Now the old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom, liked not this thing. In his white hand he took his whip with the lash of silk, and beat his horse upon the ribs, and thus he spoke to his steed:
“O thou faithless dog! I feed and water thee and provide for thee, and thou wouldst leave me in the open plain, even in those deep trenches!”
And Ilyá rode on through the free and open plain to that great army. And he trampled men under foot and speared them with his spear, and beat them down like mowing grass.
And Ilyá’s strength grew no less, and when he came to the deep trench his good horse leapt out again and bore Ilyá thence, and he urged on his hero-horse through the free and open plain to that great army; and again he trampled the Tartars under foot, and speared them and beat them down like mowing grass. And Ilyá’s strength grew no less; he sat his good horse and grew no older. And he cut his way through with his hero-horse and fell into the second trench. His good steed leapt out and bore Ilyá thence; and Ilyá again urged on his steed through the free and open plain, and again he trampled men under foot and speared them, and beat down Tartars like mowing grass. And Ilyá’s strength became no less; he sat his good steed and grew no older; but he fell into the [[66]]third trench. He cut his way through the deep trench, and also out of the third trench leapt his good heroic steed, but Ilyá he bore not out thence, for Ilyá slipped off his good horse, and in the deep trench he remained.
And there came the Tartars running to catch the good horse, but the heroic steed would not allow himself to be taken, but galloped away through the open plain.
Then came the pagan Tartars and fell upon the old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom, and they chained together his nimble feet, and bound his white hands, and the Tartars said:
“Cut off his turbulent head.”
But some of the Tartars said:
“There is no need to cut off his turbulent head; we will lead Ilyá to the dog, King Kálin, and what he commands that must we do.”
And they took Ilyá through the open plain to that pavilion of white linen, and led him in to the dog, King Kálin, and placed him before the King, and spoke thus to King Kálin: