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바빌론 흙벽돌과 갈대 벽돌과 모르타르 피부구조 mTm침 치료

바빌론 흙벽돌과 갈대 벽돌과 모르타르 피부구조 mTm침 치료

바빌론(아랍어: بابل, 아람어: ܒܒܙܠ, 히브리어: בבל)은 고대 메소포타미아에 있는 고대 도시이다. 현재의 이라크 알 히라에 있는 유적으로 바그다드 남쪽 80km 지점에 위치한다. 기원전 2300년경부터 고대 바빌로니아의 "성스러운 도시"로 기원전 612년 신 바빌로니아에 이르기까지 바빌로니아의 중심 도시로 가장 위대한 도시로 여겨졌다. 바빌론의 공중 정원은 고대 세계 7대 불가사의 중의 하나였다.

바빌론은 대략 기원전 20세기경 아모리인들이 메소포타미아 서쪽으로부터 남동쪽으로 이주하면서부터 이 지역에 정착한 것으로 보인다. 기원전 1894년 아모리의 수무아붐이 최초로 세운 아모리 왕국의 도시로 시작해 기원전 18세기 유명한 함무라비대왕의 치세에 본격적으로 번성했다. 바빌론은 지리적, 상업적으로 유리한 위치에 있어서 고대 바빌로니아 왕국의 수도이자 중심지로 발전했다.

2015년 3월 30일 오후 10시에 방영된 EBS 다큐프라임 위대한 바빌론 [1부] 바빌론 시티를 시청하였다. 로마나 그리스에 비해 잊혀졌던 바빌론을 1899년 독일의 콜데바이는 지금의 이라크 지역으로 가서 성경과 고대의 문헌에 기록된 바빌론을 탐사하였다. 그는 건물 터, 점토판 등을 발견하였고, 전쟁의 여신인 이슈타르 문이 있던 위치도 찾아냈다. 2600년 전 찬란한 문명을 자랑했던 바빌론에서 두 강을 이용해 해자를 파고 적들이 싫어하는 문등 여러 별명이 붙은 이슈타르 문은 가장 큰 관문이었다. 이슈타르는 날개달린 사자로 상징되며 전쟁과 군주를 의미했다. 바빌론은 네부카드네자르 2세(느브갓네살 기원전 634-기원전 562)에 의해 지배되었는데, 그는 메소포타미아 남부 지역에서 세력을 일으켜 구 바빌로니아의 후계를 자처하면서 앗시리아를 정복하고 시리아, 팔레스타인, 예루살렘, 이집트 일부 지역까지 공격하였다.

그리스의 역사가 헤로도토스가 신바빌로니아의 수도인 바빌론을 여행하고 남긴 기록에 따르면 성벽은 짧은 곳이 18km, 긴 곳이 72km에 이르렀으며 3중 성벽의 윗부분은 4마리 말이 끄는 마차가 양쪽으로 빗겨갈 수 있을 만큼 넓었다고 한다. 당시의 인구는 15만 명 정도로 추정되며 바빌론의 지구라트인 바벨탑과 공중 정원이 있었다.

메소포타미아 지방은 강수량은 낮았지만 터기 아나톨리아 고원으로부터 발원하는 거대한 두 강, 티그리스 강과 유프라테스 강이 있어서 관개 농업이 크게 발달하였다. 관개 농업은 대량의 노동력과 공사를 필요로 하였고, 이에 기원전 3000년부터 두 강의 유역을 따라 도시들이 발달하기 시작하였다.

도시들에서 농업 등의 필요에 따라 수학, 문자, 천문학이 생겨났고 점차 도시와 국가간 교역이 활발해졌다. 기원전 3000년 경 세워진 우르의 지구라트는 아직도 남아있어서 당시의 세계를 짐작하게 한다. 성경 아브라함의 고향인 우르에는 3만 5천명 정도의 사람들이 살았을 것이라고 추정되는데 이는 그 당시 세계에서 가장 거대한 도시이다.

기원전 1800년 경 수메르 문명에 전환기가 찾아와 보르시파가 가장 강력한 세력으로 떠올랐다. 보르시파를 다스리던 함무라비 왕은 전 메소포타미아 지방을 정복하고 제국을 다스리기 위한 최초의 성문법을 제정한다. 그는 보르시파 근처에 바빌론을 건설하기도 하였다.

