S hos t a kovi c h Edi t i on
Voordemooi s t ekl as s i ekemuzi ekga j enaarKl as s i ek. nl !
Complete Songs
Chetyre pesni na slova E. Dolmatovskogo
Compact Disc 28 Dva romansa na slova M. Lermontova 1 Utro na Kavkaze Svetayet -vyotsa dikoy pelenoy Vokrug lesistïh gor tuman nochnoy; Yescho u nog Kavkaza tishina; Molchit tabun, reka zhurchit odna. Vot na skale novorozhdionnïy luch Zardelsia vdrug, prorezavshis’ mezh tuch, I rozovïy po rechke i shatram Razlilsia blesk, i svetit tam i tam: Tak devushki, kupayasia f teni, Kogda uvidiat yunoshu oni, Krasneyut fse, k zemle skloniayut vzor: No kak bezhat’, kol’ blizok milïy vor!…
2 Ballada Nad morem krasavitsa-deva sidit; I k drugu, laskayasia, tak govorit: «Dostan’ ozherel’ye, spustisia na dno; Sevodnia v puchinu upalo ono! Tï etim dokazhesh svoyu mne liubof!’» Vskipela lihaya u yunoshi krof’, I um yevo obnial nevol’nïy nedug, On v pennuyu bezdnu kidaetsa vdrug. lz bezdnï perlovïe brïzgi letiat, I volnï tesniatsa, i mchatsa nazad, I snova prihodiat i o bereg byut, Vot milova druga oni prinesut. O schastye! On zhiv, on skalu uhvalil, V ruke ozherel’ye, no mrachen kak bïl. On veri boitsa ustalïm nogam, I vlazhnïye kudri begut po plecham… «Skazhu, ne liubliu il’ liubliu ya tebia, Dlia perlov prekrasnoy i zhizn’ ne schadia, Po slovu spustilsia na chornoye dno V korallovom grote lezhala ono. – Voz’mi», i pechal’nïy on vzor ustremil Na to, shto dorozhe on zhizni liubil. Otvet bïl: «O milïy, o yunosha moy, Dostan’, yesli liubish, korall dorogoy». S dushoy beznadiozhnoy mladoy udalets Prïgnul, Chtob nayti il’ korall, il’ konets. lz bezdnï perlovïe brïzgi letiat, l volnï tesniatsa, i mchatsa nazad, I snova prihodiat i o bereg byut, No milova druga oni ne nesut.
Two Romances to Lyrics by M. Lermontov A Morning In The Caucasus The day is breaking. The night’s mist swirls in a wild veil Round the wooded mountains; At the foot of the Caucasus it is still silent; The herd is quiet, the river alone is murmuring, and there on a rock, a new-born ray of light appears suddenly out of the clouds, blushing, and its pink radiance spreads over the river and the tents, shining here and there: Likewise, young maids bathing in the shade all blush, and cast their glance downward, when they see a young lad; but how can they run away, when the lovely thief is so near!… Ballad The beautiful maiden sits by the sea, and she says to her friend so sweetly: “Pluck my necklace from the sea bottom, for it was dropped there today! Thus you will prove your love to me!” The lad’s boiling blood runs hot, his mind is obsessed with an unwitting affliction, And he suddenly plunges into the foaming abyss. Pearly splashes rise from the abyss, the waves clash, and retreat, and arrive again, and beat against the shore, In a moment, they will bring back the loving friend. Oh happiness! He is alive, he has gripped the rock, the necklace is in his hand, but he is gloomy. He is scared to trust his weary feet, His wet locks stlick to his shoulders… “Tell me now, have I not proved my love to you? I did not spare my life for my beauty’s pearls, devotedly, I plunged down to the black seabed, and found the necklace in a coral grotto. – Take it,” and he cast a sad glance To the one he loved more than his life. The answer was, “Oh sweet one, oh my darling, if you love me, pluck me a precious coral.” The daring hero, hopeless in his heart, plunged in to find a coral, or his death. Pearly splashes rise from the abyss, the waves clash, and retreat, and arrive again, and beat against the shore, But they do not bring back the loving friend.
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Four Songs to Lyrics by E. Dolmatovsky
3 Rodina slyshit Rodina slïshit, Rodina znayet, Gde v oblakah eyo sïn proletayet. S druzheskoy laskoy, nezhnoy liubovyu Alïmi zviozdami bashen moskovskih, Bashen kremliovskih Smotrit ona za toboyu. Rodina slïshit, Rodina znayel, Kak nelegko eyo sïn pobezhdayet. No ne sdayotsa Pravïy i smelïy! Vseyu sud’boy svoyey fï utverzhdayesh, Tï zaschischayesh Mira velikoye delo. Rodina slïshit, Rodina znayet, Chto eyo syn na doroge vstrechayet, Kak tï skvoz’ tuchi Put’ probivayesh. Skol’ko by chornaya buria ne zlilas’, Shto b ni sluchilos’ – Bud’ nepreklonnïm, tovarisch!
The Motherland Hears The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows Where her son flies through the clouds. With friendly embrace, with lender love, she watches over you. With the scarlet stars of Moscow’s towers, of the Kremlin’s lowers. The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows How hard it is for her son to win, but he who is brave and who is right never gives up. With all your fate you maintain, you defend The great cause of peace. The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows What her son has to face on his way, how you thread your way through thunder-clouds. However fierce the black storm may be, whatever may happen – remain staunch, Comrade!
4 Vïruchi menia Protekli za ogradoy koliuchey moyi moloïe goda. Zalivayas’ slezoyu goriuchey, nashi devushki peli togda: «Nedrugov gonia, vïruchi menia, kak v chudesnoy skazke, rïtsar’ molodoy s krasnoyu zvezdoy na zelionoy kaske» Mï v rodnïye lachugi vernulis’, v pechal’nuyu nashu stranu. Na kamniah obezdolennïh ulits ya poyu, kak pevala v plenu: «Nedrugov gonia, vïruchi menia, kak v chudesnoy skazke, rïtsar’ molodoy s krasnoyu zvezdoy na zelionoy kaske»
Rescue Me My young days were spent behind barbed wire. Shedding bitter tears, our girls used to sing: “Driving out the enemy, rescue me, like in a fairy tale, O young knight, with a red star on your green helmet.” We went back to the ruins of our homes, to our sad country. I sing on the stones of widowed streets, like I used to sing in prison: “Driving out the enemy, rescue me, like in a fairy tale, O young knight, with a red star on your green helmet.”
5 Liubit – ne liubit Yest’ devushek mnogo u nas v gorodke, No ta, shto vstrechayet s tsvetami v ruke, V tebia vliublena, No znay, shto ona gadat’ na romashke ne budet. Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit… Geroyam fsegda prepodnosiat tsvetï, Ya veriu, shto stanesh geroyem i tï. Ne stanu gadat’, No budu ya zhdat’, I serdtse nichto ne ostudit. Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit… Yest’ devushek mnogo, no tol’ko odna, Bït’ mozhet, naveki v tebia vliublena. S liubovyu bol’shoy S otkrïtoy dushoy Dlia schastya vstrechayutsa liudi. Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit, Liubit – ne liubit…
Loves – Or Loves Not There are many girls in our town, but the one who meets you with flowers in her hand, is in love with you. But she will not try to tell her fortune plucking daisy petals. (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not… Heroes are always greeted with flowers, And I believe you too will be a hero. I won’t try to tell your fortune, But I’ll be waiting, And nothing will cool my heart. (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not… There are many girls, but only one of them may be in love with you for all time. When love is great, when souls are open, people meet for happiness. (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not, (S)he loves me – (s)he loves me not…
6 Kolibel’naya Spi, moy horoshiy, spi moy rodnoy. Ty poyavilsia zelionoy vesnoy. Tot, kto rodilsia posle voyny, vidit lish samïye mirnïye snï. Spi, moy horoshiy, nezhno liubia, ya zaschischu ot nevzgodï tebia. Mirnïye liudi strazhu nesut, tronut’ detey nikomu ne dadut. Spi, moy horoshiy, nochyu i dniom s blizhnih stroitel’stv donositsa grom. Pust’ eti gromï budut slïshnï. Detiam i vzroslïm oni ne strashnï.
Lullaby Sleep my darling, sleep my sweet one. You came to the world in green spring. Those who are born after a war see only most peaceful dreams. Sleep my darling, l love you tenderly and cover you from hardships. Peaceful people are on watch and won’t let anyone hurt children. Sleep my darling, day and night Thunder is heard from nearby construction sites. Let this thunder resound, For it never frightens either children or grown-ups.
Chetïre monologa na slova A. Pushkina
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Four Monologues to Words by A. Pushkin
7 Otrivok V yevreyskoy hizhine lampada V odnom uglu bledna gorit, Pered lampadoyu starik Chitaet Bibliyu. Sedïye Na knigu padayut vlasï. Nad kolïbeliyu pustoy Yevreyka plachet molodaya. Sidit v drugom uglu, glavoy Poniknuf, molodoy yevrey, Gluboko v dumu pogruzhonnïy. V pechal’noy hizhine starushka Gotovit pozdniuyu trapezu. Starik, zakrïf sviatuyu knigy, Zastiozhki mednïye somknul. Staruha stavit bednïy uzhin Na stol i vsiu semyu zoviot. Nikto neydiot, zabyv o pische. Tekut v bezmolvii chasy. Usnulo vsio pod sen’yu nochi. Yevreyskoy hizhinï odnoy Ne posetil Otradnïy son. Na kolokol’ne gorodskoy Byot polnach. – Vdrug rukoy tiazholoy Stuchatsa k nim. Semya vzdrognula, Mladoy yevrey vstayot i dver’ S nedoumen’yem olvoriaet – I vhodit neznakomïy strannik V yego ruke dorozhnïy posoh.
A Fragment In the Jewish hut, a pale lamp burns in a comer; At the lamp, an old man is reading the Bible. His grey hair hangs down onto the book. A young Jewess weeps over an empty cradle. In another corner, a young Jew sits with his head down, deep in his thoughts. An old woman cooks a late supper in that sad hut. The old man closes the holy book and fastens its copper clasps. The old woman puts the meagre supper on the table, and calls the whole family. No one comes, they neglect the meals. Hours run on in silence. All is asleep in the shade of night, The Jewish hut alone has amiable sleep bypassed. The town belfry’s clock strikes midnight. – Suddenly, a heavy hand knocks at the door. The family starts, the young Jew then gets up and, bewildered, opens the door. And lo, an unknown stranger comes in, a traveller’s staff in his hand.
8 Shto v imeni tebe moyom? Shto v imeni tebe moyom? Ono umriot, kak shum pechal’nïy Volnï, plesnufshey v bereg dal’nïy, Kak zvuk nochnoy v lesu gluhom.
What’s In My Name To You? What’s in my name to you? It will die like the sad murmur of a wave striking some far-off shore, like a night sound in forlorn woods.
Ono na pamiatnom listke Ostavit miortvïy sled, podobnïy Uzoru nadpisi nadgrobnoy Na neponiatnom yazïke.
It will leave a dead trace on a memorial slip of paper, like a tracing of a gravestone inscription in an unknown language.
Shto v niom? Zabïtoye davno V volnen’yah novïh i miatezhnïh, Tvoyey dushe ne dast ono Vospominaniy chistïh, nezhnïh.
What’s in it? It is long forgotten in new, tumultuous worries, it will not give your soul any pure and gentle reminiscences.
No v dni pechali, v tishine, Proiznesi yevo toskuya; Skazhi: yest’ pamiat’ obo mne, Yest’ v mire serdtse, gde zhivu ya.
But pronounce it in days of sorrow, in silence, when you’re sick at heart; say: there’s remembrance of me, there’s a heart in the world where I live.
9 Vo glubine sibirskih rud… Vo glubine sibirskih rud Hranite gordoye terpen’ye, Ne propadiot vash skorbnïy trud I dum vïsokoye stremlen’ye.
In The Depth Of Siberian Mines In the depth of Siberian mines preserve your proud patience. Your woeful toil will not be lost, nor the noble aspirations of your thought.
Neschast’yu vernaya sestra, Nadezhda v mrachnom podzemel’ye Razbudit bodrost’ i vesel’ye, Pridiot zhelannaya pora:
Hope, Misfortune’s faithful sister, even in your gloomy dungeon will awaken vigour and rejoicing, and the hoped-for time will come:
Liubof i druzhestvo do vas Doydut skvoz’ mrachnïye zatvory, Kak v vashi katorzhnïye norï Dohodit moy svobodnïy glas.
Love and friendship will reach you across the gloomy bolted doors, just as my free voice reaches into your prison caves.
Okovy tiazhkie padut, Temnitsï ruhnut i svoboda Vas primet radostno u vhoda, I brat’ya mech vam otdadut.
The heavy chains will drop, the jails will crumble, and freedom will meet you happily at the entrance and your brothers will hand the sword back to you.
10 Proschanie V posledniy raz tvoy obraz milïy Derzayu mïslenno laskat’, Budit’ mechtu serdechnoy siloy I s negoy robkoy i unïloy Tvoyu liubof vospominat’.
Our years run by, changing, changing all and changing us, now for your poet you are shrouded in the twilight of the grave and for you your friend has faded as well.
Primi zhe, da niaya podruga. Proschan’ye serdtsa moyevo, Kak ovdovevshaya supruga, Kak drug, obniavshiy molcha druga Pred zatocheniem yevo.
So accept, far-off friend of mine, this, my heart’s farewell, like a widowed wife, like a friend silently embracing his friend before he goes to prison.
Grecheskiye pesni 11 Fperiod! (K. Palamas) Fperiod, geroi Gretsii! Za rodinu svobodnuyu! Gotov liuboy borets yeyo Delit’ sud’bu narodnuyu. Ot Pinda do Egeyskih vod Groza grohochet nad gorami Eto buria, eto plamia, Eto mïsl’ odna – fperiod!
Forward, up to sleep mountain peaks, into unknown tracts of seas! Over the unyielding abyss we will fly our victorious banner.
Opiat’ prizïvnïy rog poyot, Opiat’ zoviot geroyev Rigas… Sumrak nochi nas ne vïdast, Gornïye orlï, fperiod!
The urgent trumpet sings again, and Rigas summons its heroes again… The cloud of night won’t betray us, mountain eagles, forward!
Fperiod, otriadï groznïye! Klinki blesnut, kak molnii. Rasskazhut nochi zviozdnïye, Kak mï svoy dolg ispolnili!
Forward, fierce troops! The blades will glisten like lightning. The starry nights will tell How we did our duty!
V ogne Rumeli. Krit fstayot. Grohochut pushki na Olimpe… Vzveytes’ k nebu, alïy vïmpel, Smelïye serdtsa, fperiod!
Rumeli is on fire. Crete is revolting. Cannons thunder on Olympus… Scarlet banner, soar aloft! Forward, brave hearts!
12 Pentozalis Prokliatye! Vechno dolzhen zhda Tebia ya pered fsemi. A vremia ne verniotsa vspiat’, Na to ono i vremia! Ne hochesh tselovat’ menia, Hot’ tak tebia liubliu ya, A net, kak dïma bez ognia, Liubvi bez potseluya!
Parting For the last time I dare to caress your sweet image in my thoughts, to awaken the dream with power or heart and to recollect your love with timid and wistful bliss.
Begut meniayas’ nashi leta. Meniaya vsio, meniaya nas, Uzh tï dlia svoyego poeta Mogilnïm sumrakom odeta, I dlia tebia tvoy drug ugas.
Fperiod, na kruchi gornïye, V prostor morey nevedomïy! Nad bezdnoy nepokornoyu Vzovyom svoy stiag pobednïy mï.
Greek Songs Forward! Forward, heroes of Greece! For the free homeland! Its every fighter is willing to share the people’s destiny. From Pindes to Aegean waters a thunderstorm roars over the mountains it’s storm, it’s flame, it’s one thought, “Forward!”
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Penthosalis (folk song) Damnation! Why do I always have for you in front of everyone. Time will never come back, such is its habit! You don’t want to kiss me, even though I love you so? But can there be smoke without fire, and can there be love without kisses?
Fsegda vdvoyom rastut tsvetï Dushistoy baziliki. Zachem poniat’ ne hochesh tï Moyey liubvi velikoy? Kogda umru, tï nado mnoy Ne ley naprasno sliozï… Poplach, pokuda ya zhivoy, Poka yescho ne pozdno!
Fragrant basil flowers always grow in pairs. Why don’t you want to understand my great love? When I die, do not shed your tears over me in vain… Weep now when I’m living, while it’s not too late!
Liubof’ bïla, kak rozï tsvet, Teper’ kolïuchkoy budet. A gde liubof’? Bïla i net. Na nas diviatsa liudi. Ne hochesh tselovat’ menia, Hol’ tak tebia liubliu ya, A net, kak dïma bez ognia, Liubvi bez potseluya!
Our love was rose blossom, now it’s going to be a thorn. Where’s our love gone? People stare at us amazed. You don’t want to kiss me, even though I love you so? But can there be smoke without fire, and can there be love without kisses?
13 Zolongo O mir may chudesnïy, o mir may pechal’nïy, Gde lak redki radost’ i svet! Slishish li nïnche tï moy golos dal’niy, Bednoy rabï, skorbnuyu pesniu i zov proschal’nïy, Zhalobu serdtsa, moy posledniy privet?
Zolongo (folk song) O my wonderful world, o my sorrowful world, where joy and light are so rare! Do you hear now my voice from far away, the mournful song and farewell call of a poor slave woman, Lament of my heart, and my last greeting?
Kray moy skorbnïy, kray tï moy gornïy, Gibnet tvoy narod nepokornïy. Gorï, lesa i reki, proschayus’ s vami naveki! Gorï, lesa i reki, proschayus’ s vami naveki!
My land of grief, my land of mountains, your unyielding people is perishing. Mountains, rivers and woods, goodbye forever! Mountains, rivers and woods, goodbye forever!
Tesno rïbke na dne bo shoy lodki, Byotsa bedniashka v seti rïbaka! Fsio, chto mne shliot sud’ba, snoshu ya krotko, Tol’ko v rabstve zhizni netu dlia Suliotki: Dolia eta serdtsu slishkom gor’ka!
A little fish feels small on a big boat’s deck, the poor one struggles in the fisherman’s net! I meekly endure all my destiny gives to me, but a Suliote girl cannot live enslaved; This lot is too heavy for my heart!
Kray moy skorbnïy, kray tï moy gornïy, Gibnet tvoy narod nepokornïy. Gory, lesa i reki, proschayus’ s vami naveki! Gory, lesa i reki, proschayus’ s vami naveki!
My land of grief, my land of mountains, your unyielding people is perishing. Mountains, rivers and woods, goodbye forever! Mountains, rivers and woods, goodbye forever!
14 Gimn ELAS S vintovkoy vernoyu shagaya Po derevniam i gorodam, Ya za tebia borius’, svoboda, I za tebia ya zhizn’ otdam,
Piat’ romansov na slova Ye. Dolmatovskogo 15 Den’ vstrechi Davno my ne videlis’… Pravda! Ne den’ i ne god, Fsiu zhizn’ ne fstrechalis’, No znali, shto vremia pridiot, No verili: fstrecha nastanet, Kak veriat, shto solntse vzoydiot. Tak vot tï kakaya, Rodnaya, rodnaya!…
Fperiod, ELAS, za spravedlivost’, Za schastye Gretsii vperiod. Pust’ etot klich na boy sviaschennïy Sïnov otechestva zoviot.
March on, ELLAS, for justice, for Greece’s happiness, forward! Let this war-cry call sons of my country for a sacred battle…
Kogda idiot na bitvu voin, Zvuchit vezde tvoy veschiy glas, I gorï, ehom otzïvayas’, Gremiat v otvet: ELAS, ELAS!
When warriors march to a battle, your prophetic call is heard everywhere, and mountains resound and thunder in reply, “ELLAS, ELLAS!”
I never tire of looking into your eyes. I have never looked in them before. Our childhood was spent miles and miles apart, and our youth vanished like water from spring fields.
Pust’ oba mï vzroslïye stali, No schas ye ot etogo men’she ne budet. Ya fsio povtoriayu: rodnaya, rodnaya… I krïl’ya rastut u menia. Chestnoye slovo, ya prosto ne znayu, Kak zhil ya do etogo dnia,
No matter that we have both grown up, our happiness will not be less. I’ll say it again, my sweet darling… I feel like I’m growing wings. Upon my word, I simply don’t know how I managed to live until this day. The Day of Declarations We were walking along a narrow path, we felt a bit self-conscious, and it seemed to us that a great wide road loomed far ahead in a haze.
Yevo priïhan’ya, ruladï i treli.
Flowers were surrounding us, looking at us surprised. A nightingale started to sing, and you heard for the first time its warbles, roulades and trills.
Ya v knigah chital, shto strashna Minuta priznan’ya, No nam okazalas’ ona ne nuzhna Zachem ob’yasniatsa? Ne znayu…
I’ve read in books that the moment of declaration is frightening, but it turns out that we don’t need it. Why should I declare anything? Don’t know…
Zachem obyasniatsa, ved’ slovo luboye Zvuchit kak, «liubliu» i velikoyu, dïshit lïubovyu.
What need is there to declare anything? When any word sounds like “I love you” and breathes great love.
Mi shli fsio bïstreye, bïstreye, I fdrug rasstupilis’ derev’ya, I fsio tak nezhdanno sluchilos’, Kak zhdali vliublionnïye nashi serdtsa. Bol’shaya doroga pred nami otkrïlas’, I kraya yey net, i ne budet kontsa.
We walked faster and faster, and the trees suddenly made way, and all that happened was so unexpected, and was just as our loving hearts desired. We saw a great wide road ahead, A limitless one, an endless one.
Vokrug podnimalis’ tsvetï, Na nas udivlionno smotreli. Zapel solovey, i vpervïye uslïshala tï
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The Day of Meeting We’ve not seen each other for so long… It’s true! Not a day, or a year, we haven’t met our entire life, but we always knew the time would come, but we believed we would finally meet, just like we believe that the sun will rise. So this is you at last, my sweet darling!…
Vglaza tvoi ya ne mogu nagliadetsa, Ya v nih ne smotrel nikogda, Vdali drug ot druga proshlo nashe detstvo I sklïnula yunost’, kak veshniaya voda.
16 Den’ priznaniy Tropinkoyu uzkoy mï shli, Drug druga stesniayas’ nemnogo, I fsio nam kazalos’: vdali Vidneyetsa smutno bolshaya doroga.
