Gained his palace courtyard wide.
There, beneath a fir–behold!–
Cracking nuts all made of gold,
Emeralds left and right a-flinging, Sat that wonder-squirrel, singing: "Through the garden there she goes, Tripping on her dainty toes." With its tail the squirrel sweeps Shells and stones in tidy heaps,
While a charmed and happy throng
Listened to the squirrel's song.
Struck with wonder, Prince Guidon
Whispered softly: "Thank you, swan!
God grant you felicity
And such joy as you gave me."
Then a squirrel's house he built.
Crystal, glass, and silver gilt;
Set a guard, a scribe as well,
Who recorded every shell.
Thus the prince's treasures grew, And the squirrel's glory too.
Breezes o'er the ocean play
Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas,
Running swiftly "fore the breeze
Past a craggy island, where
Stands a city, proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar
Bid the merchants put to shore;
When the merchants land, Guidon
Bids them be his guests anon;
Feasts them first with meats and wine,
Then he says:
"Now, masters mine– Tell me what you have for sale,
Whither bound, and whence you hail?"
Said the merchants:
"If you please,
We have sailed the seven seas,
Selling horses, Prince Guidon–
Stallions from the steppes of Don.
We are overdue, you know, And we still have far to go–
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan."
"Gentles," murmured Prince Guidon–
"May fair breezes speed you on
O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again,
When your gracious tsar you see,
Give him compliments from me."
Bowing low before him, they
Left Guidon and sailed away.
He, though, hastened to the shore,
Where he met the swan once more,
Told her that his heart was burning,
For his sire, his soul was yearning...
In the twinkling of an eye