There was a king in a certain kingdom; this king had a daughter who was a sorceress. A priest lived at the royal court, and the priest had a son of ten years old and every day went to an old lady to study literacy. Once it happened to him late in the evening to go from school; passing by the palace, he looked at one window. The king's daughter is sitting at that window, cleaning herself: she took off her head, soaped it with soap, washed it with clean water, combed her hair with a comb, braided her braid and then put her head in the old place. The boy was amazed:

"See, what a cunning one! A direct sorceress!" He returned home and began to tell everyone how he had seen the king's daughter without her head.

Suddenly she fell ill-the royal daughter got sick, called her father and began to punish him:

– If I die, then make the priest's son read the psalter over me for three nights in a row.

The princess died, they put her in a coffin and took her to the church.

The King calls the priest:

– Do you have a son?

– Yes, Your Majesty.

–Let him," he says, "read the psalter over my daughter for three nights in a row.

He returned home and told his son to get ready.

In the morning Popovich went to study, I'm sitting over a book so boring.

– What are you sad about? – the old lady asks him.

– How can I not be sad if I'm completely lost?

– What's wrong with you? Speak plainly.

– So and so, Grandma! It is necessary to read over the queen, and she is a sorceress!

– I knew it before you!

Just don't be afraid, here's a knife for you; when you come to church, draw a circle around yourself, read the psalter and don't look back. Whatever it is, whatever passions you imagine - know your own, read and read! And if you look back, you'll be completely lost!

In the evening, the boy came to church, drew a circle around himself with a knife and began to read the psalter. Twelve o'clock struck, the lid was lifted from the coffin, the princess got up, ran out and screamed:

– Ah, now you'll learn how to peek under my windows and tell people!

She began to rush at Popovich, but she could not cross the circle in any way; then she began to let on various passions; just whatever she did, he kept reading and reading, never looking back.

And as soon as it began to get light, the princess rushed into the coffin and fell into it with all her might - at random!

The next night the same thing happened; Popovich was not afraid of anything, he read nonstop until the light, and in the morning he went to the old woman. She asks:

– Well, have you seen passion?

– I saw it, Grandma!

– It's going to be even scarier today!

Here's a hammer and four nails for you – hammer them into the four columns of the coffin, and as soon as you start reading the psalter, put the hammer against yourself.

In the evening, Popovich came to church and did everything as the old woman had taught him. Twelve o'clock struck, the coffin lid fell to the floor, the princess got up and began to fly around and threaten Popovich; then she let on great passions, and now even more: it seems to the priest's son that there was a fire in the church, the flames so engulfed all the walls; and he stands there and reads, does not look back.

Before dawn, the princess threw herself into the coffin, and immediately the fire did not happen – all the obsession disappeared!

In the morning, the king comes to church, looks – the coffin is open in the coffin, the princess is lying with her back up. – What is it? – asks the boy.

He told him how and what happened. The king ordered his daughter to hammer an aspen stake into her chest and bury her in the ground, and rewarded Popovich with treasury and various lands.