When they got there , they built a palace on the spot , and lived in it for some time . But when everything was ready , the youngest brother said to the others : ` Now , brothers , who is going to lift this stone ? ' Neither of them could so much as stir it , but as soon as he touched it , away it flew to a distance , though it was ever so big -- big as a hill . And when he had flung the stone aside , he spoke a second time to his brothers , saying : ` Who is going into the other world , to overcome the Norka ? ' Neither of them offered to do so . Then he laughed at them for being such cowards , and said : ` Well , brothers , farewell ! Lower me into the other world , and do n't go away from here , but as soon as the cord is jerked , pull it up . ' His brothers lowered him accordingly , and when he had reached the other world , underneath the earth , he went on his way . He walked and walked . Presently he espied a horse with rich trappings , and it said to him : ` Hail , Prince Ivan ! Long have I awaited thee ! ' He mounted the horse and rode on -- rode and rode , until he saw standing before him a palace made of copper . He entered the courtyard , tied up his horse , and went indoors . In one of the rooms a dinner was laid out . He sat down and dined , and then went into a bedroom . There he found a bed , on which he lay down to rest . Presently there came in a lady , more beautiful than can be imagined anywhere but in a fairy tale , who said : ` Thou who art in my house , name thyself ! If thou art an old man , thou shalt be my father ; if a middle-aged man , my brother ; but if a young man , thou shalt be my husband dear . And if thou art a woman , and an old one , thou shalt be my grandmother ; if middle-aged , my mother ; and if a girl , thou shalt be my own sister . ' Thereupon he came forth .
And when she saw him she was delighted XXXXX him , and said : ` Wherefore , O Prince Ivan -- my husband dear shalt thou be !
as before for from in on than to underneath with