The Hymn of ELLAS (S. Mavroidi-Papadaki) Marching with my trusty rifle over villages and towns, I fight for you, Freedom, and for you I’ll sacrifice my life.
Five Songs to Lyrics by E. Dolmatovsky
17 Den’ obid Ya ne znayu, otchego tï tak grustna. U samogo na serdtse kamen’. I ne uteshit nas vesna Svoyey golubiznoy, svoimi lepestkami.
The Day of Grievances I don’t know why you are so sad. I too feel a weight on my heart. Spring cannot soothe us with its blue sky and lovely petals.
19 Den’ vospominaniy Bïla takaya pesenka odna, Poroyu vesela, poroy grustna, Poroy grustna, poroyu vesela, Ona vliublionnïh k fstreche privela.
The Day of Memories There was a little song. Sometimes it was merry, sometimes sad, sometimes it was sad, and sometimes merry, and it brought the lovers to their meeting.
L’udi s dushoyu chorstvoy Dali voliu zloslov’yu. Vidno, ochen’ legko i prosto Nad chuzhoy izdevatsa liubovyu.
Cold-hearted people have given way to slander. They seem to feel so easy and happy sneering at someone else’s love.
Yeyo v serdtsah sumeli my zberech, – Ona vsegda zalog horoshih fstrech. Horoshih fstrech ona fsegda zalog. I s ney razluke legche dal’ dorog.
We managed to save it in our hearts – It always promises a happy meeting. Yes, it always means a happy meeting, and cheers you up when travelling far way.
Shepchutsa, shepchutsa, shepchutsa, shepchutsa: Eta liubof’ ne protianet i mesiatsa. Zhaliat pri vstreche ulïbkoy pritvornoyu, Zlïm bezrazlichiyem, zavis yu chornoyu.
They whisper, and whisper, and whisper, and whisper, saying our love won’t last a month. They sting us with false smiles, with evil disregard, with black envy.
Pust’ yunost’ pesni novïye poyot. Napev, dlia nas rodnoy, i v nih zhiviot. I v nih zhiviot napev, dlia nas rodnoy. Mï ne izmenim pesenke odnoy.
Let Youth sing new songs. The tune so dear to us lives in them too. It’s in them too, the tune so dear to us. We will not betray that one song.
Shto vam nuzhno? Kakoye vam delo? Chem liubof nasha vas zadela? Mne tiazhelo i grustno. To ko tï ne grusti. Da budut sviaschennïmi chistïye chustva, Svetlïye nashi puti.
What do you need? Is it your business? How has our love harmed you? I feel heavy and sad. But you should not be unhappy. Let our pure feelings, our sunny ways, let them be sacred forever.
Nam goria mnogo dovelos’ uznat’. Zapeli solovyi vesnoy opiat’. Vesnoy opiat’ zapeli solovyi O vernosti, o druzbe, o liubvi.
We’ve had enough of sorrow. Nightingales sing again in spring. It’s spring, and nightingales they sing again of loyalty, of friendship, and of love.
Ispanskiye pesni
Spanish Songs
18 Den’ radosti Solntse yarko zasiyalo, Svetlïy put’ otkrït vesne. Tak legko na serdtse stalo I tebe, i mne.
The Day of Joy The sun is shining brightly, A cheerful way is open to Spring. You and I, our hearts now feel so light!
Potomu shto mï s toboyu Fhodim vmir, v ruke ruka, Skreplenï odnoy sud’boyu, Slovno lepestki tsvetka.
Because you and I are entering the world, your hand in mine, fastened together with one destiny, like two petals of a flower.
Fse sbudutsa mechtï! Konechno, sbudutsa! A nashi goresti? A goresti zabudutsa. Kakaya tï schastlivaya, kakaya tï krasivaya, Shto fse toboy liubuyutsa.
Our dreams will come true, surely they will! And our sorrows? They’ll be forgotten. You’re so happy, you’re so beautiful, No wonder everyone admires you.
No ne serdis’, moya liubof, Kol’ sam sebe zavidovat’ nachnu ya. Ya tak gorzhus’ toboy, Shto, kazhetsa, ko vsem tebia revnuyu.
But my love, don’t be angry, when I become envious to myself. I’m so proud of you, that I seem to be jealous of everyone.
Solntse yarko zasiyalo, Svetlïy put’ otkrït vesne. Tak legko na serdtse stalo I tebe, i mne!
The sun is shining brightly, A cheerful way is open to Spring. You and I, our hearts now feel so light!
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20 Proschay, Grenada! Proschay, Grenada, moya Grenada, s toboy naveki mne rasstatsa nado! Proschay, liubimïy kray, ochey uslada, navek proschay! Ah! Budet pamiat’ o tebe moey yedinstvennoy otradoy, moy liubimïy, moy rodimïy kray! Navek mne serdtse toska pronzila, pogiblo fsio, shto v zhizni bïlo milo, moya liubov’ ushla vo mrak mogily, i zhizn’ ushla! Ah! I vokrug mne fsio postylo, zhi , kak prezhde net uzh sily tam, gde yunost’ tak bïla svetla!
Farewell to Granada Farewell, Granada, my Granada, I have to leave you forever! Farewell, dear place, so pleasing to my eye, farewell forever! Ah! The memories of you will be my only consolation, my dear place, my home place! I am forever pierced with sorrow, all I cared for is lost, my love is gone into the darkness of the grave, and my life is gone too… Ah! I am annoyed with what’s around me, I cannot live as before in the place where my youth was so bright!
21 Zviozdochkí Pod kiparisami starïmi serebritsa pribrezhnaya glad’. K miloy idu ya s gitaroya, shtobï pesniam yeyo obuchat’. No uchit’ besplatno mne net ohotï: ya beru s neyo potseluy za notu. Stranno, shto ona k utru uznayot fsio, krome not! Zhal’, shto nachat’ snova pozdno! Zhal’, shto uzhe svetel vozduh! Zhal’, shto i dniom ne drozhat puglivo nad zalivom zviozdi…
Little Stars Under the old cypresses the water near the shore is gleaming. I am coming to my sweetheart with my guitar to teach her songs. But my teaching will not be free: I charge her a kiss for every note. Strangely, by the morning she learns everything except the notes! Pity, it’s too late to start again… Pity, it’s getting light already… Pity, the stars o’er the bay do not tremble shyly also in the daylight…
V zviozdockah nebo beskrayneye, imi zviozdnaya nach polna. Miloy moyey nazïvayu ya fseh beschislennïh zviozd imena. Va poznan’yami dorozhu svoimi i beru platu s neyo potseluy za imia. Stranno, chto urok kazhetsa yey prost, fsio, krome zviozd! Zhal’, shto nacha snova pozdno! Zhal’, shto uzhe svetel vozduh! Zhal’, shto i dniom ne drozhat puglivo nad zalivom zviozdï… 22 Pervaya fstrecha Tï u ruchya vodï mne dala kogda-to, svezhey vodï holodnoy, kak sneg v uschel’yah sinih gor. Nochi temney tvoy vzor, v kosah aromat lepestkov dikoy miatï…
The First Time I Met You Once you gave me some water near the stream; it was fresh and cold like snow in blue mountains’ canyons. Your eyes are darker than night, and your braids have the aroma of wild mint petals…
Vidish, opiat’ kruzhit horovod, buben gremit, zvenit i poyot. Kazhdïy tantsor podruzhku vediot, smotrit na nih, liubuyas’, narod. Bey, moy buben, bey, gremi, budto grom! S miloyu moyey my tantsuem vdvoyom. Lenta na tebie nebes golubey! Bey, may buben, bey! Buben, bey! Buben, bey!
See the round-dance spinning again, hear the tambourine rattling, jingling and singing. Each dancer is leading his girlfriend, people are looking at them in admiration. Beat, tambourine, beat, rattle like thunder! I am dancing with my sweetheart, her ribbon is azure as the sky! Beat, tambourine, beat! Beat, tambourine! Beat, tambourine!
Mne ne zabït vovek etoy pervoy fstrechi, laskovïh slov i smugloy ruki, i bleska chornïh glaz…
I’ll never forget that first time I met you, tender words, and swarthy hand, and shining black eyes… It was then that I understood that I loved you and would love you forever!
Ponial ya v etot chas, shto tiebia liubliu i liubit’ budu vechno! Vidish, opiat’ kruzhit horovod, buben gremit, zvenit i poyot. Kazhdïy tantsor podruzhku vediot, smolrit na nih, liubuyas’ narod. Bey, moy buben, bey, gremi, budto grom! S miloyu moyey mï tantsuyem vdvoyom. Lenta na tebe nebes golubey! Bey, moy buben, bey! Buben, bey! Buben, bey!
Day ruku mne, devushka moya, gvozdiki tsvetochek alïy!
Ronda The round dance is heard near our door, it’s time for rejoicing. Come and dance with me, you little scarlet carnation flower! In the moonlit silence, even the stream’s ringing is not heard… Give me your hand, my girl, You little scarlet carnation flower!
Ulitsa slovno yarkiy sad. Shutki zveniat, glaza blestiat. Ronda kruzhitsa i poyot, svetitsa zviozdnïm serebrom nebosvod, mchatsa vesiolye pari… Eto radostnïy prazdnik pervïh tsvetov, eta prazdnik nashey liubvi!
The street is like a bright orchard. Laughter rings out, and eyes shine. Ronda spins round and sings, the sky gleams in starry silver, and merry couples are whirling… It’s a joyful feast of first flowers, It’s a feast of our love!
Igrayut v luche lunï na okne derev’yev mindal’nïh teni… Kogda zhe siuda tï vïydesh ko mne, moy nezhnïy tsvetok vesenniy? Vetku mindalia s dereva sorvi, yeyo mne day v znak tvoyey liubvi, moy nezhnïy tsvetok vesenniy!
The shades of almond-trees on the window are playing in moonbeams… When will you come out to me, my sweet spring flower? Pluck an almond twig from a tree, give it to me as a token of your love, my sweet spring flower!
Ulitsa slovno yarkiy sad. Shutki zveniat, glaza blestiat. Ronda kruzhitsa i poyot, svetitsa zviozdnïm serebrom nebosvod, mchatsa vesiolye parï… Eto radostnïy prazdnik pervïh tsvetov, eto prazdnik nashey liubvi!
The street is like a bright orchard. Laughter rings out, and eyes shine. Ronda spins round and sings, the sky gleams in starry silver, and merry couples are whirling… it’s a joyful feast of first flowers, it’s a feast of our love!
23 Ronda Shumit horovod u nashih dverey, vesel’ya para nastala. ldi tantsevat’ so mnoyu skorey, gvozdiki tsvelochek alÿ! V lunnoy tishine ne stïshen zvon ruchya…
The limitless sky is covered with little stars, they are abundant in the starry night. I tell my sweetheart the names of all these numberless stars. I value my knowledge and charge her a kiss for every name. Strange, the lesson seems easy to her, everything but the stars! Pity, it’s too late to start again… Pity, it’s getting light already… Pity, the stars o’er the bay do not tremble shyly also in the daylight…
24 Chernookaya Mat’ dala tebe ochi zvezdï, nezhnïy tsvet tvoih smuglïh schok, milaya moya! S bol’yu f serdtse nochyu pozdney bez tebia ya brozhu, odinok, milaya moya! Ah, za chto ya nakazan bïl sud’boy? Ah, zachem povstrechalsia ya s toboy? Ya umru ot liubvi bezumnoy, yesli tï ne poliubish menia, milaya moya!
See the round-dance spinning again, hear the tambourine rattling, jingling and singing. Each dancer is leading his girlfriend, people are looking at them in admiration. Beat, tambourine, beat, rattle like thunder! I am dancing with my sweetheart, her ribbon is azure as the sky! Beat, tambourine, beat! Beat, tambourine! Beat, tambourine!
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Black-Eyed Girl Your mother gave you starry eyes, and gentle colour of your dark cheeks, my sweetheart! With pain in my heart, late at night, I wander alone, without you, my sweetheart! Ah, why does my fate punish me so? Ah, why did I meet you at all? I will die of my desperate love if you won’t love me, my sweetheart!
Mat’ dala tebe stan vïsokiy, chornïy blesk nepokornïh kudrey, milaya moya! Proklinayu rok zheslokiy, bol’ i muki dushi moyey, milaya moya! O, zachem zhe tebe sumela mat’ Mne nazlo krasotu takuyu dat’? Ya umru ot liubvi bezumnoy, yesli tï ne poliubish menia, milaya moya! 25 Son Ne znayu, shto eto znachit… Son chudesnïy prisnilsia mne, kak budto v lodke rïbachyey ya plïvu po burnoy volne. Choln bez v’osel, ya ih brosil… Volnï peniatsa, zliatsa i topiat moy choln, no otvazhno mchus’ ya sredi tiomnïh, sred’ ogromnïh voln, ottovo, shto v rïbachyey eloy lodke po morskoy nepokornoy glubi mchishsa tï, moya gordaya, mchishsia vmeste so mnoy i menia tï budto tozhe liubish! O, moya golubka! Posmotri zhe, kak nesiotsa v svoyey lodochke hrupkoy po moriu bednïy paren’, shto tak krepko liubit tebia! Russian transliteration: Lev Hrol, ed. V. Morosan
Piat’ Romansov na slova iz zhumala «Krokodil»
Your mother gave you a tall stature, and the black shine of unruly locks, my sweetheart! I curse my cruel fate, the pain and tortures of my soul, my sweetheart! Oh, why did your mother manage to give you such beauty, the worse for me? I will die of my desperate love if you won’t love me,
2 Sobstvennoruchnoye pokazaniye (Isayev N.M.) V Hvorostianke fhozhu v avtobus. Shofior obilechivayet passazhirov. Obraschayus’ k nemu s voprosom: pochemu v Hohlah on ne sdelal ostanovki? Stoit, molchit. Povtoriayu vopros: pochemu v Hohlah ne sdelal ostanovki? On shto-to promiamlil pro asfal’t…Da kabï… da yezheli… Ne dolgo dumaya, delayu naklon tulovischa vperiod,
my sweetheart! Dream I don’t know what this could mean… I had a marvellous dream, as if I was riding in a fishing boat over stormy waves… The boat has no oars, I have dropped them…
sosredotachivayu fsiu svoyu silionku vpravom kulake i po metodu boksa vlepliayu vlevoye zhevalo etogo bama. I yedinstvenno, shto ya skazal yemu v etot moment: na zh tebe asfal’t, hamskaya tvoya rozha. Vot kakiye meropriyatiya prihoditsa primeniat’ k izzhïtiyu hamstva. Ne podumayte, shto ya bïl pyan. Mne shest’desiat sem’ let, i v to utro ya yescho ne zavtrakal.
The waves are foaming angrily, trying to sink my boat, but I am bravely riding among enormous dark waves, because you, too, are riding, in that fishing boat, my proud one, together with me, and you seem to love me too! O my dove! See how this poor guy who loves you so
3 Trudno ispolnimoye zhelaniye Ya holost, i mne trebuyetsa mnogo deneg. Zhenï takoy ne mogu nayti, shtobï ne nuzhdalsia den’gami, a poetomu userdno proshu: vïshlite pobïstrey, a yesli yest’ v Moskve takaya, shtobï kormila, poila, i deneg s menia ne sprashivala,
is dashing across the sea in his fragile little boat!
to soobschite mne eyo adres. Pozhaluysta.
Compact Disc 29 1 Predisloviye k polnomu sobraniyu moih
sochineniy i kratkoye razmïshleniye po povodu etovo predisloviya Marayu ya yedinïm duhom list; Vnimayu ya privïchnïm uhom svist; Potom fsemu terzayu svetu sluh; Potom pechatayus’ – i v Letu buh! Takoye predisloviye mozhno bïlo b napisat’ ne tol’ko k polnomu sobraniyu moih sochineniy, no i k polnomu sobranyu sochineniy mnogih, ochen’, ochen’ mnogih kompozitorov, kak sovetskih, tak i zarubezhnïh. Avot i podpis’: Dmitriy Shostakovich. Narodnïy artist ES ES ES ER. Ochen’ mnogo i drugih pochotnïh zvaniy. Pervïy sekretar’ Soyuza kompozitorov ER ES EF ES ER. Prosto sekretar’ Soyuza kompozitorov ES ES ES ER. A takzhe ochen’ mnogo drugih ves’ma otvetstvennïh nagruzok i dolzhnostey.
4 Blagorazumiye Hotia huligan Fedulov izbil menia, ya v organï nashey zamechatel’noy militsiyi ne obratilsia. Reshil ogranichitsa poluchennïmi poboyami.
A foreword to my complete works and a brief contemplation with respect to this foreword I scribble on paper in a spurt; Then I hear catcalls, and my ear’s not hurt; Then I torment the ears of all the world; Then have it printed, and forever unrecalled. This is a foreword that might be written not only for my Complete Works, but also to the complete works of many, many other composers, both Soviet and foreign. And here is the signature: Dmitri Shostakovich People’s artist of the USSR. Followed by many other titles of honour: First secretary, Union of Composers of the RSFSR (Simply the) secretary, Union of Composers of the USSR As well as very many other quite important responsibilities and positions.
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5 Irinka i pastuh Ona gliadit pod kruchu vniz, na uliogshihsia u vodï korov, na zabavno korotkuyu, kogda smotrish sverhu, figurku pastuha. Otsiuda on pohozh na mal’chishku. I Irinke vdrug ochen’ hochetsa potiskat’ yego v rukah, dolgo podkidïvat’ v chistoye, goluboye nebo. Pastuhu Irinka ne vidna. Korenastïy, shirokoplechiy, on sidit k ney spinoy i lupit yaytso. A Irinka uzhasno hochet yego potiskat’.
Five romances on words from Krokodil magazine, No.24 of August 30, 1965 Autographic Testimony (Issayev N. M., retired) At Khvorostianka I get on the bus. The driver tickets the passengers. I put the question to him, why didn’t he stop at Khokhly? He stands there, silent. I repeat the question, why didn’t you stop at Khokhly? He mumbles something about the asphalt. Well, if… well, but… Without a second thought, I perform a body tilt forward, I concentrate all my feeble power in my right fist, and, using a boxing method, I plant one on the left chap of that rude boor. And all I said to him at that moment was, Here’s your asphalt, you rude mug. Such are the procedures one sometimes has to apply to eradicate rudeness. Please don’t think for a moment that I was drunk. I am sixty-seven years old, and that morning I hadn’t even had breakfast yet. A Difficult Desire to Fulfil I am a single man, and I need a lot of money. I cannot find a wife so as not to suffer from lack of money, therefore I expressly: send me one as soon as possible, and if there is such one in Moscow who would provide me with food and drink and not demand money for that, advise me her address. Please. Discretion Although the ruffian Fedulov did beat me, I did not report this to our remarkable police force. I decided to restrict myself to the thrashing already received. Irinka and the Shepherd She is looking down the steep hillside at the cows lying near the waterside, at the amusingly short, when seen from above, figure of the shepherd. From her vantage point he looks like a little boy. And lrinka suddenly feels a strong desire to squeeze him in her hands, and to toss him up into the clear azure sky over and over. The shepherd cannot see lrinka. Stocky and broad-shouldered, he is sitting with his back to her, peeling an egg. And lrinka feels a terrible desire to squeeze him.
6 Chrezmernïy vostorg Pervïy hleb! Komu, skazhite, iz vas ne prihodilos’ syest’ lomot’ hleba novovo urozhaya? Kak on chudesno pahnet solntsem, molodoy solomoy, a glavnoye, kombayniorskimi rukami, propitannïmi kerosinom.
Sem’ stikhotvoreniy Aleksandra Bloka
V etom dal’nem otrazhen’yi, v etih otbleskah ognia pritailos’ probuzhden’ye dney tosklivïh dlia menia…
The City Sleeps The city sleeps, veiled in haze, the streetlamps flicker faintly… Far away, beyond the Neva, I see the glow of dawn. In this far-off reflection, in these glimmers of flame hides the awakening of sad days awaiting me…
Seven Poems by Alexander Blok
7 Pesnia Ofelii Razluchayas’ s devoy miloy, drug, tï klials’a mne liubit’!… Uyezzhaya vkray posfili’y, kliatvu dannuyn hranit’!… Tam, za Daniyey schastlivoy, berega tvoi vo mgle… Val serditïy, govorlivïy moyet sliozï na skale… Milïy voin ne verniotsa, ves’ odetïy v serebro… V grobe tiashko vskolïhniotsa bant i chornoye pero…
Ophelia’s Song Parting with your beloved maiden, you swore that you would love, my friend!… That you would keep your oath, leaving for that dreary land!… There, far from happy Denmark, your shores are veiled with fog… Big, angry, and grumbling waves wash tears off the cliff… The sweet warrior will not be back all clad in silver… The ribbon and the black plume will mournfully stir in the coffin…
8 Gamayun, ptitsa veschaya
Gamauyn the Soothsaying Bird (A picture by V. Vasnetsov) On the smooth endless waters which the sunset has clad in purple, she prophesies and she sings, unable to spread her confused wings…
Na gladiah beskonechnïh vod, zakatom v purpur oblechonnïh, ona veschayet i poyot, ne v silah krïl podniat’ smiationnïh…
10 Gorod spit Gorod spit, okutan mgloyu, chut’ mertsayut fonari… Tam dalioko, za Nevoyu, vizhu otbleski zari.
Exaggerated Delight The first bread! Tell me, who of you has never enjoyed eating a slice of bread of a new harvest? How nicely it smells. It’s a smell of the sun, of fresh straw, and most importantly, of the combine driver’s hands soaked in kerosene.
11 Buria O, kak bezumno za oknom reviot, bushuyet buria zlaya, nesutsa tuchi, l’yut dozhdiom, i veter voyet, zamiraya!
The Tempest Oh, how madly the evil tempest rages and roars outside my window! The clouds rush by, pouring down rain, and the wind howls, then fades!
Uzhasna noch! V takuyu noch mne zhal’ liudey, lishonnïh krova i sozhalen’ye gonit proch – v obyat’ya holoda sïrogo!…
Horrific night! In such a night I pity those deprived of shelter, and the pity drives me outside – into the embrace of the damp chill!
Borotsa s mrakom i dozhdiom, stradal’tsev uchast’ razdeliaya… O, kak bezumno za oknom bushuyet veter, iznïvaya!
