A. Pushkin The Tale of Tsar Saltan
written by Valentina & Zinaida Brumberg
Assistant: T. Basmanova, art dir. K. Kuznetsov music V. Oransky Technical ass. T. Fyodorova, N Palatkin
artists K. Malyshev, V. Rodgero, V. Valerianova animators M. Irtenev, Faina Yepifanova, N. Fyodorov, O. Kovalenko, Roman Davydov, L. Dikovsky,
Lamis Bredis, L. Popov, Valentin Lalayants, Tatiana Fyodorova, Ye. Sergeyev, Boris Dyozhkin
voice artists D. Orlov, Faina Ranevskaya, Ludmila Koreneva, Maria Babanova, Michael Zharov, Faina Shevchenko, Leonid Pirogov
cameraman N. Sokolova sound S. Rensky Soyuzmultfilm Moscow 1943
Snowy winter, sparkling frost...
All the roads had long been lost...
All the roads, and every track...
No way out, and no way back.
Three fair maidens late one night Sat and spun by candle light.
Were the tsar to marry me -
I would cook and I would bake -
Oh, what royal feasts I'd make.
Were the tsar to marry me -
I would weave a cloth of gold fair and wondrous to behold.
And if he would marry me -
I would give our Tsar an heir,
handsome, brave, beyond compare.
Greetings, maiden fair, to thee!
My tsaritsa you will be!
See that you bear me a son,
...before next...
...September's done!
As for you, fair sisters two,
leave your home without ado,
leave your home and follow me,
and your sister, bride to be:
Royal weaver, YOU I'll make,
YOU as Royal cook I'll take! -
These were days of war's alarms. Ere he rode forth for the strife,
Tsar Saltan embraced his wife, Bidding her to take good care Of herself and coming heir;
While he battled on the field, Forcing countless foes to yield,
God gave unto her an heir - Lusty, large of limb, and fair.
- She sends news of God's glad gift. - To the tsar, by rider swift.
But the royal cook, and weaver, And their mother, sly deceiver, Sought to ruin her, so they...
- "Sire, your wife gave birth last night" - "To a strange, inhuman fright."
- "It was neither frog nor mouse," - "This new beastie in your house."
"Sire, your wife gave birth last night"
"To a strange, inhuman fright."
"It was neither frog nor mouse,"
"This new beastie in your house."
At these words, the royal sire Raved and raged in furious ire, "Hang that messenger!" roared he,
"Hang him on the nearest tree!" But, relenting, spared him, and Sent him back with this command:
From all hasty steps refrain
till the Tsar comes home again.
"It was neither frog nor mouse, This new beastie in your house."
Back the messenger rode fast, Reached the city gates at last. But the royal cook, and weaver,
With their mother, sly deceiver, Made him drunk; and in his sleep Stole the message from his keep
- "From all hasty steps refrain..."
And, before he could recover, They replaced it by another.
"The Tsar instructs his boyars"
"To act in haste on this ukaz,"
"Have the queen and have her spawn"
"Drowned in secret ere the dawn."
Stars gleam in the dark blue sky, Dark blue billows heave and sigh.
Storm clouds o'er the blue sky creep, While the cask rides o'er the deep.
While the babe to manhood grew As the hours swiftly flew.
O, you wanton waves so blue,
Free to come and go are you,
Hear my prayer, o waves, and spare us -
Safely onto dry land bear us.
I do wonder, mother, how We could break our prison now?
Food and drink Wouldn't come amiss, I think.
O, tsarevich, champion peerless,
My deliverer so fearless.
Tis no swan that you set free,
But a maiden charmed, you see;
'Twas a wizard, not a kite,
That you slew, O noble knight;
I shall ne'er forget your deed
I'll be with you in your need.
Things have just begun, I see - My swan's having fun with me.
That same day he took the throne, And was crowned as Prince Guidon.
Sailors, merchants, crowd the decks, Marvel loud and crane their necks.
Wondrous changes meet their view On an island which they knew!
When the merchants land, Guidon Bids them be his guests anon;
Feasts them first with wine and meats, Then an audience entreats.
Tell me what you have for sale, Whither bound, and whence you hail?
We have sailed the seven seas.
Costly furs, prince, were our ware– Silver fox, and sables rare...
Now our time is overstayed,
East-due east, our course is laid,
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
Well, my gentles, bon voyage. May fair breezes speed you on, Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
Send to him, from me...
Greetings, oh my prince most fair,
Why so quiet, like still air? What is it that's made you sad?
Grief is gnawing at my breast, My soul has just one request–
I should like to see my sire.
That's what's causing you to sigh? Listen–would you like to fly, Overtake that ship at sea?
Why, then–a mosquito be!
Now, I ask you, masters mine,
Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been?
What strange wonders have you seen?
We have sailed the seven seas;
Peace reigns overseas, serene.
- There, we saw this wondrous scene: - There's an island in the sea,
- Shores as steep as steep can be; - Cheerless once, deserted, bare -
Nothing but an oak grew there. - Now it has a new-built city,
Stately mansions, gardens pretty,
Churches tall with domes of gold Fair and wondrous to behold.