메소포타미아 지방 북쪽의 도시 니네베를 중심으로 하는 앗시리아는 기원전 3000년 경 탄생하였지만, 이후 함무라비의 지배를 받았다. 그들은 기원전 14세기 중엽 다시 힘을 키워 메소포타미아를 통일한 이후 바빌론을 파괴하였다. 네부카드네자르 2세는 바빌론을 수도로 삼고 재건하였는데 당시 바빌론의 규모는 외성 내부의 면적만 900 헥타르 (9 제곱 킬로미터), 내성의 규모도 약 5 제곱 킬로미터로 지중해등 유럽에서 로마 이전 가장 큰 규모의 도시였다고 한다. 그는 아시리아를 정복하면서, 바빌론을 제국 반열에 오르게 한 바빌론 역사상 위대한 왕으로 등극하게 된다. 바빌론은 그리스 문명 보다 300년이나 앞선 제국으로 기원전 6세기경에는 세계 그 어느 국가보다 가장 큰 나라가 된다.

 바빌론은 건축 기술도 뛰어나서 높이 14미터, 폭 50미터에 이르는 이슈타르 문이 건축되었고, 이외에도 공중정원과 바벨탑이 있었다. 성벽은 흙벽돌과 갈대, 모르타르로 건축되었으며 성벽 주위는 3미터 깊이의 해자가 둘러싸고 있었다. 하수도, 다리, 아스팔트를 이용한 도로 포장, 아치 기술이 건축에 이용되었고, 1450도 이상의 온도에서 만들어지는 세라믹 기술도 실용화되어 있었다.

지구라트를 축조할 때에는 속에는 햇볕에 말린 벽돌을, 겉마무리 쌓기에는 구운 벽돌을 쓰고,

역청(瀝靑) 등을 모르타르로 사용하였다. 표면의 채색은 채유(彩釉) 벽돌로 하였다. 흙으로 고운으로 구운 푸른벽돌은 바빌론의 상징인데 벽돌로만은 지탱할 수 없으니 갈대나 모르타르를 그 중간에 넣은 것이다. 그런데 피부의 구조도 비슷하여 피부의 방어막, 보습막 역할을 하는 각질층의 피부장벽(벽돌- 각질세포, 시멘트-세포간지질막)이 존재한다. ‘피부장벽과 단백질Skin barrier and protein’이란 논문을 보면 피부의 가장 중요한 기능은 신체로부터 체액이 빠져나가는 것을 막고, 병균 및 유해물질이 침투하는 것을 막는 장벽으로서의 역할이다. 표피의 각질형성세포가 활발한 세포분열과 분화를 거쳐 궁극적으로 도달하게 되는 각질층은 과거에 그 중요성이 간과되었으나 최근 여러 연구들을 통해 물리적, 화학적 손상을 잘 견디어 낼 수 있는 매우 강한 조직이고 피부장벽의 핵심적인 조직임이 밝혀지고 있다. Elias 등은 "bricks and mortar model벽돌과 몰타르 모델"을 통해 각질층의 두 구획 체계를 제시한 바 있다. 즉, 벽돌과 회반죽으로 쌓은 방어벽과 마찬가지로 피부에서는 각질세포막과 케라틴 거대원섬유가 벽돌 역할을 담당하여 표피에 구조적 안정성과 탄력성을 제공하고, 세라마이드, 콜레스테롤, 자유지방산 등으로 구성된 세포간 지질은 회반죽 역할을 하여 체내 수분이 외부로 빠져나가는 것을 막고 외부환경으로부터 유해물질이 침투하는 것을 막는다.

위 내용을 보면 피부 장벽은 벽돌과 몰타르처럼 단단하게 결합되어 있기 때문에 외부 물질이나 자극이 쉽게 들어올 수 없는 바빌론처럼 난공불락의 요새처럼 되어 있음을 알게 된다. 따라서 기존의 화장품들의 효능이 얼마나 허구를 바탕으로 쓰여졌고, 화장품의 효과란 단지 발랐을 때 촉감이나 느낌에 지나지 않음을 생각할 수 있다. 화장품이 만약 진피까지 다 들어간다면 멸균상태가 아니니 화장품의 바이러스나 세균은 감염을 일으켜 패혈증등도 일으킬 것이다.

그렇다면 피부를 좋아지게 하는 방법은 단연코 없는 것일까? 이미지한의원에서 시술하는 mTm침 치료를 받는 것이 어떨까 싶다. 왜냐하면 mTm침은 표피에 미세한 홀을 뚫어 시술시 앰플 흡수를 돕고 또한 피부를 밝고 탄력이 있고 각질 제거를 해주며 피부톤을 개선시켜주는 무지개처럼 다양한 스펙트럼 같은 효과를 가져다 주기 때문이다. 

The Russian Story Book 10

The Russian Story Book 10

These things were done in exact accordance with the wishes of quiet

Dunai, who then left the palace in the company of Nikitich. In the

courtyard they found awaiting them two shaggy colts, fresh from the

steppe, which had never borne saddle or bridle. Upon these they fitted

plaited bridles of many-coloured silks and saddle-cloths of silk,

not for youthful vanity but for ease to their steeds. Over these they

laid thick felts, and then their saddles of stout leather secured by

twelve girths with silver buckles, while the buckles of the stirrups

were of fine ruddy gold.

