Wild swans

Far-far, in that country where depart from us for winter of a swallow, there lived the king. At it was eleven sons and one daughter which called Элизой. Eleven brothers-princes already went to school; at everyone on a breast the star shone and at the left side the sabre rattled. Princes wrote diamond slate pencils on gold boards and perfectly were able to read - both under the book, and without the book, for memory. Certainly, so well read the present princes could only. While princes studied, their sister Элиза sat on a small bench from mirror glass and considered the book with pictures which cost half-kingdoms. Yes, well was to children! But all is fast has gone in another way.

Their mother has died, and the king married again. The stepmother was the malicious sorcerer and has taken a dislike to poor children. In the first put, when in a palace celebrated wedding of the king, children have felt, what malicious stepmother at them. They have started game "on a visit" and have asked to give the queen to them of cakes and baked apples to feed the visitors. But the stepmother has given them a tea cup of simple sand and has told:

- Will suffice you and it!

There has passed even a week, and the stepmother has conceived to get rid from Элизы. She has sent it in village to any peasants on education. And then the malicious stepmother began to slander to the king on poor princes and насказала so much bad, that the king did not wish more and to see the sons.

And here the queen ordered to call princes, and when they have come nearer to her, she has shouted:

- Let each of you will turn in a black raven! Fly away from a palace and extract to itself livelihood!

But it did not manage to finish the malicious business. Princes have turned not in ugly a raven, and in beautiful wild swans. With shout they from windows of a palace have taken off and have rushed over parks and woods.

There was an early morning when eleven swans flew by by a hut where their sister Eliza slept still sound sleep. They long flied over a roof, extending the flexible necks and clapping wings, but nobody heard them and did not see. And it was necessary to them to depart further, not having seen sister.

Highly-highly, to the clouds, they have risen and have departed to the big dark wood which lasted to the sea.

And poor thing Eliza remained to live in a country hut. The whole days she played a green leaflet - other toys at it were not; it has pierced a hole in a leaflet and looked through it at the sun - it seemed to it, that she sees clear eyes of the brothers.

Days followed days. At times the wind колыхал the pink bushes dismissed near the house, also asked roses:

- Whether there is somebody more beautifully you? And roses, swinging heads, answered:

- Элиза it is more beautiful than us.

And here at last Элизе минуло fifteen years, and peasants have sent it home in a palace.

The queen has seen, how its stepdaughter is fine, and has even more begun to hate Элизу. The malicious stepmother would like to transform Элизу, as well as her brothers, in a wild swan, but it could not make it: the king wished to see the daughter.

And here early in the morning the queen has gone to the marble swimming bath, all разубранную wonderful carpets and soft pillows. In a swimming bath corner three toads sat. The queen took them in hands and has kissed. Then she has told to the first toad:

- When Элиза will enter into a swimming bath, sit down to it on a head - let it will become same. Silly and lazy, as you.

To other toad the queen has told:

- And you jump Элизе on a forehead - let it becomes same ugly, as you. Then also the native father does not learn it... Well, and you lay down to it on heart! - the queen has whispered to the third toad. - let it becomes malicious that anybody did not love it.

And the queen has thrown toads in transparent water. Water immediately became green and muddy.

The queen has called Элизу, its section and ordered to enter into water.

As soon as Элиза has stepped in the water, one heat another has jumped to it on a cinciput, On a forehead, and the third on a breast. But Элиза at all has not noticed it. And three toads, having touched to Элизе, have turned to three red poppies. And Элиза left water same beautiful as well as has entered.

Then the malicious queen has rubbed Элизу with walnut juice, and poor Элиза became absolutely black. And then the stepmother has smeared to it the person with smelly ointment and has confused its wonderful hair. Now nobody could learn Элизу. Even the father, having looked at it, at was frightened and has told, that it not his daughter. Nobody learnt Элизу. Only the old chain dog with affable bark has rushed to it yes swallows with whom she often fed with crumbs, прощебетали to it the song. But who begins to pay attention to poor animals?