There, to brave the darkness and the rain, sharing the lot of the sufferers… Oh, how madly the wind rages outside my window in torment!
12 Taynïe znaki Razgorayutsa taynïye znaki na gluhoy, neprobudnoy stene. Zolotïye i krasnïye maki nado mnoy tiagoteyut vo sne.
Secret Signs Secret signs light up upon a solid, relentless wall. Golden and red poppies brood over me in my sleep.
Veschayet igo zlïh tatar, veschayet kazney riad krovavïh, i trus, i golod, i pozhar, zlodeyev silu, gibel’ pravïh…
She prophesies the oppression by wicked Tartars, a line of bloody executions, earthquakes, and famine, and fires, the might of villains and the demise of the righteous…
Ukrïvayus v nochnïye pescherï i ne pomniu surovïh chudes. Na zare – golubïye himerï smotriat v zerkale yarkih nebes.
I hide away in caves of the night and do not remember the stern magic. At the dawn, azure chimeras look out from the mirrors of the bright sky.
Predvechnïm uzhasom obyat, prekrasnïy lik gorit liubovyu, no veschey pravdoyu zvuchat usta, zapekshiyesia krovïu!..
Obsessed by eternal horror, the beautiful visage beams with love, but the blood-covered lips pronounce prophetic truths!…
Ubegayu v proshedshiye migi, zakrïvayu ot straha glaza, na listah holodeyuschey knigi – zolotaya devichya kosa.
I run away to moments in the past, and close my eyes in fear, and a maids’ golden tresses lie upon the pages of the book that grows ever colder.
We Were Together We were together, I remember that… The night was disturbed, the violin sang… You were mine in those days, and grew more lovely by the hour…
Nado mnoy nebosvod uzhe nizok, chornïy son tiagoteyet v grudi. Moy konets prednachertannïy blizok, i voyna, i pozhar – vperedi.
The heaven has already lowered above me, a black dream broods in my breast. My forecast end is near, ahead are the war and the fire.
9 Mï bïli vmeste… Mi bïli vmeste, pomniu ya… Noch volnovalas’, skripka pela.. Ti v eti dni bïla moya, tï s kazhdïm chasom horoshela… Skvoz’ tihoye zhurchanye struy, skvoz’ taynu zhenstvennoy ulïbki k ustam prosilsia potseluy, prosilis’ v serdtse zvuki skripki…
Through the quiet murmur of the streams, through the mystery of a womanly smile, the lips were longing for a kiss, the strains of the violin were longing towards the heart…
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13 Muzi’ka V nochi, kogda usniot trevoga, i gorod skroyets’a vo mgle – o, skol’ko muzïki u Boga, kakiye zvuki na zemle!
Music At night, when my disquietude falls asleep and the city disappears in the mist – oh, how much music God has, what sounds exist in the world!
Shto buria zhizni, yesli rozï tvoyi tsvetut mne i goriat! Shto chelovecheskiye sliozï, kogda rumianitsa zakat!
What is the tempest of life to me, when your roses flourish and blaze for me! What are human tears, when the sunset blushes crimson!
Primi, Vladïchitsa vselennoy, skvoz’ krof, skvoz’ muki, skvoz’ groba – posledney strasti kubok pennïy ot nedostoynogo raba!
Accept, O Empress of the Universe – through blood, through torments, and through graves the foaming cup of final passion from your unworthy slave!
Shest’ stihotvoreniy Marinï Tsvetayevoy
Six Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva
14 Moyi stihi Moyim stiham, napisannïm tak rano, Shto i ne znala ya, shto ya – poet, Sorvavshimsia, kak brïzgi iz fontana, Kak iskrï iz raket,
My Verses My verses written so early That I did not yet know I was a poet; Snapped off like splashes from a fountain, Like sparks from rockets,
Vorvavshimsia, kak malen’kiye cherti, F sviatilische, gde son i fimiam, Moyim stiham o yunosti i smerti, – Nechitannïm stiham! –
Which rushed in like tiny devils Into the sacred place where slumber and incense prevail, My verses of youth and death – Never-read verses! –
Razbrosannïm v pilï po magazinam (Gde ih nikto ne bral i ne beriot!), Moim stiham, kak dragotsennïm vinam, Nastanet svoy cheriod!
Scattered in the dust of bookshops (Where no one has ever bought them!), My verses, like vintage lvines, Will have their time!
15 Otkuda takaya nezhnost’? Otkuda takaya nezhnost’? Ne pervïye – eti kudri Razglazhivayu, i gubï Znavala – temney tvoih.
Whence All This Tenderness? Whence all this tenderness? These curls are not the first I ever stroked, and I’ve known Lips darker than yours.
Fshodili i gasli zviozdï (Otkuda takaya nezhnost’?), Fs’hodili i gasli ochi U samïh moih ochey.
Stars rose and faded (Whence all this tenderness?), Eyes rose and faded So close to my own eyes.
Yescho ne takiye pesni Ya slushala nochyu tiomnoy (Otkuda takaya nezhnost’?) – Na samoy grudi pevtsa.
I used to hear sweeter songs In the dark of the night (Whence all this tenderness?) Upon the very breast of the singer.
Otkuda takaya nezhnost’? I shto s neyu delat’, otrok Lukavïy, pevets zahozhiy, S resnitsami – net dlinney?
Whence all this tenderness? And what shall I do with it, O sly youth, O visiting singer, With eyelashes longest ever seen?
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16 Dialog Gamleta s sovest’yu – Na dne ona, gde il I vodorosli… Spat’ v nih ushla, – No sna i tam net! – No ya yeyo liubil, Kak sorok tïsiach Bratyev, liubil’ ne mogut! – Gamlet! Na dne ona, Gdeil: il!… I posledniy Venchik vsplïl Na prirechnïh briovnah – No ya yeyo liubil, Kak sorok tïsiach… – Men’she fsio zh, Chem odin liubovnik. Na dne ona, gde il. – No ya yeyo – liubi!…
Dialogue Between Hamlet and His Conscience “She’s on the river-bed, where mud And weeds are… She went to sleep In them, but even there she can’t find sleep!” “But I did love her; Forty thousand brothers Could not love so!” “Hamlet! She’s on the river-bed, where there is mud; Mud And the last little garland Has floated up at the logs by the riverside…” “But I did love her As forty thousand…” “Still less than one lover. She’s on the river-bed, where there is mud.” “But I… Did I love her?”
17 Poet i tsar’ Potustoronnim Zalom tsar… Kto nepreklonnïy Mramornïy sey?
The Poet and the Czar Along the otherworldly Hall of the Czars… Who’s this adamant, This marble one?
Stol’ velichavïy V zolote barm. Pushkinskoy slavï Zhalkiy zhandarm.
So majestic In the gold of regalia. Wretched watchman Of Pushkin’s glory.
Avtora hayal, Rukopis’ strig. Pol’ skovo kraya Zverskiy miasnik
Rebuking the author And snipping his manuscript, The beastly butcher of Polish land.
Zorche vgliadisia! Ne zabïvay: Pevtsoubiytsa Tsar’ Nikolay Pervïy.
Look at him sharper! Never forget: The Singerkiller Czar Nicholas The First.
18 Net, bil baraban… Net, bil baraban pered smutnïm polkom, Kogda mï vozhdia horonili: To zubï tsariovï nad miortvïm pevtsom Pochotnuyu drob’ vïvodili.
No, the Drum Did Beat… No, the drum did beat before the troubled troops When we were burying a leader: It was the Czar’s teeth clattering honorary ruffles Over the dead singer.
Takoy uzh pochot, shto blizhayshim druzyam Net mesta, V izglav’ye, v iznozhye, I sprava, i sleva – ruchischi po shvam – Zhandarmskiye grudi i rozhi.
It’s such an honor, that even the closest friends Are left out. At his head, and feet, On the right and on the left, with arms at their sides, Only the gendarmes’ mugs and chests can be seen.
Ne divno li – i na tishayshem iz lozh Prebït’ podnadzorïm mal’chishkoy? Na shto-to, na shto-to, na shto-to pohozh Pochot sey, pochotno – da slishkom!
Isn’t it a wonder, even on the quietest of beds To remain a kid under guard? This honor looks like something, like something, like something It looks like too much of an honor indeed!
Gliadi mol, strana, kak, molve vopreki, Monarh o poete pechotsa! Pochotno – pochotno – pochotno – arhi – Pochotno, pochotno – do chortu!
Behold, o my country, and see how, contrary to opinion, The Monarch cares about a poet! So homage-filled, homage-filled, homage-filled, Damned too much homage!
Kogo zh eto tak – tochno vorï vora Pristreliannogo – vïnosili? Izmennika? Net. S prohodnogo dvora – Umneyshego muzha Rossii.
Who was this, dragged out like a thief, who’d been shot by fellow thieves? Atraitor? No. From the backdoor – The wisest man in Russia.
19 Anne Abmatovoy O muza placha, prekrasneyshaya iz muz! O tï, shal’noye ischadiye nochi beloy! Tï chonuyu nasïlaesh metel’ na Rus’, I vopli tvoi vonzayutsa v nas, kak strelï.
Chetïre stihotvoreniya kapitana Lebiadkina 20 Liubov’ kapitaoa Lebiadkina Liubvi pïlayuscheye granata Lopnula v grudi Ignata. I vnov’ zaplakal gor’koy mukoy Po Sevastopoliu bezrukiy.
Well I’ve never been to Sevastopol, and I ain’t even arntless, but just look at these rhymes!
I porhayet zvezda na kone V horovode drugih amazonok; Ulïbayetsa s loshadi mne Aristokraticheskiy rebionok.
And the star is flittering on horseback surrounded by other Amazons. And she’s smiling to me from horseback, that aristocratic female child.
Sovershenstvu devitsï Tushinoy. Milostivaya gosudarïn’ya Yelizaveta Nikolayevna!
To the Perfection of Mademoiselle Tushina. For the attention of: My Honorable lady Elizabeth Nikolaevna O how sweet is she, Elizabeth Tushina, when, in the company of her relative, she rides side-saddle to and fro and her curls play with the wind! Or when she, with her mother, falls prostrate in the church, and rosiness appears on their religious faces! At such moments, I desire marital and legal delights and I send after her, and her mother, my tears.
i zritsa rumianets blagogoveynïh lits! Togda brachnïh i zakonnïh naslazbdeniy zhelayu i fsled yey, vmeste s materyu, slezu posilayu. V sluchaye, yesli b ona slomala nogu. Krasa krasot slomala chlen i interesney vdvoye stala, I vdvoye sdelalsia vliublion vliublionnïy uzh nemalo.
I mï sharahaemsia, i gluhoye: oh! – Stotïsiachnoye tebe prisiagaet. Anna Ahmatova! – eto imia ogromnïy vzdoh, I v glub’ on padayet, kotoraya bezïmianna.
And we start, and a hollow “Oh!” Uttered by hundreds of thousands gives you an oath. Anna Akbmatova! – the name is a giant sigh, And it falls into a depth that has no name.
Mï koronovanï tem, shto odnu s toboy Mï zemliu topchem, shto nebo nad nami tozhe! I tot, kto ranen smertel’noy tvoyey sud’boy, Uzbe bessmertnïm na smertnoye skbodit lozhe.
We are crowned in that we tread the same land, And the same sky is above us! And those who are wounded by your deathly fate Will be immortal descending to the bed of death.
F pevuchem grade moyom kupola goriat, I Spasa svedovo slavit slepets brodiachiy… I ya dariu tebe svoy kolokol’nïy grad, Ahmatova! – i serdtse svoyo v pridachu.
Domes are gleaming in my singing town, And a blind wanderer glorifies Holy Saviour… And I grant unto you my pealing town, Akbmatova – complete lvith my heart.
Sostavil neuchonïy za sporom.
21 Tarakan Zhil na svete tarakan, Tarakan ot detstva, I potom popal v stakan, Polnïy muhoyedstva.
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Captain Lebyadkin’s Love A red-hot glowing love grenade Burst in Ignat’s breast. And once again, poor armless beast, He wept recalling Sevastopol’s cannonade.
Hot’ v Sevastopole ne bïl, I dazbe ne bezrukiy, No kakovï zhe rifmï!
O, kak mila ona, Yelizaveta Tushina, kogda s rodstvennikom na damskom sedle letayet, a lokon yeyo s vetrami igrayet, ili kogda s mater’yu f tserkvi padayet nits,
To Anna Akhmatova O Muse of Weeping, the most beautiful of the Muses! O reckless issue of a white night! You send black blizzards to Russia, And your screams pierce us like arrows.
Four Poems of Captain Lebyadkin
Supposing She Breaks Her Leg The Beauty of Beauties broke her Member, and became twice as beautiful, And a man already deep in love became twice as loving. Composed by an untaugbt man in tbe midst of an argument. The Cockroach Once upon a time there was a Cockroach, A Cockroach from his childhood; One day he found himself in a Glass Filled to the brim with fly-eating.
Gospodi, shto takoye? To yest’, kogda letom v stakan nalezut muhi, to proiskhodit muhoyedstvo, fsiakiy durak poymiot, ne perebivayte, vï uvidite! Pozhaluysta, snachala!
(Oh my, what do you mean?) That is, when on a summer day flies crawl into a glass, fly-eating business begins – any fool can understand that. Don’t interrupt me, and you’ll see yourself! Here we go again, from the top:
Zhil na svete tarakan, Tarakan ot detstva, I potom popal v stakan, Polnïy muhoyedstva.
Once upon a time there was a Cockroach, A Cockroach from his childhood; One day he found himself in a Glass Filled to the brim with fly-eating.
Mesto zanial tarakan, Muhi vozroptali, Polon ochen’ nash stakan, K Yupiteru zakrichali.
The Cockroach he took up room, The Flies they complained; “Our Glass is too much full,” They shouted up to Jupiter.
I vosstan’ye nachinaya, On bezhal v chuzhiye krai Iz tsariova kazemata Ot knuta, schiptsov i kata.
No poka u nih shol krik, Podoshol Nikifor, Blagorodneyshiy starik…
But, while they were screaming, Nikifor came up, A noblest old man he was…
A narod, vosstat’ gotovïy Iz-pod uchasti surovoy, Ot Smolenska do Tashkenta S neterpen’yem zhdal studenta. Eh!
He then started a revolt And escaping to foreign lands From the Czar’s prison, From tongs and tortures, from gallows and the hangman; While the people, ready to rise up From under its deadly fate, In Smolensk, and in Tashkent, and everywhere, Eagerly awaited the student. Hey!
Tut u menia ne dokoncheno, no fsio ravno, slovami… Nikifor beriot stakan i, nesmotria na krik, vïplioskivaet v lohan’ fsiu komediyu, i muh, i tarakana, shto davno nado bïlo sdelat’. No zamet’te, sudarynia, tarakan ne ropschet. Shto zhe kasaetsa do Nikifora, to on izobrazhaet prirodu.
Well the piece is a bit unfinished, but in plain words, it goes like this: Nikifor snatches the glass and, ignoring the screams, throws the whole story out into the garbage can, the Flies complete with the Cockroach, and that should have been done long before. But mind you, lady, the Cockroach does not complain! As to old Nikifor, he is an allegory of Nature.
Zhdal yevo on pogolovno, Shtob idti besprekoslovno, Poreshit’ vkonets boyarstvo, poreshit’ sovsem i tsarstvo, Sdelat’ obschimi imen’ya I predat’ naveki mschen’yu Tserkvi, braki i semeystvo – Mira starovo zlodeystvo! Eh!
Yea, all waiting for him as one, To follow him unswervingly, To exterminate tile upper classes outright, To kill tile Czars totally, too, To make all property common, And to take revenge forever On Church, and Marriage, and Family, All those crimes of the old regime! Hey!
22 Bal v pol’zu guvernantok Zdravstvuy, zdravstvuy guvernantka! Veselis’ i torzhestvuy, Retrogradka i zhorzhzandka, Fsio ravno teper’ likuy!
A Costume Ball for the Benefit of Governesses Hi, hello, governess! Rejoice and celebrate! Whether a straight girl, or a George Sandette, Never mind, cheer up now!
Uchish tï detey soplivïh Po-frantsuzki bukvariu I podmigivat’ gotova, Stobï vzial, hot’ ponmariu!
You teach snivel-nosed kids Their French ABCs, And you’re ready to wink even at a sacristan, Because you’d marry any male!
No v nash vek reform velikih Ne vozmiot i ponomar’: Nado, barïshnia, «tolikih», Ili snova za bukvar’.
But in our times of Great Reform even a sacristan won’t marry you. What you want is dough, cash, greenbacks, Or… back to those ABCs.
No teper’, kogda piruya, Mï sobrali kapital, I pridanoye, tantsuya, Shliom tebe iz etih zal.
But today, when we have raised Some cash at this dinner party, And are sending you a dowry From this hall where we’re having a ball –
Retrogradka i zhorzhzandka, Vs’o ravno teper’ likuy! Ti s pridanïm, guvernantka, Pliuy na fsio i torzhestvuy!
Be you a straight girl, or a George Sandette, Never mind, cheer up now! You’ve got a dowry, governess, So have not a care and celebrate!
23 Svetiaya lichnost’ On ne znatnoy bïl porodï, On vozros sredi naroda, No, gonimïy mest’yu tsarskoy, Zlobnoy zavist’yu boyarskoy, On obriok sebia stradan’yu, Kazniam, pïtkam, istiazan’yu I poshol veschat’ narodu Bratstvo, ravenstvo, svobodu. Eh!
A Luminous Personality He was no gentleman by birth, He grew up among the common people, But, persecuted by Czarist vengeance, And hateful envy of noble lords, He doomed himself to suffering, To punishment and torture and abuse And he went out to the people to declare Fraternity, Equality, and Freedom. Hey!
Compact Disc 30 Dve basni I. Krïlova 1 Strekoza i Muravey Poprïgun’ya strekoza Leto krasnoye propela; Oglianutsa ne uspela, Kak zima katit v glaza. Pomertvelo chisto pole; Net uzh dney teh sveilïh bole, Kak pod kazhdï yey listkom Bï gotov i stol, i dom. Fsio proshlo; s zimoy holodnoy Nuzhda, golod nastayot; Strekoza uzh ne poyot; I komu zhe v um poydiot Na zheludok pet’ golodnïy! Zloy toskoy udruchena, K Muravyu polziot ona: «Ne ostav’ menia, kum miloy! Day tï mne sobratsa s siloy, I do veshnih tol’ko dney Prokormi i obogrey». «Kumushka, mne stranno eto: Da rabotala l’ fï leto?» Govorit yey Muravey. «Do togo l’, golubchik bïlo? V miahkih muravah u nas Pesni, rezvost’ fsiakiy chas, Tak shto golovu fskruzhïlo … » «A tak tï… » – «Ya bez dushï Leto tseloye fsio pela». «Tï fsio pela? Eto delo! Tak poydi zhe, popliashï!»
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Two Fables by Ivan Krylov The Dragon-fly and the Ant The carefree, hopping Dragon-fly Sang songs all summer long, Until at last she saw Winter advancing at a fast pace. The fields and meadows are barren, And the days when every leaf Offered her board and lodging Are over and gone. Yeah, they are gone! The cold winter Brings poverty and starvation. The Dragon-fly she sings no more. No wonder: who would sing With an empty stomach! Frightened and distressed, She crawls to the Ant and says, “Brother Ant, don’t leave me to die! Just give me a chance to survive: Please feed me, and warm me Until the springtime.” The Ant to her replies, “Sister, this sounds strange to me; Did you work in summer at all?” “Oh honey, I had other things to do! Singing, frolicking in the soft grass Day after day is such a joy, And no wonder I went giddy…” “You mean, you…” – “Yes, I sang all summer long Without a care.” “So all you did was sing? That’s just swell! Now go and dance!”
2 Osiol i Solovey Osiol uvidel Solov’ya i govorit yemu: «Poslushay-ka, druzhïsche! Ti, skazïvayut, pet’ velikiy masterische: Hotel bï ochen ya sam posudit’, tvoyo uslïshav pen’ye, Veliko l’ podlinno tvoyo umen’ye?» Tut Solovey yavliat’ iskusstvo stal: Na tïsiachu ladov tianul, perelivalsia; To nezhno on oslabeval I tomnoy vdaleke svirel’yu otdavalsia, To melkoy drob’yu vdrug po rosche rassïpalsia. Vnimalo fsio togda liubimtsu i pevtsu Avrorï; Zatihli veterki, zamolkli ptichek horï, I prilegli stada. Chut’-chut’ dïsha, pastuh im liubovalsia I tol’ko inogda, vnimaya solov’yu, pastushke ulïbalsia. Skonchal pevets. Osiol, ustavias’ vzemliu lbom,
The Donkey and the Nightingale A Donkey sees a Nightingale and says to him, “Hey, there, my friend, They say you’re a wonderful singer. l’d really like to listen to you and judge myself,
«Izriadno,-govorit, -skazat’ ne lozhno, Tebia bez skuki slushat’ mozhno; Azhal’, shto neznakom Tï s nashïm petuhom; Yescho b fï bole navostrilsia, Kogda bï u nevo nemnoshko pouchilsia». UsIïsha sud takoy, moy bednïy solovey Fsporhnul i uletel za trideviat’ poley. Izbavi Bog i nas ot etakih sudey.
Is your talent truly as great as all that?” So the Nightingale began to show his skill: He chanted and warbled his song in a thousand keys; Now gently fading And echoing afar, as would a languid flute, Then suddenly scattering his finest trills over the grove. All creatures listened to Aurora’s favourite singer; The wind ceased to blow, the birds’ choirs became still, The herds lay down. Scarcely breathing, a shepherd adored him in wonder, And, listening, only occasionally smiled at his shepherdess. The singer finished. The Donkey spoke, his brow to the ground: “Not bad,” he said, “in all honesty, I listened to you, and was not even bored. It’s a pity, though, That you don’t know our Rooster. If you learned a bit from him, You would sing even sweeter.” Hearing this verdict, poor Nightingale Took wing and flew a thousand miles away. O God! Preserve us from such judges!
Shest’ romansov na slova yaponskih poetov
Six Romances on Lyrics by Japanese Poets
3 Liubov’ Day tol’ko solntsu za goru zayti, K tebe ya skoro vïydu! Tiomnoy nochyu tï podoydiosh ko mne, Podobna utrenney zare, Krasiva, kak tsvetok, yedva rastsvetshïy, I ruku nezhnuyu, goriachuyu ot strasti i liubvi k tebe, Ya polozhu na grud’ tvoyu. Drug k drugu mï prizhmiomsia; Liozha, tselovatsa budem, Ruki podlozhïv pod golovï vzamen podushek; Biodra sblizim. O, kak liubliu ya, Kak liubliu tebia ya strastno, nezhno, moya radost’. Kak tol’ko solntse za goru zaydiot, k tebe ya vïydu.
