Russian Popular Tales

Vasilisa the Beautiful

Illustrated by Ivan Bilibin

In a certain kingdom lived a merchant who had a single daughter, Vasilisa.

the beautiful. The mother passed away when the girl was eight years old. Feeling
next to its end, the mother called the girl, took out from between the sheets a
little doll and handed it to her saying:
Listen to my last words, Vasilisa, obey my last will.
tad.I gave you this doll. Always keep it by your side and do not show it to anyone.
to no one. If something bad happens to you, feed it and then ask for advice.
the little doll will eat what you give her and will help you in your difficulties.
The merchant's wife kissed her daughter and, moments later, died.
The widower mourned his wife's death deeply, but after some time,
he wanted to marry again. He chose a woman who had two daughters approximately-
mind of the same age as Vasilisa. That meant she had experience
as a housewife and as a mother. So the merchant married her. But
the woman and her two daughters were jealous of Vasilisa. They envied her beauty and the
They overwhelmed me with work so that I would lose weight from exhaustion and so that the wind
and the sun would spoil her white skin. Throughout the day, nothing was heard in the house more
what shouts:
—Vasilisa, Vasilisa! Make the food, sweep the house, bring the firewood, milk the cow.
the cows, and hurry up, don't make that face, it looks like you come from a funeral-
rro!
Vasilisa did everything she was told, she tried to please them and was
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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful
more beautiful and healthier every day while the stepmother and her daughters,
they did not move at all, they were thinning with rage and turning yellow with envy
day.
That happened because the little doll helped her with everything. At night,
when everyone was asleep, the girl would lock herself in her attic, she would give of
I would eat with the doll and tell her my sorrows.
The little doll was eating, then comforted Vasilisa, gave her advice and,
in the morning, I did all the work for her. The girl rested in the cool air or
she picked flowers and the little doll weeded the garden, carried water, lit
the stove and watered the cabbages. Moreover, he pointed out which herbs he should apply
so that the sun would not scorch her complexion. In short, Vasilisa was more beautiful every
day.
On one occasion, the merchant had to embark on a long journey.
The stepmother moved with the girls to a house on the edge of the forest.
In a clearing in that forest, there was a house, and in that house lived Baba Yaga.
old sorceress. Baba Yaga did not allow anyone to approach her domains and
he/she fed on human beings as if they were chickens.
To get rid of Vasilisa, her stepmother always sent her to the forest.
to look for this or pick up that. But she always came back safe and sound, the
the doll pointed the way and kept her away from Baba's lair
Yaga.
Autumn has arrived. One afternoon, the stepmother distributed to the three a lot of
I have to work for the evening: one had to do lace, the other stockings, and Vasilisa.
She had to spin. She turned off all the lights in the house, leaving only one candle lit.
where the young women were working and went to bed. One of the daughters of
the stepmother extinguished the candle as her mother had ordered her, pretending
What happened was unintended, he exclaimed:

What are we going to do? What a disaster! The work is not finished.
and not a single ember is left in the house. Someone will have to go in search of
fire to Baba Yaga's house!
I'm going now,
They give me quite a bit of light.

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 Russian Folktales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

Well, neither do I,
the media and the needles give me light.

You will have to go —both shouted at the same time—. Vasilisa, Vasilisa, go
to Baba Yaga's house and ask for fire!
And she was brutally expelled from the room. Vasilisa ran to her
attic, fed the doll and said to her crying:
Come, little doll, eat as much as you want, and then listen to my ...
Pity! They tell me to go look for fire at Baba Yaga's house. And the
the witch will devour me!
Don't be afraid, the doll replied. Put me inside your
Stay calm and go where they send you. As long as I am with you, you cannot...
nothing bad happens.
Vasilisa put the doll in her pocket and ventured into the dark forest,
through unknown paths.
She was walking, all trembling, when a horse galloped past her.
white horseman, dressed in white, riding a white horse, that tam-
Well, the gear was white. Then the day began to break.

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 Russian Folktales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

Vasilisa moved on, stumbling over the stumps. The dew moistened
he braided her hair and chilled her hands.
Suddenly, another rider galloped by, dressed in red, riding a red steed.
also and with the same color harness. The sun came out, it caressed Vasilisa, the
she warmed it up and dried the braid.

Vasilisa had been walking all day and only in the evening did she arrive at
Calvero where Baba Yaga's house was located. The fence that surrounded it.
it was made of human bones crowned with human skulls.
The passage under the gate was paved with human feet, the bolts
they were hands and the padlock, a mouth with sharp teeth. Vasilisa was petrified-
a frightful sight. A black rider appeared, mounted on a black horse and
with the gear of the same color. The rider arrived at the gate and disappeared like
if the earth had swallowed him.
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 Russian Folktales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

It got dark. However, the darkness lasted a short time.

all the skulls on the fence had their eyes lit up, and in the clearing
there was as much light as in broad daylight. Vasilisa trembled with fear. The legs
they did not obey him, but he could not move away from that horrible place.
Vasilisa realized that the ground was shaking. A noise was heard.
terrible in the forest, the trees collided, the dry leaves crunched, and
Baba Yaga appeared, the old witch. The hand of the mortar served as her rudder.
on which she was mounted, and with a broom she was erasing her traces. Before
the gate was transposed and shouted while sniffing around him:
—Hfff, ff... It smells like Russian meat! Who's here?

