The Seven Simeons, Full Brothers

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived an old man and his old wife. They had lived together for many, many years, growing older and older, until their backs were bent and their hands were slow. They prayed to God to give them a child who could help them with their work in their old age. They prayed for one year, then two, then three, then four, then five, then six, but no child came. In the seventh year, however, the Lord granted their wish and gave them seven sons. They named them all Simeon, for they were as alike as peas in a pod. But the old man and his wife lived only a few more years, and when they died, the seven Simeons, each only ten years old, were left alone in the world.

The brothers worked hard, plowing their own land and sowing their own fields, and they were just as good farmers as any of their neighbors. One day, Tsar Ador, the ruler of the entire country, was riding through the village when he saw the seven boys working in the field. He was amazed to see such young children doing such heavy work. He sent his chief boyar to ask who they were.

The boyar rode up to the brothers and asked, "Who are you, and why are you, so small, doing such heavy work?"

Simeon the eldest answered, "We are orphans, and there is no one else to work for us. And we are all called Simeon."

The boyar returned and told the Tsar what he had learned. The Tsar was astonished that so many brothers should all be called by the same name, so he sent the boyar back with orders to bring the boys to the palace.

The boyar did as he was told, and soon the seven Simeons stood before the Tsar, who had called all his boyars and counselors together to ask their advice.

"My wise men," said the Tsar, "these seven orphans have no kin. I wish to make them into men who will be grateful to me forever. Tell me, in what skills or arts should I have them instructed?"

The boyars consulted one another, and then one said, "Most gracious Tsar, since they are now old enough to reason, perhaps you should ask each one individually what skill he would like to learn."

The Tsar agreed, and he asked the eldest Simeon, "Listen, my friend: what skill or art would you like to learn? I will have you taught."

Simeon the eldest replied, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to learn any skill or art. But if you have a forge built in the middle of your courtyard, I will forge a pillar that reaches the sky."

The Tsar was surprised, but he saw that this boy knew the blacksmith's trade already, and he had no need of teaching. Still, he did not believe that the boy could really forge a pillar to the sky, so he gave orders to have a forge built right away.

Then the Tsar asked the second Simeon, "And what skill or art do you wish to learn?"

Simeon the second answered, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to learn anything, but if my eldest brother forges a pillar to the sky, I will climb it to the top, and I will look out over all the lands and tell you what is happening in each one."

The Tsar smiled, for he saw that this Simeon was wise already. Then he asked the third Simeon, "What skill or art would you like to learn?"

Simeon the third said, "Your Majesty, I have no desire to learn any skill. But if my eldest brother makes me an axe, with just one or two strikes of that axe, I will build a ship, fully rigged and ready to sail."

The Tsar was pleased, for he knew he needed shipbuilders. "You need no further teaching," he said. Then he turned to the fourth Simeon and asked, "And you, what skill do you wish to know?"

Simeon the fourth answered, "Your Majesty, I have no wish to learn any skill, but if my third brother builds a ship, and that ship is at sea and an enemy attacks it, I will seize the ship by its prow and pull it down to the underground kingdom, where it will be safe. And when the enemy has gone, I will bring it back to the surface of the sea."

The Tsar was amazed at such a wonder. "There is no need to teach you," he declared. Then he asked the fifth Simeon, "And you, my friend?"

Simeon the fifth said, "I wish to learn nothing, but if my eldest brother forges me a gun, I will be able to hit any bird I see, even if it is a hundred versts away."

"You will be a splendid marksman for me," said the Tsar. Then he asked the sixth Simeon, "And you?"

Simeon the sixth answered, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to learn anything, but if my fifth brother shoots a bird on the wing, I will not let it fall to the ground. I will catch it and bring it to you."

"You are very clever," said the Tsar. "You will be my field retriever." Then he asked the last of the brothers, the seventh Simeon, "What skill or art would you like to learn?"

Simeon the seventh replied, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to learn any skill or art, because I already possess a most precious craft."

"What is your craft? Tell me, if you please," said the Tsar.

"I know how to steal dexterously," said Simeon. "No one can steal better than I."

The Tsar grew very angry when he heard this, for he thought it was an evil skill. He turned to his boyars and asked, "How should I punish this thief? What death should he die?"

But the boyars said, "Your Majesty, why put him to death? He is a thief, but a thief who may be needed on occasion."

"Why would I need him?" asked the Tsar.

"Because you have been trying for ten years to win Tsarevna Yelena the Beautiful, and you have not succeeded. You have lost many soldiers and spent great treasure. Perhaps Simeon the thief could steal her for you."

