A kind and instructive tale tells about Princess Elena, who has a magic book of knowledge. Many amazing and wonderful adventures are described in the story. Also, the fairy tale teaches you to be completely true to your word and the fact that you can find a way out of any situation.

Tale Elena the Wise download:

Fairy tale Elena the Wise read

In the old days, in a certain kingdom, not in our state, it happened to a soldier at a stone tower to stand at the clock; the tower was locked and sealed with a seal, but it was at night. Exactly at twelve o'clock the soldier hears that someone is shouting from this tower:

Hey servant!

The soldier asks:

Who is calling me?

What do you want?

Let me out. As soon as you are in need, I myself will be useful to you; just remember me - and at that very moment I will come to your rescue.

The soldier immediately tore off the seal, broke the lock and opened the doors - the unclean one flew out of the tower, soared upward and disappeared faster than lightning.

“Well,” the soldier thinks, “I have done some business; my whole service was not for a penny. Now they will put me under arrest, put me on trial and, what good, make me walk through the ranks; I’d better run away while there’s time.”

He threw the gun and knapsack on the ground and went wherever he could look.

He walked a day, and another, and a third; sorted out his hunger, but there is nothing to eat or drink; sat down on the road, cried bitter tears, and thought:

"Well, am I not stupid? I served with the king for ten years, every day I received three pounds of bread. But no! I ran away to die of starvation. Oh, damn it, you are to blame for everything!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, he stood in front of him unclean and asked:

Hello, serviceman! What are you grieving about?

How can I not grieve if I go to hunger for the third day.

Do not grieve, this is a good thing! - said the devil. He rushed here and there, brought in all sorts of wines and provisions, fed and watered the soldier and called him with him:

In my house you will live at ease; drink, eat and walk as much as your heart desires, just look after my daughters - I don't need anything else. The soldier agreed. The devil grabbed him by the arms, lifted him high, high into the air and brought him to the distant lands, to the thirtieth state - to the white-stone chambers.

The devil had three daughters - beautiful women. He ordered them to obey that soldier and feed and water him as much as he could, while he himself flew to do dirty tricks: you know - hell! He never sits on the spot, but everything prowls around the world and confuses people.

There remained a soldier with red maidens, and he had such a life that he did not need to die. One thing makes him twist: every night red girls leave the house, and where they leave - no one knows.

I began to ask them about that, they do not say that, they lock themselves up.

“All right,” the soldier thinks, “I’ll watch the whole night, and I’ll see where you are dragging.”

In the evening the soldier lay down on the bed, pretended to be fast asleep, but he himself could not wait - something will happen? That's how the time came, he crept quietly to the girl's bedroom, stood at the door, bent down and looked through the keyhole. The red girls brought a magic carpet, spread it on the floor, hit that carpet and became doves; startled and flew out the window.

“What a miracle!” The soldier thinks. “Let me try.”

He jumped into the bedroom, hit the carpet and turned into a robin, flew out the window and followed them. The doves sank into the green meadow, and the robin sat under the currant bush, hid behind the leaves and looked out from there.

Doves flew into that place, apparently invisibly, the whole meadow was covered; in the middle stood a golden throne. A little later, both heaven and earth shone - a golden chariot flies through the air, in harness six fiery serpents; on the chariot sits the princess Elena the Wise - of such an indescribable beauty that you can neither think of, nor guess, nor say in a fairy tale!

She got off the chariot, sat on the golden throne; began to call the dove to her in turn and teach them different wisdom. Finished her studies, jumped on a chariot - and she was!

Then every single dove took off from the green meadow and flew each in its own direction. The robin bird flew up after the three sisters and with them found itself in the bedroom.

The doves hit the carpet - they became red maidens, and the robin hit - turned into a soldier.

Where are you from? the girls ask him.

And I was with you on a green meadow, saw a beautiful princess on a golden throne and heard the princess teach you various tricks.

Well, it's your happiness that he survived! After all, this princess is Elena the Wise, our mighty mistress. If she had her magic book with her, she would immediately recognize you - and then you would not escape an evil death. Beware, servant! Do not fly to the green meadow anymore, do not marvel at Helen the Wise, or you will lay your head down.

The soldier is not discouraged, he ignores those speeches. He waited another night, hit the carpet and became a robin bird. A robin flew into a green meadow, hid under a currant bush, looks at Elena the Wise, admires her beloved beauty and thinks:

"If I could get such a wife, there would be nothing left to wish in the world! I'll fly after her and find out where she lives."

So Helen the Wise came down from the golden throne, sat on her chariot and rushed through the air to her wonderful palace; after her and the robin flew. The princess came to the palace; the nannies and mothers ran out to meet her, grabbed her by the arms and took her to the painted chambers. And the robin bird flew into the garden, chose a beautiful tree that just stood under the window of the princess’s bedroom, sat on a branch and began to sing so well and pitifully that the princess didn’t close her eyes all night — she listened to everything. As soon as the red sun rose, Elena the Wise cried in a loud voice:

Nurses, nurses, hurry to the garden; catch me a robin bird!