Love The moment the sun sets behind the mountain, I will come out to you! You will approach me in the dark of night like a morning dawn, beautiful as a newly blossoming flower, and I will put my gentle hand, a hand hot with passion out of love for you, I’ll put it upon your breast. We’ll hug each other tight, And, lying down, we’ll kiss, With our hands under our heads instead of cushions, And bring our hips together. Oh how I love you, How I love you, passionately and tenderly, my joy! When the sun sets behind the mountain, l’ll come out to you.
4 Pered samoubiystvom Unïlo sïpliutsa listï. Gustoy tuman prud zastilayet. Gusi dikiye krichat napugano Na ozere sviatom Ivare. Snï mrachnïye vitayut nad moyey glavoy, Na serdtse tiazhest’. Cherez god, kogda razdastsa snova krik gusey, Ya ne uslïshu ih.
Before the Suicide Leaves fall down cheerlessly, Thick fog veils the pond. Wild geese cry, frightened, Upon the holy Lake Iware. Gloomy dreams oppress my head, My heart is burdened. A year from now, when wild geese cry again, I shall not hear them.
5 Neskromnïy vzgliad U ivï zelionoy i tonkoy Obnazhïlsia koleblemïy stvol, Kogda veyuschiy veter V storonu vetvi otviol. A sevodnia, o radost’ moya, Ya nogi tvoi uvidal, Kogda tvoim kimono Veyuschiy veter igral.
An Immodest Glance A green and slender willow Had its waving trunk exposed, When the wafting wind Moved the branches aside. And today, O my love, I saw your legs, When the wafting wind Was playing with your kimono.
6 F pervïy i f posledniy raz Ya sorval tvoy tsvetok, tï moya. Ya prizhal tebia k serdtsu, K serdtsu i slilsia s toboy. Kogda noch otletela, ya uvidel, Shto tebia so mnoyu bol’she net. Ostalas’ lish bol’, lish bol’. Mnogo yescho budet u tebia tsvetov, Blagouhannïh i divnïh, No moyo vremia rvat’ tsvetï proshlo, I f tiomnoy nochi net u menia miloy. Ostalas’ lish bol’, lish bol’ …
The First and the Last Time I plucked your flower and you were mine. I pressed you against my breast, Pressed you to my heart, and we were one. That night flew away, and I saw That you were not with me any longer. And only pain, and only pain remained. You will have many more flowers, Fragrant and wonderful, But my time to pluck flowers is gone, And I have no loved one in the dark of night. And only pain, and only pain remains…
7 Beznadiozhnaya liubov’ Zachem ya liubliu tebia, ved’ nikogda, Nikogda tï ne budesh moyey? Ne ya budu laskat’ tebia, Ne ya, istomlionnïy tvoimi laskami, Usnu riadom s toboy. Zachem zhe ya liubliu tebia?
Hopeless Love Why do I love you, when you never, Never will be mine? It is not I who will caress you, Not I who will fall asleep beside you, Exhausted by your caresses. Why, then, do I love you?
8 Smert’ Ya umirayu… Ya umirayu ne znaya liubvi. Menia ona ne liubila, Ona ne zhdala menia s neterpen’yem, Kogda ya uhodil. Ya umirayu, potomu shto nel’zia zhït’ bez liubvi.
Death I am dying… I am dying not knowing what love is. She never loved me, She did not wait for me impatiently Whenever I left. I am dying, for no one can live without love.
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Chetïre romansa na slova A.S. Pushkina 9 Vozrozhdenie Hudozhnik varvar kistyu sonnoy Kartinu geniya chernit I svoy risunok bezzakonnöy Nad ney bessmïslenno chertit.
Four Romances on Words by Alexander Pushkin Renaissance A barbarous painter may stain a genius’s picture With his lazy paintbrush, And foolishly draw His own lawless pattern over it.
No kraski chuzhdïe s letami Spadayut vethoy cheshuyoy; Sozdan’ye geniya pred nami Vïhodit s prezhney krasotoy.
But time goes on, and the wrong paint Will peel off like worn scales, And the genius’s masterpiece will emerge In all its former beauty.
Tak ischezayut zabluzhden’ya S izmuchennoy dushï moyey, I voznikayut vney viden’ya Pervonachal’nïh, chistïh dney.
Likewise, delusions peel off From my tormented soul, Giving way to visions Of earlier and purer days.
10 Yunoshu, gor’ko rïdaya, revnivaya deva branila… Yunoshu, gor’ko rïdaya, Revnivaya deva branila; Kney na plecho preklonion, Yunosha vdrug zadremal. Deva totchas umolkla, Son yego liogkiy leleya, I ulïbalas’ yemu, Tihie sliozï liya.
The maid fell silent at once, Cherishing his ethereal sleep, And she smiled at him, Shedding quiet tears. Anticipation Again I see dark clouds Above me in silence; Once again, envious Fate Threatens me with distresses…
Sohraniu l’ k sud’be prezren’ye? Ponesu l’ nafstrechu yey Nepreklonnost’ i terpen’ye Gordoy yunosti moyey?
Will I retain my contempt for Destiny? Or will I surrender to it The adamant, enduring spirit Of my proud young days?
Burnoy zhïzn’yu utomlionnïy, Ravnodushno buri zhdu: Mozhet bït’, yescho, spasionnïy, Snova pristan’ ya naydu…
Worn out by my turbulent life, I impassively await the tempest: But I may yet be saved, And find a new haven…
No predchuvstvuya razluku, Neizbezhnïy, groznïy chas, Szhat’ tvoyu, moy angel, ruku Ya speshu v posledniy raz.
But anticipating our parting, That inevitable and frightful moment, My angel, I hasten to squeeze Your hand for the last time.
O meek and peaceful angel, Softly say farewell to me. Grow sad; either raise or cast down Your tender eyes;
I tvoyo vospominan’ye Zamenit dushe moyey Silu, gordost’, upovan’ye I otvagu yun dney.
And your remembrance For my soul will be a substitute For Power, Pride, Aspiration And Bravery of young days.
12 Stanzi’ Brozhu li ya vdol’ ulits shumnïh, Fhozhu l’ vo mnogoliudnïy hram, Sizhu l’ mezh yunoshey bezumnïh, – Ya predayus’ moim mechtam.
Weeping Bitterly, a Jealous Maiden Reproached a Young Man Weeping bitterly, a jealous maiden Reproached a young man. The lad suddenly felI asleep Leaning against her shoulder.
11 Predchuvstviye Snova tuchi nado mnoyu Sobralisia v tishïne; Rok zavistlivïy bedoyu Ugrozhaet snova mne…
Angel krotkiy, bezmiatezhnïy, Tiho molvi mne prosti, Opechal’sia: vzor svoy nezhnïy Podïmi il’ opusti;
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Stanzas Whether I walk along noisy streets, Or enter a crowded church, Or sit among some wild youngsters, I always give way to my musings.
Ya govoriu: promchalis’ godï, I skol’ko zdes’ ne vidno nas, Mi fse soydiom pod vechnï svodï – I chey-nibud’ uzh blizok chas.
I say, “Now years have run by, And we, as many as we are here, AlI will go down under eternaI vaults, And for some, the time is already at hand.”
Gliazhu l’ na dub uyedinionnïy, Ya mïsliu: patriarh lesov Perezhïviot moy vek zabvennïy, Kak perezhïl on vek ottsov.
Whenever I see a Ione oak, I muse, “This patriarch of the woods Will outlast my forgettable age, Just as it has outlasted our fathers.”
Mladentsa l’ milovo laskayu, Uzhe ya dumayu: prosti! Tebe ya mesto ustupayu: Mne vremia tlet’, tebe tsvesti.
Whenever I caress a lovely child, l’m ready to think, “Farewell! l’m making way for you; It’s time I vanished, while you blossom.”
Den’ kazhdïy, kazhduyu godinu Privïk ya dumoy provozhdat’, Griaduschey smerti godovschinu Mezh ih starayas’ ugozhdat’.
It is my habit to think in earnest Of each new day and year, Trying to guess the date Of my inevitable death.
I gde mne smert’ poshliot sud’bina? V boyu li, v stranstvii, v volnah? Ili sosedniaya dolina Moy primet oh;adevshïy prah?
And where am I destined to die? In a battle, while travelling, or in the waves? Or will the nearby vale Take in my dead-cold remains?
I hot’ beschustvennomu telu Ravno povsiudu istlevat’, No blizhe k milomu predelu Mne fsio b hotelos’ pochivat’.
And though any pIace where to mold Will be the same to my unfeeling body, But still I would wish to lie in a grave That is nearer my homeland.
I pust’ u grobovogo fhoda Mladaya budet zhïzn’ igrat’ I ravnodushnaya priroda Krasoyu vechnoyu siyat’.
And let young Life play At the entrance to my tomb, And let nonchalant Nature Shine in its eternal beauty.
Muzïka k spektakliu “Gamlet” 13 Pesenka Ofelii Zautra Valentinov den’, I s utrennim luchom Ya Valentinoyu tvoyey Zhdu pod tvoim oknom.
From the Music for ‘Hamlet’ Ophelia’s Song Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day All in the morning betime And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine:
On vstal na zov, bïl vmig gotov, Zatvorï s dveri snial, Vpuskal k sebe on devu v dom, Ne devu vïpuskal.
Then up he rose, and donn’d his clothes And dupp’d the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that out a maid Never departed more.
Klianus’ Hristom, Sviatïm Hristom, Pozor, i sram, beda. Uvseh muzhchin konets odin Il’ net u nih stïda.
By Gis, and by Saint Charity, Alack, and fye for shame! Young men will do ‘t, if they come to ‘t, By cock they are to blame.
Ved’ tï menia poka ne smial, Zhenoy hotel nazvat’ , I bïlo b tak, srazi nas vrag, Ne liag tï ko mne vkrovat’ .
Quoth she, before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed: So would I ha’ done, by yonder sun, An thou hadst not come to my bed.
Muzïka k spektakliu “Korol’ Lir”
King Lear – Incidental music
14 Ballada Kordelii Za tiomnïm morem na skale Stoit vïsokiy domo Gnezdiatsa ptitsï na skale, No pusto v dome tom.
15 Pesni Shuta 1. Tot, kto reshïlsia po kuskam stranu svoyu razdat’, Pust’ priobschitsa k durakam, on budet mne podstat’ Mï stanem s nim ruka k ruke -dva kmglïh duraka: Odin vduratskom kolpake,dmgoy bez kolpaka!
Cordelia’s Ballad There is a tall house on a cliff Across the dark sea. Birds have their nests on that cliff, But the house is empty.
Davno, davno potuh ochag, Ne slïshno golosov, I tol’ko veter, buynïy gost’, Trevozhït tihih sov.
The hearth has been dead for a long, long time, No voice can be heard But for the wind, a boisterious guest That troubles the quiet owls.
Prinios on vest’ izdaleka, Shto gospodin ischez, Shto za moria i oblaka Yego unios Merlin.
It brings a message from far away That the lord has disappeared, That Merlin has stolen him away, Across the sea, beyond the cloud.
V zelionoy dal’ney storone Na chornom prizrachnom kone, On skachet v zolotoy brone, No vidit dom vo sne.
In a far-off green land He rides a black ghost horse, He is clad in armor of gold, And he sees the house in his dreams.
Letayet veter i poyot I plachet on o niom, Ne otklikayetsa nikto, I pust vïsokiy dom.
The wind it flows, and it sings, And weeps in his memory, But no one responds, For the tall house is empty.
14
The Fool’s Songs 1. That lord that counseled thee to give away thy land, Come pIace him here by me, do thou for him stand: The sweet and bitter fool will presently appear; The one in motley here – the other found out there.
2. Dlia durakov pechal’nïy den’: Vse umniki stranï Mozgi nadeli nabekren’ I stali mï ravnï
2. Fools had ne’er less grace in a year; For wise men are grown foppish; And know not how their wits to wear, Their manners are so apish.
Ya priuchilsia pet’ s teh por, kak tï, Lir, Sdelal svoih dochek svoimi mamashami, Dal im vruki rozgi I spustil s sebia shtanishki.
I have used it, nuncle, e’er since Thou madest thy daughters thy mothers; For when thou gav’st them the rod, And putt’st down thine own breeches,
Oni zaplakali ot shchastya, Aya zapel s toski, Uznav, shto moy korol’ Bez vlasti igrayet vduraki.
Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sing, That such a king should play bo-peep, And go the fool among.
3. HIebnïye kroshki, chorstvïye korki Mïshka golodnaya vspomnila v norke.
3. He that keeps nor crust nor crum, Weary of all, shall want some.
4. Vskormil kukushku vorobey, Bezdomnovo ptentsa. Atot voz’mi da i ubey Priyomnovo ottsa!
4. The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, That it had its head bit off by its young.
5. Ottsov sanovnï i bogatïh Laskayut dochki i ziat’ya, Au kovo shtanY vzaplatah, Togo ne zhaluyet sem’ya.
5. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind; But fathers that wear bags Shall see their children kind.
Sud’ba – korïstnaja bludnitsa, Ona s golodnïm ne lozmtsa!
Fortune, that arrant whore, Never turns the key to the poor.
6. Kogda otkazhetsa sviaschennik Krivit’ dushoyu iz-za deneg I perestanet pivovar Vodoyu razbavliat’ tovar, Kogda naskuchit kavaleram Uchitsa u portnïh maneram, Kogda yeretikov monah Szhïgat’ ne stanet na kostrah, Kogda sud’ya greshït’ ne budet I bez prichinï ne zasudit, Kogda umolknet kleveta, Zamok povesiv na usta, Kogda bludnitsa hram postroit, A rostovschik sunduk otkroyet, Togda-to budet Al’bion Do osnovanya potriasion, Togda hodit’ mï budem s vami Vverh golovami, vniz nogami.
6. When priests are more in word than matter; When brewers mar their malt with water; When nobles are their tailors’ tutors; No heretics burned, but wenches’ suitors; When every case in law is right; No squire in debt, nor no poor knight; When slanders do not live in tongues; Nor cutpurses come not to throngs; When usurers till their gold in the field; And bawds and whores do churches build; Then shall the realm of Albion Come to great confusion. Then comes the time, who lives to see it, That going shall be used with feet.
7. Lisa-plutovka i dochka korolia – Odna bï vam veriovka, odna bï vam petlia! Prodam kolpak, kupliu petliu, Durak – priyatel’ koroliu!
7. A fox when one has caught her, And such a daughter, Should sure to the slaughter, If my cap would buy a halter; So the fool follows after.
8. Shtanï nuzhnï, dayu vam slovo, No priyuti bashku sperva, Il’ obovshïveyet bez krova Tvoya sedaya golova.
8. The cod-piece that will house, Before the head has any, The head and he shall louse; – So beggars marry many.
Vkom serdtse zhostkoye kak piatka, Teh ne smutit chuzhaya bol’, No spat’ oni ne budut sladko, Kogda natrut sebe mozol’.
The man that makes his toe What he his heart should make, Shall of a corn cry woe, And turn his sleep to wake.
9. Gey, go, gey, go, Tot, kto v neschast’ye vladeyet soboy, – Molniya, grom i grad, – V buriu i v dozhd’ ne drozhït pred sud’boy, Bud’ oni sutki podriad!
9.
10. Kto sluzhït tol’ko dlia tovo, Shtobï izvlech dohodï, Tebia ostavit odnovo Vo vremia nepogodï.
10. That, sir, which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack, when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm.
No on s toboy – tvoy vernïy shut, Sluzhïl on ne dlia denego On zhalkiy shut, no on ne plut! Durak, no ne moshennik!
But I will tarry; the fool will stay, And let the wise man fly: The knave turns fool that runs away; The fool’s no knave, perdy.
Shest’ Romansov na slova W. Raleigh, R. Burns i W. Shakespeare
Six Romances to Verses of W. Raleigh, R. Burns and W. Shakespeare
16 Sïnu Tri veschi yest’ , ne vedayuschih goria, Poka sud’ba ih vmeste ne svela, No nekiy den’ ih zastignet v sbore, I v etot den’ im ne uyti ot zia. Te veschi: roscha, porosI’, podrostok; Iz lesa v briovnah – viselits mostï, Iz konopli – veriovki dlia zahliostok, Povesa i podrostok eto tï. Zamet’, druzhok, im vroz’ ne narezvitsa; V soku trava i les, i sorvanets, No pust’ soydutsa: skripnet polovitsa, Strunoy veriovka – i yuntsu konets. Pomolimsia s toboy ob izbezhan’ye Uchastiya v ih rokovom svidan’ye.
Sir Walter Raleigh to his Sonne (W. Raleigh) Three things there be that prosper up apace And flourish whilst they grow asunder far, But on a day they meet all in one pIace, And they meet they one another mar; And they be these – the wood, the weed, the wag. The wood is that which makes the galiow tree, The weed is that which strings the hangman’s bag, The wag, my pretty knave, betokenth thee. Mark well, dear boy: whilst these assemble not, Green Springs the tree, hemp grows, the wag is wild; But when they meet, it makes the timber rot, It frets the halter, and it chokes the child. Then bless thee, and beware, and let us pray We part not with thee at this meeting day.
17 V poliakh pod snegom i dozhdiom V poliah pod snegom i dozhdiom, Moy milïy drug, moy bednïy drug, Tebia ukrïl bï ya plaschom Ot zimnih vyug, ot zimnih vyug. Ayesli muka suzhdena Tebe sud’boy, tebe sud’boy, Gotov ya skorb’ tvoyu do dna Delit’ s toboy, delit’ s toboy.
Oh wert thou in the cauld blast (R. Burns) Oh wert thou in the cauld blast, On yonder lea, on yonder lea; My plaidie to the angry airt, l’d shelter thee, l’d shelter thee: Or did misfortune’s bitter storms Around thee blaw, around thee blaw, Thy field should be my bosom, To share it a’, to share it a’?
Puskay soydu vo mrachnïy dol, Gde noch krugom, gde t’ma krugom, – Vo t’me ya solntse bï nashol Stoboy vdvoyom, s toboy vdvoyom. I yesli b dali mne vudel Ves’ shar zemnoy, ves’ shar zemnoy, Skakim bï shchastyem ya vladel Toboy odnoy, toboy odnoy.
He that has and a little tiny wit, – With heigh, ho, the wind and the rain, – Must make content with his fortunes fit, Though the rain it raineth every day.
15
Or were I in the wildest waste, Sae black and bare, sae black and bare, The desart were a paradise, Ii thou wert there, if thou wert there. Or were I monarch o’ the globe, Wi’ thee to reign, wi’ thee to reign; The brightest jewel in my crown, Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.
18 Makferson pered kazniu Tak veselo, otchayanno Shol k viselitse ono Fposledniy chas f posledniy plias Pustilsia Makferson. Pripev: Privet vam, tiur’mï korolia, Gde zhïzn’ vlachat rabï! Menia sevodnia zhdiot petlia I gladkiye stolbï.
Macpherson’s Farewell (R. Burns) Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, The wretch’s destinie! Macpherson’s time will not be long, On yonder gallows-tree. Chorus: Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gae’d he: He play’d a spring, and danc’dit round Below the gallows-tree.
Fpoliah voynï, sredi mechey, Fstrechal ya smert’ ne raz, No ne drozhal ya pered ney, – Ne drognu i seychas!
O what a death but parting breath? On many a bloody plain l’ve dared his face, and in this place I scorn him yet again!
Razbeyte stal’ moih okov, Vernite moy dospeh, Pust’ vïydut desiat’ smelchakov, Ya odoleyu fseh!
Untie these bands from off my hands, And bring to me my sword; And there’s no a man in all Scotland, But I’ll brave him at a word.
Ya zhïzn’ svoyu proviol v boyu, Umru ne ot mecha. Izmennik predal zhïzn’ moyu Veriovke palacha.
l’ve lived a life of sturt and strife I die by treacherie: It burns my heart I must depart And not avenged be.
I pered smertyu ob odnom Dusha moya grustit, Shto za menia f krayu rodnom Nikto ne otomstit.
Now farewell, light, thou sunshine bright, And all beneath the sky! May coward shame distain his name, The wretch that dares not die! Chorus: Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, Sae dauntingly gae'd he: He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round Below the gallows-tree.
Prosti, moy kray! Ves’ mir, proschay! Menia poymali v set’. No zhalok tot, kto smerti zhdiot, Ne smeya umeret’! Pripev: Tal veselo, otchayanno Shol k viselitse ono F posledniy chas f posledniy plias Pustilsia Makferson.
19 Yenni Probirayas’ do kalitki Polem, vdol’ mezhï, Dzhenni vïmokla do nitki Vecherom vo rzhï. Pripev: Ochen’ holodno devchonke, Byot devchonku drozh: Zamochila fse yubchonki, Idia cherez rozh. Yesli kto-to zval kovo-to Skvoz’ gustuyu rozh I kovo-to obnial kto-to, Shto s nevo voz’miosh? I kakaya nam zabota, Yesli u mezhï Tselovalsia s kem-to kto-to Vecherom vo rzhï! Pripev: Ochen’ holodno devchonke…
Jenny (R. Burns) Comin thro’ the rye, poor body, Comin’ thro’ the rye, She draigl’t a’ her petticoatie Comin thro’ the rye. Chorus: Oh Jenny’s a’ weet, poor body, Jenny’s seidom dry; She draigl’t a’ her petticoatie Comin thro’ the rye Gin a body meet a body Comin thro’ the rye Gin a body kiss a body Need a body cry. Gin a body meet a body Comin thro’ the glen Gin a body kiss a body Need the warld ken! Chorus: Oh Jenny’s a’ weet, etc.
20 Sonnet LXVI Izmuchas’ fsem, ya umeret’ hochu. Toska smotret’, kak mayetsa bedniak I kak shutia zhïviotsa bogachu, I doveriat’ , i popadat’ vprosak; I nabliudat’, kak naglost’ lezet v svet I chest’ devichya katitsa ko dnu; I znat’, shto hodu sovershenstvam net, I videt’ moshch u nemoshchi v plenu, I fspominat’, shto mïsli zamknut rot, I razum snosit gluposti hulu, I priamodushye prostotoy slïviot, I dobrota prisluzhivayet zIu. Izmuchas’ fsem, ne stal bï zhït’ i dnia, Da drugu budet trudno bez menia.