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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

Vasilisa approached the witch, bowed deeply to her and...

he humbly tested:
It's me, grandma. My stepsisters have sent me to ask you.
fire.
That's fine, said Baba Yaga. I already know who your stepsisters are.
But if you want me to give you light, you must first stay to work for me.
If the work is well done, I will give it to you; if not, I will devour you.
Then, Baba Yaga turned to the gate and shouted:
Let the sturdy bolts be drawn back and the wide gate open
pair by pair!
The gate opened and the witch entered riding her mortar, making a noise.
Bidos. Vasilisa followed her. Everything closed behind her.
Once in the house, Baba Yaga made herself comfortable and ordered
Vasilisa:
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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

Let everything that is in the stove and in the pantry come to align.
In front of me! Hurry up, I'm hungry!
Vasilisa began to take food out of the stove and serve it to Baba Yaga.
There was food for at least ten people: roasted and stewed dishes, cheeses and
cold cuts, cakes and little cakes, soups and sausages. Then Vasilisa descended to the
cave and Kvas rose(1), honey, beer, and wine. The old woman ate it and drank it.
leaving only Vasilisa a little soup, a crust of bread and a
piece of roast pork. Before going to bed, she warned him:
Tomorrow, when I have gone, you will clean the pen, you will sweep the
house, you will prepare the food, you will wash the clothes, you will bring a pudding from the barn(2) of
flour and you will clean it well. And make sure everything is done properly, or I will owe you.
rare!
After giving these orders, Baba Yaga began to snore. Vasilisa
she served the doll the remnants of the banquet and said to her, crying:
Come, dear little doll, what I bring you and listen to my sorrows.
The witch has assigned me many tasks. If I do not do them, she says that I
He/She will eat. Help me!

The little doll replied:

Don't cry, don't worry, and lie down Vasilisa the Beautiful, for tomorrow
it will be another day.

Vasilisa got up very early, but Baba Yaga was already up.
The eyes of the skulls went out, the white rider passed by and it became day.
Baba Yaga went out to the yard and whistled. Immediately the mortar came to position itself
before her. The red knight passed by and the sun came out. Baba Yaga rode on her mor-
he took off in a hurry. The handle of the mortar served as his rudder, with the
broom erased its traces.

Kvas is a fermented alcoholic drink, very mild and very popular in Russia, Ukraine and
other countries of Eastern Europe. There are also non-alcoholic kvas. It is made with rye flour
and malt or also with bran flour, a bit of rye bread (black bread) and apples, to
this mixture is left to ferment in water. It is often given a fruity flavor and during the
fruits are added to the process.
Pud: An ancient Russian unit of weight that is approximately equal to 16.3 kilos.

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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful
As she found herself alone, Vasilisa wandered through the house and wondered where to go.
he was going to start his work, but when he looked, he saw that everything was already done and that

The doll was removing the last bad grains from the wheat.
—How can I thank you, dear doll! You have saved me from a great
danger.
You just have to prepare lunch,
Put it in Vasilisa's pocket—. Then rest.
As evening fell, Vasilisa set the table and waited for Baba.
Yagá. The black rider was seen passing beyond the gate and night fell.
The eyes of the skulls began to glimmer. The clashing of the...
trees, the leaves crackled; it was Baba Yaga arriving.
Is the work done? Did you complete the tasks? -he asked
Vasilisa who had come out to meet him.
Look at it for yourself, grandmother,
Baba Yaga checked everything, and finding nothing to say, she grunted:
That's fine—then he shouted—: Let's see, my faithful servants, my friends
from the soul! Grind this wheat!
Instantly, three pairs of hands appeared, grabbed the wheat and took it away.
they took. Baba Yaga had dinner and, when she was going to bed, she ordered again to
Vasilisa:
Tomorrow you will do the same as today; but also, bring the seeds of
poppies that are in the barn and clean them of dirt one by one.
Then he turned towards the wall and began to snore.
Vasilisa fed the doll, and the doll ate and told her how
the previous day:
Go to sleep peacefully, for the pillow is a good advisor. Everything
It will be done, Vasilisa.

The next morning Baba Yaga set off again mounted on the
mortar; the little doll did all the jobs in a flash. The witch
he returned, checked everything and shouted:

—Faithful servants, my soul friends! Come to press the oil of

my poppy seeds!

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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

At that moment, three pairs of hands appeared and took away all the grain.
Baba Yaga sat at the table to have dinner. While she ate, Vasilisa remained.
silent by his side.
Why don't you talk to me? asked Baba Yaga. Anyone
I would say that you are mute.