 

Then they dressed themselves in silken robes and Saracen caps, took up

their maces of steel from Damascus, their mighty bows, and their silken

whips, and, mounting their frisky chargers, rode quickly through the

narrow streets of Kiev city. Before long they came to the outskirts and

then out upon the open plain, when they urged on their shaggy steeds,

spurring them gently and persuading them further with their whips of

braided silk. Past deep lakes they rode and through dense forests,

crashing through the undergrowth where the hoof of horse had never

trodden, until they came at last, and after a long journey, to the

brave land of Lithuania and the royal palace of its King.

 

Quiet Dunai asked no leave of guards, porters, or gate-keepers, but

flung the barriers wide and led the horses into the spacious courtyard,

where they dismounted. Leaving Nikitich on guard over the chargers,

Dunai took the bridles in his left hand, and in his right his club

of elm-wood.

 

"Stand there, Nikitich," said quiet Dunai, "and look steadfastly

towards the hall of royal audience. When I call, come!"

 

Then quiet Dunai crossed the courtyard and went into the hall of

royal audience, where he found the King sitting upon his throne,

and said to him in a quiet tone:

 

"Hail, little father, King of brave Lithuania!"

 

"Hail, quiet Dunai!" said the King. "Whither do you wander? Have you

come to fight against us or to serve us as before? But before you

answer, eat your fill and drink all that you need." Then he set him in

the great corner, and when he had refreshed himself somewhat hastily,

Dunai said:

 

"My errand is peaceful, little father. I come on behalf of the Fair

Sun, Vladimir of Kiev, to woo your daughter the Princess Apraxia." Then

he laid the parchment scroll upon the table, and the King spelled out

a little of it, a little and no more, but that was enough to make him

tear in anger at the black curls upon his forehead and stamp his feet

upon the floor of red brick.

 

"Stupid and dolt is Prince Vladimir of Kiev, who sends as his envoy

such a slave as you. Ho there, my merciless jailors! Seize quiet

Dunai by his white hands and by his flowing curls, and lead him down

to the deepest dungeon. Shut him in, bar the door, heap up against it

logs of wood and iron gratings, and then over all pile up the yellow

sand. Feed him on frozen oats and let him drink cold spring water

until he returns to his senses."

 

Quiet Dunai hung his head for a moment, and dropped his clear eyes to

the floor of red brick. Then he raised his white hand and smote the

table with his fist so that the wine was spilled, the dishes rolled

upon the floor, the tables tumbled down and the pillars of the hall

leaned this way and that, while the roof groaned and creaked. The

servants of the King fled this way and the other, while their master

gathered up the skirts of his royal robe and ran at great speed up

the winding stairway to the top of his lofty tower, never pausing even

to take a deep breath until he was safely hidden beneath a thick rug

of marten skins.

 

Then quiet Dunai took one light leap over the King's golden chair,

seized one of the stout attendants by the heels, and using him as a

club, began to slay the rest. "This club is tough," he said quietly

but a little grimly to himself, as he went on with his work. "He will

not break. He is wiry and will not tear." Then raising his voice he

called through the window, "Ho, there, Nikitich!" and the young man

entered the hall, snatched up another attendant by the heels, and

began to assist quiet Dunai in the first part of his strange wooing

of the Princess Apraxia.

 

But by and by the two friends heard the voice of the King through

the window of the topmost apartment of his lofty tower. "Ho, there,

quiet little Dunai!" he cried. "Forget not my kindness towards you

of old. Let us sit again together, you in the big corner, to discuss

the wooing of Prince Vladimir. Take my elder daughter the Princess

Nastasya, for I know little of her seeing that she loves adventure

on the open steppe, and I shall not miss her so much."

 

"I will not," said quiet Dunai, and went on with his work, Nikitich

also ceasing not to assist him.

 

"Take, then, the Princess Apraxia," cried the King in great haste,

and the two friends paused to gather breath. Then quiet Dunai went

to the great castle and began to knock off the thrice nine locks,

and to force open the doors. He entered the tower with the golden

roof and came to the apartment where the Princess Apraxia was pacing

to and fro clad in a fine robe without a girdle, her golden hair all

unbound and her feet all bare.

 

"Hail, Princess," said the royal envoy, bowing courteously, "and pardon

my coming without announcement. Will you wed with Prince Vladimir,

the Fair Sun of Kiev?"

 

"For three years," said the Princess, "have I longed and prayed that

Vladimir might be my husband." Then quiet Dunai took her by the small

white hands, kissed her golden ring, and led her at once into the

courtyard where they met the King.