Has bitterly begun to cry Ales for and it is secretly cunning from a palace. She all the day went on fields and bogs, making the way to wood. Элиза and itself properly did not know, where to it to go. She all thought of brothers whom the malicious stepmother too has expelled from the native house. Элиза has decided to search for them everywhere yet will not find.

When Элиза has reached wood, night has already come, and the poor girl has absolutely gone astray. It has fallen on a soft moss, and a head has put on a stub. In wood it was silent and warmly. Hundreds glowworms, in precisely green sparks, flashed in a grass and when Элиза has touched with a hand a bush, any brilliant bugs fell down from leaves a windfall.

All night long brothers dreamt Элизе: all of them again were children, together played, wrote diamond slate pencils on gold boards and considered the wonderful book with pictures for which it has been given half-kingdoms. Pictures in the book were live: birds people sang also jumped out from pages of the book and talked with Элизой and her brothers; but as soon as Элиза turned page, people jumped back - differently in pictures there would be a mess.

When Элиза has woken up, the sun stood already highly; it could not make out properly it behind dense foliage of trees at all. Only sometimes solar beams made the way between branches and ran gold зайчиками on a grass. Not far streamlet murmur was heard. Элиза has approached to a streamlet and has bent down over it. Water in a streamlet was pure and transparent. If not a wind moving with branches of trees and bushes, it would be possible to think, as trees and bushes are drawn at the bottom of a streamlet, - so clearly they were reflected in quiet water.

Элиза has seen in water the person and very much was frightened - such it was black and ugly. But here it has scooped a water hand, потёрла eyes and a forehead, and the person at it again became white, as before. Then Элиза has undressed and has entered into a cool, pure stream. Water has immediately washed off from it juice of a walnut and smelly ointment with which the stepmother has rubbed Элизу.

Then Элиза has put on, has braided in plaits the long hair and has gone further on wood, itself not knowing where. On road she has seen a crab which branches bent from weight of fruits. Элиза has eaten apples, has propped up branches sticks and has gone further. Soon it has come into the thicket of wood. Any birdie did not fly here, the uniform solar beam did not get through the mixed branches. High trunks stood dense numbers, precisely timbered walls. Around was so silently, that Элиза heard own steps, heard шуршанье each dry leaf which was coming across to it under feet. Never before Элиза did not happen in such solitude.

At night it became absolutely dark, even glowworms did not shine in a moss. Элиза has settled on a grass and has fallen asleep.

Early in the morning it has gone further and has suddenly met the old woman with a basket of berries. The old woman has given to the girl a handful of berries, and Элиза has asked it, whether eleven princes passed here, on the wood.

- No, - the old woman has told, - I did not meet princes, but yesterday I saw here on the river eleven swans in gold crowns.

And the old woman has deduced Элизу to breakage under which the river proceeded. Элиза has said goodbye to the old woman and has gone on river coast.

Long went Элиза, and suddenly before it the boundless sea has opened. Any sail it was not visible on the sea, any лодочки was not nearby.

Villages Eliza on a stone at the coast also has reflected, what it to do where to go further?

Sea waves ran up to feet Элизы, they bore with themselves small stones. Water has erased edges of stones, and they were absolutely smooth and round.

And the girl has thought: "How many work is necessary, that a firm stone to make smooth and round! And water does it. The sea indefatigably and patiently rolls the waves and wins the firmest stones. Thanks you that you have learnt me, light fast waves! I will be, as you, indefatigably to work. Heart says to me, that sometime you will carry me to my lovely brothers!"

Ashore among dry seaweed Элиза has found eleven white swan feathers. On feathers drops - dew or tears who knows still shone? It was around deserted, but Элиза did not feel lonely. She looked at the sea and could not see enough.

Here the big black cloud approaches on the sky, the wind grows stronger, and the sea too blackens, worries and rages. But the cloud passes, on the sky pink clouds float, the wind abates, and the sea is already quiet, now it is similar to a rose-petal. Sometimes there is it green, sometimes white. But as though silently was in air and as though easy there was a sea, at coast the surf, always considerably easy excitement always rustles - water silently rises, as if a breast of the sleeping child.

