FIREBIRD STORIES

(From F&F#50 August 2004)

I am a great fan of serendipity—the way unrelated things suddenly crop up at the same time and make some meaningful link. Earlier in the year the BBC ran a children's serial on TV (Featherboy) which was loosely based on the legend of the Firebird. They kept very quiet about a brilliant production and I think Sue and I must have been the only people who watched it! At about the same time the Tate Modern had an exhibition of sculptures by the Romanian sculptor Branccusi some of whose most important works are based on the Romanian version of the same story. Here are three versions of the tale.

THE FIREBIRD version 1

Across misty mountains and over deep rolling seas there lived a king who had an orchard that was his greatest delight, for in the orchard grew a golden apple tree. One night a thief came and stole some apples. The king was furious and, next night, had his stable lad, Ivan, stand guard all night long.

Half the night passed and then, all of a sudden, Ivan saw a Firebird swoop down and start pecking at the apples. He grabbed the Firebird's tail, but it tore free and flew away, leaving a feather in Ivan's hand.

The king sent Ivan in search of the magical Firebird. He had not gone far when a big grey wolf appeared and promised to help him find the thief. The wolf advised Ivan to mix some beer with bread and cheese and scatter it on the ground. When the Firebird ate the bread and cheese it was soon drunk and reeling about and Ivan was able to seize it and thrust it into his sack. Then, leaping upon the wolf's back, he raced back to the king.

Now, the king had heard of a princess, Yelena the Fair who lived beyond the seas. And he sent Ivan on another errand—to fetch Yelena to him. Once again the big grey wolf came to Ivan's aid, and they sped off to a fairytale castle beyond the seas.

The princess was captured and both she and Ivan sat astride the wolf for the journey back to the old king. On the way, however, Ivan fell in love with Yelena the Fair and she with him. When they told the wolf of their dilemma he told them to leave everything to him.

Once in the king's palace, the big, grey wolf turned himself into the living likeness of the fair princess and Ivan led the 'wolf-princess' to the king. The king was overjoyed and summoned all his nobles to witness the crowning of his new queen. But just as he went to kiss the bride his lips met the cold muzzle of the big grey wolf. The shock was so severe that the old king dropped dead upon the spot. So Ivan married Yelena the Fair and became king himself. As for the Firebird, it was set free to fly away. But never again did it nibble at apples—or bread and cheese.

THE FIREBIRD version 2

During a hunting expedition, Prince Ivan, the Tsarevich, wandered into an enchanted garden. There, he spied a beautiful bird with dazzling plumage that was trying to pluck golden fruit from a silver tree. Ivan captured the bird but yielded to its entreaties to be set free. In gratitude the Firebird gave Ivan a magic feather.

Next morning, as the sun rose, thirteen enchanted princesses came from the castle to dance and play with the golden apples. Ivan revealed himself and was told that the castle was the property of the evil magician Kastchei, who turned captive travellers into stone. Ivan, now in love with one of the princesses, vowed to enter the castle. As he opened the gates Kastchei and his crew of grotesques marched onto the scene. Kastchei tried to bewitch Ivan but the Prince was protected by the Firebird's feather.

The Firebird then appeared and cast a spell by dancing wildly among the demons of Kastchei. The bird then showed to Ivan an egg which contained Kastchei's soul. Ivan smashed the egg and Kastchei died.

With his death, the princesses were liberated, and the story ended happily.

THE FIREBIRD version 3

Once upon a time, a long time ago or a short time ago, there was an orphan girl named Maryushka.She was very beautiful and very humble but she could embroider more beautifully than anyone else in the world. She worked with coloured silks and glass beads making for one a shirt, for another a towel, for another a pretty sash and she only took in payment whatever price that person could afford, no matter how small.

Soon the fame of her skill spread far and wide until it reached the ears of merchants beyond the seas. From near and far they came to see her marvellous work. They gazed and were amazed, for they never thought to find anything so beautiful. One after another they tried to persuade Maryushka to go away with them, promising her riches and glory, but she only lowered her eyes and replied modestly "Riches I do not need and I shall never leave the village where I was born, but of course I will sell my work to anyone who finds it beautiful." And with that, although they were disappointed, the merchants had to be content. They left, spreading the story of her skills to the ends of the earth. At last the story reached the ear of the evil sorcerer Kaschei the Immortal. He was furious to learn that such beauty was in the world and that he had never seen it. He took on the form of a handsome youth and flew over the deep oceans, the tall mountains and the impassable forests until he came to Maryushka's cottage.He knocked at the door and bowed low to her as was the custom. Then he asked to see the needlework she had completed. Maryushka set out shirts, towels, handkerchiefs and veils, each one more beautiful than the last. "Kind sir," said she, "please take whatever pleases you. If you have no money with you, you may pay me later when you have money to spare. And if my work does not find favour in your eyes please counsel me and tell me what to do, and I shall try my best."

Her kind words and the sight of all that beauty made Kaschei even angrier. How could it be that a simple country girl could fashion finer things than he, the great Kaschei the Immortal, himself possessed. He put on his most cunning tones and said: "Come with me, Maryushka, and I will make you my queen. You will live in a palace built of precious jewels. You will eat off gold and sleep on eiderdown. You will walk in an orchard where birds of paradise sing sweet songs, and golden apples grow."

"Do not speak so," answered Maryushka. "I need neither your riches nor your strange marvels. There is nothing sweeter than the fields and woods where I was born. Never shall I leave this village where my parents lie buried and where those live to whom my needlework brings joy. I shall never embroider for you alone."

Kaschei was furious at this answer. His face grew dark and he cried, "Because you are so loath to leave your flock, a bird you shall be, and no more a maiden fair!"

In an instant a Firebird flapped its wings where Maryushka had stood. Kaschei became a great black Falcon and soared into the sky to swoop down on the Firebird. Grasping her tight in his cruel talons, he carried her high above the clouds. As soon as Maryushka felt the power in those steel claws and realised she was being taken away she resolved to leave behind one last memory of herself.

She shed her brilliant plumage and feather after feather floated down onto meadow and forest. As the feathers fell, Maryushka's strength ebbed.

And although the Firebird died in the black Falcon's talons, her feathers continued to live, down on the ground. The wind covered them with grass and leaves, but nothing could rob them of their brilliant, glowing rainbow colours. They were not ordinary feathers, but magic ones that only those who love beauty and who seek to make beauty for others can see and admire.

Note: Kaschei: Koshchay, (or Koshchay Bessmertny) 'Old Bones the Immortal' is an ancient Slavic ogre who specialises in carrying off fair maidens. His name has here been transferred to a more human villain.

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