 

"Take with the Princess," he said, "her royal dowry," and he gave

immediate orders for the loading of thirty wagons with red gold, white

silver, and fine seed pearls. Then the Princess arrayed herself, and

coming forth again rode away with the goodly youths over the smiling,

far-reaching, green and open plain; and as they rode she sang softly

to herself of love and freedom and a fair white throne.

 

When the dark night fell the two youths set up a white linen pavilion,

in which the Princess Apraxia rested, while they lay down near the

entrance with their shaggy steeds at their feet, their sharp spears

at their heads, their stout swords at their right hands and their

daggers of steel at their left. Both slept, for their steeds were

their sentinels, and the dark night passed by with nothing seen except

the stars, nothing heard except the rustle of the breeze round the

curtains of the fair white linen bower of the Princess Apraxia.

 

While it was still early morning they arose, and were setting out

again upon their way, when, looking back, they saw a Tatar horseman

in pursuit of them, his steed all bespattered with the mire of the

plain. When Dunai was aware of this, he sent Nikitich forward to Kiev

town with the Princess Apraxia, but remained himself to meet the bold

adventurer, who surely had not heard how quiet Dunai had wooed the

Princess Apraxia for his royal master.

 

In the midst of the plain the combatants met, and, without taking

time to observe each other closely, but each taking the other for an

accursed Tatar, they fell to resounding blows. In a few moments quiet

Dunai was unhorsed, but he sprang at once to his nimble feet and fought

his foe with mace and spear and sword, until he laid him prone upon the

broad bosom of moist Mother Earth. Then quiet Dunai drew his dagger:

 

"Tell me now," he said, as he brushed the dew of onset from his eyes

with his left sleeve, "the name that you bear and the name of the

accursed horde from whence you come."

 

"If I sat on your white breast," said the stranger, "I would not ask

your name and horde, but would stab you to the heart." Then quiet

Dunai raised his dagger and would have pierced the heart of his foe,

but with his will, or without his will, his arm stiffened at the

shoulder and that blow never fell, for now he saw in the prostrate

figure before him the form of a woman--while the fallen headgear

revealed the parted, flowing hair and the low brow of the Princess

Nastasya who loved quiet Dunai and kept him ever in her golden heart.

 

Without a word of speech, but with a heart full of deep and tender

reproach, quiet Dunai took Nastasya by her lily-white hands, and

raising her to her nimble feet, looked at her until he knew of her

forgiveness and then kissed her sugar mouth. "Let us go," he said

quietly, "to Kiev town and take the golden crowns." Then he placed her

upon his good steed, took from her the mace of steel and the sharp

sword which she bore, and, mounting behind her, rode onward to the

city of Prince Vladimir.

 

"I came to seek my sister," said the Princess, as if suddenly

remembering the cause of her ride.

 

"You shall find her in Kiev town," said Dunai, "and there she and

Prince Vladimir will also take the golden crowns."

 

Then Nastasya spoke no further, for she was too contented for speech,

and they rode ever onward across the open steppe, the glorious

far-reaching, sun-lit, boundless plain.

 

Thus they came to Kiev town, and went at once to the great church. In

the outer porch they met Prince Vladimir and the Princess Apraxia who

had also come thither to take the golden crowns. The sisters greeted

each other with love, and the company went into the dim coolness

of the great church and up to the high altar where a priest awaited

them. And there Prince Vladimir was wedded to the Princess Apraxia

while the singing boys held the golden crowns above their heads, and

quiet Dunai was wedded to the Princess Nastasya while the singing boys

held in turn the golden crowns above their heads; and when that was

done the whole company went to the palace of Prince Vladimir, where

such a feast was laid as had not been prepared since the coming of

the Prince to his royal city; and quiet Dunai sat in the great corner.

 

For three years they lived in mirth and joy, the Princess Apraxia

keeping to her palace, her fine embroidery and her household and

knowing all her husband's thoughts; the Princess Nastasya sharing her

husband's life of quiet wandering, both of them being quite content

in the summer with the life on the boundless steppe and in winter

returning to the palace of white stone in fair Kiev city. Then Prince Vladimir made another great feast, and when it came to the boasting time quiet Dunai bragged with the loudest:

The Russian Story Book 9

The Russian Story Book 9

"This treasure will fall to Ilya of Murom."

 

 

For seven days Ilya sat wondering what he should do to dispose of

the treasure. Then he arose and went to the nearest town, where he

hired builders and carpenters, architects and workers in metal. These

men he set to work to build a fair cathedral on the place where the

gloomy forest had stood, and when the glorious building was completed,

he instituted church singing and the sound of bells, for in these

things his soul delighted. When this work had been finished--and it

occupied a fair space of time--Ilya returned to Kiev city, where the

courteous Prince Vladimir asked him where he had been.