When the sun approached a decline, Элиза has seen wild swans. As a long white tape, they flied one behind another. Them was eleven. On a head at each swan the small gold crown sparkled. Элиза has departed to breakage and has hidden in bushes. Swans have gone down nearby to it and have begun to clap the big white wings.

This minute the sun has disappeared under water - and suddenly from swans their white feathers, and any more eleven swans have fallen eleven handsome men of princes faced Элизой, and. Элиза has loudly screamed - she has learnt at once the brothers though for these long years they have very much changed. Элиза has rushed to their embraces and began to name all of them on names.

Brothers very much were delighted to that have found the sister who so has grown and became such beautiful. Элиза and brothers laughed and cried, and then they have told each other about everything, that with them happens.

The senior from princes has told Элизе:

- We fly wild swans all the day long, from sunrise to the decline. When the sun comes, we again turn to people. And here by an o'clock of a solar decline we hasten to fall on the earth. If we have turned to people when we fly highly over clouds, we immediately would fall to the earth and have broken. We live not here. Far-far the same fine country, as this overseas lays. Here there we also live. But the road there is long, it is necessary to fly through all sea, and on a way there is no island where we could spend night. Only on the middle of the sea the lonely rock rises. It so is small, that we can stand on it, only closely having nestled to each other. When the sea storms, splashes of waves fly through our heads. But nevertheless, if there was no this rock, we never would manage to visit on our native earth: the sea is wide, we cannot fly through it from rising to a sunset. Only two times a year, in the longest days, our wings in forces to transfer us through the sea. And here we arrive here and we live here eleven days. We fly over this big wood and we look at a palace where we were born and have spent the childhood. It is well visible from here. Here each bush and each tree seem us native. On green meadows wild horses whom we saw in the childhood run, and coal miners sing those songs which we heard when lived in a native palace. Here our native land, here pulls all of us heart, and here we have found you, the lovely, expensive sister! This time we have stayed here nine days. In two days we should depart for the sea, in fine, but another's country. How to us to take you with itself? We do not have either the ship, or boat.

- About if I could release you from charms! - has told to brothers Элиза.

So they have spoken almost all night long and have dozed off only before the dawn.

Элиза has woken up from noise of swan wings. Brothers again became birds and have departed to native wood. Only one swan remained ashore with Элизой. It was most younger of her brothers. The swan has put the head to it on knees, and it ironed and touched its plumelets. Two of them all the day have spent, and by the evening ten swans, and when the sun has sat down have arrived, they have turned again to princes.

- Tomorrow we should depart and we will not dare to return before the next year, - the big brother has told Элизе, - but we will not leave you here. We will depart with us! I one on hands can carry by you through all wood so really all of us eleven on our wings cannot transfer you through the sea?

- Yes, take me with itself! - has told Элиза.

All night long they spun a grid from a flexible willow bark and a reed. The grid left big both strong, and brothers have put in it Элизу. And here on sunrise ten swans have picked up a grid beaks and have risen under clouds. Элиза slept in a grid a sweet dream. And that beams of the sun have not woken her, the eleventh swan flied over her head, protecting face from the sun the wide wings.

Swans were already far from the earth when Элиза has woken up, and it seemed to it, that she has a dream in reality, - so it was strange to fly to it by air. Near it the branch with ripe berries laid and the bunch tasty кореньев - them has collected and the younger brother has put near Элизы, and Элиза has smiled to it - she has guessed, that it it flied over it and protected it from the sun the wings.

Highly, under the clouds, brothers and sister, and the first ship which they have seen in the sea flied, has seemed to them a seagull floating on water. Swans flied so promptly as the arrows which have been started up from onions fly, but all the same not so quickly, as always: after all this time they bore sister.

Day began to tend by the evening, and the bad weather has rustled. Элиза with fear looked, as the sun fell all more low and more low, and lonely sea rock still it was not visible. And Элизе it seemed, that swans already have absolutely got tired and hardly wave wings. The sun will come, her brothers hurriedly will address in people, will fall in the sea and will sink. And it will be to it fault! The black cloud came nearer, strong impulses of a wind foretold a storm, the lightning terribly sparkled.