The Tsar realized they spoke the truth. He turned to the seventh Simeon and said, "Can you go to the faraway land, the thirtieth kingdom, and steal Yelena the Beautiful for me? I love her greatly, and if you can steal her, I will reward you richly."

"Stealing is my art," answered Simeon. "I will steal her for you, if you give the command."

"I not only command it, I beg you to do it," said the Tsar. "Take all the troops and money you need."

"I need neither troops nor money," said Simeon. "Let all us brothers go together, and I will get Yelena the Beautiful for you."

The Tsar was reluctant to let all seven brothers go, but he had no choice. So the eldest Simeon built a forge in the courtyard and forged an iron pillar that reached the sky. Then the second Simeon climbed to the top and looked toward the kingdom where Yelena lived. He called down, "Your Majesty, I see Yelena the Beautiful sitting beneath a window in her palace in the thirtieth kingdom. She is more beautiful than words can say."

The Tsar was even more enticed, and he urged them, "Hurry, my friends, for I cannot live without her."

The eldest Simeon made an axe for the third brother and a gun for the fifth, and then the brothers took some bread for the journey and a cat that the seventh Simeon had trained. This cat followed him everywhere like a dog, and would stand on her hind legs, rub against him, and purr.

So the brothers set off, and after walking for a long time they came to the sea, where there was no ship to cross. They walked along the shore, looking for a tree to build a vessel, and found a mighty oak. The third Simeon took his axe, cut down the oak, and with a few strokes built a fine ship, fully rigged and laden with costly goods. All the brothers boarded and sailed away.

After many months they arrived at the kingdom where Yelena lived. They anchored in the harbor, and the next day Simeon the thief took his cat and went into the town. He walked to the palace and stood opposite the window of Yelena the Beautiful. The cat stood on her hind legs and began to rub against him and purr. In that kingdom, they had never seen such a creature as a cat.

Yelena saw the cat and sent her nurses and maidens to ask what kind of beast it was, and whether Simeon would sell it. The maidens asked, and Simeon replied, "Tell her Highness that this little beast is called a cat.

I will not sell it, but if she wishes, I will give it to her without price."

The maidens went back and told Yelena, who was overjoyed and ran out herself. "Will you not sell me the cat?" she asked.

"Your Highness," said Simeon, "I will not sell her, but if you like, I will give her to you."

Yelena took the cat in her arms and went to her father, telling him that a foreigner had given her this wonderful beast. The Tsar was delighted with the cat and wanted to reward Simeon with money, but Simeon refused. Then the Tsar said, "My friend, come live in my house, and the cat will soon become used to my daughter."

But Simeon replied, "Majesty, I would gladly stay, but I have a ship I must guard, and I cannot trust it to anyone. But if you permit, I will come every day and teach the cat to know your daughter."

The Tsar agreed, and Simeon came to visit Yelena every day. One day he said to her, "Gracious lady, you never walk anywhere. You should come to my ship, and I will show you such costly brocades as you have never seen."

Yelena went to her father and asked if she could go to the ship. The Tsar allowed her, and told her to take her nurses and maidens with her.

When they arrived at the wharf, Simeon invited Yelena aboard the ship, where he and his brothers displayed rich fabrics and jewels. Then Simeon said to her, "Please tell your nurses and maidens to leave the ship, for I have things to show you that they are not allowed to see."

Yelena sent them away, and as soon as they were gone, Simeon ordered his brothers, silently, to cut the anchor and set sail. Meanwhile, he showed her more wonders and gave her presents. After about two hours, Yelena said, "I must go home now; my father will be waiting for dinner." But when she left the cabin, she saw that the ship was under sail and no land was in sight.

In her distress, Yelena struck her breast, turned into a white swan, and flew up into the sky. The fifth Simeon grabbed his gun and shot the swan, wounding it. The sixth Simeon caught it before it fell into the water and brought it back to the ship, where it became a maiden once more.

Meanwhile, the nurses and maidens at the wharf had seen the ship sailing away with the Tsarevna, and they ran to the Tsar to tell him of the deceit. The Tsar sent a whole fleet in pursuit. When the fleet drew near, the fourth Simeon seized the ship by the prow and pulled it down to the underground kingdom, making it invisible. The enemy commanders thought the ship had sunk with the Tsarevna, so they turned back and reported to the Tsar that Simeon's ship and Yelena were lost.

The Simeons sailed home in safety and delivered Yelena the Beautiful to Tsar Ador. The Tsar was so grateful that he gave the brothers their liberty and great riches of gold, silver, and precious stones. He married Yelena himself, and they lived together happily for many years.