 

Sitting down in the great corner near the stove, the old man smiled

gently, stretched his feet to the blaze, and told the Prince the

Adventure of the Three Roads and of the Burning White Stone. Then he

yawned and went to bed in the peace of accomplishment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW QUIET DUNAI HAD BROUGHT THE PRINCESS APRAXIA TO KIEV

 

 

The tale of the wedding of Vladimir and the Princess Apraxia was one

which was often told after a banquet; and here it is:

 

Quiet Dunai was a great traveller, and one who loved to move without

turbulence, leisurely and at his chosen ease. From land to land he

wandered, both seeing and observing, across the green and open steppe

in summer, but resting in the winter within whatever palace of fair

white stone he could find a seat in the great corner and hearers who

would listen quietly to his traveller's tales.

 

At last he came to the kingdom of Lithuania, where in the palace of

the monarch he served for three years as equerry with the care of the

King's horses and chargers; for three more years he served as Grand

Steward with the oversight of the great banquets with which the King

honoured his nobles; for three more years he served as Groom of the

Chambers, and knew all the King's mind. And during all these years he

loved, at times somewhat turbulently but yet on the whole quietly and

devotedly and faithfully and hopefully, the Princess Nastasya, who in

her turn favoured him silently and kept him ever in her golden heart.

 

Now, on a certain day, the King of Lithuania made a great feast and

invited all his nobles to share his hospitality. Quiet Dunai was

very busy with the preparations for the banquet, and on one of his

many visits to the King's apartments he happened to meet, quite by

accident, the Princess Nastasya. She looked at him quietly and said:

 

"Go not to this banquet, quiet Dunai, for there will be much eating

and more drinking, and when the boasting time comes near the end of

the feast you will brag of me."

 

"I know you will, Dunai," she added gently, and Dunai looked at

her quietly, feeling in his heart that what she said could not be

denied. "Then they will set upon you, Dunai, and you will lose your

head." Hereupon the Princess sighed gently and looked down at the

point of her golden slipper. But Dunai, quiet as he was, had no mind

to avoid the feast, and declared his intention of being present; and

the Princess turned and left him humming a light song which seemed

to have lost its merriment.

 

The feast was held, and when the guests had eaten well and drunk

better, then came the boasting time, when quiet Dunai took his turn

with the rest, telling of his far wanderings, of the King's favour

and rewards, and of how the beautiful young Princess Nastasya kept him

ever in her golden heart. Then the King grew very angry and cried out:

 

"Ho, there, ye headsmen, seize quiet Dunai by his white hands, lead

him out upon the open steppe and chop off his turbulent head."

 

Without delay the pitiless headsmen bore down upon Dunai and seized

him by the shoulders. "I go without help from you," he said quietly

as he shook them off; "but as you lead me to the open steppe see that

we pass by the window of the Princess Nastasya, who keeps me ever in

her golden heart."

 

Then there happened a great wonder, and yet it was no wonder at

all. Before they had reached the window of the Princess, Dunai said

quietly, "Sleepest thou, Nastasya? Wakest thou not? Lo, they are

leading Dunai to the open steppe to cut off his loving head."

 

Now the Princess lay sleeping when the whisper rustled through her

casement and woke her very gently. Without delay she rose from her

couch and put on a loose robe of fair white linen. But she had no

time to fasten round it a girdle of gold, or to bind up her flowing

tresses, before she heard the voice of Dunai once more, this time

in tones of thunder, "Sleepest thou, Nastasya? Wakest thou not? Lo,

they are leading Dunai to the open steppe to cut off his loving head."

 

Then the Princess ran with her feet all bare out into the open

corridor, from which she could see the prisoner and his guards,

and stretching out her little hands in piteous entreaty she cried:

 

"Ho, there, ye pitiless headsmen! Take what treasure you desire,

but when you come to the open steppe set free quiet Dunai that he

may wander once again. And take back to the King the head of some

prisoner who has paid for his crimes with his death--some one, any

one except quiet Dunai."

 

Then the headsmen made signs to the Princess that they would obey her,

and the group passed out to the open steppe where quiet Dunai was set

free and wandered on as he had done before he became the officer of

the King of Lithuania and loved the Princess Nastasya. On he went,

quietly watching until he came to Kiev town, where he went to the

inn and entered into conversation with men of the place. From these

fellows he learnt that Prince Vladimir was holding a great feast,

and that his guests were eating the white swan and drinking green

wine of priceless value.

 

As it happened, just at that moment the boasting time had come. One

man bragged of his horse, another of his valour, a third of his sharp

sword, a fourth of his young wife, and a wise man who had not drunk

so well, of the goodness of his father and the tenderness of his

mother. In time, Prince Vladimir grew weary of their boasting and

stood up among them, whereupon all their voices were hushed.

