The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-18
THE DEMON PRINCESS
'aEGEND OF TAMaRA OF RusSiA AND
HER SuiTORS.

OF II RNSHS# Of-SsNOS 5S>,S1
Her SuiTORS.
The Story, ms Narrated In the MSs-
t3cn1 Folklore of the Transcnu-
casus. of why This Beautiful Royal
Woman ReiRneti Alone.
Outside the Skazkas or folk stories
of Russia no woman is said to be more
beautiful than anything in all the.
world In the slSnzkas this expression
and the queens. those marvellous wo-
men who have from time immemoriai
held first place in the historic litera-
ture and the legends Of every country
on the face OF the earth.
The princesseS in the English fairy
stories were more beautiful than any
thing. nnl the queens in all the folk
tales of litera ture have been most Won
drously beautiful. In the Russian folk
lore the expression of great beauty is
used only concerning the pr!ncesseS
and queens, while in other countries ii
is used to describe all the heroincs of
folklore stories.
In all the legends relating to early
history of all the RussiuS there Is no
story which is held III higher regard
than the tale OF the Princess Tamara.
who reigncd over the Georgian state OF
the Transc;Iucasus in the 5twelfth cen
tury Her story holds q high place IN
Russian or Georgian literature ana
I.emontoff has made play about her
that is more thrilling in its suggestion
even than the story of Ivan the Terri
bile.
Sir John Maundcville in his travels
n
Bile beauty. and he has written in his
books rs to how she slew her suitors.
The legends are not easy in the
translation. but so far as they may be
told in modern English this is the
story. coated in the mysticism of the
far east:
Ye shall know. then. that the Prin-
cess Tamara dvclt in Il high mountain
plnce-up against the clouds-Where
the rains come down and where the
winds sweep from the crags of tue
mountain tops.
1t is told in the countries hereabour
that she was the most beautiful wo-
man in all the whole world. Nowhere
was ever one more beautiful. not even
Sheba's queen. In the great. castle
she dwelt and there came to her
suitors from the fnrthest ends or the
earth to sue for the hand OF 1nmara.
the princess who dwelt in the castle
high in the mountain tops where meet
the east and the west. a great road
has been built which leads to the cas-
tie. and along this road journeyed the
s,,itors who would have her for wife
kings and princes and knights OF high
degree. But the Princess Tamara was
n proud princess and she would have
none Of their favor-no. not Il favor.
even from the king of farthest IND
She would have none of him. ana she
caused to make let a great 1oust ana
tourney. and be was slain.
So that was the end of that king.
Now. upon a day the Princess Tama-
ra performed great magic. she lee
make herself into the form OF drag
on. and nowhere ever In the world
was ever seen q dragon so terrible as
she. Then she caused messages TO De
sent to all the princes OF the earth'
and all the kings, and all the knights.
and all the mobiles of great degree. ana
she said in this message that Whoso-
ever, be he king or prince or hopie-
should come nd kiss her on the NOUN
while she was in the form Of the drag
on. then he should be king over her
do1ninions and rule with her on the
throne.
Now. upon another day the Princess
Tarnaru was in q room in her castle
cornbinc her hair-black. like the night
and into the castle came 81 ma Swho
had ridden from 4 great ship some
where. and he had heard of the mar
Vicious beauty of the Princess Iamara.
and he would have her to wife. Now
in the mirror when she was conlDlllG
her hair she saw the image OF TINS
man. and she asked of him if he We're
knight. and he said, Nay. am no
knight, but only sailor come from II
ship
Then she told him to return to MS
fellows and cause them TO make
knight of him. for be was fair of favor
and q man such as might reign as King
in her dominiOns-
Then he returned to his ship. and his
companions made a knight of him.
But before he had gone from the cas-
tie the Princess Tamara had said that
he should find her upon his return in
shape like dragon, but that he was to
have no fear. lie was to come to her
and kiss her upon the mouth, however
dreadful might be the appearance
which she should assume.
Now, when the man returned TO the
castle, after he had been made knight
by his fellows he rode upon a palfrcy.
and he was attended by his squlres
and his retainers and 4 great cava!cade