Sonnet LXVI (W. Shakespeare) Tir’d with all these, for restful death I cry, – As to behoId desert a beggar born, And needy nothing trimmed in jollity, And purest faith unhappily forsworn, And gilded honour shamefully misplac’d, And maiden virtue rudeIy strumpeted, And right perfection wrongfully disgrac’d, And strength by limping sway disabIed, And art made tongue-tied byauthority, And folly (doctor-like) controlling skill, And simple truth miscall’d simplicity, And captive good attending captain ill: Tir’d with all these, from these would I be gone, Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.
21 Korolevskiy pokhod
21. The King’s Campaign (after the nursery rhyme The Grand Old Duke of York) The King rode uphill leading forces, foot and horse; The King walked downhill, this time without any foot or horse.
Po sklonu vverh korol’ poviol polki svoih strelkov. Po sklonu vniz korol’ soshol, no tol’ko bez polkov.
Compact Disc 31 1 Pesn’a o vstrechnom Nas utro vstrechajet prohladoj, nas vetrom vstrechajet reka, Kudr’avaja, chto zh ty ne rada Ves’olomy penju gudka? Ne spi, vstavaj, kudr’avaja, V tsehah zven’a, Strana vstajot so slavoju Na vstrechu dn’a.
16
The Counter-Plan Song The morning cheers us with its freshness, The river cheers us with its wind. My curly one, are you not cheered By the merry song of the hooter? Wake up, get up, my curly one. Workshops are dinging, The country gets up in glory To meet a new day.
l radost’ pojot, ne skonchaja, l pesn’a na vstrechu id’ot, l l’udi smejuts’a, vstrechaja, l vstrechnoje solntse vstajot. Gor’acheje i bravoje Bodrit men’a, Strana vstajot so slavoju Na vstrechu dn’a.
And joy is singing, limitless, And the song is meeting you, And people smile meeting you, And even the sun rises like a country pIan. It is so hot, it is so brave, It cheers me up. The country gets up in glory To meet a new day.
Brigada nas vstretit rabotoj, l ty ulybn’oshs’a druzjam, S kotorymi trud i zaboty, l vstrechnyj, i zhizn’ – popolam. Za Narvskoju zastavoju, V gromah, v ogn’ah, Strana vstajot so slavoju Na vstrechu dn’a.
The team will greet us with work, And you’ll smile to friends, With whom you share labor and care, and The Counter PIan, and your life. Behind the Narva Gate, In thunder and in lights, The country gets up in glory To meet a new day.
Takoju prekrasnoju rechju O pravde svojej zajavi. My zhizni vyhodim na vstrechu, Navstrechu trudu i l’ubvi. L’ubit’ greshno l’, kudr’avaja, Kogda, zven’a, Strana vstajot so slavoju Na vstrechu dn’a.
And speak out your truth In a most brilliant speech. We are meeting new life, And labor, and love. Is it a sin to love, my curly one, When, dinging loud, The country gets up in glory To meet a new day.
2 Devichja – laskovaja Oj, podruzhen’ki, chto ja delaju? Mne bez milogo net zhitja. Vse zovut men’a v zhizni smeloju, A b l’ubvi orobela ja. Kak uvizhu vdali l’ubimogo, Tak navstrechu k nemu begu, A kak vstretims’a – ne jedinogo Slova vymolvit’ ne mogu.
Ah my girlfriends, what have I done? I can’t live without my boy. Everyone says I am brave in life, But it seems I am shy in love; Every time I see my loved one I run to him fast, But after we say hello, I can’t Say a single word more.
Zhavoronochek, ptashka malaja, Ty l’ubimomu peredaj, Chto l’ubov’ moja nebyvalaja Perepolnilas’ cherez kraj. Oj, podruzhen’ki, oj, rodimyje, Schastje, vot ono pod rukoj! Tak zachem zhe porhaju mimo ja I ter’aju op’at’ pokoj!
Ah you skylark, you little birdie, Will you whisper to my love, That my feelings are unthinkable, They are brimming over. Ah my girlfriends, ah my dear ones! Happiness is within my hand’s reach! Oh, why do I flitter by, Only to feel troubled again!
3 Zar’a vstajot Rassvet id’ot, zar’a vstajot, Na podvig i trud zov’ot narod. Rassvet id’ot i zar’a vstajot Nad mirom. Drug, vstrechaj jejo prihod.
17
The dawn is coming, the sun is rising, The people want your deed and toil. The dawn is coming, and the sun rising Over the world. Greet the dawn, my friend.
Rast’ot zar’a, gorit rassvet, DI’a smelyh nigde pregrady net. Vper’od, druzja, polnoj grudju Zapevajte pesn’u buduschih pobed.
The dawn is growing, the sun is glowing, The brave do not care for bounds. March on, friends, spare not your breath And sing the song of future victories.
Bezzavetno i smelo Smkn’om svoi r’ady stal’nyje, Za narodnoje delo Pojd’om v boi l’ubyje.
Devotedly and bravely We’ll dose our files of steel, We’ll engage any battle For the cause of the people.
Vysoko nashe znam’a, I molodost’, i pravda s nami, I pobeda krylataja vsegda Nad nashimi znam’onami letit.
Our banner is high, Ours is youth, and ours is truth. And the winged Victory always Soars over our banners.
4 Pesn’a mira Veter mira kolyshet znam’ona pobed, Obagr’onnyje krovju znaam’ona. Ozaril miru put’ nashej Rodiny svet, My na strazhe stoim nepreklonno.
The Tender Girl Song
The Dawn Is Rising
The Song of Peace The wind of peace flaps the victorious colors, These blood-stained banners. Our Homeland’s light shows the way to the world, And we are constantly on guard.
Nashi nivy tsvetut – My otstojali vesnu. Nashi sily rastut – Mirpobedit vojnu.
Our crops are blossoming – We have defended the spring. Our strength is growing – Peace will win over War.
My sil’ny! Beregis’, podzhigatel’ vojny, Ne zabud’, ehem konehajuts’a vojny! S nami l’udi prostyje iz kazhdoj strany, My v gr’aduseheje smotrim spokojno.
We are strong! Beware, you warmonger, Don’t forget how wars end today! Common people from every land are on our side, We may safely look forward to the future.
Nashi nivy tsvetut – My otstojali vesnu. Nashi sily rastut – Mirpobedit vojnu.
Our crops are blossoming – We have defended the spring. Our strength is growing – Peace will win over War.
Chtob svobodno i radostno zhil chelovek, Ukrepl’ajem my nashu Otehiznu. L’udi k sehastju pridut, potomu eto v nash vek Vse dorogi vedut k kommunizmu.
For Man to live free and rejoice, We strengthen our Motherland. People will find their happiness, because in our times All roads lead to Communism.
Nashi nivy tsvetut – My otstojali vesnu. Nashi sily rastut – Mirpobedit vojnu.
Our crops are blossoming – We have defended the spring. Our strength is growing – Peace will win over War.
Dve pesni na slova M. Svetlova 5 Kolybel’naja Gudit motor vmolchaniji nochnom. No ty usni spokojnym, tihim snom. Prozhektorov trevozhnyje ogni; My ne usn’om, a ty, dit’a, usni.
Two Songs to words by M. Svetlov Lullaby The engine is humming in the dead of night, But let your sleep be quiet and sweet. Searchlights they tell of danger, We won’t sleep, but you may sleep tight.
Usni, usni. V pylajuschej nochi Nesut svoi dezhurstva moskvichi. My ne usn’om, a ty glaza somkni. My na postu, dit’a mojo, usni.
Do, do sleep tight. We Muscovites Are on our duties in the night of fire. We won’t sleep, but you may dose your eyes We are at watch, so sleep tight, my baby.
Nastanet den’, i truby zapojut, I nad stolitsej zagremit salut. Oni pridut, pobedy nashej dni, Oni pridut, a ty usni, usni.
A day will come, and trumpets will sound flourish, And fireworks will thunder over Moscow. The days of our victory will come, They will, and meanwhile sleep tight, baby.
6 Pesn’a o Fonarike Nad rodnoj Moskvoju, vdol’ Moskva-reki Samol’oty vrazheskije shli, I togda karmannyje fonariki Na nochnom dezhurstve my zazhgli.
The Little Lantem Song Enemy airplanes were flying over Moscow our home, over the Moskva River, Then we lit our pocket lanterns At our night watch.
Bessmennyj chasovoj, Vse nochi do zari, Moj staryj drug, fonarik moj, Gori, gori, gori!
Never-relieved sentry, All night until the dawn, My old friend, my lantern, Burn on, burn on!
Pomnim vrem’a sumraka tumannogo, The nochej my pomnim kazhdyj chas; Uzkij luch fonarika karmannogo Vnochi te ni razu ne pogas.
We remember the time of gloomy dusk, We remember every hour of those nights. The thin beam of the pocket lantern Never failed during those nights.
Bessmennyj chasovoj, Vse nochi do zari, Moj staryj drug, fonarik moj, Gori, gori, gori!
Never-relieved sentry, All night until the dawn, My old friend, my lantern, Burn on, burn on!
Nad rodnoj pritihsheju stolitseju On svetil na kazhdom cherdake. Pust’ segodn’a snova zagorits’a on, Kak byvalo, v devichjej ruke.
It did shine in every loft and attic Over our quiet, hushed-up home town. Let it light up again today, As it used to do, in a girl’s hand.
Bessmennyj chasovoj, Vse nochi do zari, Moj staryj drug, fonarik moj, Gori, gori, gori!
Never-relieved sentry, All night until the dawn, My old friend, my lantern, Burn on, burn on!
7 Byli potselui Byli potselui i guby do krovi, Ot schastlivyh sl’oz resnitsy mokrye. Radost’ bez granits, do beskonechnosti, Gde my na vershine vechnosti.
We Had Kisses We had kisses, and lips bitten to blood, Eyelashes wetted by happy tears, Joy unlimited, to infinity, Where we were on the apex of eternity.
Tol’ko znajesh, chuvstv moih zakonnitsa, Ja bojus’, chto eta ne zapomnits’a. Kol’ prid’ot op’at’ pora surovaja, Kol’ shinel’ svoju odenu snova ja,
But you see, the ruler of my passion, l’m afraid this will not be remembered. If days of trial come again, If I ever have to put on my Army coat again,
To zapomn’u robkoje molchanie I glaza tvoi, suhie i pechal’nye. I jescho v poslednee mgnovenie Slishkom strogih gub prikosnovenie.
I will remember the shy silence And your eyes, dry and sad, And, at the last moment, Atouch of lips that are too severe.
8 Vesna, vesna… Vesna, vesna, pora l’ubvi, Kak t’azhko mne tvojo javlenje, Kakoje tomnoje volnenje V mojej dushe, v mojej krovi… Kak chuzhdo serdtsu naslazhdenje… Vs’o, chto likujet i blestit, Navodit skuku i tomlenje.
Spring, Spring… Spring, o spring, the season of love, How annoying is your advent for me, With some flaccid commotion In my soul, in my blood … My heart is so far from any enjoyment. All that rejoices and gleams, Brings me melancholy and languor.
Otdajte mne meteI’ i vjugu I zimnij dolgij mrak nochej.
Give me back snowstorms and blizzards And the long dark of winter’s nights.
Satiry (kartinki proshlogo)
Satires (Pictures Of The Past)
9 Kritiku Kogda poet, opisyvaja damu, Nachn’ot: «Ja shla po ulitse. V boka vpils’a korset,»– Zdes’ «ja» ne ponimaj, konechno, pr’amo Chto, mol, pod damoju skryvajets’a poet.
To A Critic When a poet describing a lady Begins “I was walking in a street. My corset pinched my hips,” Pray don’t take this ‘’l’’ so directly, Don’t take the lady for the poet himself.
Ja istinu tebe po druzheski otkroju: Poet muzhchina i dazhe s borodoju.
I will reveal the truth to you, as a friend: The poet is a man, and even a bearded man.
10 Probuzhdenie vesny Vchera moj kot vzgl’anul na kalendar’ I hvost truboju podn’al momental’no, Potom podral na lestnitsu, kak vstar’, I zavopil teplo i vakkhanal’no:
The Awakening of Spring Yesterday my tomcat looked at the calendar And in a blink he raised his tail cane-style; Then he rushed to the stairs as he used to do, And wailed warmly and bacchanally:
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«Vesennij brak! Grazhdanskij brak! Speshite, koshki, na cherdak…»
‘Spring marriage! Civil marriage! You pussycats, haste to the attic…’
I kaktus moj – o, chudo iz chudes! – Zalityj chajem i kofejnoj guschej, Kak novyj Lazar’, vz’al da i voskres I s kazhdym dn’om pr’ot iz zemli vs’o pusche.
And my cactus – miracle wonder! Flooded with tea- and coffee-dregs, Has risen like a new Lazarus, quite simply, And thrusts up from its pot mightier with every day.
Zel’onyj shum… Ja porazhon: «Kak mnogo dum navodit on!»
Green noise… l’m amazed: “How many thoughts it inspires!”
Uzhe s panelej sm’orzshujus’a gr’az’, Rugajas’, skalyvajut dvorniki lihie, Uzhe ko mne zabr’ol segodn’a «kn’az’», Vz’al l’oplyj sharf i lyzhi begovye…
Already fervent janitors, swearing aloud, Strike frozen dirt off the walkways. Today, an Asian rag-picker called on me, Re picked a warm muffler and race skis…
«Vesna, vesna – poju, kak bard,Nesite zimnij hlam vlombard».
“It’s spring, it’s spring,” I sing like a minstrel, “Carry your winter trash to the pawnshop.”
Sijajet solnyshko. Jej bogu, nichego! Vesenn’aja lazur’ spugnula dym i kopo1’, Moroz uzhe ne schiplet nikogo, No mnogim nechego, kak i zimoju, lopat’ …
The sun is shining. By Jove, all’s not so bad! The spring’s azure has frightened off smoke and soot, Frost does not pinch anyone any more, But, as in winter, many have nothing to eat.
Derevja zhdut… Gnijod Voda, I Pjanyh bol’she, chem vsegda
Trees are waiting… Water is rotting, And drunks are seen more often than ever
Sozdatel’ moi! Spasibo za vesnu! – Ja dumal, ona na vozvratits’a – No… daj sbezjhat’ v lesnuju tishinu Ot zloby dn’s, holery I stolitsy
O my Creator! Thanks for the spring! (For I thought it would never come back.) But… let me run off to the quiet of woods From the pressing news, cholera, and the capitalI
Vesennij veter za dver’mi… V kogo b vl’ubits’a, chort voz’mi?
The spring wind is blowing outdoors… Oh hell, gimme someone to love!
11 Potomki Nashi predki lezli v kleti I sheptalis’ tam ne raz: «Tugo, brattsy… Vidno, deti Budut zhit voI’gotnej nas».
The children grew up. They, too, Crawled into cages in days of horror And sighed, “Our children Will see the light when we are no more.”
Nynche tak zhe, kak voveki, Uteshenie odno: Nashi deti budut v Mekke, Jesli nam ne suzhdeno.
Today, just as always, Our only consolation is, That our children will see Mecca, If not we.
Dazhe sroki predskazali: Kto -let dvesti, kto – p’atsot, A poka lezhi v pechali I mychi, kak idiot.
Even the dates have been foretold: Some say two hundred, some say five hundred years; Until then, lie in sorrow And moo like an idiot.
Razukrashennye duli, Mir umyt, prichosan, mil … Let chrez dvesti? Chorta v stule! Razve ja Mafusail?
Milk and honey, neat and spruce, The world is washed, and brushed, and nice… In two hundred years or so? To hell with it! Am I Methuselah?
l’m like an owl upon the debris Of smashed and scattered gods. Ancestors who are not born yet Are not among my brothers or enemies.
Ja hochu nemnozhko sveta DI’a seb’a, poka ja zhiv; Ot portnogo do poeta – Vsem pon’aten moj prizyv…
What I want is a bit of light For me while l’m alive; And everyone will understand my desire, Be it a dressmaker or a poet…
A potomki … Pust’ potomki Ispoln’aja zhrebij svoj I kl’an’a svoi pot’omki, Lup’at v stenku golovoj!
As to descendants… Let the descendants Act according to their lot And beat their heads against the wall, Cursing the darkness they are in!
12 Nedorazumenie Ona byla poetessa, Poetessa balzakovskih let. A on byl prosto povesa, Kurchavyj i pylkij br’unet.
Descendants Our ancestors crawled into cages And often whispered there between them: “Tough times, lads… It seems our children Will live better than we do.”
Deti vyrosli. I eti Lezli v kleti v groznyj chas I vzdyhali: «Nashi deti Vstre1’at solntse posle nas ».
Ja kak filin na oblomkah Perelomannyh bogov. V nerodivshihs’a potomka Net mne bratjev i vragov.
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Confusion She was a poetess, And a poetess of a Balzacian age, And he was just a rake, Curly, ardent, and black-haired.
Povesa prishol k poetesse. V polumrake dyshali duhi, Na sofe, kak v torzhestvennoj messe, Poetessa gnusila stihi:
The rake came to the poetess. Perfume breathed in the twilight. On a sofa, like in a solemn Mass, The poetess was snuflling her verses:
«O, sumej ognedyshaschej laskoj Vskolyhnut’ moju sonnuju strast’. K pene b’oder za aloj podv’azkoj Ta ne bojs’a ustami pripast’!
‘Oh, be quick to inflame my dozy passion With fire-breathing caresses. Don’t be shy, and let your lips touch The foam of thighs above the scarlet garter!
Ja svezha, kak dyhanje levkoja… O, splet’om zhe istomnosti tel!…» Prodolzhenie bylo takoje, Chto kurchavyj brunet pokrasnel.
‘I am fresh like breathing of gillyflower… Oh, let us twine the ardencies of our bodies!’ The continuation was such That the curly black-haired one blushed.
Pokrasnel, no opravils’a bystro I podumal: byla ne byla! Zdes’ ne dumskie rechi ministra, Ne slova tut nuzhny, a dela.
He blushed, but recovered at once, And thought, Fortune favors the brave! One needs no parliament speeches of ministers here, It’s time to act, not to talk.
S nesderzhannoj siloj kentavra Poetessu povesa privI’ok, No vizglivo-vulgarnoje: «Mavra!» OhIadilo kipuchij potok.
With the unrestrained force of a centaur The rake hugged the poetess, But a vulgar shriek: ‘Mavra!’ Chilled down the dashing torrent.
«Prostite… – vskochil on, – vy sami… » No v glazah jejo holod i chest’: «Vy smeli k por’adochnoj dame, Kak dvornik, s objatjami lezt’?!»
‘Pardon,’ he jumped up, ‘you, yourself…’ But it is cold and honour in her eyes: ‘How dare you harass a decent lady With your embraces, like a janitor?!’
Vot chinnaja Mavra. I zadom Uhodit napugannyj gost’. V perednej raster’annym vzgl’adom On dolgo iskal svoju trost’ …
Here enters prim Mavra. And the frightened guest Retreats, his back to front. In the antechamber, he long searched For his cane with a perplexed look. ..
S litsom blednee magnezii Shol s lestnitsy pylkij br’unet: Ne pon’al on novoj poezii I poetessy balzakovskih let.
The ardent black-haired one Walked down the stairs with a magnesia-white face: He failed to grasp the New Poetry And the poetess of a Balzacian age.
13 Kreitserova sonata Kvartirant sidit na chemodane I zadumchivo rassmatrivaet poI: Te zhe stulja, i krovat’, i stol, I takaja zhe obivka na divane, I takoj zhe «bigus» na obed, No na vs’om kakoj-to novyj svet… Bleschut ikry polnoj prachki F’okly. Peregnuls’a polnyj stan vo dvor. Kak nestrojnyj, shalovlivyj hor, Vereschat namylennye st’okla, I zaplaty golubyh nebes Obeschajut tys’achi chudes.
Kreutzer Sonata The tenant is sitting on his suitcase And pensively staring at the floor: The chairs are the same, and the bed, and the table, The same upholstery on the sofa, The same stew for dinner But some new light is cast on everything… The calves of buxom Fiokla the washerwoman are shining. Her plump torso is bent over into the yard. The soaped glasses are squealing Like a chaotic, frolicsome chorus… And patches of blue heavens Promise thousands of wonders.
F’okla, F’okla, chto zhe ty molchish? Bud’ hot’ ty reshitel’noj i jarkoj: Podojdi, voz’mi jego za chub I ozhgi ogn’om vesennih gub …
The tenant is seated on his suitcase. The window-glasses are washed. It’s dull and quiet again. Fiokla, Fiokla, why are you silent? You could as weil be resolute and vigorous: Come up, grab his forelock And bum him with your fiery springtime lips…
Kvartirant I F’okla na divane. O, kakoj torzhestvennyj moment! «Ty – narod, a ja – intelligent, Govorit on jej sredi lobzanij. – Nakonets-to, zdes’, sejchas, vdvojom, Ja teb’a, a ty men’a – pojm’om!»
The tenant and Fiokla on the sofa. Oh, what a solemn moment! “You’re People, and l’m an intellectual,” He tells her between kisses. “At last, here and now, alone, I’ll understand you, and you, me!”
Kvartirant sidit na chemodane. St’okla vymyty. Op’at’ toska i tish.
14 «Antiformalisticheskij rajok» VEDUSCHIJ Nu kak, tovarischi, nachn’om, chto li? Narodu u nas, pravda, segodn’a malovato. Unas, pravda, escho prevaliruet nedootsenka kulturnogo maksimuma lektsionnoj propagandy. No poskol’ku po planu nashego dvortsa kulturyu nas segodn’a sostoits’a r’ad vystuplenij na temu: ‘realizm i formalizm v musyke’, my jejo, etu temu, to jest’, eti samyje vystuplenija provern’om.
Anti-Formalist Peep-Show HOST Well now, comrades, how ‘bout beginning, shall we? The audience are not so many today, though. Indeed, underestimation of the cultural maximum of the lecturing propaganda still prevails here. But since, according to the pIan of our House of Culture, we are having a number of addresses today on “Realism and Formalism in Music,” we’ll get it through, this here subject-matter. I mean, well, these here addresses I mean – I mean we’ll get it all through.
