(1881–1894)
An old Russian fable tells of the mythical Tsar Dadone. In his warlike youth he was the terror of all the neighboring countries, invading the regions and making constant war upon them. But in his old age he grew weary of war, and his enemies, perceiving this change as weakness, took the opportunity to retaliate against Dadone. Thus his realm knew no peace and incurred heavy losses from all its enemies.
“How can this continue?” the tsar raged. “I am losing my empire, piece by piece!”
After many sleepless nights, he called for help from his friend, a eunuch who was a sage and wise counselor. The eunuch presented a gift to the tsar, a golden cockerel.
“Just place this cockerel on the weathervane of your highest tower,” he advised. “He will be your protector. When there is a threat of war, he will sound an alarm. But if there is no danger to your country, he will remain still and quiet.”
“Oh, thank you, my true friend!” exclaimed the tsar. He rewarded the eunuch with bags of gold and promised him, “Because of what you have done, I will grant you your dearest wish.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will give much consideration to your offer before acting upon it.”
The years passed and the cockerel served the tsar well, constantly foiling the attacks of his enemies until no one dared to provoke him again. Peace reigned in Dadone’s kingdom. The cockerel was silent. And Dadone took his leisure and spent his waning years at rest.
Then one day a loud “Cockadoodledoo!” rang through Dadone’s capital. Dadone raised an army, led by his eldest son, to ride in the direction the cockerel had pointed. Peace settled once more over the capital and Dadone assumed that the danger had passed.
Suddenly the cockerel crowed again. The tsar sent out yet another army, this one led by his second son. Again, days passed with no word from this second army, and the tsar and all the people wondered what could have become of them.
“Cockadoodledoo!” cried the golden cockerel a third time.
A third army was sent to the rescue, with the tsar himself in command. They traveled toward the east for many days, crossing a treacherous mountain pass. Finally, in the distance on the top of a grassy knoll, they saw a brightly colored pavilion. But as they made their way to the tent, they came upon the remains of the first two armies, surrounded by vultures picking at the bones of the brave soldiers. In the midst of this carnage the tsar found his two sons, both dead, each felled by the other’s sword.
“Oh, what a dark day this is!” wailed the tsar. “Both my sons are dead—what good is my own life!”
As he grieved, a young woman appeared from inside the pavilion. She was more beautiful than the richest treasure, lovelier than the glow of springtime. The sight of her made Dadone forget all about his dead sons and his grief. She introduced herself as the Princess Chamakhan and bid the tsar to enter her pavilion. He gave in to her wishes and spent a whole week reveling in her bewitching charms.
Finally he returned to the capital, taking the beautiful princess with him. At the gate he saw his friend the eunuch beckoning to him.
“Ah, my friend and counselor,” greeted the tsar. “Is there something you wish of me?”
“Your most exalted Excellency, I do indeed have a request to make. If you recall, many years ago you promised that for my services you would grant me a wish. I would now like to avail myself of that boon.”
“And what is your wish?” asked Dadone expansively.
“Give me the Princess Chamakhan!”
The tsar gaped in astonishment at this most unexpected request. “You must be crazy, man! That’s asking too much. You may have anything else, even to half my kingdom,” he shouted, “but you cannot expect me to give up my princess to you!”
“I want nothing else.”
The tsar began to rage with fury, and when the eunuch stood his ground, Dadone raised his scepter and swung it at his friend, striking him dead. Mounted on her white steed, the princess watched the confrontation, and seeing the eunuch struck down, she began to laugh.
The tsar rode on. As he entered the city gates, the sound of fluttering wings overtook him. The golden cockerel left his perch and landed on top of the tsar’s head. With a single lethal motion, the animal pecked Dadone’s skull and split it open so that he instantly bled to death. And with that the Princess Chamakhan disappeared. Many people wondered if she had ever really existed. Others swore, however, that the tinkling sounds of feminine laughter filled the air for many days afterward.