Heart Элизы has trembled: the sun already almost concerned waters.

And suddenly swans have directed downwards with terrible speed. Элизе it seemed, that they fall. But is not present, they still flied. And here, when the sun already is half cunning in water, Элиза has seen below rock. It was very small, it is no more the seal who has put out from water a head. Swans have stepped into rock stones that minute when last beam of the sun has gone out in air. Элиза the hand about a hand has seen round itself the brothers, standing; they hardly found room on tiny rock. The sea without restraint fought about stones and poured over brothers and Элизу the whole rain of splashes. The sky flared from lightnings, and the thunder every minute roared, but sister and brothers kept for hands and encouraged each other tender words.

At dawn the storm has settled, and became again clear and silent. As soon as there has ascended the sun, brothers with Элизой have departed further. The sea still worried, and they saw from height as white foam floated, is exact millions swans, on dark green water.

When the sun has risen above, Элиза has suddenly seen in the distance the huge lock surrounded with lungs, as if air, galleries; below, under lock walls, palm trees waved and fine flowers grew.

Элиза has asked, whether that is the country where they fly, but swans have shaken heads: it was only the illusive, eternally changing cloudy lock of the Mirage. Элиза has again looked afar, but the lock any more was not. There, where there was a lock earlier, high mountains, поросшие dense wood rose. At the tops of mountains snow sparkled, blocks of transparent ice went down between unapproachable rocks.

Suddenly mountains have turned to the whole flotilla of the ships; Элиза has peered more steadfastly and has seen, that it is simply sea fog rising over water.

But here also the present earth at last has seemed. There, ashore, green fields were spread, cedar woods darkened, and the big cities and high castles in the distance were seen. To a sunset it was still far, and Элиза already sat on a rock before a deep cave. On cave walls is gentle-green plants, as though the embroidered green carpets were twisted. It was the fine house of its brothers-swans.

- Let's look, that will dream you this night, - the younger brother has told and has taken away Элизу in its bedchamber.

- Ah, if I have dreamt how to release you from charms! - has told Элиза and has closed eyes.

And here to it has dreamt, that it flies highly-highly to that lock which she saw over the sea. And the lock towards to it leaves the fairy the Mirage. The Mirage is light and fine, but at the same time is surprisingly similar to that old woman who has given Элизе in wood of berries and has told about swans in gold crowns.

- Your brothers can be rescued, - the Mirage has told, - but whether courage and firmness will suffice at you? Water is softer than your gentle hands and nevertheless it does stones smooth and round, but water does not feel a pain which will be felt by your fingers; water does not have heart which is compressed for fear and a flour as your heart. You see, at me in hands a nettle. The same nettle растёт.здесь near a cave, and only it moreover that nettle which grows on a cemetery, can be useful to you. Remember it! Dig nettles though your hands will become covered by blisters from burns; then knead her feet and twist from it long threads. From these threads weave eleven shirts with long sleeves and when they will be ready, throw them on swans. As soon as shirts will concern their feathers, sorcery will disappear. But remember, that from that minute as you will begin the work and until you will end it, you should not speak words, at least your work lasted the whole years. The first word which will break at you from language, will pierce hearts of your brothers, as a dagger. Their life and death in your hands! Remember all it!

And the Mirage has concerned hands Элизы with a burning nettle. Элиза has felt a pain as from a burn, and has woken up. There was already light day. At the bed Elizy some stalks of a nettle, exactly as that which she dreamt laid. Then Элиза left a cave and was accepted to work.

The gentle hands it tore a malicious, burning nettle, and its fingers became covered by the big blisters, but it with pleasure endured a pain: if only to rescue lovely brothers! It has dug the whole armful of a nettle, has then kneaded its naked feet and began to twist long green threads.

When the sun has come, in a cave brothers have arrived. They began to ask sister that it did while they were not. But Элиза has not answered them words. Brothers very much were frightened, увидя, that their sister became mute.

"This new sorcery of the malicious stepmother", - they have thought, but, having looked at hands Элизы covered with blisters, have understood, that it became mute for the sake of their rescue. Most younger of brothers has begun to cry; its tears dripped to it on hands, and there where the teardrop fell, burning blisters disappeared, the pain ceased.

