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Many, many years ago there lived three brothers: Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv. They had a sister Lybid.
One day they were boating along beautiful banks of the Dnieper. They saw three green hills covered with a thick forest. “This is a fine place,” said Kyi. “Let us setlle here”. They settled those three hills and built a house for Lybid.
Kyi was the eldest brother. He was a tall handsome man with dark eyes and black hair. Kyi was very strong and clever. He made fine boats. Kyi loved the river and spent much time on the Dnieper.
Shchek, his younger brother, had green eyes and red hair. He was a good potter and he made fine jugs.
Khoryv, the youngest brother, had brown eyes and fair hair. He was a fine psaltery- player and sang beautiful songs. And he also made fine silver rings and other things.
Their sister Lybid was a pretty girl with blue eyes and long golden hair. She was very kind and modest. Lybyd was a very good spinner. The three brothers loved their sister very much and took care of her. Kyi made a fine boat for Lybid and often brought her fish. Shchek presented Lybid with his best jugs. Khoryv made the most beautiful rings for his sister. Lybid loved her brothers and she wove snow-white linen for their shirts.
By and by many people settled around the three hills near the Dnieper. The three brothers always helped them. For a long time the people lived happily, but one day the enemies came to their land. They wanted to make the people their slaves. But the people didn’t want to be slaves and they began to fight with their enemies. The three brothers fought bravely and killed many enemies. At last Kyi took the chief of the enemies into his hands and threw him into the Dnieper. It was the end of the enemy.
After that Kyi became the first Prince of this land. The people built the first walled town on one of the hills at the river Dnieper and named it Kyiv in honour of their Prince.
