To court her long and runs away.

But let's not stray too far. Come, say,

Vho was it that the dwarf invited

So daringly to fight him? Who

Defiantly the trumpet blew

And by its sound the villain frightened ?-

Ruslan. Afire with vengeance, he

Has reached the midget's castle. See?

Beneath the palisades he's halted;

The trumpet's sound comes storm-like, loud,

The steed paws at the snowy ground;

The prince awaits the dwarf. A bolt of

What seems like thunder deafens him.

A crushing blow! It has descended

Upon his helmet. Though defended

By this his head is, yet with dim,

Dull sight it is he upward gazes

And sees the dwarf above him fly,

A mammoth bludgeon lifted high.

Ruslan bends down, his great shield raises

And waves his sword, but Chernomor

Sweeps upward; then, appearing o'er

The prince again and downward swooping

He flies straight at him, whereupon

The latter feints, his rival duping,

And down the midget falls, straight on

The well-packed snow, with fear nigh frozen.

Ruslan dismounts, and, never pausing,

The space between them neatly cleared,

Grabs the magician by the beard!

The captive grunts and strains, and, heaving

Himself from off the bank of snow,

Sails skyward with our hero, leaving