Nightingale the Robber
Illustrated by Frank C Papé
This particular illustration depicts the moment wherein the legendary medieval Russian
bogatyr (Knight-errant), Ilya Muromets (mounted on his legendary steed, Cloudfall),
kills Nightingale the Robber - as described in the following text from the tale of
''Nightingale the Robber" within the 1916 Edition of The Russian Story Book:
At last they came to the third barrier no less than Nightingale the Robber,
who was known also as the Magic Bird. As Ilya drew near to his oak trees,
Nightingale thrust his head out of the nest and sent forth tongues of flame
and showers of sparks from his mouth and nostrils; but this terrible sight
had no effect upon the stout heart of the heroic Ilya. Nightingale the
Robber therefore began to sing like a bird, varying this entertainment
with the roar of a lion and the spiteful hiss of a dragon; and at last the
combination of sounds was to much for Cloudfall. The shaggy bay steed
began to tremble with great violence, and then fell upon his knees,
whereupon Ilya proceeded to beat him without mercy.
"You grass-bag," he cried in his anger, "you wolf-carrion, have you never
passed through a gloomy forest and heard the song of a bird, the roar of
a wild beast, and the hiss of a serpent? See how easily I shall overcome
the Magic Bird!"
Then Ilya went up to a willow tree that overhung a brook, broke off a
twig, and fitted it to his bow, in order that he might keep his vow to
abstain from using his fiery darts. And as he drew his bow-string he cried,
"Fly, dart, fly! Pierce the left eye of Nightingale the Robber, and come
out at his right ear."
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