 

"Boast not, my brothers," he said with a show of impatience. "Glory

not in your horses, your great deeds, your golden treasures. Have not

I red gold, white silver, and fine seed pearls in great abundance? But

in one matter most of you outstrip me. For ye have wives loving and

beautiful, while I, your Prince, am still unwed. Is there no Princess

who is my mate, and who will wed with me? She must be like a goddess

in stature and like a goddess in the perfection of her beauty, of

delicate grace, and stately of gait like the peacock. There must be a

faint flush in her face like unto the white hare, while her eyes must

be falcon clear and full of light. Yellow hair must she have, with

eyebrows of blackest sable, and her speech must be entrancing. Then,

having found her, I shall have one beside me with whom I may think

my deepest thoughts and take counsel, and to whom ye mighty princes,

heroes, and all Kiev may pay homage as your queen."

 

Then all the guests grew silent, and for a long time no man spoke a

word; and as often as the eye of Vladimir sought out one man, he took

pains to hide himself behind some one bigger. At length there stood

up in his place the bold, brave youth Nikitich, who could both read

and write, and said:

 

"My lord and master, Prince Vladimir, have I leave to speak what is

in my mind without fear of speedy death or distant exile or heavy

chastisement?"

 

And Vladimir said, "Say on, Nikitich, and God may forgive you if you

speak unwisely."

 

Then the bold youth said fearlessly:

 

"I know a fitting mate for you who is all that you have said, a beauty

with whom none can compare in all the white world. For myself, I have

not seen her, but of her loveliness I have often heard from my comrade,

quiet Dunai, who sitteth now in the inn and hath no garments to fit

him out for appearance at this honourable feast."

 

"Take my golden keys," said Vladimir, "and open my wardrobes. Choose

from thence all that quiet Dunai requires of raiment, and bring him

to me."

 

Then Nikitich went out and did all that the Prince had ordered;

and as he passed through the streets with quiet Dunai by his side,

the maidens and the wives, young and old, put forth their heads from

the windows, asking each other across the narrow way, "Whence come

such goodly youths as these?"

 

As soon as they had come into the banquet hall, Dunai bowed to North,

South, East, and West, and especially to Prince Vladimir, and they

gave him a seat in the great corner by the fair white oaken table. Then

they set food and wine before him, and when he had refreshed himself,

Prince Vladimir poured out green wine into a crystal goblet from

the East with a rim of thick gold and brought it to quiet Dunai, who

took the cup in one hand and quaffed its contents at a breath. Then

he stood up and said steadily:

 

"I know a bride fit even to mate with you, Prince Vladimir, the Fair

Sun of Kiev. The King of Lithuania has two fair daughters. The eldest,

the Princess Nastasya, is no mate for you, for she loves best to

ride abroad in the open plain seeking adventures, but her sister,

the Princess Apraxia, sits at home in a fair chamber of her palace

embroidering a kerchief of white linen with threads of ruddy gold. She

sits behind thrice nine locks of cunning workmanship and thrice nine

guards in a lofty castle, and the ruddy sun may not scorch her nor the

fine and frequent rains drop upon her, nor the stormy winds disarrange

her braided locks of yellow gold, while no venturesome breeze may mar

the delicate flush in her face like unto the white hare. I have not yet

seen her, but I know of her peerless beauty and speak of what I know."

 

"Hear ye this, my Russian heroes!" cried Prince Vladimir, while his

eyes shone brightly and his face was wreathed in smiles. "Whom shall

we send as our royal envoy to far-off Lithuania?"

 

Then one of the heroes spoke out:

 

"Prince Vladimir," he said, "we have none of us been in strange

lands with strange customs, nor talked in strange speech with strange

people. In a matter where more than strength and goodwill is needed,

namely, the wooing of a fair Princess, I doubt that none of your

heroes would serve you well. Send quiet Dunai. He has been ambassador

to royal courts and has received ambassadors also. He can talk in

strange speech as well as fight; let him woo the fair Princess Apraxia

for you, and when she comes here, as she surely will, we will eat the

white swan and drink green wine in her honour, and crack skulls, too,

if she needs such heroic help."

 

The truth of these words could not be denied, and as the hero who

had spoken, suddenly realising that he had made a wise speech, hid

in confusion behind his neighbour at the table, Prince Vladimir rose

to his feet and said:

 

"Go in my name, quiet Dunai, to the far-famed Lithuanian kingdom and

woo the Princess Apraxia for me with all the skill at your command."

 

"I go at your bidding," said quiet Dunai, with a bow, "but it is not

fitting that I should go alone."

 

"Take a great army with you, if you will," said the Prince, "and if

the King will not send his daughter with his blessing take her with

his curse."