Nurses and mothers rushed into the garden, began to catch the songbird ... But where should they, old women! The robin flies from bush to bush, does not fly far and does not give a handle.

The princess could not stand it, ran out into the green garden, wants to catch a robin bird herself; comes to the bush - the bird does not move from the branch, sits after the wings, as if waiting for it.

The princess was delighted, took the bird in her hands, brought it to the palace, put it in a golden cage and hung it in her bedroom.

The day passed, the sun went down, Elena the Wise flew to the green meadow, returned, began to take off her clothes, undressed and went to bed. As soon as the princess fell asleep, the robin bird turned into a fly, flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and became a good fellow.

A good fellow came up to the princess's bed, looked, looked at the beauty, could not stand it and kissed her on the sugar lips. He sees - the princess wakes up, quickly turned into a fly, flew into the cage and became a robin bird. Elena the Wise opened her eyes, looked around - there was no one. "It can be seen - he thinks - I dreamed it in a dream!" She turned on the other side and fell asleep again. And the soldier is impatient; tried again and for the third time - the princess is lightly asleep, after every kiss she wakes up. For the third time she got out of bed and said:

There’s something for good reason: let me look into the magic book.

She looked at her magic book and immediately found out that it was not a simple robin bird, but a young soldier sitting in a golden cage.

Oh you! - Elena the Wise shouted. - Get out of the cage. For your lies, you will answer me with your life.

There is nothing to do - a robin bird flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

You have no forgiveness! - said Elena the Wise and shouted to the executioner to chop off the soldier's head. Out of nowhere, a giant stood in front of her with an ax and a chopping block, knocked the soldier to the ground, pressed his wild head to the block and raised the ax. The princess will wave her handkerchief, and the brave head will roll ...

Have mercy, fair princess, - said the soldier with tears, - let me sing a song at last.

Sing, hurry up!

The soldier started a song, so sad, so mournful that Elena the Wise burst into tears herself; she felt sorry for the good fellow, she says to the soldier:

I give you ten hours; if you manage to hide so cunningly at this time that I cannot find you, then I will marry you; but if you fail to do this, I will order you to chop off your head.

A soldier came out of the palace, wandered into a dense forest, sat down under a bush, thought, twisted.

Ah, the unclean spirit! All because of you I disappear. At that moment the devil appeared to him:

What do you want, servant?

Eh, - he says, - my death comes! Where am I going to hide from Elena the Wise?

The devil hit the damp earth and turned into a gray-winged eagle:

Sit down, servant, on my back, I will bring you into the skies.

The soldier sat on the eagle; the eagle soared upward and flew behind the clouds, black clouds.

Five hours passed. Elena the Wise took the magic book, looked - and saw everything as if in the palm of her hand; she cried in a loud voice:

Completely, eagle, fly through the skies; get down to the bottom - you can't hide from me.

The eagle sank to the ground. The soldier twirled more than ever:

What now? Where to hide?

Wait, the devil says, I'll help you. He jumped to the soldier, hit him on the cheek and turned the pin, and he himself became a mouse, grabbed the pin in his teeth, sneaked into the palace, found the magic book and stuck the pin into it.

The last five hours have passed. Elena the Wise unfolded her magic book, looked, looked - the book shows nothing; the princess became very angry and threw her into the oven.

The pin fell out of the book, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

Elena the Wise took his hand.

I, - he says, - are cunning, and you and me are cunning!

They did not hesitate for a long time, got married and healed themselves happily.

In the old days, in a certain kingdom, not in our state, it happened to a soldier at a stone tower to stand at the clock; the tower was locked and sealed with a seal, but it was at night. Exactly at twelve o'clock the soldier hears that someone is shouting from this tower:

Hey servant!

The soldier asks:

Who is calling me?

What do you want?

Let me out. As soon as you are in need, I myself will be useful to you; just remember me - and at that very moment I will come to your rescue.

The soldier immediately tore off the seal, broke the lock and opened the doors - the devil jumped out of the tower, soared upward and disappeared faster than lightning.

"Well," the soldier thinks, "I have done some business; my whole service has been lost for a penny. Now they will put me under arrest, put me under military court and, what good, they will make me walk through the ranks; I'd better run away while there is time."

He threw the gun and knapsack on the ground and went wherever he looked.

He walked a day, and another, and a third; sorted out his hunger, but there is nothing to eat or drink; sat down on the road, cried bitter tears, and thought:

"Well, am I not stupid? I served with the king for ten years, every day I received three pounds of bread. But no! I ran away to die of starvation. Oh, damn it, you are to blame for everything!"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, he stood in front of him unclean and asked:

Hello, serviceman! What are you grieving about?

How can I not grieve if I go to hunger for the third day.