It's shyness,
ask you some things.
—Ask! But keep in mind that some questions are not good.
to be raised. Knowing too much ages one prematurely.
I just wanted to ask you about things I've seen, grandma. At
coming here, I crossed paths with a white rider. Who was he?
—My loyal servant on a clear day —replied Baba Yaga.
Then a red rider passed me by. Who was it?
—My faithful shining servant the sun —answered Baba Yaga.
And who was the black rider who caught up with me next to the gate,
grandma?
—My faithful servant the dark night. Do you want to know something else? —inqui-
the witch laughed.
Vasilisa remembered the three pairs of hands she had seen appear.
but he said nothing.
—This is enough for me. You yourself have said it: too much knowledge ages.
I left before time.
You are right to ask only about the things you have seen outside of
house and not inside. I don't like to take the dirty laundry out of here. And to the others-
Curious beings, I eat them. And now, it is I who wants to pose a question to you.
How do you manage to do all the tasks that you have?
lying?
The blessing of my mother, grandmother helps me,
So that's how it is! Well, get out of here, blessed daughter! Get lost
Right away. I don't want blessed people in my house!
Baba Yaga pushed the young girl out of the house, but before closing the
the gate took one of the skulls with glowing eyes from the fence, it was nailed in

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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

the end of a stick and gave it to Vasilisa saying:

Here you have the fire for your stepsisters, take it to them. Hadn't they...
ordered to find her?
Vasilisa ran away towards her house, guided by the light of the
skull, which did not go out until dawn.

Finally, he arrived home at sunset the other day. Next to the gate
he came up with the idea of throwing the skull, thinking that surely it was no longer
they would need fire in the house. But, a hoarse voice that came from the skull
he ordered him/her:

-Don't throw me. Take me to where your stepmother is.

Upon arriving at the door, Vasilisa was surprised not to see any light in the.
house, and even more surprised to see that the stepmother and her daughters the re
they lived with joy. Since their departure, they explained, there had been no way to

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 Russian Folktales - Vasilisa the Beautiful
getting fire in the house. They couldn't light it, and the one they brought from the
neighbors would go silent as soon as he was brought into the room.

Your might burn, said the stepmother.

Vasilisa brought the skull to the room, and her burning eyes rested
Ron in the stepmother and her daughters burning them. They tried to hide,
but the eyes followed them wherever they went and, upon the arrival of morning,
the women were nothing more than a handful of ashes. Only Vasilisa was not.
suffered the least damage.
Vasilisa did not want to stay in that house. She buried the skull, closed
the door with a padlock and left for the city. There he asked an old woman that
will house her until her father's return.
After a while, Vasilisa said to the old woman:
I'm bored doing nothing, grandma. Buy me the best linen.
The old woman bought the flax, and Vasilisa began to spin. She worked very
quickly, and the thread came out the same and fine as a hair, strong as steel.
When Vasilisa finished spinning, she wanted to start weaving, but there was no loom.
It was fine enough for her thread. Vasilisa asked it of the doll, which
answered:
Bring me any old loom, an old shuttle, and horsehair.
horse, and I will build you a loom for your thread.
Vasilisa brought everything, she lay down, and during the night, the doll made for her
a loom on which spider webs could have been woven.
Vasilisa got back to work and by the end of winter she had woven
a canvas so fine that it could pass through the eye of a needle. In spring
he whitened the canvas under the sun and said to the old lady:
Here you have this canvas, grandma. Sell it and keep it for yourself.
money.
The elderly woman looked at the canvas and was amazed:
Don't even dream of it! A fabric like this is not taken to the fair, nor is it paraded around.
through the market. Such a fabric can only be offered to the czar. I will take it to the shovel.
CEO.
The tsar saw the canvas and was amazed.

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 Russian Folktales - Vasilisa the Beautiful
How much do you ask for him? asked the old woman.
It's priceless,
sentence.
The czar thanked her and, before the old woman left, he made her
many gifts.
The czar wanted them to make him some shirts with that fabric, but it was
so fine was the fabric that no one dared to sew it. The czar summoned
old woman and said:
Since you knew how to spin and weave the fabric, make me some shirts with it.
It has not been me, your majesty, who has spun and woven the canvas; it has been done by
a girl named Vasilisa.
Well, let her make the shirts for me.
The old lady returned home and told Vasilisa everything. Vasilisa made the
shirts and burgundy with silks and pearls. The old woman took the shirts to the shovel.
CEO.
Vasilisa sat by the window with her frame. Suddenly she saw that it was running
towards there a servant of the czar.
The tsar, the man said, wants to see the wonderful seamstress.
What has made the shirts and reward her with her own real hands.
Vasilisa appeared before the tsar, who fell madly in love with her as soon as he saw her.
her mind.

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 Russian Folk Tales - Vasilisa the Beautiful

Yono could separate me from you, I want you to be my wife,

The tsar took the hands of Vasilisa the Beautiful, white as snow, and the
sat down next to him. Shortly after, they celebrated the wedding.
Soon the father of Vasilisa returned from his trip and stayed to live with
Vasilisa asked the old woman to also stay at the palace. As soon as
the doll, until the end of her days the empress always carried it in her bag
llo.