Night Элиза has spent behind the work; she also did not think of rest - she thought only of that, as though to release the lovely brothers somewhat quicker. All next day while swans flied, it remained one-odinyoshenka, but never before time did not go so quickly. Here already one shirt was ready, and the girl was accepted to the following.

Suddenly in mountains sounds were heard. The hunting horns. Элиза was frightened. Sounds all came nearer, then bark of dogs was distributed. The girl has disappeared in a cave, has connected all collected nettle in a bunch and villages near it. A same minute because of bushes the big dog, behind it another and the third has jumped out. Dogs loudly barked and ran back and forth. Soon at a cave all hunters have gathered. Most beautiful of them was the king of that country; it has approached to Элизе. He Never before did not meet such beauty!

- How you have got here, the charming child? - He has asked, but Элиза only has shaken a head - she after all is not dared to speak: if she has told at least one word, her brothers would be lost.

Hands Элиза has hidden under an apron that the king has not seen blisters and scratches.

- Let's go with me! - the king has told. - Here you cannot remain! If you as good, as well as are good, I will dress up you in silk and a velvet, I will put on to you a head a gold crown, and you will live in a magnificent palace.

And it has planted it on a saddle before itself(himself).

Элиза bitterly cried, but the king has told:

- I want only your happiness. Sometime you will thank me.

And it has carried it in mountains, and hunters skipped trace.

By the evening before them the magnificent capital of the king, with palaces and towers has seemed, and the king has entered Элизу into the palace. In high marble rooms fountains murmured, and walls and ceilings have been painted by beautiful pictures. But Элиза on what did not look, she cried and grieved. Servants have put on it royal clothes, вплели to it in hair pearl threads and have pulled thin gloves on its burnt fingers.

In rich attires Элиза was so it is fine, that all court yard has admired, it, and the king has proclaimed its bride. But a royal bishop has shaken a head and began to whisper to the king, that the mute beauty, should be, the wood sorcerer - it has bewitched heart of the king.

The king did not begin to listen to it, it has given a sign to musicians, ordered to call the best dancers and to submit on a table expensive dishes, and itself has led Элизу through smelling sweet gardens in magnificent rooms. But Элиза still was sad and sad. Then the king has opened a door in a small room near bedroom Элизы. The room all has been covered by green carpets and reminded a wood cave where the king has found Элизу. On a floor the nettle sheaf laid, and on a wall the shirt hung weaved Элизой. All it as a wonder, one of hunters has grasped with itself from wood.

- Here you can recollect the former dwelling, - the king has told. - here your work. Perhaps, you will wish to have a good time sometimes among splendour surrounding you memoirs on the past.

Having seen the nettle and the weaved shirt, Элиза has joyfully smiled and has kissed a hand of the king, and it has pressed it to the breast.

Bishop continued to whisper to the king malicious speeches, but they did not reach heart of the king. For other day have celebrated a wedding. A bishop itself should put on a crown the bride; from disappointment it so has densely pulled to it over a forehead a narrow gold hoop, that to everyone would become sick, but Элиза at all has not noticed it. She all thought of the lovely brothers. Its lips have been still compressed, a uniform word did not take off from them, but in her eyes the passionate love to the kind, beautiful king was shone, which did everything only to please it. Every day it became attached to it more and more. About if she could tell about the sufferings! But she should be silent, yet will not end the work.

At night it quietly left in the secret room similar to a cave, and spun there one shirt for another. Already six shirts were roтовы but when it was accepted to the seventh has seen, that the nettle at it is not present more.

Элиза knew, that can find such nettle on a cemetery. And here at night it on the sly left a palace.

Its heart was compressed for fear when it made the way a moonlight night on a cemetery on long avenues of a garden, and then on deserted streets.

On cemetery Элиза has dug nettles and has come back home.

Only one person did not sleep that night and saw Элизу. It was a bishop.

In the morning a bishop has come to the king and has told to it that he saw at the night.

- Banish it, the king, it the malicious sorcerer! - a bishop whispered.