Do not grieve, this is a good thing! - said the devil. He rushed here and there, brought in all sorts of wines and provisions, fed and watered the soldier and called him with him:

In my house you will live at ease; drink, eat and walk as much as your heart desires, just look after my daughters - I don't need anything else. The soldier agreed. The devil grabbed him by the arms, lifted him high, high into the air and brought him to the distant lands, to the thirtieth state - to the white-stone chambers.

The devil had three daughters - beautiful women. He ordered them to obey that soldier and feed and water him as much as he could, while he himself flew to do dirty tricks: you know - hell! He never sits on the spot, but everything prowls around the world and confuses people.

There remained a soldier with red maidens, and he had such a life that he did not need to die. One thing makes him twist: every night red girls leave the house, and where they leave - no one knows.

I began to ask them about that, they do not say that, they lock themselves up.

“All right,” the soldier thinks, “I’ll watch the whole night, and I’ll see where you are dragging.” In the evening the soldier lay down on the bed, pretended to be fast asleep, but he himself could not wait - something will happen? That's how the time came, he crept quietly to the girl's bedroom, stood at the door, bent down and looked through the keyhole. The red girls brought a magic carpet, spread it on the floor, hit that carpet and became doves; startled and flew out the window.

“What a miracle!” The soldier thinks. “Let me try.”

He jumped into the bedroom, hit the carpet and turned into a robin, flew out the window and followed them. The doves sank into the green meadow, and the robin sat under the currant bush, hid behind the leaves and looked out from there.

Doves flew into that place, apparently invisibly, the whole meadow was covered; in the middle stood a golden throne. A little later, both heaven and earth shone - a golden chariot flies through the air, in harness six fiery serpents; on the chariot sits the princess Elena the Wise - of such an indescribable beauty that you can neither think of, nor guess, nor say in a fairy tale!

She got off the chariot, sat on the golden throne; began to call the dove to her in turn and teach them different wisdom. Finished her studies, jumped on a chariot - and she was!

Then every single dove took off from the green meadow and flew each in its own direction. The robin bird flew up after the three sisters and with them found itself in the bedroom.

The doves hit the carpet - they became red maidens, and the robin hit - turned into a soldier.

Where are you from? the girls ask him.

And I was with you on a green meadow, saw a beautiful princess on a golden throne and heard the princess teach you various tricks.

Well, it's your happiness that he survived! After all, this princess is Elena the Wise, our mighty mistress. If she had her magic book with her, she would immediately recognize you - and then you would not escape an evil death. Beware, servant! Do not fly to the green meadow anymore, do not marvel at Helen the Wise, or you will lay your head down.

The soldier is not discouraged, he ignores those speeches. He waited another night, hit the carpet and became a robin bird. A robin flew into a green meadow, hid under a currant bush, looks at Elena the Wise, admires her beloved beauty and thinks:

"If I could get such a wife, there would be nothing left to wish in the world! I'll fly after her and find out where she lives."

So Helen the Wise came down from the golden throne, sat on her chariot and rushed through the air to her wonderful palace; after her and the robin flew. The princess came to the palace; the nannies and mothers ran out to meet her, grabbed her by the arms and took her to the painted chambers. And the robin bird flew into the garden, chose a beautiful tree that just stood under the window of the princess’s bedroom, sat on a branch and began to sing so well and pitifully that the princess didn’t close her eyes all night — she listened to everything. As soon as the red sun rose, Elena the Wise cried in a loud voice:

Nurses, nurses, hurry to the garden; catch me a robin bird!

Nurses and mothers rushed into the garden, began to catch the songbird ... But where should they, old women! The robin flies from bush to bush, does not fly far and does not give a handle.

The princess could not stand it, ran out into the green garden, wants to catch a robin bird herself; comes to the bush - the bird does not move from the branch, sits after the wings, as if waiting for it.

The princess was delighted, took the bird in her hands, brought it to the palace, put it in a golden cage and hung it in her bedroom.

The day passed, the sun went down, Elena the Wise flew to the green meadow, returned, began to take off her clothes, undressed and went to bed. As soon as the princess fell asleep, the robin bird turned into a fly, flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and became a good fellow.

A good fellow came up to the princess's bed, looked, looked at the beauty, could not stand it and kissed her on the sugar lips. He sees - the princess wakes up, quickly turned into a fly, flew into the cage and became a robin bird. Elena the Wise opened her eyes, looked around - there was no one. "It can be seen - he thinks - I dreamed it in a dream!" She turned on the other side and fell asleep again. And the soldier is impatient; tried again and for the third time - the princess is lightly asleep, after every kiss she wakes up. For the third time she got out of bed and said:

There’s something for good reason: let me look into the magic book.

She looked at her magic book and immediately found out that it was not a simple robin bird, but a young soldier sitting in a golden cage.

Oh you! - Elena the Wise shouted. - Get out of the cage. For your lies, you will answer me with your life.

