Seeking to find a permanent solution to the constant raids and invasions of his enemies into his territories, Tsar Dadon turns to an astrologer. The astrologer presents him with a golden cockerel, which upon the approach of the enemy, will crow loudly in warning. Overjoyed, Dadon offers the astrologer whatever reward he wishes, but the astrologer declines to name his reward for the time being.

One day, the cockerel suddenly crows loudly three times. The Tsar hastily assembles a mighty army with his oldest son at the head and sends them out. However, neither the son nor the army returns home. The second time the cockerel issues his warning the Tsar assembles another mighty army and sends out his youngest son. The same thing happens - neither the son nor the army return. The third time, the Tsar himself goes out. At the far reach of his kingdom, Tsar Dadon comes across a huge battlefield strewn with the bodies of all his men, including his two sons. Grief-stricken, he runs into a nearby tent, only to find there a stunningly beautiful woman - the Queen of Shemakha. He falls in love with her, and takes her back to his court as his bride. However, just before he reaches his court he is confronted by the astrologer, who now claims his reward - the Queen! In a rage, the Tsar cuts off the astrologer’s head, whereupon the cockerel flies down from his perch in the steeple and pecks Dadon to death.

This somewhat modern tale by Pushkin is so convincing as an ancient Folk-Tale that it is one of the most common themes found on Black Lacquer boxes, brooches, Matryoshka, and other types of Russian Folk-Art. The origin of the story, rather than ancient Russian, is modern American - Pushkin based his poem on "The Legend of the Arabian Astrologer", by Washington Irving! Compositions of this story found on Folk-Art pieces are often that of Tsar Dadon listening to the Cockerel; the encounter of Tsar Dadon and the Queen of Shemakha; the cockerel itself; or the final confrontation between the astrologer and the Tsar.