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(Muzykalnyje dejateli molchat) Pravil’no? Prin’ato. Vstupitel’noje slovo na etu tematiku skazhet muzykoved nomer odin, nash glavnyj konsultant i muzykalnyj kritik tovarisch Jedinitsyn. Poprivetstvuem, tovarischi, nashego dorogogo i lubimogo velikogo tovarisha Jedinitsyna! (Burnyje, prodolzhitel’nyje aplodismenty, perehod’aschije v ovatsiju. Vs’e vstajut.)
(Music figures are silent.) Right? Adopted. The introduction on this subject-matter will be delivered by Musicologist No.1, our supreme consultant and musical critic, Comrade Firstman. Comrades, we are greeting our dear and beloved Great Comrade Firstman! (Roaring lasting applause growing into ovation. Everyone rises.)
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY (uzhe v vostorge) Slava! Slava velikomu Jedinitsynu! Slava! Slava! Slava velikomu Jedinitsynu! Slava! (Vs’e sad’ats’a)
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES (already thrilled) Hail! Long live Great Firstman! Hail! Hail! Long live Great Firstman! Hail! (Everyone sits down)
JEDINITSYN (chitajet po bumazhke) Tovarischi! Realisticheskuju musyku pishut narodnyje kompozitory, a formalisticheskuju muzyku pishut antinarodnyje kompozitry. Sprashivajets’a, pochemu realisticheskuju muzyku pishut narodnyje kompozitory, aformalisticheskuju muzyku pishut antinarodnyje kompozitory? Narodnyje kompozitory pishut realisticheskuju muzyku potomu, tovarischi, chto, javlajas’ po prirode realistami, oni ne mogut, ne mogut ne pisat’ muzyku realisticheskuju. A antinarodnyje kompozitory, javlajas’ po prirode formalistami, ne mogut, ne mogut ne pisat’ muzyku formalisticheskuju. Zadacha, sledovatel’no, zakl’uchajets’a v tom, chtoby narodnyje kompozitory razvivali b muzyku realisticheskuju, a antinarodnyje kompozitory prekratili by svojo boleje chem somnitel’noje eksperimentirovanije v oblasti muzyki formalisticheskoj.
FIRSTMAN (reads looking at a piece of paper) Comrades! Realistic music is written by people’s composers, while formalistic music is written by antipeople’s composers. May I ask why realistic music is written by people’s composers, and formalistic music is written by antipeople’s composers? Realistic music, comrades, is written by people’s composers just because they, being realists by their nature, cannot, nay, cannot help writing realistic music. While anti-people’s composers, being formalists bytheir nature, cannot, nay, cannot help writing formalistic music. Therefore, the solution is for people’s composers to develop realistic music, and for anti-people’s composers to stop their more than doubtful experimenting in the domain of formalistic music.
VEDUSCHIJ Pravil’no! Verno! Tovarischi! Poblagodarim zhe nashego rodnogo i lubimogo velikogo Jedinitsyna za istoricheskuju rech, za jego vystuplenije, obogaschenije i osveschenije vazhnyh voprosov muzykal’nogo dela. (Burnyje, prodolzhitel’nyje aplodismenty, perehod’aschije vovatsiju. Vs’e vstajut.)
HOST Right! Exactly! Comrades! Let’s thank our Father, our beloved Great Firstman for his historic speech, for his presentation, addressing and coverage of important matters of the music trade. (Roaring lasting applause growing into ovation. Everyone rises.)
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY Spasibo, spasibo za istoricheskuju rech! Spasibo, spasibo za otecheskuju zabotu! (Vs’e sad’ats’a)
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Thank you, thank you for the historic speech! Thank you, thank you for fatherly care! (Everyone sits down.)
VEDUSCHIJ Po sledujemomy zatem planu predostavim slovo muzykovedu nomer dva, imejuschemy k tomu zhe vozmozhnost’ vokalizirovat’. Predostavlaju slovo tovarischu Dvojkinu.
HOST According to the plan that follows, floor shall be taken by Musicologist No.2, who can and is capable of vocalizing into the same bargain. Comrade Secondman has the floor.
DVOJKIN Tovarischi! Svoim vystuplenijem ja ne imeju vvidu vnosit’ dissonansy.
SECONDMAN Comrades! In my speech, I do not mean to cause any dissonance.
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY (smeh) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES (laugh) Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
DVOJKIN (prodolzhajet ostrit’) Ili atonal’nost’.
SECONDMAN (keeps on being funny) Or atonality.
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY (smeh) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES (laugh) Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
DVOJKIN V te mysli, kotoryje my zdes’ slyhali. My, tovarischi, trebujem ot muzyki krasoty i iz’aschestva. Vam eta stranno? Da? Nu, konechno vam eta stranno. Strannym varo eta kazhets’a, strannym varo eta kazhets’a… Da, nu, konechno, vam stranno eto, strannym vam eta kazhets’a, budto zdes’ chto-to ne tak. Amezhdu tem – eta tak. Ja ne ogovorils’a. My stoim za krasivuju, iz’aschnuju muzyku. Muzyka ne melodichnaja, muzyka ne estetichnaja, muzyka ne garmonichnaja, muzyka ne iz’aschnaja eto, eto … bormashina! Ili, ili… muzykal’naja dushegubka. (Obschij hohot, Dvojkin tozhe smejots’a) Vozl’ubim zhe prekrasnoje, krasivoje, iz’aschnoje, vozl’ubim estetichnoje, garmonichnoje, melodichnoje, zakonnoje, polifonnoje, narodnoje, klassicheskoje! Krome togo, tovarischi, ja dolzhen vam soobschit’. Chto v kavkazskih operah dolzhna byt’ nastojaschaja lezginka, dolzhna byt’ nastojaschaja lezginka. V kavkazskih operah lezginka prostoj dolzhna byt’ i izvestnoj, lihoj, obychnoj, popul’arnoj i ob’azatel’no kavkazskoj. Ona dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, vsegda dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, i tol’ko, tol’ko nastojaschej, da, da, da, da, da nastojaschej. (Muzykal’nyje dejateli i dejatel’nitsy liho, pokavkazski, vosklitsajut, tem samym demonstriruja svoju polnuju solidarnost’ s vdohnovl’ajuschimi ukazanijami tovarischa A.A.Dvojkina.)
SECONDMAN In respect of the ideas we have heard here. What we demand from music, comrades, is beauty and elegance. Does this sound strange to you? Is it so? Well, of course, this seems strange to you. Strange seems this to you, strange seems this to you … Yes indeed, well, you find it strange, strange you find it, strange you find it, as if something is wrong in it. However, it is even so. This is no slip of my tongue. We support beautiful, elegant music. Music not melodious, music not aesthetic, music not harmonious, it’s a… it’s a… dental drill machine! Or, or – a musical gas chamber. (Everyone roars with laughter, Secondman laughs too.) O let us love all that’s beautiful, charming, and elegant, let us love all that’s aesthetic, harmonious, melodious, authorized, polyphonic, popular, and classical! Moreover, comrades, I have to tell you that operas set in the Caucasus must contain the genuine lezginka dance, must contain the genuine lezginka. The lezginka in Caucasus operas must be simple, and known too, brave, traditional, popular, and Caucasian by all means. It must be real, must always be real, and only, yea, only real, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, real.
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY As-sa!
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Ahs-sah!
(Music figures and figuresses exclaim bravely, Caucasianstyle, thus showing their full solidarity with the inspiring directions of Comrade A. A. Secondman.)
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DVOJKIN V kavkazskih operah lezginka prostoj dolzhna byt’ i izvestnoj, lihoj, obychnoj, popul’arnoj i ob’azatel’no kavkazskoj. Ona dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, vsegda dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, i tol’ko, tol’ko nastojaschej, da, da, da, da, da nastojaschej. V kavkazskih operah lezginka prostoj dolzhna byt’ i izvestnoj, lihoj, obychnoj, popul’arnoj i ob’azatel’no kavkazskoj. Ona dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, vsegda dolzhna byt’ nastojaschej, i tol’ko, tol’ko nastojaschej, da, da, da, da, da nastojaschej.
SECONDMAN The lezginka in Caucasus operas must be simple, and known too, brave, traditional, popular, and Caucasian by all means. It’s got to be real, always got to be real, and only, yea, only real, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, real. The lezginka in Caucasus operas must be simple, and known too, brave, traditional, popular, and Caucasian by all means. It’s got to be real, always got to be real, and only, yea, only real, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, real.
VEDUSCHIJ Vot podlinno nauchnoje vystuplenije! Kakoj analiz! Kakaja glubina! Slovo imejet tovarisch Trojkin.
HOST Here is a truly scientific speech! What an analysis! What a depth! Comrade Thirdman has the floor.
TROJKIN (sobirajas’ s mysl’ami) Tovarischi! My dolzhny byt’ kak klassiki. U nas vs’o dolzhno byt’, kak u klassikov. Da! Glinka, Chajkovskij, Rimskij-Korsakov, vy muzykal’ny i iz’aschny. Glinka, Chajkovskij, Rimskij-Korsakov, vy melodichny, iz’aschny, zvuchny. Glinka, Chajkovskij, Rirnskij Korsakov, vy zadevajete neskolko strun. Kak eta pravil’no, kak eto verno! Nash chelovek ochen’ slozhnyj organizm. Nash chelovek ochen’ slozhnyj organizm. Nash chelovek ochen’ slozhnyj organizm. Nash chelovek ochen’ slozhnyj organizm. Ochen’ slozhnyj organizm. Poetomu, tovarischi, nam nuzhny sirnfonii, poemy, kvartety, sonaty, s’uity, kvintety… S’uity, s’uitki, sonatki moi. Razves’olyje kvartetiki, kantatiki moi. Eh, Glinka, kalinka, malinka moja, razsirnfonia, poemka, s’uitka moja. Eh, Glinka, Dzerzhinka, Tishinka moja, razkhrenovaja poemka, s’uitka moja… No nuzhno pomnit’ vsegda: bditel’nost’, bdite’nost’ vsegda, vezde. Bditel’nost’, bditel’nost’ vsegda vo vs’om. Postojanno vs’udu bdi! Nikomu ne govori!
THIRDMAN (collecting his thoughts) Comrades, we must be like classics. We must have everything the classics had. Yes! Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, you are musical and elegant. Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, you are melodious, elegant, and sonorous. Glinka, Tchaikovsky, RimskyKorsakov, you touch several strings. How right it is, how true it is! Our man is a very complicated organism. Our man is a very complicated organism. Our man is avery complicated organism. Our man is a very complicated organism. A very complicated organism. Therefore comrades, we need symphonies, poems, quartets, sonatas, suites, quintets … Suites, suitees, my little lovely sonatas. Merry-o little quartets, my little lovely cantatas. Hey Glinka, blink it, wink it, poem, suite, symphony, seem so funnyl Hey Glinka, Zerjinka, Tishinka, stink it, poem or suite, stinking cute… But we must always remember: alertness, alertness everywhere and everyplace. Alertness, alertness always and in all cases. Be on the alert every momentI Never tell nobody!
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY Bditel’nost’, bdite’nost’ vsegda, vezde. Bditel’nost’, bditel’nost’ vsegda vo vs’om. Postojanno vs’udu bdite! Nichego ne govorite!
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Alertness, alertness everywhere and everyplace. Alertness, alertness always and in all cases. We’ll be on the alert every moment! We’ll never tell nobody!
TROJKIN Velikij vozhd’ nas vseh uchil i besprestanno govoril: Smotrite zdes’, smotrite tam, pust’ budet strashno vsem vragam. Smotri tuda, smotri s’uda i vykorchovyvaj vraga.
THIRDMAN The Great Chief taught us all, repeating incessantly, ‘Look here, look there, let all enemies tremble. Look here, look there and stamp out enemies.’
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY Smotrite zdes’, smotrite tam, pust’ vrag trepeschet po domam. Smotri tuda, smotri s’uda i vykorchovyvaj vraga.
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Look here, look there, let enemies tremble in their homes. Look here, look there and stamp out enemies.
Caring For Mum And Auntie Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us an appIe to heal the little eyes! Bye…
TROJKIN Bditel’nost’, bdite’nost’ vsegda, vezde. Bditel’nost’, bditel’nost’ vsegda vo vs’om. Ne davat’ l’uboj popytke proniknovenija burzhuaznoj ideologiji vnashu molod’ozh. Etim ty nashi idei ne sberezhosh. Nu, a jesli burzhuaznyje idei ktonibud’ vosprimet, na dolgo teh budem my sazhat’. V lager’a usilennogo rezhima pomeschat’. Sazhat’, sazhat’!
THIRDMAN Alertness, alertness always and everywhere. Alertness, alertness always and in everything. Cut short any attempt to bring bourgeois ideology to our youth. This way you’ll save our ideas, in all truth. Well and if anyone takes on bourgeois ideas, we’ll lock them up for very long. To labor camps, and treat them really strong. Lock up, lock up!
2 Zabotlivyje mama i t’ot’a Baj, baj, baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam jablachko, chtob ne bolet’ gIazochkam! Baj… Baj, baj, baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam kurochku, chtob ne bolet’ zubochkam! Baj…
Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us a chicken to heal the little teeth! Bye…
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY Da, da, da, da, sazhat’, sazhat’ i v lager’a vseh napravl’at’.
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Yea, yea, yea, yea, lock up, lock up, and send them all to labor camps.
Baj, baj, baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam utochku, chtob ne bolet’ grudochke! Baj…
Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us a duck to heal the little chest! Bye…
TROJKIN Velikij vozhd’ nas vseh uchil i besprestanno govoril: Smotrite zdes’, smotrite tam, pust’ budet strashno vsem vragam. Smotri tuda, smotri s’uda i vykorchovyvaj vraga.
THIRDMAN The Great Chief taught us all, repeating incessantly, ‘Look here, look there, let all enemies tremble. Look here, look there and stamp out enemies.’
Baj, baj, baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam gusochku, chtob ne bolet’ puzochku! Baj…
Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us a goose to heal the little tummy! Bye…
MUZYKAL’NYJE DEJATELI I DEJATEL’NITSY Smotrite zdes’, smotrite tam, pust’ vrag trepeschet po domam. Smotri tuda, smotri s’uda i vykorchovyvaj vraga.Tanets (na motive “Smotrite zdes’” tantsujuschije smotr’at zdes’. Na motive “Smotrite tam” tantsujuschije smotr’at tam. Vyrazhenije lits u tantsujuschih dolzhno byt’ takoje, chtoby nashi idejnyje vragi popadali ot straha.)
MUSIC FIGURES AND FIGURESSES Look here, look there, let enemies tremble in their homes. Look here, look there and stamp out enemies. Dance (to the tune of ‘Look here’, the dancers look here. To the tune of ‘Look there’ the dancers look there. The expression of the dancers’ faces must be such that our ideology enemies should fall down scared to death.)
Baj, baj, baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam semechek, chtob ne bolet’ temechku! Baj …
Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us sunflower seeds to heal the little pate! Bye…
Baj, baj baj, V selo, tatun’a. pojezzhaj! Privezi nam zajchika, chtob ne bolet’ palchikam! Baj … Baj …
Bye, bye, bye! Go to the village Tateh! Bring us a rabbit to heal the little fingers! Bye… bye…
Compact Disc 32 Iz jevrejskoj narodnoj poezii 1 Plach ab umershem mladentse Sontse i dozhdik, sijanje i mgIa. Tuman apustils’a, pamerkla luna. Kago radila ana? Mal’chika, mal’chika. Kaknazvali? Mojshele, Mojshele. A v chom kachali Mojshele? V I’ulke. A chem karmili? Hlebom da lukom. Agde skharanili? – V magile. Oj, mal’chik v magile, v magile Mojshele, v magile. Oj!
3 Kalybel’naja Moj synok vseh krashe vmire – agan’ok vo t’me. Tvoj atets vtsep’ah v Sibiri, derzhit tsar’ jego v t’ur’me. Spi, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u.
From Jewish Folk Poetry Lament For A Dead Baby It’s sun and rain, it’s bright and dark. Fog has come down, the moon is blurred. ‘Who was born?’ ‘A boy, a boy.’ ‘What was his name?’ ‘Moyshele, Moyshele.’ ‘Where did they rock him?’ ‘In a cradle.’ ‘How did they feed him?’ ‘With bread and onions.’ ‘Where did they bury him?’ ‘In a grave. ‘ ‘Oy, the boy’s in the grave, in the grave is Moyshele, in the grave. Oy!’
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Lullaby My sonny is the best in the world – The light in the darkness. Your father is in Siberia, chained, the Tsar keeps him in prison there. Sleep tight, lu-lu, lu-lu.
Kalybel’ tvaju kachaja, mama sl’osy ljot. Sam pojm’osh ty, padrastaja, chto jej sertse zhzhot.
Rocking your cradle, Mummy sheds tears. Growing up, you’ll understand How her heart aches.
Tvoj atets v Sibiri dal’nej, ja nuzhdu terpl’u. Spi pakuda bespechalno, a, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u…
Your father is in far Siberia, l’m here in need. Meanwhile, sleep sweetly, Ah lu-lu, lu-lu.
Skorb’ moja chernee nochi, spi, a ja ne spl’u. Spi, haroshij, spi, synochek, spi, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u…
My sorrow is blacker than night, Sleep while l’m awake. Sleep my darling, sleep my sonny, Ah lu-lu, lu-lu.
4 Pered dolgoj razlukoj – Oj, Abram, kak bez teb’a mne zhit’! Ja bez teb’a, ty bez men’a – kak nam v razIuke zhit’? – A pomnish, v vorotah so mnoj stojala – chto po sekretu ty mne skazala? Oj, Oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!
Before A Long Separation Oy Abram, how can I go on without you? Me without you, you without me – how will we go on separated? ‘Do you remember us standing in the gate, And the secret you told me? Oy oy, Rivochka, let me kiss your mouth!’
– Apomnish, gul’ali s taboj my vpare? chto mne skazala ty na bulvare? Oj, Oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!
Oy Abram, how can we go on? Me without you, you without me – like a door without a handle! ‘Do you remember us strolling as a couple? What did you tell me then on the boulevard? Oy oy, Rivochka, let me kiss your mouth!’
– OL Abram, kak bez teb’a mne zhit’! Ja bez teb’a, ty bez men’a kak nam bez shchastja zhit’? Ty pomnish, ja krasuju jubku nasila? Oj, kak tagda ja byla krasiva! – Oj, Oj, Rivochka, daj tvoj rotik, devochka!
Oy Abram, how can I go on without you? Me without you, you without me – how will we go on without happiness? Do you remember me wearing that red skirt? Oy, I was so beautiful those days! ‘Oy oy, Rivochka, let me kiss your mouth!’
– OL Abram, kak nam zhit’ teper’? Ja bez teb’a, ty bez men’a – OL kak bez ruchki dver’!
5 Predosterezhenie Slushaj, Has’a! Nel’z’a gul’at’, ne smej gul’at’ , s l’ubym gul’at’ opasajs’a, opasajs’a, opasajs’a! Pajd’osh gul’at’, do utra gul’at’, oj, patom naplacheshs’a, Has’a! Slushaj! Has’a!
Warning Listen Hassia! You may not date, you should not date, Beware dating any man! Strolling with men until the dawn Means bitter tears afterwards, Hassia! Listen! Hassia!
6 Broshennyj otets – Ele, starjovshik, nadel halat. K pristavu dochka ushla, gavar’at. – Tsirele, dochka, vernis’ k atsu. dam tebe platjev nar’adnyh k ventsu. Ser’gi i koltsa kupl’u tebe sam, i na pridachu krasavchika, krasavchika dam. Tsirele, dochka!
Father Abandoned Ehle the ragpicker has put on his gown. They say his daughter went away to live with Police Commissioner. ‘Tsirele my daughter, come back to your father. I will give you a dowry of fancy dresses, I myself will buy you earrings and necklaces – And find you a nice handsome boy to marry! Tsirele my daughter!’
– Ne nado mne nar’adav, ne nado mne kalets, lish s gapadinom pristavom pajdu ja pod venets. Gaspadin pristav, prashu vas, skoreje ganite vsheju starovo jevreja.
‘I need none of your dresses or rings, And I will marry nobody but Commissioner. Please Commissioner, tell this old Jew To get out of here – quickly!’
– Tsirele, dochka, vernis’ ko mne, vernis’… Tsirele, dochka!
‘Tsirele my daughter! Come, come back to me! Tsirele my daughter!’
7 Pesn’a o nuzhde Krysha spit na cherdake pod salomoj sladkim snom. V kalybel’ke spit dit’a bez pel’onok, nagishom. Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi. Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi, oj!
Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating straw from the roof. Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating straw from the roof, oy!
Kalybel’ na cherdake, pauchok v nej tk’ot bedu. Radast’ on moju sas’ot, mne ostaviv lish nuzhdy.
The cradle is in the attic, A little spider is webbing my bad luck in it. It is sucking my joy Leaving me nothing but want.
Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi. Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi, oj!
Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating straw from the roof. Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating strawfrom the roof, oy!
Petushok na cherdake, jarko-krasnyj grebeshok. Oj, zhena, zaimi dl’a detok hleba chornogo kusok.
There’s a rooster in the attic With a scarlet crest. Hey wife, go borrow a slice Of stale bread for our children.
Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi. Gop, gop, vyshe, vyshe! Jest kaza salomu s kryshi, oj!
Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating straw from the roof. Hop, hop, up, up! The goat is eating straw from the roof, oy!
8 Zima Lezhit moja Shejndl v kravati, i s neju reb’onok balnoj. Ni sjchepki vnetoplenoj hate, a veter gudit za stenoj. Vernulis’ i stuzha i veter, net sily terpet’ i molchat’. Krichite zhe, plachte zhe, deti, zima varatilas’ op’at’.
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Poverty Song The roof is sleeping tight Up there, under its straw. The baby is sleeping in its cradle Naked, without diapers.
Winter My Sheindl is in bed And our sick child is with her. Not a chip of wood in our hut, And the wind is roaring outside. The cold and the wind are back, They cannot be endured in silence. So cry children, weep children! Winter is back again.