There is nothing to do - a robin bird flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

You have no forgiveness! - said Elena the Wise and shouted to the executioner to chop off the soldier's head. Out of nowhere, a giant stood in front of her with an ax and a chopping block, knocked the soldier to the ground, pressed his wild head to the block and raised the ax. The princess will wave her handkerchief, and the brave head will roll ...

Have mercy, fair princess, - said the soldier with tears, - let me sing a song at last.

Sing, hurry up!

The soldier started a song, so sad, so mournful that Elena the Wise burst into tears herself; she felt sorry for the good fellow, she says to the soldier:

I give you ten hours; if you manage to hide so cunningly at this time that I cannot find you, then I will marry you; but if you fail to do this, I will order you to chop off your head.

A soldier came out of the palace, wandered into a dense forest, sat down under a bush, thought, twisted.

Ah, the unclean spirit! All because of you I disappear. At that moment the devil appeared to him:

What do you want, servant? ”“ Eh, ”he says,“ my death is coming! Where am I going to hide from Elena the Wise?

The devil hit the damp earth and turned into a gray-winged eagle:

Sit down, servant, on my back, I will bring you into the skies.

The soldier sat on the eagle; the eagle soared upward and flew behind the clouds, black clouds.

Five hours passed. Elena the Wise took the magic book, looked - and saw everything as if in the palm of her hand; she cried in a loud voice:

Completely, eagle, fly through the skies; get down to the bottom - you can't hide from me.

The eagle sank to the ground. The soldier twirled more than ever:

What now? Where to hide?

Wait, the devil says, I'll help you. He jumped to the soldier, hit him on the cheek and turned the pin, and he himself became a mouse, grabbed the pin in his teeth, sneaked into the palace, found the magic book and stuck the pin into it.

The last five hours have passed. Elena the Wise unfolded her magic book, looked, looked - the book shows nothing; the princess became very angry and threw her into the oven.

The pin fell out of the book, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

Elena the Wise took his hand.

I, - he says, - are cunning, and you and me are cunning!

They did not hesitate for a long time, got married and healed themselves happily.

In the old days, in a certain kingdom, not in our state, it happened to a soldier at a stone tower to stand at the clock; the tower was locked and sealed with a seal, but it was at night.
Exactly at twelve o'clock the soldier hears that someone is shouting from this tower:
- Hey, servant!
The soldier asks:
- Who is calling me?
- It's me - the devil, - a voice says from behind the iron bars, - thirty years since I have been sitting here neither drinking nor eating.
- What do you want?
- Let me out. As soon as you are in need, I myself will be useful to you; just remember me - and at that very moment I will come to your rescue.
The soldier immediately tore off the seal, broke the lock and opened the doors - the devil jumped out of the tower, soared upward and disappeared faster than lightning.
“Well,” the soldier thinks, “I've done things; my whole service was gone for nothing. Now they will put me under arrest, put me on trial and, what good, make me walk through the line; I'd rather run away while I have time. "
He threw the gun and knapsack on the ground and went wherever he looked.
He walked a day, and another, and a third; sorted out his hunger, but there is nothing to eat or drink; sat down on the road, cried bitter tears, and thought:
“Well, am I not stupid? He served with the king for ten years, and every day he received three pounds of bread. But no! He fled into freedom to starve to death. Oh, damn it, you are to blame for everything! "
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he stood in front of him unclean and asked:
- Hello, serviceman! What are you grieving about?
- How can I not grieve if the third day of hunger is lost.
- Do not grieve, this is a good thing! - said the devil.
He rushed here and there, brought in all sorts of wines and provisions, fed and watered the soldier and called him with him:
- In my house you will live at ease; drink, eat and walk as much as your heart desires, just look after my daughters - I don't need anything else.
The soldier agreed. The devil grabbed him by the arms, lifted him high, high into the air and brought him to the distant lands, to the thirtieth state - to the white-stone chambers.
The devil had three daughters - beautiful women. He ordered them to obey that soldier and feed and water him as much as he could, and he himself flew to do dirty tricks: you know - hell! He never sits on the spot, but everything prowls around the world and confuses people.
There remained a soldier with red maidens, and he had such a life that he did not need to die. One thing makes him twist: every night red girls leave the house, and where they leave - no one knows. I began to ask them about that, they do not say that, they lock themselves up.
“All right,” the soldier thinks, “I’ll be on guard all night, and I’ll see where you are going.”
In the evening the soldier lay down on the bed, pretended to be fast asleep, but he himself could not wait - something will happen?
That's how the time came, he crept quietly to the girl's bedroom, stood at the door, bent down and looked through the keyhole. The red girls brought a magic carpet, spread it on the floor, hit that carpet and became doves; startled and flew out the window.
“What a marvel! - thinks the soldier. "Let me try."
He jumped into the bedroom, hit the carpet and turned into a robin, flew out the window and followed them.
The doves sank into the green meadow, and the robin sat under the currant bush, hid behind the leaves and looked out from there.
Doves flew into that place, apparently invisibly, the whole meadow was covered; in the middle stood a golden throne.
A little later, both heaven and earth shone - a golden chariot flies through the air, in harness six fiery serpents; on the chariot sits the princess Elena the Wise - of such an indescribable beauty that you can neither think of, nor guess, nor say in a fairy tale!

