of beer, grunted and said: “It’s not enough, but there’s nothing to do! Thank you for the bread and the salt.”

We left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left - and the palace disappeared. “Let’s switch,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you give me the keg.” “What’s the use of a sword?” - “But this is a self-cutting sword; you just have to swing it - no matter how innumerable a force it is, it will beat everyone! You see - the forest is growing; do you want me to make a test?” Then the old man took out his sword, waved it and said: “Go, self-cutter sword, chop down the dense forest!” The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in fathoms; chopped it up and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for long, gave the old man the barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself; swung his sword and killed the old man to death. Then he tied the barrel to the saddle, mounted his horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; The Cossack saw the countless army force, waved his sword at it: “A self-cutter sword! Do your service, cut down the enemy’s army.” Heads flew, blood flowed, and not an hour passed before the entire field was covered with corpses.

The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him. The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding, I drank honey and wine, it was running down my mustache, it wasn’t in my mouth.

An interesting Russian folk tale “The Snake Princess”, about how the Cossack accidentally started a fire in the forest and saved the snake princess from the fire. Then he lives in the tin kingdom for seven years, frees the princess from the spell and takes her to her father the king, defends the kingdom and marries the princess. The princess turned out to be not a snake at all.

"Snake Princess" Russian folk tale

Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.

How can I deliver you? There are flames all around, there is no approach to you.

Put your pike into the fire, I will use it to get out.

The Cossack put his pike into the fire, and he turned away from the great heat.

Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slid onto the Cossack’s neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took the tail in her teeth.

The Cossack was afraid; won’t figure out what to do and how to be.

Don't be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and if you come to that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. If you perform this service, you will be happy!

The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to examine the rooms. There are mirrors, silver and velvet everywhere, but nowhere is there a single human soul to be seen.

“Eh,” the Cossack thinks, “where have I gone? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, I’ll have to starve to death!”

I just thought, lo and behold, the table was set in front of him, there was plenty of everything to drink and eat on the table; he ate and drank and decided to go look at the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse is standing in the stall and eating oats.

Well, this is a good thing: it means you can live without need.

The Cossack remained in the tin castle for a long, long time, and mortal boredom took over him: it’s no joke - he’s always alone! There is no one to exchange a word with. He decided to go to freedom; only wherever he rushes, there are high walls everywhere, there is no entrance or exit. Out of annoyance, it seemed to him that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the Palace and started breaking mirrors and glass, tearing velvet, breaking chairs, throwing silver: “Maybe the owner will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.

The Cossack went to bed. The next day I woke up, walked around and decided to have a snack; he looks here and there - there is nothing for him!

“Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself because she reaps uncleanly! You caused trouble yesterday, and now go hungry!”

As soon as I repented, now food and drink are all ready!

Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you saved me from final destruction. Know this: I am a king's daughter. Koschey the Immortal took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; So he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; He will reward you with a gold treasury and semi-precious stones; you don’t take anything, but ask for the barrel that is in the basement.

And what kind of self-interest is in it?

If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear; if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.

“Okay,” said the Cossack. He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls moved apart in front of them, and they set off on their way.

Whether long or short, the Cossack and the queen arrive to the king.

The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank him and gave the Cossack bags full of gold and pearls.

The good guy says:

I don’t need either gold or pearls; give me that barrel in the basement as a souvenir.

You want a lot, brother! Well, there’s nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! I don’t even feel sorry for the keg for her. Take it.

The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to travel around the world.

As he drove and drove, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:

Feed me, good fellow!

Hey, my faithful servants! - the Cossack shouted. - Give my guest something to eat and drink.

Before he had time to say anything, the servants were carrying a whole bull and three pots of drink. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons, grunted and said:

It’s not enough, but there’s nothing to do! Thank you for the bread and the salt.

We left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left - and the palace disappeared.

“Let’s switch,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you’ll give me the keg.”

What's the use of a sword?

Why, this is a self-cutting sword: as soon as you swing it, no matter how innumerable the force, it will beat you all! You see, the forest is growing; Do you want me to try it?

Then the old man took out his sword, waved it and said:

Go, self-cutter sword, chop down the dense forest!

Self-cutting sword! Do your service: cut down the enemy’s army.