Gave the merchants each his place.
Then he said: "Now, masters mine–
Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been?
What strange wonders have you seen?"
Quoth the merchants:
"If you please, We have sailed the seven seas.
Peace reigns overseas, serene.
There, we saw this wondrous scene:
On an island, far away,
Stands a city grand and gay–
Churches tall with golden domes,
Gardens green, and stately homes.
Near its palace grows a fir In whose shade, O royal sir,
Stands a crystal house; and there
Dwells a squirrel strange and rare,
Full of frolic; all day long,
Cracking nuts, its sings a song.
Nuts, most wondrous to bekold–
Shells of purest yellow gold,
All its kernels– emeralds bright.
Sentries guard it day and night.
There we saw another wonder–
Every morn, the breakers thunder
And the waves, with mighty roar,
Overflow the barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three.
Each one brave beyond compare,
Tall of stature, young and fair.
All in mail a-gleaming bright, Marching proudly left and right: All alike beyond belief,
Led by Chernomor, their chief.
Nor will you find guards so true,
Vigilant and fearless, too.
Prince Guidon reigns there in glory, He is praised in song and story. And his wife is fair, O sire–
Gaze on her–you'll never tire.
Brighter than the sun at noon,
She outshines the midnight moon;
In her braids, a crescent beams,
On her brow, a bright star gleams.
Prince Guidon sends his respects,
Bade us say he still expects
You to visit him one day
And regrets your long delay."
All impatient, Tsar Saltan
Gave command his fleet to man,
But the royal cook, and weaver,
And their mother, sly deceiver,
Did their best to keep their tsar
From this wondrous isle so far.