The Epic Songs of Russia

The red sun sank behind the lofty mountains, behind the broad sea, stars studded the clear heavens; then Volga Vseslavich was born in Holy Mother Russia, the son of Marfa Vseslavievna and a Dragon.

Mother Earth trembled,’ the wild beasts fled to the forests, the bii’ds flew up to the clouds, and the fish in the blue sea scattered. At an hour and a half old, Volgd spoke thus to his lady mother: “Swathe me not in cocoon-like bands, neither gii’d me about with silken bonds. But swathe me, mother mine, in strong steel mail; on my head set a helm of gold; in my right hand put a mace, a heavy mace of lead, in weight three hundred poods.”

In due course Lord Volga learned all wisdom and all cunning, and divers tongues. When he attained to fifteen years he collected a body-guard, bold and good — thirty heroes, save one; and he himself was the thirtieth. To them Lord Volgd spoke:

“Good and brave druzhlna mine! listen to your ataman.’ Weave snares of silk, spread them on the damp earth, amid the dusky forest, and take martens, foxes, wUd beasts and black sables foi the space of three days and three nights.”