Tonight's story is a gentle reading of an old Russian tale called The Sea King's Daughter which is included in the Gifts of Story series by Aaron Shepard.
This folktale is about a poor musician named Sadko who is invited to play at the Sea King's palace under the sea,
Where he is offered more than just riches.
Will Sadko accept the King's offer of payment for playing his musical instruments so beautifully or will he follow his heart and go back home?
And so,
As always my friend,
Settling comfortably under the covers,
Take a full,
Comfortable breath and as you exhale,
Relax and let go,
Allow any tension to just melt away,
Letting your body sink deeper and deeper down into the softness of your bed.
There is nothing else to do and nowhere else to be,
So just lay back,
Relax,
And enjoy the story.
Long ago in the river port city called Novgorod the Great,
There lived a young musician named Sadko.
Every day,
A rich merchant or noble would send a messenger to Sadko's door calling him to play at a feast.
Sadko would grab his twelve-string gooseley and rush to the banquet hall.
There he would pluck the strings of his instrument till all the guests were dancing.
Eat your fill,
The host would tell him later,
Pointing him to the table and passing him a few small coins besides.
And on such as he was given did Sadko live.
Often his friends would ask him,
How can you survive on so little?
It's not so bad,
Sadko would reply.
How many men can go to a different feast each day,
Play the music they love,
And watch it set a whole room dancing?
Sadko was proud of his city,
The richest and most free in all Russia.
He would walk through busy market square lined with merchants in their stalls and teeming with traders from many lands.
He never crossed the square without hearing tongues of far off places,
From Italy to Norway to Persia.
Down at the piers,
He would see sailing ships with their cargos of lumber,
Grain,
Hides,
Pottery,
Spices,
And precious metals.
And crossing the great bridge over the river Volkov,
Sadko would catch the glint from the gilded roofs of a dozen white stone churches.
Is there another such city as Novgorod in all the world,
He would say?
Is there any better place to be?
Yet sometimes Sadko was lonely.
The maidens who danced gaily to his music at the feasts would often smile at him,
And more than one had set his heart on fire,
But they were rich,
And he was poor,
And not one of them would think of being his.
One lonely evening,
Sadko walked sadly beyond the city walls and down along the broad river Volkov.
He came to his favorite spot on the bank and set his goose on his lap.
Gentle waves brushed the shore,
And moonlight shimmered on the water.
My lovely river Volkov,
He said with a sigh,
Rich men,
Poor men,
It's all the same to you.
If only you were a woman,
I'd marry you and live with you here in the city I love.
Sadko plucked a sad tune,
Then a peaceful one,
Then a merry one.
The tinkling notes of his goosely floated over the Volkov.
All at once,
The river grew rough,
And strong waves began to slap the bank.
Heaven help me,
Cried Sadko,
As a large shape rose from the water.
Before him stood a huge man with a pearl-encrusted crown atop a flowing mane of seaweed.
Musician,
Said the man,
Behold the king of the sea.
To this river I have come to visit one of my daughters,
The Princess Volkova.
Your sweet music reached us on the river bottom,
Where it pleased us greatly.
Thank you,
Your majesty,
Stammered Sadko.
Soon I will return to my own palace,
Said the king.
I wish you to play there at a feast.
Gladly,
Said Sadko,
But where is it,
And how do I get there?
Why,
Under the sea,
Of course.
I'm sure you'll find your way,
But meanwhile,
You need not wait for your reward.
Something large jumped from the river and flopped at Sadko's feet.
A fish with golden scales.
As Sadko watched in amazement,
It stiffened and turned to solid gold.
Your majesty,
You are too generous.
Say no more about it,
Said the king.
Music is worth far more than gold.
If the world were fair,
You'd have your fill of riches.
And with a splash,
He sank in the river and was gone.
The next morning,
Sadko arrived at the market square just as the stalls were opening.
He quickly sold the golden fish to an astonished merchant.
Then hurrying to the piers,
He booked his passage on a ship leaving Novgorod that very day.
Down the Volko,
The ship sailed,
Across Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland,
And into the Baltic Sea.
As it sped above the deep water,
Sadko peered over the rail.
In all the wide sea,
He murmured,
How can I ever find the palace?
Just then,
The ship shuddered to a halt.
The wind filled the sails,
Yet the ship stood still as if a giant hand had grasped it.
Some of the sailors cursed in fear,
While others prayed for their lives.
It must be the king of the sea,
The captain cried.
Perhaps he seeks tribute,
Or someone among us.
Do not be troubled,
Called Sadko.
I know the one he seeks.
And clutching his goosely,
He climbed the railing.
Stop him,
Shouted the captain.