 

"I need no army," said quiet Dunai, "nor yet rich store of treasure to

tempt the King to sell his daughter. Send Nikitich with me. He is my

beloved comrade, a man of good birth who knows how to read and write,

and therefore understands how to deal with people. Give us only two

shaggy colts, fresh from the steppe, which have never borne saddle

or bridle, and prepare a parchment scroll setting forth to the King

that you desire the Princess Apraxia, not for youthful vanity, but for helpfulness that you may make her your wife, to whom all your thoughts will be made known, and who will share in all your counsels."

The Russian Story Book 8

The Russian Story Book 8

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BURNING WHITE STONE

 

 

Ilya of Murom rode Cloudfall across the open steppe. For nigh three

hundred years he had ridden, and he wondered at the youthfulness of

his heart which constant danger had kept fresh and young. "Ah, old

age, old age! Thou hast chased and overtaken even Cloudfall in the

open steppe, and like a bleached raven hast alighted on my head--but

not on my arm." Then with a youthful gesture he flung out his sword

arm, tightened the girth of Cloudfall and gave the rein to the shaggy

bay steed.

 

Away went Cloudfall like the wind, and Ilya as he sat upon him was

like the falcon clear. There was no need of bridge or ferryman for

this heroic traveller, for good Cloudfall leapt over shining lake

and rushing river, quivering bog and reedy swamp. And as they rode

they came to a place where three roads met, and there stood a burning

white stone on which was inscribed: "He who rides to the right shall

gain great wealth; he who rides to the left shall gain a wife; he who

rides straight forward shall gain his death." Then Ilya of Murom the

Old Cossáck halted and stood still with his head bowed in an attitude

of the deepest thought.

 

"I am an old man," he said to himself, "and have all the wealth I need,

for it wearies me to count it. Why should an old man wish for a wife? I

will take the straight road though Death should sit athwart it." Then

he added, lifting his head with the light of unquenched youth still

in his eyes, "It may be that Death and I shall come to grips in one

more great adventure."

 

Then the youthful Old Cossáck rode onward for leagues and leagues

until at last he entered a gloomy forest into which he advanced for

some distance, and then met a band of forty thousand robbers who cast

eighty thousand envious eyes (save one, for the chief had lost an eye

in a battle) upon the goodly proportions and intelligent appearance

of Cloudfall the shaggy bay steed. "In all our lives," they said one

to another, "we have never seen such a horse. Halt then, good youth,

halt, thou hero of Holy Russia!" And they would have forced him to

halt but Ilya said:

 

"Ho, ye robber horde! Why kill an old man and rob him? I have no

money in my wallet save five hundred roubles. The cross of gold upon

my breast is worth only five hundred--to any one of your company--my

cloak of sables about three thousand, my cap and my sandals about five

hundred each, my bridle, set with precious stones, about a thousand. My

saddle, bordered with eagle feathers,--I hunted that eagle over the

blue sea on the way to the palace of grey stone--is priceless and

therefore of no value to any of your company. Between the ears of

Cloudfall and under his eyes are clear stones of purest jacinth,

but he wears these, not for youthful vanity, but because they help

him to see for thirty miles on all sides as he bounds across the open

steppe. As for my faithful shaggy bay steed Cloudfall, he is worth

nothing at all, except to me. Here then is my inventory. Value me I

pray you for yourselves."

 

The robber leaders jeered as they replied, "Thou art old and talkative,

Cossáck. Since we took to roaming across the white world, we have

never met with such a fool. Why, thou art so foolish that thou hast

told us all the clear truth. Seize the old man, my brothers."

 

But as the robbers advanced upon him, Ilya of Murom drew a fiery dart

from his quiver, and fixing it to his terrible bow shot at a tree to

his right hand which was the grandmother of all the oaks. The mighty

trunk was shivered into fragments, and the earth was ploughed up

round about by the force of that tremendous blow, at the sound of

which all the robbers fell flat upon the earth, where they lay for

the space of five hours before they recovered themselves. And when

they arose again to an erect posture the leader said:

 

"Good youth, noble hero of Holy Russia! Enter thou into comradeship

with us. Take from our goodly store whatever pleases you of golden

treasure, embroidered cloth, horses and cattle." But Ilya laughed the

jolly laugh of the adventurer to whom goods and gear, however rich,

are a trouble and a burden. "Ah, brothers, my brave foes," he said,

"I have no wish to be troubled with guarding treasure, feeding horses,

and tending cows and sheep. I must ride and ride ever onward across

the open steppe and leave the guarding of treasure to shop-keepers

and merchants who live in towns behind bolts and bars."

 

Then Ilya of Murom turned Cloudfall in his tracks, and came again

to the burning white stone, from which he erased the inscription and

wrote in its place:

 

 

I, Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck, have ridden straight forward

and have not gained my death.

 

 

Once more the aged hero with the heart of youth rode out into the open

steppe, turning this time to the left. He rode onward for three hundred

miles and then came to a smooth meadow as green as an emerald stone,

and upon this meadow stood a wonder of wonders. It was too small

to be called a city and too large to be called a village. It was,

in truth, a beautiful palace of white stone with roofs of shining

gold and strange three-cornered towers.

