“She is, but it is forbidden to say so,” answered the beggar.
Ivan knew that his sister was there; the good, bold hero became courageous, and went to the palace. At that time Vassilissa Golden Tress was looking out of the window to see if the Savage Serpent was coming; and she saw from afar the young champion, wished to know of him, sent quietly to learn from what land he had come, of what stock was he, was he sent by her father or by her own mother.
Hearing that Ivan, her youngest brother, had come (and she did not know him by sight), Vassilissa ran to him, wet him with tears. “Run, brother, quickly!” cried she. “The serpent will soon be here; he will see thee, destroy thee.”
“My dear sister,” answered Ivan, “if another had spoken, I should not have listened. I have no fear of the serpent, no fear of his strength.”
“But art thou Goroh,” asked Vassilissa Golden Tress, “to manage him?”
“Wait, friend sister; first give me to drink. I have travelled under heat, I am tired from the road; I want a drink.”
“What dost thou drink, brother?”
“Three gallons of sweet mead, dear sister.”
Vassilissa gave command to bring a three-gallon measure of sweet mead, and Goroh drank it all at one breath. He asked for another; the Tsarevna gave orders to hurry, looked, and wondered.
“Well, brother, I did not know thee; but now I believe that thou art Ivan Goroh!”