The Language of the Birds

In a certain city there lived a merchant, his wife, and their son, who was wise beyond his years; his name was Vasily. One day, as all three were having lunch together, a nightingale in a cage sang over the table so mournfully that the merchant could not bear it. He said, "If ever there were a man who could truly tell me what that nightingale is saying and what doom it forebodes, I would gladly meet him. I would give him half of my possessions during my lifetime, and after my death I would bequeath him many goods."

Then the little boy, who was only six years old, looked his father and mother straight in the eyes and said, "I know what the nightingale is singing, but I am afraid to say it."

"Speak openly," said his mother and father.

So Vasily said with tears, "The nightingale foretells that a time is coming when you will be my servants, when my father will draw water for me, and my mother will give me the towel to wipe my face and hands."

These words made the merchant and his wife very angry, and they decided to get rid of their son. They built a little boat, and in the dark of night, they put the sleeping boy into it and let it sail out into the open sea.

Just then, the prophetic nightingale flew out of its cage and onto the boat, perching on the boy's shoulder. The boat drifted to the seashore, where a ship with all its sails spread came to meet it. The ship's master saw the boy, took pity on him, adopted him, and asked him questions, promising to keep and love him as his own son.

The next day, the boy said to his new father, "The nightingale foretells that a storm is brewing that will break the masts and tear the sails. We must return to the harbor."

But the ship's master would not turn back. And immediately a storm arose, shattering the masts and ripping the sails to shreds. It was no use regretting what was done; they built new masts and rigged new sails, and sailed on further.

Again Vasya spoke, "The nightingale sings that twelve ships are coming to meet us, all pirate ships, and they will take us prisoner."

This time the master believed him, and he turned back to the island they had just left. They watched as the twelve bold pirate ships sailed past. After waiting as long as necessary, the master set sail again.

Some time passed, and the ship arrived at the city of Khvalynsk. For many years, a crow, with his wife and child, had been flying in front of the king's palace, screeching day and night, giving no rest to anyone. Whatever the people did, whatever traps they set, they could not drive the crows away from the window. Even small shot was useless. So the king issued a proclamation, displayed at every crossroad and harbor:

"If anyone can drive away the crow, with his wife and child, from the royal windows, the king will grant him half of his kingdom and his youngest daughter as wife. But if anyone undertakes the task and fails, he shall forfeit his head."

Many were the hunters eager to become the king's kin, and all their heads were hewn off and hung on stakes.

When Vasily heard of this, he went to the ship's master and asked, "Let me go to the king. Perhaps I can chase away the crow and his wife."

The master tried to dissuade him, but Vasily would not listen. "Very well, go," said the master. "If you come to harm, you have only yourself to blame."

So Vasily entered the palace, told the king he would try, and ordered the windows in front of the crows to be opened. He listened carefully to the birds' speech, then said to the king, "Your Majesty, you see these three – the crow, his wife, and their son. The father and mother are quarreling over which of them the son belongs to. They ask for a decision. Your Majesty, to whom does the son belong?"

The king answered, "To the father."

As soon as the king said this, the crow and his son flew off to the right, while the mother crow flew to the left. The crows never returned to bother the palace again.

After this, the king took Vasily into his court, treated him with great kindness and honor, and as he grew to be a fine young man, he married the princess and received half of the kingdom as a dowry.

One day, Vasily decided to journey to foreign lands, to see the world and show himself. So he set out to roam. In one city, he stayed for the night at an inn. The next morning, he asked to wash. The master brought him water, and the mistress brought him a towel. As he spoke with them, he realized they were his own father and mother. He wept for joy and fell at their feet, then took them back to his city of Khvalynsk. And they all lived together for a long time, in peace and happiness.