- Prince Guidon reigns there, and he - Sends his compliments to thee.'
If but God prolong my days,
I shall visit this strange isle, Guest with this Guidon a while.
That's no wonder, to be sure...
Just a city by the shore!
Here's a wonder, though, worth telling –
There's a little squirrel dwelling In a fir tree; all day long,
Cracking nuts, it sings a song.
Nuts–most wondrous to behold!
Every shell is solid gold;
Kernels–each an emerald pure!
That's a wonder, to be sure.
Our mosquito, with full might, Stung his aunt's right eye, in spite.
You cursed insect, you! Just you wait!
There's a wonder, I confess, That I'm burning to possess.
In a fir tree dwells a squirrel...
I know of this thing, you hear? Calm your troubled soul, my dear,
Grieve not - I will gladly do This slight service, prince, for you.
Through the garden there she goes, Tripping on her dainty toes.
She's a tiny little thing, With her round cheeks all pink!
Thank you, kindly! What a swan!...
Breezes o'er the ocean play, Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas, Running swiftly 'fore the breeze.
In the twinkling of an eye He became a tiny fly, And he flew across the sea
On an island, far away, Stands a city, grand and gay -
By the palace grows a fir In whose shade, O royal sir,
Stands a crystal cage; and there Dwells a squirrel, strange and rare-
Full of frolic; all day long, Cracking nuts, it sings a song,
Nuts, most wondrous to behold - Every shell is solid gold,
Kernels - each an emerald bright;
- People live in plenty there, - Not in huts, but mansions fair.
- Prince Guidon reigns there, and he... - Sends his compliments to thee.
If but God prolong my days,
I shall visit this strange isle
Guest with this Guidon a while.
Nothing strange in this see I! Be this true, or but a lie,
I know of a better wonder. Lo! The ocean swells in thunder,
Surges with a mighty roar, Overflows a barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see, Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right;
Each one brave beyond compare, Tall of stature, young and fair,
All alike beyond belief, Led by Chernomor, their chief.
That's a wonder, now, for you, Marvelously strange, but true."
Then the tsar waxed very curious, And Guidon waxed very furious.
Fiercely buzzed and settled right On his aunt's left eye, in spite.
Catch it! Kill that insect there!
O you nasty insect, you!
It is by the swan's request
And, at her express behest,
We have come from out the sea
Your fair city's guards to be.
Henceforth, from the ocean blue,
We will always come to you,
Every day, on guard to stand
By your lofty walls so grand.
Now, however, we must go -
to the salty sea below;
We're not used to land, you know;
So she drenched him, head to toe. In a trice, he shrank, and lo!
Ere our prince could even gasp, He had turned into a wasp.
There's an island far away- On this isle - a city gay;
There, each dawn brings in new wonders:
There, the ocean swells and thunders, Breakers, with a mighty roar,
Foaming, flood its barren shore, Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three, All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right;
Prince Guidon reigns there, and he Sends his compliments to thee.
If but God prolong my days, I shall visit this strange isle,
Guest with this Guidon a while.
This report, sire, is quite true... Stranger things exist, mark you -
There's a young princess, they say, That she charms all hearts away.
Brighter than the sun at noon, She outshines the midnight moon,
In her braids a crescent beams, On her brow, a bright star gleams.
She herself is sweet of face, Full of majesty and grace.
When she speaks, her voice doth seem Like the music of a stream.
That's a wonder, now, for you -
Marvellously strange, but true.
Help me, by God!
Mayday!
Get it, get it! My God, get it! Get it!
There it is!
Let me through!
Just you wait!
Greetings, oh my prince most fair,
Why so quiet, like still air? What is it that's made you sad?
Grief is gnawing at my breast,
Every youth has his own bride - Only I unmarried bide.
Who is she you wish to wed?
There's a fair princess; they say That she charms all hearts away -
Is this true, though, or a lie?
Yes-this maiden I can find;
But a wife's no mitten, mind, From your lily hand to cast,
Or unto your belt make fast; Listen now to my advice:
Weigh this matter well - think twice, So that on your marriage morrow
You do not repent in sorrow.
Know, your future bride is near -
I am that princess, my dear.
Prince Guidon reigns there in glory,
He is praised in song and story
Prince Guidon sends his respects,
Bade us say he still expects You to visit him one day
And regrets your long delay."
We will sail today!
Am I the Tsar, or just some child?!
Tsar Saltan's fleet, at long last, O'er the seas was sailing fast.
Mother dear, come hither, do - You, my fair princess, come too -
Only look out yonder - there Sails my father, I declare!
To the shore Guidon then ran, There to welcome Tsar Saltan,
And the royal cook, and weaver, And their mother, sly deceiver.
Am I dreaming in my sleep? Who is this I see? Who?
Oh, I'm overwhelmed with this surprise Tears are streaming from my eyes!
The end Subs by Eus & Niffiwan (June 2021), modified from Louis Zellikoff's translation