She got off the chariot, sat on the golden throne; began to call the dove to her in turn and teach them different wisdom. Finished her studies, jumped on a chariot - and she was!
Then every single dove took off from the green meadow and flew each in its own direction. The robin bird flew up after the three sisters and with them found itself in the bedroom.
The doves hit the carpet - they became red maidens, and the robin hit - turned into a soldier.
- Where are you from? the girls ask him.
- And I was with you in a green meadow, I saw a beautiful princess on a golden throne and heard how the princess taught you various tricks.
- Well, it's your happiness that he survived! After all, this princess is Elena the Wise, our mighty mistress. If she had her magic book with her, she would immediately recognize you - and then you would not escape an evil death. Beware, servant! Do not fly to the green meadow anymore, do not marvel at Helen the Wise, or you will lay your head down.
The soldier is not discouraged, he ignores those speeches.
He waited another night, hit the carpet and became a robin bird. A robin flew into a green meadow, hid under a currant bush, looks at Elena the Wise, admires her beloved beauty and thinks:
“If I could get such a wife, there would be nothing left to wish in the world! I'll fly after her and find out where she lives. "

So Helen the Wise came down from the golden throne, sat on her chariot and rushed through the air to her wonderful palace; after her and the robin flew.
The princess came to the palace; the nannies and mothers ran out to meet her, grabbed her by the arms and took her to the painted chambers. And the robin bird flew into the garden, chose a beautiful tree that just stood under the window of the princess’s bedroom, sat on a branch and began to sing so well and pitifully that the princess didn’t close her eyes all night — she listened to everything.
As soon as the red sun rose, Elena the Wise cried in a loud voice:
- Nurses, nurses, hurry to the garden; catch me a robin bird!
Nurses and mothers rushed into the garden, began to catch the songbird ... But where should they, old women! The robin flies from bush to bush, does not fly far and is not given to hands.
The princess could not stand it, ran out into the green garden, wants to catch a robin bird herself; comes up to a bush - a bird does not move from a branch, sits behind its wings, as if waiting for it.
The princess was delighted, took the bird in her hands, brought it to the palace, put it in a golden cage and hung it in her bedroom.
The day passed, the sun went down, Elena the Wise flew to the green meadow, returned, began to take off her clothes, undressed and went to bed. As soon as the princess fell asleep, the robin bird turned into a fly, flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and became a good fellow.
A good fellow came up to the princess's bed, looked, looked at the beauty, could not stand it and kissed her on the sugar lips. He sees - the princess wakes up, quickly turned into a fly, flew into the cage and became a robin bird.
Elena the Wise opened her eyes, looked around - there was no one. "It can be seen," he thinks, "I dreamed it in a dream!" She turned on the other side and fell asleep again.
And the soldier is impatient; tried again and for the third time - the princess is lightly asleep, after every kiss she wakes up.
For the third time she got out of bed and said:
- There is something for good reason: let me look in the magic book.
She looked at her magic book and immediately found out that it was not a simple robin bird, but a young soldier sitting in a golden cage.
- Oh you! - Elena the Wise shouted. - Get out of the cage. For your lies, you will answer me with your life!
There is nothing to do - a robin bird flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.
- There is no forgiving for you! - said Elena the Wise and shouted to the executioner to chop off the soldier's head.
Out of nowhere, a giant stood in front of her with an ax and a chopping block, knocked the soldier to the ground, pressed his wild head to the block and raised the ax. The princess will wave her handkerchief, and the brave head will roll ...
- Have mercy, fair princess, - said the soldier with tears, - let me sing a song at last.
- Sing, yes quickly!
The soldier started a song, so sad, so mournful that Elena the Wise burst into tears herself; she felt sorry for the good fellow, she says to the soldier:
- I give you ten hours; if you manage to hide so cunningly at this time that I cannot find you, then I will marry you; but if you fail to do this, I will order you to chop off your head.
A soldier came out of the palace, wandered into a dense forest, sat down under a bush, thought, twisted:
- Ah, the unclean spirit! All because of you I disappear.
At that moment the devil appeared to him:
- What do you want, servant?
- Eh, - he says, - my death comes! Where am I going to hide from Elena the Wise?
The devil hit the damp earth and turned into a gray-winged eagle:
- Sit down, servant, on my back, I will bring you into the skies.
The soldier sat on the eagle; the eagle soared upward and flew behind the clouds, black clouds.
Five hours passed. Elena the Wise took the magic book, looked - and saw everything as if in the palm of her hand; she cried in a loud voice:
- Completely, eagle, fly through the skies; get down to the bottom - you can't hide from me.
The eagle sank to the ground.

