[[39]]
“A strange man is carrying off your dear father.”
And she called to some men who were idling about the yard and said:
“Will you not take him from this wanderer on the road? Is your dear father nothing to you? He has fallen into the power of this horseman. It would be better to take a cup full of red gold, and another of pure silver, and a third cup full of round pearls. Go now and offer them as a ransom. Speak to this horseman and persuade him. Coax him and talk him over so that he may release Nightingale.”
And they rushed into the house, and Nightingale’s wife took the keys and went down to the deep vaults where all Nightingale’s treasure was stored, and they filled a cup full of red gold, and another with pure silver, and a third with round pearls, and they went out to Ilyá with flattering words and tried to coax him and talk him over, saying:
“O thou bold hero, good youth, give us back our dear father and we will give thee gold and silver!”
Ilyá received these messengers and talked to them thus:
“Look here, brothers, you who work for gain, I will not give you your dear father; he would only turn brigand again and rob the travellers passing this way.”
And Ilyá rode on to Kiev town with Nightingale the Robber by his side, still tied to the stirrup so that [[40]]he could not run away. Ilyá hurried on, for he would fain be at Kiev in time for the service on Easter morning; but he could not get there in time. When he reached Kiev he rode into the wide courtyard of the Prince’s palace. He tied up his good horse to the gold ring on a carven pillar, but did not take off either the saddle or the bridle, and he left Nightingale the Robber still tied to the stirrup.
Then Ilyá walked quickly through the new entrance, through the guard room and into the hall. There he crossed himself like a good Russian, and made his bow as he came into the hall. The steward of Vladímir the Prince he greeted, and asked him: