Many years ago, in the palace of Vladimir, a great Russian prince of Kiev, all the nobles were boasting about themselves. One noble boasted of his strength, another showed off his wisdom. Others boasted of their wealty of their trusted horses.

One noble, Stavr Godinovich, said nothing at all. He sat with a dreamy look on his face.

Prince Vladimir noticed this and asked, 'Why are you silent,Stavr? Have you nothing to say?'

'Great Prince', replied Starv, 'I have nothing to boast of except my wife, Katrina. She is young and beautiful; braver and more skillful than any warrior present here. She can shoot with a bow, sing like a nightingale, and enchant everyone with her harp. And no one here can ever beat her at chess!'

'Is that so?' interrupted the prince.

'Yes, indeed, G r e a t p r i n c e ', replied Stavr. 'She could easily defeat all your nobles! And, pardon me for saying so, G r e a t p r i n c e, but you too are no match for her either!'

The prince became very angry, when he heard this. He glared at S t a v r and said, 'You have gone too far this time. How dare you say that I am no match for your wife!'

The prince pointed a finger at S t a v r, and turning to one of his guards, said: 'Take this man away! Throw him into the dungeon. Give him oats and water--nothing more. N o w g o !'

The guard did as he was instructed. He threw S t a v r into a cold, dark dungeon. The only light came from a small window with thick iron bars, high up near the ceiling.

All S t a v r could see was the s k y. He sat on the cold, stone floor feeling very sad. As night fell, Stavr looked out of the window at the *s t a r s i n t h e s k y.

'A l a s,' h e t h o u gh t t o h i m s e l f, ' I h a v e s e r v e d t h e p r i n c e f o r n I n e y e a r s, a n d t h i s i s h o w h e h e r e p a i d m e ! I a m s o r r y I h u r t t h e p r i n c e, b u t i o n l y s p o k e t h e t r u t h a b o u t m y w i f e . I h o p e s o m e o n e t e l l s K a t r i n a w h e r e I a m*.'