Digression: analysis of the Russian folk tale Russian cartoons Marshak poems for children

- Who is calling me?

- What do you want?

- Let me out. As soon as you are in need, I myself will be useful to you; just remember me - and at that very moment I will come to your rescue.

The soldier immediately tore off the seal, broke the lock and opened the doors - the devil jumped out of the tower, soared upward and disappeared faster than lightning.

“Well,” the soldier thinks, “I've done things; my whole service was gone for nothing. Now they'll put me under arrest, put me on trial and, what good, make me walk through the line; I'd rather run away while I have time. "

He threw the gun and knapsack on the ground and went wherever he looked.

He walked a day, and another, and a third; sorted out his hunger, but there is nothing to eat or drink; sat down on the road, cried bitter tears, and thought:

“Well, am I not stupid? He served with the king for ten years, and every day he received three pounds of bread. But no! He fled into freedom to starve to death. Oh, damn it, you are to blame for everything! "

Suddenly, out of nowhere, he stood before him unclean and asks:

- Hello, serviceman! What are you grieving about?

- How can I not grieve if the third day of hunger is lost.

- Do not grieve, this is a good thing! - said the devil.

He rushed here and there, brought in all sorts of wines and provisions, fed and watered the soldier and called him with him:

- In my house you will live at ease; drink, eat and walk as much as your heart desires, just look after my daughters - I don't need anything else.

The soldier agreed. The devil grabbed him by the arms, lifted him high, high into the air and brought him to the distant lands, to the thirtieth state - to the white-stone chambers.

The devil had three daughters - beautiful women. He ordered them to obey that soldier and feed and water him as much as he could, while he himself flew to do dirty tricks: you know - hell! He never sits on the spot, but everything prowls around the world and confuses people.

There remained a soldier with red maidens, and he had such a life that he did not need to die. One thing makes him twist: every night red girls leave the house, and where they leave - no one knows. I began to ask them about that, they do not say that, they shut themselves up.

“All right,” the soldier thinks, “I’ll be on guard all night, and I’ll see where you are going.”

In the evening the soldier lay down on the bed, pretended to be fast asleep, but he himself could not wait - something will happen?

That's how the time came, he crept quietly to the girl's bedroom, stood at the door, bent down and looked through the keyhole. The red girls brought a magic carpet, spread it on the floor, hit that carpet and became doves; startled and flew out the window.

“What a marvel! - thinks the soldier. "Let me try."

He jumped into the bedroom, hit the carpet and turned into a robin, flew out the window and followed them.

The doves sank into the green meadow, and the robin sat under the currant bush, hid behind the leaves and looked out from there.

Doves flew into that place, apparently invisibly, the whole meadow was covered; in the middle stood a golden throne.

A little later, both heaven and earth shone - a golden chariot flies through the air, in harness six fiery serpents; on the chariot sits the princess Elena the Wise - of such an indescribable beauty that you can neither think of, nor guess, nor say in a fairy tale!

She got off the chariot, sat on the golden throne; began to call the dove to her in turn and teach them different wisdom. Finished her studies, jumped on a chariot - and she was!

The doves hit the carpet - they became red maidens, and the robin hit - turned into a soldier.

- Where are you from? The girls ask him.

- And I was with you in a green meadow, I saw a beautiful princess on a golden throne and heard how the princess taught you various tricks.

- Well, it's your happiness that he survived! After all, this princess is Elena the Wise, our mighty mistress. If she had her magic book with her, she would immediately recognize you - and then you would not escape an evil death. Beware, servant! Do not fly to the green meadow anymore, do not marvel at Helen the Wise, or you will lay your head down.

The soldier is not discouraged, he ignores those speeches.

He waited another night, hit the carpet and became a robin bird. A robin flew into a green meadow, hid under a currant bush, looks at Elena the Wise, admires her beloved beauty and thinks:

“If I could get such a wife, there would be nothing left to wish in the world! I'll fly after her and find out where she lives. "

So Helen the Wise came down from the golden throne, sat on her chariot and rushed through the air to her wonderful palace; after her and the robin flew.

The princess came to the palace; the nannies and mothers ran out to meet her, grabbed her by the arms and took her to the painted chambers. And the robin bird flew into the garden, chose a beautiful tree that just stood under the window of the princess’s bedroom, sat on a branch and began to sing so well and pitifully that the princess didn’t close her eyes all night — she listened to everything.

As soon as the red sun rose, Elena the Wise cried in a loud voice:

- Nurses, nurses, hurry to the garden; catch me a robin bird!

Nurses and mothers rushed into the garden, began to catch the songbird ... But where should they, old women! The robin flies from bush to bush, does not fly far and is not given to hands.

The princess could not stand it, ran out into the green garden, wants to catch a robin bird herself; comes up to a bush - a bird does not move from a branch, sits behind its wings, as if waiting for it.