- The lie, Элиза is innocent! - the king has answered, but nevertheless the doubt has crept in in its heart.

At night the king only pretended to be, that sleeps. And here he has seen, that Элиза has risen and has disappeared from a bedroom. Next nights the same has repeated: the king did not sleep and saw, how it disappeared in the secret room.

The king all became more gloomy and more gloomy. Элиза saw it, but did not understand, than the king is dissatisfied. Its heart ached for fear and for pity to brothers; on its royal dress the bitter tears shining as diamonds, and the people seeing it rich attires slid, envied it. But soon, soon end to its work. Already ten shirts. It was ready, but on the eleventh again there was no nettle. Once again, last time, it was necessary to go on a cemetery and to dig some bunches of a nettle. She with horror has thought of a deserted cemetery and nevertheless has dared to go there.

At night Элиза left secretly a palace, but the king and a bishop watched it, and they have seen, how Элиза has disappeared for кладбищенской a fencing. What the queen on a cemetery could do at night?.

- Now you see, that it the malicious sorcerer, - a bishop has told and has demanded, that Элизу have burnt on a fire.

And the king should agree.

Элизу have planted in a dark, crude vault with iron lattices at windows into which with whistle the wind rushed. To it have thrown an armful of a nettle which it has dug on a cemetery. This burning nettle should serve Элизе as a headboard, and the rigid shirts weaved by it - bed. But anything else Элизе also it was not necessary. It again was accepted to work. In the evening at a lattice noise of swan wings was distributed. He/she is most younger of brothers has found sister, and Элиза has loudly begun to sob for pleasure though knew, that she needed to live only one night. But its work came to an end, and brothers were here!

All night long spun Элиза last shirt. The mice running on a vault, have taken pity over it and that though a little bit to help it, began to collect and bring to her feet the scattered stalks of a nettle, and the ouzel sitting at a trellised window, consoled in its song.

At dawn, shortly before sunrise, to palace collars eleven brothers Элизы have come and have demanded, that them have let in to the king. To them have answered, that it is impossible: the king still slept also dared to disturb nobody him. But they did not leave and continued to ask. The king has heard someone's voices and has looked out in a window to learn, in what business. But this minute there has ascended the sun, and brothers Элизы have disappeared. The king has seen only as eleven wild swans have risen in the sky.

The people followed crowds a city to look at execution of the queen. The pity jade carried a cart in which sat Элиза; on Элизу have put on a shirt from a rough canvas; its wonderful long hair have been dismissed on shoulders, and its person was pale, as snow. Even on road to a place of execution it go did not let the work: ten shirts laid at her feet absolutely ready, eleventh it continued to spin.

- Look at a witch! - shouted in crowd. - she does not leave the magical pieces! We Will pull out them at it yes we will break off in scraps!

Someone's hands were already stretched to a cart to pull out at Элизы a green shirt, but eleven swans have suddenly arrived. They have sat down along the edges of a cart and is noisy have begun to clap the mighty wings. The scared people have parted in the parties.

- White swans have flied from the sky! It is innocent! - whispered many, but dare to tell it aloud.

And here the executioner has already seized Элизу by a hand, but it has quickly thrown green shirts, and as soon as shirts have concerned their feathers on swans, all eleven swans have addressed in handsome men of princes.

Only the most younger instead of the left hand still had swan wing: Элиза was not in time доплести a sleeve on last shirt.

- Now I can speak! - has told Элиза. - I am innocent!

And the people seeing everything that has occurred, have admired it and began to glorify it, but Элиза without feelings have fallen in embraces of brothers. It has been exhausted by fear and a pain.

- Yes, it is innocent, - the most senior prince has told and has told everything as was.

For now he spoke, in air the fragrance, as if from millions roses has extended: this each log in a fire has taken root also sprouts, and here on that place where wished to burn Элизу, the high green bush covered with red roses has grown. And on the top of a bush shone, as a star, it is dazzling a white flower.

The king has broken it, has put on breast Элизы, and she has regained consciousness.

Here all bells in a city have rung out by itself, birds were flied by the whole flights, and to a palace such happy procession, what not видывал still any king was pulled!