"Zorenka" by Nikolai Teleshov, summary Automatic translate

The literary fairy tale "Zorenka" was written by Nikolai Dmitrievich Teleshov in the early twentieth century. The most notable detail of the text is its deconstruction of the classic folkloric motif of the suitor’s trial, in which the author replaces magical intervention with precise psychological calculation.

The work has not won any international awards or been adapted into a big-budget film. The text has remained within the confines of classic children’s literature, occasionally being adapted for small-scale theatrical productions.

The Astrologer’s Prophecy and the First Suitors

King Kosar was returning from a successful hunt. The ruler rode along a forest road, surrounded by his dog handlers, warriors, and wagon drivers. He reflected on his own boundless power, considering himself the strongest and most intelligent man. Suddenly, the procession encountered a thin, gray-haired hermit-astrologer. The elder foretold the appearance of an unknown youth, superior in intelligence. According to the prophecy, this man would first marry the king’s only daughter, and a year later, he would seize the entire kingdom to divide it equally among the people.

Kosar ignored the elder’s words outwardly, but inwardly began searching for a way to rid himself of potential suitors for his daughter Zorenka’s hand. Soon, three noble youths arrived at the palace. The guests wished to speak with the ruler alone and declared their intention to woo the beautiful Zorenka. They offered Kosar the choice of a son-in-law, threatening to duel each other to the death if he did not.

The king readily agreed to their battle, considering the guests foolish. The young men chose a clearing in the garden. After some time, a messenger reported the death of the first contender, and then the second. The third survived, but suffered serious injuries: a broken arm and pierced cheeks. Mower ordered a message to the survivor that he had no use for a lame and crippled son-in-law.

Deadly lot

Soon, five more contenders arrived at the palace. Kosar attempted to provoke them into a similar duel by telling them of the fates of their predecessors. However, the new guests refused bloodshed. They proposed letting Zorenka choose for herself or drawing lots. The ruler was angry, but agreed to the drawing, adding a stern condition: if the contender failed, he would lose his head. The young men agreed, not realizing the extent of the danger.

The next day, a platform was erected on a high cliff above the river. Three tents were pitched nearby: a golden brocade one for the tsar, a silver one for the courtiers, and a rainbow one for the suitors. A red bench was placed at the edge of the cliff for the executioner, a former robber. The herald announced the rules: two identical stones were dropped into a golden vessel. The light stone guaranteed marriage with Zorenka, while the scarlet meant immediate death. The executioner was to throw the unfortunate ones off the cliff into the river using a special board swinging on a log.

The first youth emerged from the rainbow tent. The executioner wrapped an iron chain crosswise around his chest. The challenger dipped his hand into the vessel and pulled out a red stone. The herald gave the signal, the executioner yanked the board, and the chained youth fell into the water. The second challenger suffered the same fate as the first. The remaining three youths became frightened, cited a lack of time, and left the palace. The mower was delighted with his own invention, for he had secretly ordered two red stones to be placed in the bowl.

The emergence of guslars

Zorenka was deeply distressed by the deaths of innocent people. The girl lived alone among her servants and nurses, constantly sad. To cheer up the Tsar’s daughter, her nurse Lukerya brought two lost gusli players into the courtyard. One appeared to be an old blind man, the other a young hunchback. The musicians played melodies, both sad and cheerful, causing the audience to tap their feet.

The blind old man sang Zorenka a song about a young man who disguised himself as a beggar to see a beautiful woman, fell in love with her, and came to woo her. That night, the girl stood for a long time at the open window overlooking the garden. She listened to the nightingale’s song and reflected on the story she’d heard, sighing secretly to herself.

In the morning, the gusli players returned. Lukerya sat down to knit a sock, and Zorenka asked the blind man to repeat the song from the previous night. During the performance, the old man tore off his gray beard and false white hair. Under the mask was a young man with joyful eyes. He confessed his love to Zorenka and asked her to be his bride. Lukerya noticed the deception and almost screamed. Zorenka calmed her mother, and the hunchback began to loudly play a lively song on the gusli, distracting everyone.

Revealing the secret and cunning of Pereyaslav

The young man, who called himself Pereyaslav, was determined to woo the tsar’s daughter. Lukerya and Zorenka tried to dissuade him, reminding him of Kosar’s harsh terms. The girl wept, begging the young man to have pity on her. Realizing Pereyaslav would not back down, Zorenka revealed her father’s terrible secret. She confessed that the golden vessel contained two red stones.

Hearing this, Pereyaslav was overjoyed. He declared that he was now absolutely certain of success, said goodbye to the women, and left with his comrade. On the day of the test, spectators, ambassadors from neighboring states, and courtiers once again gathered on the riverbank. Zorenka sat in her father’s golden tent, pale as death.

Pereyaslav emerged from the rainbow tent, wearing modest traveling clothes and a white flower on his chest, a gift from Zorenka. The executioner placed heavy chains on him. The herald proposed drawing lots. Pereyaslav reached under the shroud, pulled out a stone, and, without looking at it, threw it into the river with all his might.

Wedding and finale

The herald fearfully asked what color the stone had been. Pereyaslav confidently replied that he had drawn a white lot. To prove it, he demanded that the remaining stone be removed from the vessel. The herald drew a red lot and showed it to the crowd. The spectators, ambassadors, and warriors burst into applause. Mower realized he was in a hopeless situation.

Zorenka rushed to embrace her father, sobbing with joy. The executioner removed the young man’s chains and threw them onto the platform. Pereyaslav approached the ruler and, in front of everyone, demanded that Zorenka be his wife. The mower removed his cap, placed his hands on the young man’s shoulders, and kissed him three times. During the kiss, the tsar quietly called his son-in-law a sly one, to which Pereyaslav whispered a similar compliment.

Soon, a joyful wedding was celebrated in the palace. Zorenka found happiness, and Kosar was pleased with his new relative. Some time later, the ruler again encountered the astrologer in the forest. The elder reminded Kosar of the meaning of Pereyaslav’s name, which had taken over the reputation of being the most intelligent man, and warned him that his son-in-law would take away everything else. The king tried to laugh it off, accusing the hermit of fortune-telling from stove pots. However, upon returning home, the ruler lost his peace and slept poorly that night.

"Ah, you evil astrologer! Ah, you son of a dog, what have you predicted for my head!"