The princess was delighted, took the bird in her hands, brought it to the palace, put it in a golden cage and hung it in her bedroom.

The day passed, the sun went down, Elena the Wise flew to the green meadow, returned, began to take off her clothes, undressed and went to bed. As soon as the princess fell asleep, the robin bird turned into a fly, flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and became a good fellow.

A good fellow came up to the princess's bed, looked, looked at the beauty, could not stand it and kissed her on the sugar lips. He sees - the princess wakes up, quickly turned into a fly, flew into the cage and became a robin bird.

Elena the Wise opened her eyes, looked around - there was no one. "It can be seen," he thinks, "I dreamed it in a dream!" She turned on the other side and fell asleep again.

And the soldier is impatient; tried again and for the third time - the princess is lightly asleep, after every kiss she wakes up.

For the third time she got out of bed and said:

- There is something for good reason: let me look in the magic book.

She looked at her magic book and immediately found out that it was not a simple robin bird, but a young soldier sitting in a golden cage.

- Oh you! - Elena the Wise shouted. - Get out of the cage. For your lies, you will answer me with your life!

There is nothing to do - a robin bird flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

- There is no forgiving for you! - said Elena the Wise and shouted the executioner to chop off the soldier's head.

Out of nowhere - a giant with an ax and a chopping block stood in front of her, knocked the soldier to the ground, pressed his wild head to the block and raised the ax. The princess will wave her handkerchief, and the brave head will roll ...

INfrom now I will tell you a fairy tale. As I've heard myself, I'll tell you.

In the old days in a certain kingdom, not in our state, it happened to a soldier to stand at the clock at a stone tower. The tower was locked and sealed with a seal, but it was at night. Exactly at twelve o'clock the soldier hears that someone is shouting from this tower:

Hey servant!

The soldier asks: - Who calls me?

What do you want?

Let me out. When you are in need, I will be useful to you. Just remember me - at that very moment I will come to your rescue and appear.

The soldier immediately tore the seal, broke the lock and opened the doors - the devil jumped out of the tower, soared upward and disappeared faster than lightning.

“Well,” the soldier thinks, “I've done some business. All my service was gone for a penny. Now they'll put me under arrest, put me on trial and, what good, make me walk through the line. I'd better run away while there is time. "

He threw his gun and knapsack on the ground and went where his eyes would look. He walked a day, walked another, and a third. Hunger took it apart, but there was nothing to drink or eat. The soldier sat down on the road, wept with bitter tears and thought:

“Well, am I not stupid? He served with the tsar for ten years, and every day he received three pounds of bread. But no, there! He escaped to freedom to die of starvation. Eh, damn it, you are to blame! " Suddenly, out of nowhere, he stood before him unclean and asks:

Hello, serviceman! What are you grieving about?

How can I not grieve if I go to hunger for the third day.

Don't grieve, soldier, this is fixable! - said the devil. He rushed back and forth, brought all sorts of wines and supplies, gave the soldier a drink, fed him and called him with him:

You will have free living in my house. Drink, eat and walk as much as your heart desires, just look after my daughters - I don't need anything else.

The soldier agreed. The devil grabbed him by the arms, lifted him high, high into the air and carried him to the distant lands, to the thirtieth state - to the white-stone chambers.

The devil had three daughters - beautiful women. He ordered them to obey this soldier. And give him plenty to drink and feed. And he himself flew to do nasty things: you know - damn it! He never sits still, but everything prowls around the world and confuses people. There remained a soldier with red maidens, and his life went so badly that he didn't need to die.

One thing worries him: red girls leave home every night, and where they go - no one knows. The soldier began to ask them about it, they do not talk like that, they lock themselves up.

“All right,” the soldier decided, “I’ll be on guard all night, and I’ll see where you are going.” In the evening the soldier lay down on his bed, pretended to be fast asleep, but he himself could not wait - something will happen?

As the time came, he slowly crept up to the girl's bedroom, stood at the door, bent down and looked through the keyhole.

The red girls brought the magic carpet, spread it on the floor, hit that carpet and became doves. We started up and flew out the window. “What a miracle is this! - thinks the soldier. - Let me try and I'll try. He entered the bedroom, hit the carpet and turned into a robin. He flew out the window and flew after them.

Doves descended on a green meadow, and a robin sat under a currant bush, hid behind the leaves and looked out from there. Doves flew into this place, apparently invisibly, the whole meadow was covered. In the middle of the meadow stood a golden throne.

A little later, both heaven and earth began to shine - a golden chariot flies through the air, in a harness six fiery serpents. On the chariot sits the princess Elena the Wise - of such indescribable beauty that you can neither think of, nor guess, nor describe with a pen!

Helen the Wise descended from the chariot, sat on the golden throne. I took turns calling the dove to me and teaching them various wisdom. She finished her studies, jumped on the chariot - and she was! Here every single dove took off from the green meadow and flew each in its own direction.