But before any could lay hold of him,
Sadko jumped from the ship and plunged below the waves.
Down sank Sadko,
All the way down to the seafloor.
The red sun shone dimly through the water above,
While before him stood a white stone palace.
Sadko passed through a coral gate.
As he reached the huge palace doors,
They swung open to reveal a giant hall.
The elegant room was filled with guests and royal attendants.
Standing among the guests were dozens of maidens,
The sea king's daughters.
On a shell throne at the end of the hall sat the sea king and his queen.
You're just in time,
Called the king.
Musician,
Come sit by me and let the dance begin.
Sadko set his goosely on his lap and plucked a merry tune.
Soon all the fish swam in graceful figures.
The seafloor crawlers cavorted.
The river maidens leaped and spun.
I like that tune,
Declared the king.
He jumped to the center of the hall and joined the dance.
His arms waved,
His robe swirled,
His hair streamed,
His feet stamped.
Faster,
Cried the king,
Play faster.
So Sadko played faster and the king's dance grew wilder.
All the others stopped and watched in awe.
Ever more madly did he move,
Whirling faster,
Leaping higher,
Stamping harder.
The sea queen whispered urgently.
Musician,
End your tune.
It seems to you the king merely dances in his hall,
But above us the sea is tossing ships like toys and giant waves are breaking on the shore.
Alarmed,
Sadko pulled a string until it snapped.
Your majesty,
My goosely's broken.
What a shame,
Said the sea king,
Winding to a stop.
I could have danced for days,
But a fine fellow you are,
Sadko.
I think I'll marry you to one of my daughters and keep you here forever.
Your majesty,
Said Sadko carefully.
Beneath the sea,
Your word is law,
But this is not my home.
I love my city of Novgorod.
Say no more about it,
Roared the king.
Prepare to choose your bride.
Daughters,
Come forth.
The river maidens passed in parade before Sadko.
Each was more lovely than the one before,
But Sadko's heart was heavy and he barely looked at them.
What's wrong,
Musician,
The king said merrily.
Too hard to choose?
Then I'll wed you to the one who fancies you.
Behold,
The princess Volkova.
The princess stepped forward.
Her green eyes were sparkling and a soft smile graced her lips.
Dear Sadko,
At last we can be together.
For years I have thrilled to the music you've played on the shore.
Volkova,
Said Sadko in wonder,
You're as lovely as your river.
But the sea queen leaned over and said softly,
You're a good man,
Sadko,
So I will tell you the truth.
If you but once kiss or embrace her,
You can never return to your city again.
That night,
Sadko lay beside his bride on a bed of seaweed.
She's so lovely,
Thought Sadko.
So charming,
All I've ever hoped for.
How can I not hold her?
But time after time,
The queen's words came back to him.
Never return to your city again.
And his arms lay frozen at his sides.
Dearest,
Said the princess,
Why do you not embrace me?
It is the custom of my city,
Sadko stammered.
We never kiss or embrace on the first night.
Then I fear you never will,
She said sadly,
And turned away.
When Sadko awoke the next morning,
He felt sunlight on his face.
He opened his eyes and saw beside him not the princess Volkova,
But the river Volkov,
And behind him rose the walls of Novgorod.
My home,
Said Sadko,
And he wept.
Perhaps for joy at his return.
Perhaps for sadness at his loss.
Perhaps for both.
The years were good to Sadko.
With the money that remained to him,
He bought a ship and goods enough to fill it.
And so Sadko became a merchant,
And in time,
The richest man in Novgorod.
He married a fine young woman and raised a family.
Many a feast he would hold,
So he could play his gooseley and watch his children dance.
Yet sometimes still,
On a quiet evening,
He would walk out of the city alone,
Sit on the bank,
And send his tinkling music over the water.
And sometimes too,
A lovely head would rise from the river to listen.
Or perhaps it was only the moonlight on the Volkov.
And as this story now comes to an end,
A pleasant feeling of drowsiness begins to spread through you.
From the top of your head,
All the way down,
Down,
To the tips of your toes.
Your head feels sleepy.
Your neck and shoulders feel sleepy.
Your arms and legs feel sleepy.
Your whole body and your mind feel so relaxed,
So at peace.
And it's so easy to drift deeper and deeper down now.
Into that blissful,
Dreamy state.
That's right.
Floating and drifting.
Drifting and floating.
Being carried ever so gently,
Like on a wave.
Lulled back and forth,
Back and forth.
Into a calm and tranquil sleep.
Floating,
Drifting.
Floating,
Drifting and floating.
Feeling so peaceful.
Feeling relaxed.
Taking you down,
Down,
Home.
In tranquil sleep.
