So the merchant lived and feasted a while in the golden kingdom, till the time came for parting, for taking the road.
“Farewell,” said the eagle; “think not on me with harsh feeling, but see that the casket is not opened till thou art at home.”
The merchant journeyed homeward. Whether it was long or short, he grew tired and wished to rest. He stopped in a strange meadow on the land of the Tsar of the Sea; he looked and looked at the golden casket, couldn’t endure, opened it. That moment, wherever it came from, there stood before him a great castle all painted, a multitude of servants appeared, inquiring: “What dost thou wish for; what dost thou want?” The merchant, good hero, ate his fill, drank enough, and lay down to sleep. The Tsar of the Sea saw that there was a great castle on his land, and he sent messengers: “Go see what sort of an insolent fellow has come and built a castle on my land without leave; let him go off at once in health and safety.”
When such a threatening word came to the merchant he began to think and conjecture how to put the castle into the casket as before; he thought and thought,—no, he could do nothing. “I should be glad to go away,” said he, “but how, I can’t think myself.”
The messengers returned, and reported all to the Tsar of the Sea. “Let him give me what he has at home but knows it not; I will put his palace in the golden casket.”
There was no other way, and so the merchant promised with an oath to give what he had at home but knew it not. The Tsar of the Sea put the palace in the golden casket at once. The merchant took the casket and went his way. Whether it was long or short, he came home, his wife met him. “Oh, be thou hearty, my world. Where wert thou lost?”
“Well, where I was I am not now.”
“But while thou wert gone the Lord gave us a son.”
“Ah! that is what was at home and I knew it not,” thought the merchant; and he grew very sad and sorrowful.
“What is the matter? Art thou not glad to be here?” insisted his wife.