The robin bird flew up after the three sisters and with them found itself in the bedroom. The doves hit the carpet - they turned red maidens, and the robin hit - turned into a soldier.

Where are you from? - the red girls ask him.

And I was with you in a green meadow, I saw a beautiful princess on a golden throne and heard how the princess taught you different tricks.

Well, your happiness is that he survived! After all, this princess is Helen the Wise, our mighty mistress. If she had her magic book with her, she would immediately recognize you - and then you would not escape an evil death. Beware of her, servant! Do not fly to the green meadow anymore, do not marvel at Helen the Wise, or you will lay down your head for a riot.

The soldier is not discouraged, those speeches are deafening. He waited for another night, hit the carpet and became a robin bird. A robin flew into a green meadow, hid under a currant bush, looks at Elena the Wise, admires her beloved beauty and thinks:

“If I could get such a wife, there would be nothing left to wish for in the world! I'll follow her and find out where she lives. "

So Helen the Wise came down from the golden throne, got into her chariot and rushed through the air to her wonderful palace. A robin flew after her.

The princess arrived at the palace. Nurses and mothers ran out to meet her, grabbed her by the arms and took her to the painted chambers.

And the robin bird flew into the garden, chose a beautiful tree that just stood under the window of the princess's bedroom, sat down on a branch and began to sing so well and pitifully that the princess did not close her eyes all night - she listened to everything.

Only the red sun rose, Elena the Wise screamed in a loud voice:

Nurses, nurses, hurry to the garden, catch me a robin bird! Nurses and nurses rushed into the garden, began to catch the songbird ... But where should they, old women!

The robin flies from bush to bush, does not fly far, but it is not given to hands either. The princess could not resist, she ran out into the green garden, she herself wanted to catch a robin bird. He approaches the bush - the bird does not move from the branch, sits behind its wings, as if waiting for it.

The princess was delighted, took the bird in her hands, brought it to the palace, put it in a golden cage and hung it in her bedroom. The day passed, the sun went down, Elena the Wise flew to the green meadow, returned. She took off her clothes, undressed and went to bed.

As soon as the princess fell asleep, the robin bird turned into a fly, flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and became a good fellow. A good fellow came up to the princess's bed, looked, looked at the beauty, could not stand it and kissed her on the sugar lips. He sees - the princess wakes up, quickly turned into a fly, flew into the cage and again became a robin bird.

The princess opened her eyes, looked around - no one was there. “It can be seen,” he thinks, “I dreamed it in a dream!” She turned on the other side and fell asleep again. And the soldier is very impatient. He tried another and for the third time - Elena the Wise is lightly asleep, after each kiss she wakes up. For the third time, the princess got out of bed and said:

There is something for good reason: let me take a look at the magic book. Elena the Wise looked at her magic book and immediately found out that in a golden cage sits not a simple robin bird, but a young soldier.

Oh you! cried the princess.

Get out of the cage. For your lies, you will answer me with your life! There is nothing to do - a robin bird flew out of the golden cage, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.

There is no forgiving for you! - said Elena the Wise and called the executioner to chop off the soldier's head.

Out of nowhere - a giant appeared in front of her with a block and an ax, knocked the soldier to the ground, pressed his wild head to the block and raised the ax. The princess will wave her handkerchief, and the brave head will roll ...

Have mercy on me, fair princess, - said the soldier with tears, - let me sing a song at last.

Sing, just hurry!

The soldier started a song, so sad, so pitiful that Elena the Wise burst into tears herself. She felt sorry for the good fellow, she says to the soldier:

I give you ten hours in advance, if during this time you manage to hide so cunningly that I cannot find you, then I will marry you, and if you cannot do this, I will order you to cut off your head.

A soldier left the palace, wandered into a dense forest, sat down under a bush, thought and twirled:

Ah, the unclean spirit! Because of you, I am lost.

At the same moment the devil appeared to him:

What do you want, servant?

Eh, - he says, - my death comes! Where am I going to hide from Elena the Wise?

The devil hit the damp earth and turned into a gray-winged eagle:

Sit on my back, servant, I'll bring you into the skies. The soldier sat on the eagle, the eagle soared up and flew over the black clouds-clouds. Five hours passed.

Elena took the Wise magic book, looked - and saw everything as if in the palm of her hand. She spoke in a loud voice:

Enough for you, eagle, to fly across the skies, go down - you can't hide from me. The eagle sank to the ground. The soldier spun more than ever:

What to do now? Where to hide?

Wait, the devil says, I'll help you. He jumped up to the soldier, hit him on the cheek and turned a pin, and he himself became a mouse. He grabbed the pin in his teeth, sneaked into the palace with it, found the magic book and stuck the pin into it. The last five hours are over. Elena the Wise opened her magic book. I looked, looked - the book shows nothing. The princess became very angry and threw the book into the oven. A pin fell out of the book, hit the floor and turned into a good fellow.