The sea king's daughter : a Russian legend
(Book)

A talented musician from Novgorod plays so well that the Sea King wants him to marry one of his daughters.

A talented musician named Sadko from the city of Novgorod plays his gusli instrument so well that many rich people would request that he play at feasts. Most often he was told to eat his fill at the banquets and was given a few coins as well. Often his friends would ask him how he could live on so little and he would reply, "It's not so bad especially since I go to a different feast each day, play the music they love and watch it set a whole room dancing." Sadko loves his city and thought it the richest and most free places in all Russia, but Sadko was also very lonely but knew that he was too poor to interest any of the rich young ladies in Novgorod. One lonely evening, he sits by the beautiful River Volkhov and sighs that if only the river was a woman, he would marry her as the river had no preferences to rich or poor. Then something exciting happens to the river and to Sadko and he is faced with a very difficult decision.