Sadko is the principal character in an East Slavic epic bylina. He was an adventurer, merchant, and gusli musician from Novgorod.
Textual notes
"Sadko" is a version of the tale translated by Arthur Ransome in Old Peter's Russian tales. Kate Blakey's translation of a variant, "Sadko, the Rich Merchant Guest", appeared in the Slavonic Review. A bylina version collected by P. N. Rybnikov has been translated by James Bailey.
Synopsis
Sadko of Novgorod played the gusli on the shores of a lake and river. The Tsar of the Sea enjoyed his music, and offered to help him. Sadko was instructed to make a bet with the local merchants about catching a gold-finned fish in the lake; when he caught it, the merchants had to pay the wager, making Sadko a rich merchant. . Sadko traded on the seas with his new wealth, but did not pay proper respects to the Tsar as per their agreement. The Tsar stopped Sadko's ships in the sea. He and his sailors tried to appease the Sea Tsar with gold, to no avail. Sadko realizes a sacrifice of a live soul was being demanded. All the shipmates drew lots, but Sadko draws the unlucky lot as if by fate or magic, so he is sent overboard and he sinks into the sea. In the sea world, Sadko played the gusli for the Sea Tsar, whose dancing roughened the seas, so that all the sailors prayed to Mikola Mozhaisky, and the saint instructed Sadko to quit playing, and break the strings if the Tsar will not let him stop. As the Tsar was bound to offer him a choice of maidens to wed in order to detain him, Mikola advised him to choose the last one, with the warning not to embrace her as a wife if he hoped ever to return to Russia. The Tsar showed Sadko a selection of 900 maidens, and Sadko picked out Chernava who appeared last. The two then wed, but the groom made no overture to the bride on their wedding night, and Sadko the next daywoke up in his hometown, reunited with his terrestrial wife. The Chernava is explained as the nymph of the River Chernava. In Ransom's version, the Sea Tsar's youngest daughter is named Volkhov, which is the river Sadko has always cherished.
Motifs
In some variants, Sadko is chosen to jump overboard by throwing lots between the men. This motif, derived from the Biblical story of Jonah, is a widespread device, appearing, for instance, in Child ballad 57 Brown Robyn's Confession.
Historical parallels
Sadko may be based on a certain Sotko Sytinich, who is mentioned in the Novgorodian First Chronicle as the patron of the stoneChurch of Boris and Gleb built in the Novgorodian Detinets in 1167. Sadko can also be viewed as a metaphor for Yaroslav the Wise. The liberation of the Novgorodian people by Sadko can also be linked to the establishment of the Novgorod Republic by Yaroslav.
