В НЕКОТОРОМ ЦАРСТВЕ, В НЕКОТОРОМ ГОСУДАРСТВЕ folk poetPrepPInvaradvfixedWO
the formulaic beginning of many Russian folk tales
once upon a time (in a faraway kingdom)
a long time ago in a land far awaylong ago and far away.
(Марат:) В некотором царстве, в некотором государстве жил старик со своей старухой... (Арбузов 4). (М.:) Once upon а time there lived an old man with his old woman... (4a).