 

Ilya drew rein before the golden gateway, whereupon there came forth

upon the green sward forty beautiful maidens, who walked proudly

behind Princess Zenira the All Fair. Ilya dismounted and bowed low,

whereupon the beautiful Princess took him by his white hands, kissed

him on the lips, and invited him to a feast in the banquet-hall of the

palace of white stone. "I have travelled far in Holy Russia," said Ilya

of Murom, "but I have never seen such a fair palace or such beautiful

ladies." The maidens bowed their heads, like ears of corn before a

gentle breeze, and the Princess led the hero within the palace.

 

When they came to the banquet-hall, Ilya bowed to North, South,

East, and West, and especially to the Princess Zenira, who placed

him at the table of fair white oak in the big corner and brought him

food of the best with sweet mead to drink. "Do not eat or drink of

these things until you are satisfied, good youth," she said gently,

"for there is more to come." But Ilya looked at her as she spoke,

and looked at her again, and for a third time he scanned her face

and found it beautiful with the beauty of the newly-fallen snow

on the wide steppe when the moon rises; that was the beauty of the

Princess Zenira. Then Ilya's eyes fell once more upon the fair white

oak of the table and he said, speaking as one who knows his meaning,

"I have ridden for three hundred miles and my hunger and thirst are

as heroic as my steed." So he ate and drank his fill.

 

Then as his head seemed to droop upon his breast, though in reality

he was more wide awake than ever, the Princess Zenira led him to a

rich warm chamber at one side of which stood a broad bed of yew wood

and ivory with pillows of the softest down.

 

"Here you will rest as on the lap of your mother," said the fair

Princess, "but I advise you to lie near to the brick wall which is

warm from the stove beneath." "Nay," said the hero, "I will lie upon

the outer edge for I often rise in the night to see for myself that

Cloudfall is well stabled." Then without more ado, he seized the fair

Princess Zenira by the middle and flung her upon the bed of yew wood

against the wall.

 

And behold the bed of yew with pillows of softest down was false, for

it turned on a pivot when the weight was cast upon the side nearer

to the brick wall, and the fair Princess was hurled down into her

dungeon, forty fathoms deep. Then Ilya turned and left the chamber,

and coming out into the courtyard said in the voice of him who must

be obeyed: "Give me the keys of gold which unlock the doors of the

dungeon and show me the way to the dark vaults beneath this palace

of white stone." So they pointed out the way, and he found it choked

with yellow sand and barred with huge logs of wood.

 

He had really no need of keys of gold, silver, iron, or steel; for

in the strength of his heroic anger he tore the locks asunder with

his hands and forced back the doors with his heels until they burst

from their frames. Then came forth from the dungeons forty Tsars

and Tsareviches, forty kings and princes, with their eldest sons,

together with Nikitich the youth of supernatural wisdom, who could

both read and write, but whose wonderful learning had not made him

proof against the wiles of Princess Zenira although her beauty was

only that of the newly-fallen snow upon the steppe illumined by the

cold rays of the rising moon.

 

There stood this great company, blinking their eyes in the light and

looking very foolish, and as they hummed and ha'ed and wondered how

to explain themselves, the fair Princess Zenira, as beautiful as ever,

came round a corner of the dark passage, and her moonlight beauty lit

up the darkness of the dungeon. In spite of all their experiences

it was clear that her fascination still worked upon the hearts of

the prisoners, and seeing this Ilya cried in a voice which shook the

vaults until they re-echoed again and again, "Tsars, to your tsardoms;

kings, to your kingdoms; Nikitich, to my side; and, being delivered,

say a prayer for Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck."

 

In a few moments the whole company with the exception of Nikitich

was racing pell-mell across the emerald meadow, and having dismissed

the youth of supernatural wisdom, Ilya advanced sternly upon the

fair Princess Zenira. He took her by her lily-white hands and bound

her to three Cossáck ponies fresh from the farthest steppe. Then he

drove them apart and turned his head that he might not see the end of

that white witch; and he divided her treasure among the prisoners,

sending each man's share to his kingdom, and gave the fair white

palace to the flames.

 

Once more Ilya returned to the burning white stone, crossed out the

old inscription and wrote yet another which ran:

 

 

I, Ilya of Murom the Old Cossáck, have ridden to the left and

have not gained a wife

 

 

"I will go now," said Ilya, "upon the last road, where wealth is to be

won." So he rode again over the open steppe, and came at length to a

green meadow where deep pits were dug, and then to a dark and gloomy

forest in which there was a mountain cave filled with fair red gold, white silver, and fine seed pearls; and above the entrance to the cave, in the face of the smooth rock, were carved the words,