9 Haroshaja zhizn’ A pole prastornom, druzja daragije, pesen ne pel ja vgody gluhije. Ne dl’a men’a pal’a rastsvetali, ne dl’a men’a rasinki stekali. V tesnom padvale va t’me syroj zhil ja kagda-to, izmuchen nuzhdoj. I grusnaja pesn’a neslas’ iz padvala o gore, o muke majej nebyvaloj. Kalhoznaja rechka, struis’ veselee; druzjam peredaj moj paklon paskoree. Skazhi, chto v kalhoze teper’ moj dom, tsvetushchee derevo stait pod oknom. Teper’ dl’a men’a pal’a rastsvetajut, men’a malakom i m’odom pitajut. Ja shchastliv, a ty rasskazhi majim brtjam: kalhoznym pal’am budu pes’ni slagat’ ja!
Good Life Dear friends, I never sang songs About wide open fields in those dark days. Fields blossomed, but not for me, Dew sparkled, but not for me. Years ago, I lived in a basement, In damp darkness, tormented by poverty. And sad songs of my misery and torments Were heard from that basement. You merry collective farm river, run cheerfully, Give my greetings to my friends. Tell them my home is in a collective farm now, And a blossoming tree is near my window. Now, fields are ripening for me, They feed me with milk and honey. I am happy, so tell my brothers That I will make songs to the collective fields!
10 Pesn’a devushki Na luzhajke, vozle lesa, chto zadumchiv tak vsegda, my pas’om s utra do nochi kalhoznyje stada.
A Girl’s Song On the meadow by the forest Which is always so thoughtful, We graze the collective farm cattle From morning till night.
I sizhu ja na prigorke, s dudochkoj sizhu svajej. Ne magu ja nagl’adetsa na krasu strany majej.
The trees are in bright green, They are graceful and stately, And the crops in the fields Are full of charm.
Oj, l’u! Oj, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u!
Oy lu! Oy lu-lu, lu-lu, lu-lu!
To mne vetka ulybn’otsa, kalasok vdrug padmign’ot, chustvo radosti velikoj v sertse iskraju sverkn’ot.
A tree branch smiles at me, A wheat spike winks at me. A great joy flashes in my heart Like a bright sparkle.
Poj zhe, dudochka prastaja! Tak lehko nam pet’ vdvajom! Slyshat gory i daliny, kak my radasno pajom.
Sing now, my artless pipe! It’s so easy for us to sing together! Hills and valleys can hear Our merry song.
Tol’ko, dudochka, ne plakat’! Poshluju zabud’ pechal’. I puskaj tvai napevy mchatsa v laskovuju dal’.
But let’s never weep, my pipe! Forget the sorrow of old. Let your tunes fly far, Over these cheerful vistas.
Oy lu! Oy lu-lu, lu-lu, lu-lu!
Ja vsvajom kalhoze shchasliva. Slyshish, zhisn’ maja palna! Veseleje, veseleje, dudochka ty pet’ dolzhna!
I am happy in my collective village. I say, my life is ampIe! My pipe, you must sing Merrier and merrier!
11 Shchast’je Ja muzha smelo pod ruku vz’ala, pust’ ja stara, i star moj kavaler. Jego s saboj vteatr pavela, i vz’ali lva bileta my v parter.
So l’m sitting on a hillside With my little pipe. I cannot help rejoicing In my country’s beauty.
V jarkoj zeleni derevja I krasivy i strajny, a v pal’ah zvetut kalosja, prelesti palny!
Oj, l’u! Oj, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u, l’u-l’u!
Do poznej nochi s muzhem sid’a tam, vs’o predavalis’ radasnym mechtam, – Kakimi blagami okruzhena jevrejskago sapozhnika zhena.
Sitting there untillate at night, We were enjoying mirthful dreams: Such a luxury allowed To a Jewish shoemaker’s wife.
I vsej strane hachu pavedat’ ja pro radasnyj i svetlyj zhrebij moj: vrachami, vrachami stali nashi synavja – zvezda garit nad nashej galavoj!
And I wish to tell everyone in this country About my joyful and bright fortune: Our sons have become doctors, doctors, And the star is shining above our heads!
Vrachami, vrachami stali nashi synavja zvezda garit nad nashej galavoj! Oj!
Our sons have become doctors, doctors, And the star is shining above our heads! Oy!
Suita na slova Mikelandgello Buararroti
Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti
12 Istina Jest’ istiny v rechenjah stariny, I vot ona: kto mozhet, tot ne hochet. Ty vn’al, gospod’, tomu, kto lozh strekochet, I boltuny toboj nagrazhdeny;
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Happiness I bravely took my husband’s arm, Though I am old, just as my man is. I took him out to the theatre, We bought two seats in the stalls.
Truth There are truths in sayings of old days, Like this: he who can, never wants to. Lord, Thou hast perceived Lie’s babbling, And hast given the babblers what they deserve.
Ja zh tvoj sluga: moi trudy dany tebe, Kak solntsu luch, – hot’ i prorochit tvoj gnev Vs’o to, chto pyl moj sdelat’ prochit, I vs’o moi staranja ne nuzhny.
As for me, I am Thy servant; my labor’s Thine, Like beams are the sun’s – though Thy wrath foretells All that my ardor longs to achieve, And all my efforts are therefore needless.
Ja dumal, chto vozm’ot tvojo velichje Men’a k sebe ne ehom dl’a palat, A lezviem suda i girej gneva.
Me thought Thy greatness would have me Not as an echo for chambers, But as a cutting edge of justice and weight of wrath.
No jest’ k zemnym zaslugam bezrazlichje Na nebesah – i zhdat’ ot nih nagrad, – Chto ozhidat’ plodov s suhogo dreva.
But Heaven is indifferent to earthly merits And it is as fruitless to expect its award, As to expect fruit from a barren tree.
13 Utro Net radostej ves’ologo zan’atja: Po zlatu kos, tsvetam napereboj Soprikasats’a s miloj golovoj I l’nut’ lobzanjem vs’udu bez izjatja!
Morning There is nothing so joyful as the merry pastime For flowers to touch that lovely head, The gold of her plaits, And kiss every spot of her without exception!
16 Gnev Zdes’ delajut iz chash mechi I shlemy I krov’ Hristovu prodajut na ves; Na schit zdes’ t’orn, na kopja krest ischez, – Usta zh Hristovy terpelivo nemy.
Wrath Here they make swords and helmets out of chalices, They sell Christ’s blood by the ounce; Thorn used for shields, and Holy Cross, for lances; Still the lips of Christ are sealed with patient silence.
I skolko naslazhdenija dl’a platja Szhimat’ jej stan i nispadat’ volnoj; I kak otradno setke zolotoj Jejo lanity zakl’uchat’ vobjatja!
It’s such a delight for her dress To hug her torso and extend down in a wave; It’s such a pleasure for the golden net To embrace her visage!
Pust’ on niskhodit v nashi Vitleemy Il’ snova bryznet krovju do nebes, Zatem, chto dushegubam Rim – chto les, I miloserdje derzhim na zamke my.
Let Him descend to our Bethlehems, Or spill His blood again so that it would reach heaven; Because those butchers see Rome as a wild forest, And we keep Mercy behind a locked door.
Jescho nezhnej nar’adnoj lenty v’az’, Blest’a uzornoj vyshivkoj svoeju, Smykajets’a vkrug persej molodyh.
Even more tenderly, the weaving of that fancy band, Gleaming with its embroidered pattern, Closes around the young breasts.
Mne ne groz’at roskoshestva obuzy, Ved’ dl’a men’a davno uzh net zdes’ del; Ja mantii strashus’, kak Mavr – Meduzy;
I see no threat from luxury’s encumbrance, l’ve long had nothing here for me to do; I fear rich apparels like Moor fears Medusa;
A chistyj pojas, laskovo vijas’, Kak budto shepchet: «Ne rasstanus’ s neju … » O, skolko dela zdes’ dl’a ruk moih.
And the clean sash, gently meandering, Seems to be whispering, “l’ll never part with her …” O how much is here for my hands to do.
No jesli bednost’ slavoj Bog odel, kakie zh nam togda gotovit uzy Pod znamenem inym inoj udel?
But if God has dressed poverty in glory, What is that bondage that awaits us By other lot, and under other colors?
14 L’ubov’ – Skazhi, L’ubov’, voistinu li vzoru Zhelannaja predstala krasota, ll’ to moja tvor’aschaja mechta Sluchajnyj lik sebe vz’ala v oporu?
Love Say, Love, is it true that my eyes Really see the desired beauty, Or it is just my creative daydream That has chosen some chance looks as its support?
Ty sna men’a lishila. Pust’! Usta lelejut kazhdyj vzdoh, I zalita dusha ogn’om, ne znajuschim otporu.
You should know! It was you who, in a plot with those looks, Has deprived me of my sleep. Let it be! My lips cherish each sigh, And my soul is overflown with irresistible fire.
– Ty istinnuju vidish krasotu, No blesk jejo gorit, vs’o razrastajas’, Kogda skvoz’ vzor k dushe voskhodit on;
You do see real beauty, But its shine is burning, growing and growing, When it is ascending to your soul through your sight,
Tam obretaja bozhju chistotu, Bessmaertnomu tvortsu upodobl’ajas’, – Vot pochemu tvoj vzgl’ad zavorozhon.
There to acquire divine purity, And likeness of its Eternal Creator – This is why your eyesight is enchanted.
Tebe l’ ne znat’? Ved’ s nim po ugovoru
15 Razluka Derznu l’, sokrovische mojo, Suschestvovat’ bez vas, seb’e na muku, Raz gluhi vy k mol’bam sm’agchit’ razluku? Unylym serdtsem bolshe ne taju Ni vozglasov, ni vzdohov, ni rydanij. Chto vam javit’, madonna, gn’ot stradanij I smert’ uzh nedal’okuju moju; No daby rok potom mojo sluzhenje Izgnat’ iz vashej pam’ati ne mog, Ja ostavl’aju serdtse vam v zalog.
Separation Dare I, my treasure, Exist without you, in lasting tortures, If you are deaf to pleas to mollify the separation? I do not keep in my sad heart any more Outcries, nor sighs, nor sobs. What can I show you, Madonna? Yoke of suffering? Or my death which is now so nigh? But, to prevent Fate from expelling later My loyal vassalage out of your memory – I am leaving you my heart as a pledge.
17 Dante Spustivshis’ s neba, v tlennoj ploti, on Uvidel ad, obitel’ iskuplenja, I zhiv predstal dl’a bozhja litsezrenja, I nam povedal vs’o, chem umudr’on. Luchistaja zvezda, chjim ozar’on Sijanjem kraj, mne dannyj dl’a rozhdenja, – Jejo ne ot mira zhdat’ voznagrazhdenja, No ot teb’a, kem mir byl sotvor’on.
The beaming star, whose radiation lights The land I was destined to be born in He is not to expect a reward from the world, But from Thou who created the whole universe.
Ja govor’u o Dante, o Dante: ne nuzhny Ozloblennoj tolpe jego sozdanja, – Ved’ dl’a nejo i vysshyj genij mal.
I am speaking of Dante now; The fierce populace don’t need works of his Art, For they hold small even a superior genius.
Bud’ ja kak on! O, bud’ mne suzhdeny Jego dela I skorb’ jego izgnanja, – la b luchshej doli v mire ne zhelal!
If I were like him! Oh, if I were destined For his deeds and the sorrow of his exile, I would never have wished a better lotI
18 Izgnanniku Kak budto chtim, a vs’o zhe chest’ mala. Jego velichje vzor nash oslepilo. Chto chem’ korit za nizkoje merilo. Kogda pusta i nasha pohvala!
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Dante Descending from heaven, in human flesh, he saw Hell, that pIace of redemption, And appeared alive to be contemplated by God, And disclosed to us all the wisdom he had gained.
To the Exiled He seems to be honored, but small honor it is. His greatness has blinded our sight. Should we blame commoners for their low gauge, When our praise is trivial too!
On radi nas soshol v obitel’ zIa; Gospodne tsarstvo lik jemu javilo; No dver’, chto dazhe nebo ne zakrylo, Pred Dante otchizna zlobno zaperla.
For our sake he descended to the den of evil, And God’s kingdom was displayed to him; But, while heaven opened him its door, Homeland viciously locked the door on him.
Neblagodamaja! Sebe na gore Ty dlila muki syna svoego; Tak sovershenstvu nizost’ mstit ot veka.
The ungrateful one! For thine own ruin Thou lasted tortures of thy son; Thus perfection is forever revenged by meanness.
Odin primer iz the, kotoryh more! Kak net podlej izgnanija jego, Tak mir ne znal i vyshe cheloveka.
‘Tis one example out of a legion! Never has an exile been more villainous, Never has the world seen a better man.
19 Tvorchestvo Kogda skalu moj zhostkij molotok V oblichija l’udej preobrazhaet, Bez mastera, kotoryj napravl’aet Jego udar, on delu b ne pomog.
Artistry When my hard hammer transforms a rock Into images of human beings, It would never do the work If not for the master who aims the hit.
22 Bessmertie Zdes’ rok poslal bezvremennyj mne son, No ja ne m’ortv, hot’ i opuschen v zeml’u: Ja zhiv vtebe, chjim setovanjam vneml’u, Zatem, chto vdruge drug otobrazhon.
Eternity So Fate has granted me untimely sleep, But l’m not dead, though buried in a grave; l’m still alive in thee, whose laments I can hear, Because true friends reflect each other’s image. I seem to be dead, but, to soothe the world, I live as a thousand souls in the hearts Of all those who love; therefore, I am no dust, And am not subject to deathly decay.
No bozhij molot iz seb’a izvl’ok Razmah, chto miru prelest’ soobschaet; Vse moloty tot molot predveschaet, I v n’om odnom im vsem zhivoj urok.
But God’s hammer has produced an impact That conveys grace to the world; That hammer is the forerunner of all hammers, And is a live model for them all.
la slovno b m’ortv, no miru v uteshenje la tys’achami dush zhivu v serdtsah Vseh l’ub’aschih, i, znachit, ja ne prah, I smertnoe men’a ne tronet tlen’e.
Chem vyshe vzmah ruki nad nakoval’nej, Tem t’azhelej udar: tak zanes’on I nado mnoj on k vys’am podnebesnym;
The higher is the hand’s stroke o’er the anvil. The harder is the blow; so I, too, See it raised o’ver me in the utmost heaven.
Compact Disc 40
Mne glyboju kosnet’ pervonachal’noj, Poka kuznets gospoden, – tol’ko on! Ne posobit udarom polnovesnym.
I will stay idle like a primeval boulder, Until the Lord’s hammersmith – and he alone! – Assists me with an ampIe masterstroke.
20 Noch Vot eta noch, chto tak spokojno spit Pered toboju, – angela sozdanje. Ona iz kamn’a, no v nej jest’ dyhanje: Lish razbudi, – ona zagovorit. Mne sladko spat’, a pusche kamnem byt’, Kogda krugom pozor i prestuplenje: Ne chuvstvovat’, ne videt’ – oblegchenje, Umolkni zh, drug, k chemu men’a budit’? 21 Smert’ Uzh chuja smert’, hot’ i ne znaja sroka, Ja vizhu: zhizn’ vs’o ubystr’aet shag. No telu jescho zhalko plotskih blag, Dushe zhe smert’ zhelannee poroka.
Night This night here, that is sleeping so peacefully Before you, is a creation of an angel. And though she’s made of stone, she can breathe And will speak as soon as she’s awakened. ‘Tis sweet to sleep, e’en sweeter to be a stone, When ‘round me there is shame and crime alone. There’s some relief in it when you can’t feel, nor see, So pray be silent, friend, yea, why awaken me? Death Feeling my death e’en now, if not its date and time, I see my life is speeding up its pace. And still, my body aches for fleshly joy, While the soul of mine prefers death to vice.
Mir vslepote: postydnogo uroka Iz vlasti zia ne izvlekaet zrak, Nadezhdy net, i vs’o objemlet mrak. I lozh tsarit, i pravda pr’achet oko,
The world is blind, and eyes perceive no message, A shameful one, from the evil’s rule; There is no hope, and darkness covers all, And Lie prevails, Truth casting down its look.
Kogda zh, gospod’, nastupit to, Chego zhdut vernye tebe? Oslabevaet V otsrochkah vera, dushu davit gn’ot;
Now when, O Lord, will it at last come forth – What is longed for by those loyal? In delays Faith withers up, and the soul’s oppressed;
Na chto nam svet spasenja tvoego, Raz smert’ bystrej i navsegda javl’aet Nas vsramote, vkotoroj zastajot?
Why should we need the light of Thy salvation, When death does render us much faster, and forever, Among the filth he finds when he comes by?
2 Die Ballade der Cordelia Auf einem Felsen hinter dem dunklen Meer steht ein hohes Haus. Es nisten die Vögel auf dem Felsen, aber dieses Haus, es ist leer, aber dieses Haus, es ist leer. Längst, längst ist der Herd verlöscht, man hört keine Stimmen, und nur der Wind, der heftige Gast, erschüttert die schweigsamen Eulen. Er bringt die Nachricht von fern, daß der Herr verschwand, daß Merlin ihn über das Meer und die Wolken hin mitnahm. An einem fernen, grünen Ufer auf einem schwarzen, schaurigen Pferd galoppiert er in goldener Rüstung, im Traum aber sieht er das Haus. Es fliegt der Wind, braust los und klagt daüber, aber niemand gibt Antwort, und das hohe Haus, es ist leer.
The Ballad of Cordelia On a cliff behind the dark sea stands a high house. The birds are nesting in the cliff, but this house is standing empty, but this house is standing empty. The oven has gone out long, long ago, no voice can be heard, and only the wind, a violent guest, shivers the silent owls. He brings the news from far away, that the master has vanished, that Merlin has taken him over the seas and clouds. On a distant, green shore upon a black, dreadful steed he gallops in golden armor, but in his dreams he sees the house. The wind flies, thunders away, and laments but nobody answers and the high house is standing empty.
6 Narrenlieder 1. Der, der sich entscheidet sein Land in zwei Teile zu teilen, er soll auch zu den Narren gehören, er wird mir unterkommen. Wir werden Hand in Hand stehen – zwei ausgemachte Idioten: der eine mit Narrenkappe, der andere ohne!
Ten Fool’s Songs
26
1. He, who decides to divide his country into two parts shall also become a fool, and find his place with me. We shall stand there hand in hand – two complete idiots: the one with a foors cap, the other without!
2. Für Narre nein trauriger Tag: Alle klugen Köpfe des Landes haben den Verstand verloren und werden mir gleich. Sie begannen loszuheulen vor Glück, aber ich aus Trauer, wisssend, daß mein König der Anarchie den Narren mimt. Sprechtext: Ich habe zu der Zeit singen gelernt, als Du, King Lear, für die Mütter die Tochter machtest, ihnen eine Rute in die Hand gabst und die Hosen herunterließest.
2. A sorrowful day for fools: All the country’s wise men have lost all reason and are now the same as me. They began to weep for joy, and I for sadness, knowing, that my King mimes the anarchy of fools. Spoken text: I learned to sing at the same time as you, King Lear, made daughters for the mothers, put a rod in their hands and let your trousers down.
3. Brotkrümel, trockene Rinden, das hungrige Mäuschen, es gedachte der Rinde.
3. Crumbs of bread, dry rinds, the wee hungry mouse, remembers the rind.
4. Ich zog den Kuckuck als Spatzen auf, den heimatlosen Vogel, und plötzlich tötet der den Pflegevater.
4. I raised the cuckoo as a sparrow, the homeless bird, and suddenly he killed his foster-father.
5. Töchter und Schwiegersöhne sind lieb zu reichen würdevollen Vätern, aber wer die Hosen geflickt hat, für den hat die Familie kein Mitleid. Das Schicksal ist eine gewinnsüchtige Hure, es legt sich nicht zu den Hungrigen.
5. Daughters and sons-in law are always nice to wealthy, worthy fatthers, but those who wear patched trousers, can expect no sympathy from the family. Fate is a money-hungry whore, who does not lie down with the hungry.
6. Wenn es dem Geistlichen klar wird, daß die Seele wegen des Geldes schwarz wird, und der Bierbrauer aufhört mit Wasser seine Ware zu verdünnen, wenn es die Kavaliere satt haben, bei Schneidern die Manieren zu lernen, wenn der ketzerische Mönch nicht auf dem Scheiterhaufen zur Verbrennung steht, wenn das Recht nicht verstoßen wird, und ohne Schuld nicht verurteilt wird, wenn die Verleumdung verstummt, ein Schloß am Mund angebracht wird, dann wird Albion in den Grundmauern erschüttert werden, dann werden wir mit euch gehen, den Kopf nach oben, mit den Füßen am Boden!
6. When it is clear to the clergy, that a soul becomes blackened by wealth. and the brewer stops thinning his wares with water, when the cavaliers have had enough of learning manners from the tailor, when the heretic monk does not stand at the stake to burn, when justice is no longer banished; and not sentenced without blame, when the slander is silenced, a lock fixed upon the mouth, then will Albion be shaken to its foundations,
7. Lisa ist eine Schelmin und die Tochter des Königs, für euch ein Strick, eine Schlinge! Die Narrenkappe verkaufe ich und kaufe eine Schlinge, der Narr – ein Freund des Königs!
7. Lisa is a rogue and a daughter to the King, for you a rope, a noose! I shall sell my fool’s cap and buy a noose,
An ein solches Herz, hart wie die Ferse, rührt nicht der Schmerz der anderen, aber sie werden nicht süß schlafen. wenn sie ihr Hühnerauge drückt.
8. One does need trousers, on that I give you my word, but first of all a roof over one’s head, for without shelter, your grey head will become louse-ridden. In such a heart, as hard as a rock, stirs not the pain of others, but you shall not sleep sweetly, when you close your beady eyes.
9. Hey, ho, hey, ho! Der, der kein Glück besitzt – Blitz, Donner und Hagel – Im Sturm und im Gewitter Zittert er nicht vor dem Schicksal, möge es auch Tag und Nacht audauern!
9. Hey, ho, hey, ho! He who has no luck – Lightning, thunder and hail – in storm and in the elements he trembles not before his fate, may it last through day and night!
10. Wer nur im Dienst dessen steht, Daß er ein Vermögen einnimmt, der Läßt dich allein im Unwetter zurück. Aber er bleibt bei dir, dein treuer Hofnarr, er gehorcht nicht dem Geld, er ist ein armsaliger Narr, aber er ist kein Schuft! Ein Narr, aber kein Schuft!
10. He who only stands in his service, to rake in a fortune, he will leave you behind in bad weather. But he remains with you, your faithful fool, and obeys not the call of money, he truly is a poor fool, but he is not a knave! A fool, but not a knave!
8. Hosen braucht man, daraufgebe ich mein Wort, aber zuerst ein Dach über dem Kopf, sonst verlaust ohne Schutz dein graues Haupt.
Translation from the Russian: © Georg Kury
then we shall go with you, our heads in the air, and our feet on the ground!
the fool – a friend of the King!
27
Compact Disc 47
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District Op.29 Act 1
Act 1
Scene 1
Scene 1 (Katerina is lying on her bed yawning.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA 1 Akh, nye spitsa ból’she, popróbuyu. Nyet, nye spitsa, ponyátno, noch spalá, vstála, cháyu s múzhem napilas. Opyát’ leglá. Vyed’ dyélat’ ból’she nyéchevo. Akh, bózhe moy, kakáya skúka! 2 V dyévkakh lúchshe býlo, khot’ i byédno zhili, no svobóda bylá. A tepyér…toská, khot’ vyéshaysa. Ya kupchikha, suprúga imenitovo kuptsá Zinóviya Borisovicha Izmáylova. Muravey taskáet solóminku, koróva dayót molokó, batraki krupchátku ssypáyut, tól’ko mnye odnóy dyélat’ nyéchevo, tól’ko ya odná toskúyu, tól’ko mnye odnóy svyet nye mil kupchikhe.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH 3 Gribki sevódnya búdut?
KATERINA Oh, I don’t feel like sleep any more, but I’ll try. (tries to sleep) No, I can’t sleep. Of course, I slept all night, then got up and drank tea with my husband, then went back to bed. After all, there’s nothing else to do. O Lord, how boring it is! It was better when I was single, although we were poor, at least there was some freedom. But now, this depression’s enough to make you hang yourself. I am a merchant’s wife, married to the eminent merchant Zinoviy Borisovich Ismailov. The ant drags along its straw, the cow gives her milk, the farm-labourers pour out the flour, but I alone have nothing to do, I alone am depressed, to me alone life is unkind, me, the merchant’s wife. (Enter Boris.) BORIS Will there be mushrooms today?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Búdut.
KATERINA Yes, there will.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Búdut? Smotri, ya óchen lyublyú gribki da s káshitsey, s káshitsey.
BORIS There will? You know, I’m very fond of mushrooms, especially with buck wheat gruel.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Svyétit li sóntse, ili grozá bushúet mnye tepyér vsyo ravnó akh!
KATERINA Whether the sun’s shining, or a storm is raging, it’s all the same to me now. Oh!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Chevó poyósh, dyéla tebyé drugóvo nyet?
BORIS What are you singing for, have you nothing else to do?
EKATERINA LVOVNA A shto dyélat’?
KATERINA What can I do?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH I zachém tebyá my vzyáli v dom takúyu? Govoril ya sýnu: nye zhenis na Katerina, nye poslúshalsa. Khoroshá zhená: pyáty god zámuzhem, a rebyónochka yeshchó nye rodilá!
BORIS Why ever did we take the likes of you into our house? I kept saying to my son: don’t marry Katerina, but he wouldn’t listen. Fine sort of wife: over four years married and still not produced a child!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye moyá viná, nye moyá viná.
KATERINA It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto!
BORIS What!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye moyá viná, nye moyá viná…
KATERINA It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Chya zhe!
BORIS Whose is it then?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye mózhet Zinóviy Borisovich polozhit’v nutró moyó rebyónochka.
KATERINA Zinoviy is incapable of getting a child into my womb.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Vot kak! Vsyo ot báby zavisit, kakáya bába popadyótsa. Lyubila b yevó khoróshaya bába. Laskála by, i rebyónochek vmig by rodilsa by. A ty, kak rýba kholódnaya, nye staráeshsa láski dobit’sa. Nye staráeshsa láski dobit’sa. Nyet u nas naslyédnika kapitálu i kupyécheskomu slávnomu imeni. Ráda by kakóvo-nibúd’ mólodtsa podtsepit’, da udrát’ s nim, nad múzhem nasmekháyas. Nyet, shalish, vysók zabór, sobáki spúshcheny, rabótniki verný, i ya vsyo vrémya nachekú. 4 Prigotóv otrávu dlya krys, opýat’ mukú vsyu poyéli.
28
BORIS So that’s it! It all depends on the woman what sort of wife a man gets. Now if a fine woman had loved him and embraced him, a child would soon have arrived. But you’re as cold as a fish, you don’t encourage his embraces, you don’t encourage his embraces. We’ve no heir to leave our fortune to, nor our renowned reputation as a merchant. You’d like to hook some youngster and make off with him and jeer at your husband. No, don’t try that on, the fence is high, the dogs are loose, the workers trusty and I’m always on the alert. Get the poison ready for the rats, they’ve eaten all the flour again. (Exit.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sam ty kry sa! Tebyé by otrávy étoy!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH 5 Govori!
KATERINA You’re a rat yourself! You should have the poison! (Prepares the rat poison. Enter Zinoviy, Boris, a messenger and other servants, including Sergey.) ZINOVIY (to the mill-hand) Speak up!
MILL-HAND Plotinu-to na myél’nitse proválo, i prórva-to takáya ogromádnaya. Kak tepyér byt’, a?
MILL-HAND The dam at the mill has burst and there’s an enormous breach. What shall we do now, eh!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH A rabóty kak na zlo mnógo. Pridyótsa yékhat’ samomú.
ZINOVIY As if we hadn’t enough work already. I’ll have to go myself.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Poezzháy! Byez khozyáyskovo gláza nel’zyá. Naród nenadyózhny!
BORIS Go, then! Without the master nothing’ll get done. People can’t be relied on!
SERVANTS Ha, ha, ha!…
SERVANTS Ha, ha, ha!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto peresmyeivaetes? Khozyáin uezzháet, a vy ni grústi, ni toski nye chústvuete!
BORIS What are you sniggering about? Your master has to go away and you don’t show any sign of grief or regret!
LABOURERS Chústvuem! Zachém zhe ty uezzháesh khozyáin, zachém? Zachém? Na kovó ty nas pokidáesh? Na kovó? Na kovó? Byez khozyáina búdet skúshno, skúshno, tosklivo, bezrádostno, dom byez tebyá nye dom; rabóta byez tebyá nye rabóta. Nye rabóta, nye rabóta. Vesyélye byez tebyá nye vesyélye. Vozvrashcháysa kak mózhno skoryéy! Skoryéy!
LABOURERS We do! Why are you leaving us, master, why? why? To whom would you abandon us? To whom? To whom? Without the master life will be dreary, dreary, dull and joyless, home without you is not like home; work without you is not like work. Not like work, not like work. Pleasures without you are no real pleasures. Return as quickly as you can! Be quick! (Zinoviy leads Sergey up to Boris.)
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Vot pápa, posmotri: nóvovo rabótnika sevódnya nányal.
ZINOVIY Look, father: here’s the new labourer I hired today.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Ládno. Ránshe gdye sluzhil?
BORIS All right. Where did you work before?
SERGEY U Kalgánovykh.
SERGEY At the Kalganov’s.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH A za shto tebyá prognáli?
BORIS Why did they throw you out? (Enter a labourer.)
COACHMAN Lóshadi gotóvy.
COACHMAN The horses are ready. (Boris breaks off his conversation with Sergey.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nu, dyélat’ nyéchevo. Proshcháysa s zhenóy.
BORIS Well, it can’t be helped. Say goodbye to your wife.
Skazhi, shtob slúshalas menyá.
ZINOVIY (takes leave of his wife) Goodbye, Katerina. (to his father) Tell her to remain my obedient wife.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Klyátvu! Klyátvu! Klyátvu s neyó vozmi. Shto vyérnoy tebyé ostánetsa.
BORIS Swear an oath! An oath! Get an oath from her that she’ll remain faithful to you.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Da zachém zhe? Ya vyed’ nye nadólgo.
ZINOVIY Whatever for? I’m not going for long, after all.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Málo li shto, na vsyáky slúchay; molody ye zhóny tovó… Sil’vuplé, randevú, sous provansal’…
BORIS You never know, do it just in case; young wives are all the same… ‘S’il vous plaît, rendez vous, sauce provençale…’
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Aha!
ZINOVIY Yes.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Ponimáesh?
BORIS Get me?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Aha!
ZINOVIY Yes.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Kak by yeyó tovó kto-nibúd’ nye obol’stil.
BORIS Watch out someone doesn’t seduce her.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Aha!
ZINOVIY Yes.
ZINOVIY 6 Proshcháy, Katerina.
29
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Katerina, poklyanis na svyatóy ikóne, shto múzhu búdesh vyérnoy.
BORIS Katerina, swear on the sacred icon, that you’ll be faithful to your husband.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Klyanús!
KATERINA I swear!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nu, tepyér vsyo. Proshcháy, Zinóviy. S zhenóy prostis.
BORIS Well, that’s all. Goodbye, Zinoviy. Say goodbye to your wife.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Proshcháy, Katerinushka! Proshcháy!
ZINOVIY Goodbye, Katerina darling! Goodbye!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nye tak! V nógi! V nógi! Nu! Dál’niye próvody, lishniye slyózy… Poezzháy!
BORIS Not like that! On your knees! On your knees! Come on! He’s off on a long journey – spare an extra tear… On your way, then! (Exeunt all except Aksinya, Katerina, Sergey and Boris)
Rabótnik nóvy, devichúr okayánny, kakúyu khóchesh bábu do grekhá dovedyót. Vsyem vzyal: i róstom, i litsóm, i krasotóyu. On prézhde u Kalgánovykh sluzhil; s sámoy khozyáykoy spútalsa, za to i výgnali.
AKSINYA (to Sergey) Why are you standing there? Why did you stay behind? (Exit Sergey.) (to Katerina) That new labourer, he’s a dreadful woman-chaser, name any female who’s taken his fancy, he’ll get her into trouble, he’s got it all: he’s tall and handsome, with a good figure. He used to work at the Kalganov’s; started carrying on with the mistress and got fired for it.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto nye pláchesh? Muzh vyed’ uyékhal. Nu i zhená: múzha provodila, a samá khot’ slezinku prolilá.
BORIS (to Katerina) Why aren’t you crying? Your husband’s gone, after all. What a wife: says goodbye to her husband and can’t even shed a single tear!
AKSINYA 7 Chevó vstal? Chevó ostanovilsa?
8 Interlude
Scene 2
AKSINYA 9 Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay, besstýshy, oy, nye shchipli, ay! ból’no, ay! ból’no, ish ty kudá polyéz, besstýzhy chort, kudá polyéz? Parshivy chort, parshivy chort, nye lyez! Akh chort, poshól. Ay! Svóloch! Ay! Ay! Svóloch, svóloch, svóloch, svóloch! Akh! ty svóloch, akh ty svóloch! Ay! Ay! Ból’no, ból’no!
Interlude
30
Scene 2 (In the yard Zinoviy’s servants are fooling around. They have put Aksinya in an open-ended butt and won’t let her out.) AKSINYA Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh, you shameless creature, hey, don’t pinch, oh, you’re hurting! Oh, you’re hurting! Keep your hands off, you shameless brute, hands off! You filthy brute, filthy brute, get your hands off! Get away, you brute! Oh! You swine! Oh! Oh! Swine, swine, swine, swine! Oh, you swine, oh, you swine! Oh! Oh! You’re hurting, you’re hurting.
SHABBY PEASANT Pryámo solóvushka. A nu, poshchúpay, a nu poshchúpay prizhmi! Yeshchó! Vot tak výmya, nu i výmya, ay výmya, ay výmya, ay výmya! Ay gládkoe! Zhmi! Zhmi! Zhmi! Zhmi! Ha, ha, ha!…
SHABBY PEASANT Just like a nightingale! Come on, let’s feel her, let’s feel her, squeeze harder! Again! What boobs, oh what boobs, oh lovely, lovely, lovely boobs! Oh, how smooth they are! Harder ! Harder! Harder! Harder! Ha, ha, ha…
PORTER Svinyá solovyóm zaliváetsa. Lovchée poshár, shar! Vot tak nos, nu i nos, Bog semerým nyos! Iz takóy nózhki dyélayut kotlyéty. Ha, ha, ha!…
PORTER A sow is singing like a nightingale. Have a good feel all over! What a nose she’s got, what a nose, big enough for seven! That’s the sort of leg you could make into chops! Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Nu i golosók, nu i golosók, nu i golosók! Nu i golosók… Ha, ha, ha!… Nu i golosók. Nu i golosók. Nu i golosók, ha, ha, ha!… Nu i golosók! Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS What a pretty voice, what a pretty voice. What a pretty voice! What a pretty voice… Ha, ha, ha… What a pretty voice, what a pretty voice. What a pretty voice, ha, ha, ha… What a pretty voice! Ha, ha, ha…
SERGEY A nu! Postóy Zaderzhite!
SERGEY Look out! Stop! Hold on to her!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… Nu i golosók derzhis, Aksinya, lovi, Seryózhka!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha! What a pretty voice! Hold still, Aksinya, get hold of her, Seryozhka!
AKSINYA Uymite vy yevó.
AKSINYA Get him off me!
SERGEY A nu! Postóy!
SERGEY Well now! Stand still!
AKSINYA Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
AKSINYA Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!
LABOURERS Nu i golosók.
LABOURERS What a pretty voice!
PORTER Let’s have a suck.
SERGEY Stoy, bába!
SERGEY Stop, woman!
SHABBY PEASANT Nu? Nu? Nu? Ha, ha, ha!…
SHABBY PEASANT Well? Well? Well? Ha, ha, ha!…
AKSINYA Ay, dogónit.
AKSINYA Oh, he’ll catch me!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha… Nu i golosók. Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha… What a pretty voice. Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… Nazhimáy! Nazhimáy! Nazhimáy! Nazhimáy!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… Squeeze her, squeeze her, squeeze her, squeeze her.
AKSINYA Akh, ty svóloch, vsya grud’ v sinyakákh! Kakóy besstýdnik, vsyu grud’ isshchipál; kakóy nasmyéshnik, vsyu yúbku porvál.
AKSINYA Oh, you swine, my breast’s covered in bruises! The shameless brute, he’s pinched my breast all over; what a rascal, he’s torn my skirt to pieces.
SERGEY Stoy, bàba, stoy!
SERGEY Stop, woman, stop!
AKSINYA Ay!
AKSINYA Oh!
PORTER AND STEWARD A ty shtaný kosi, Aksyúsha!
PORTER AND STEWARD Rip his trousers, Aksyusha!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… Umoril, on nas so smyékhu, umoril, umoril.
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… He’ll make us die of laughing, die of laughing.
LABOURER Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!…
SERGEY Postóy!
SERGEY Stop!
SERGEY A nu, pusti.
SERGEY Come on now, let go!
AKSINYA Svóloch!
AKSINYA Swine!
AKSINYA Karaúl! Zashchipál! Ay! Ay!
AKSINYA Help! He pinched me! Oh! Oh!
LABOURERS Nasmeshil on nas do smyérti, nasmeshil, nasmeshil!
LABOURERS We’ll split our sides with laughing, split our sides!
SERGEY A! Ay! Ay! Ay!…
SERGEY A! Oh! Oh! Oh!…
STEWARD Oho! Zhiru to, zhiru, yeshchó, tak, tak! A yeshchó… Ho, ho, ho!… Vot tak rúchki! Vot tak nózhki, vot tak rúchki, vot tak nózhki! Ha, ha, ha!…
STEWARD Aha! She’s plump, oh, she’s plump, let’s have another go! And another… Ho, ho, ho! What luscious arms! What nice plump legs, what luscious arms, what nice plump legs! Ha, ha, ha…
SERGEY Dáyte mnye za rúchku poderzhátsa, ho-ho, gládkoe, tólstoe, gládkoe, tyóploe. Khoroshá, khoroshá, tóchno krov s molokóm, yey-bógu, yey-bógu khoroshá. A rózha v pryshchákh. Ha, ha, ha!…
SERGEY Let me get hold of her arm, ho, ho, here’s a nice smooth place, plump and smooth and warm! She’s a fine piece of woman, as smooth as silk, oh lord, oh lord, how fine! But her face is all pimply. Ha, ha, ha!…
PORTER Razreshite pososát’.
31
AKSINYA Pusti, pusti, pusti, pusti!
AKSINYA Let go, let go, let go, let go!
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!… (Enter Katerina.)
SHABBY PEASANT 10 Bárynya!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Mnógo vy, muzhiki, o sebyé vozmechtáli; dúmaete, vy i sil’ny, tól’ko vy i khrabrý tól’ko vy i umóm výshli? A kak báby inóy raz vsyu semyú kormyát, nye znáesh? A kak báby poróy na voyné vragóv bili? Inóy raz báby za muzhéy da za milykh svoikh zhizn svoyú otdaváli, a tebyé vsyo éto nipochóm. Vot vozmú i pokolochú, shtóby znal na shto bába prigódna.
SHABBY PEASANT Here’s the mistress!
AKSINYA Ay!
AKSINYA Oh!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto s tobóyu?
KATERINA (to Aksinya) What’s the matter with you?
AKSINYA Yúbku vsyu porváli.
AKSINYA They’ve torn my skirt to pieces.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Otpustite bábu; rády nad báboy poizdevátsa!
KATERINA Let the woman go; so you enjoy mocking a woman?
SERGEY Da nad kyem i smeyátsa-to nam?
SERGEY Who else can we make fun of?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shtozh vam bába dlya smyékha daná, shto li?
KATERINA So a woman’s only there for you to make fun of, is she?
SERGEY A na kakóy zhe yeshchó predmyét?
SERGEY What other reason is there?
AKSINYA Akh ty svóloch!
AKSINYA (to Sergey) Oh you swine!
SERGEY Nu, nu, nu!…
SERGEY Now, now, now!…
SERGEY 11 A nu-s, pozvól’te rúku-s, yésli eto vyérno.
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KATERINA You men certainly think a lot of yourselves; do you think you’re the only ones who are strong and brave, the only ones with any wisdom? Haven’t you heard about the times when women kept the whole family from starving? And how in wartime women gave the enemy a beating? There have been times when women sacrificed their lives for their husbands or sweethearts, but this means nothing to you. Well, I’ll give you a good thrashing to show you what a woman’s good for. SERGEY Well then, madam, allow me to take your hand, if that is so. (Katerina gives Sergey her hand. Sergey squeezes it.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ból’no, pusti, kol’tsó…
KATERINA You’re hurting, let go, it’s my ring…
SERGEY Obruchál’noe kolyéchko dávit.
SERGEY Your wedding ring’s digging into you.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pusti, pusti, pusti!
KATERINA Let go, let go, let go!
SERGEY Poterpite yeshchó malost’.
SERGEY Just hang on a bit longer.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ból’no, pusti!
KATERINA You’re hurting, let go! (Katerina pushes Sergey away and he falls.)
SHABBY PEASANT Vish ty, kak tolkanúla.
SHABBY PEASANT (excitedly) Hey look, she’s given him a good push! (Sergey gets up, rubbing his bruises.)
SERGEY Predlozhénye u menyá k vam yest’.
SERGEY I’ve a suggestion to make to you.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nu?
KATERINA Well?
SERGEY Poborótsa s vámi.
SERGEY Let’s try a bit of wrestling.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shtozh, popróbuem.
KATERINA All right, let’s try.
SERGEY Rasstupis, naród!
SERGEY Out of the way, everybody! (Sergey and Katerina wrestle.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto zhe ty ostanovilsa?
KATERINA Why have you stopped?
SERGEY Zabýl… Derzhú vas v rukákh i dúmayu… Da chevó tut, vo mnye sily mnógo!
SERGEY I forgot… With you in my arms I’m thinking… What about it, I’ve plenty of strength in me! (Sergey throws Katerina to the ground.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pusti, pusti, pusti! Akh, Seryózha, pusti!
KATERINA Let go, let go, let go! Oh, Seryozha, let go! (Enter Boris.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto éto?
BORIS What’s all this? (Katerina gets up.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Prokhodila mimo, zatsepila nogóy za meshók, upála; on khotýel podnyát, i sam upál.
KATERINA I was just passing by and caught my foot in a sack. And fell; he tried to help me up and fell down too.
SHABBY PEASANT Onó tochno.
SHABBY PEASANT That’s exactly what happened.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Chevó stoite? Rabótat’ kto za vas búdet? Za shto vam dyéngi plátyat? Tuneyádtsy, lezhebóki, pyánitsy!
BORIS (to the labourers) What are you standing around for? Who’s going to do your work for you? What do you think you’re paid for? Spongers, loafers, drunkards! (to Sergey) Get out, don’t hang around. (to Katerina) Fry me some mushrooms. Just you wait, when your husband gets back, I’ll tell him everything.
Stupáy, shto vstal? Gribkóv podzhár. Vot pogodi, priyédet muzh, vsyo rasskazhú. 12 Interlude
Scene 3
EKATERINA LVOVNA 13 Spat’ porá. Dyen proshól, spat’ porá, spat’ porá. Slóva nye s kyem skazát’ mnye, akh, kak skúshno; skúshno mnye, styény, dvyéri i zamki na dveryákh.
KATERINA Time for bed. The day is over, time for bed, time for bed. I’ve no one to talk to, oh, how boring it is, how boring, just walls and doors with locks on them. (Enter Boris.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Katerina!
BORIS Katerina!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto?
KATERINA Yes?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Spat’ porá.
BORIS Time for bed.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ráno yeshchó.
KATERINA It’s still quite early.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Pustyaki, shto dyélat’ tebyé? Múzha nyétu, nyéchevo zrya zhech svechú.
BORIS Nonsense! What have you got to do? Your husband’s not here, no need to waste the candle.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ládno, ozhús.
KATERINA All right, I’ll go to bed. (Exit Boris. Katerina undresses.) The foal runs after the filly, the tom-cat seeks the female, the dove hastens to his mate, but no one hurries to me. The wind caresses the birch-tree and the sun warms it with his heat, for everyone there’s a smile from somewhere, but no one will come to me, no one will put his hand round my waist, no one will press his lips to mine. No one will stroke my white breast, no one will tire me out with his passionate embraces. The days go by in a joyless procession, my life will flash past without a smile. No one, no one will ever come to me, no one will come to me. (Katerina undresses completely and lies down on the bed. A knock is heard at the door.) Who’s there? Who’s that knocking?
14 Zherebyónok k kobýlke torópitsa, kótik prósitsa k kóshechke, a gólub k golúbke stremitsa, i tól’ko ko mnye niktó nye speshit. Beryózku vyéter laskáet, i teplóm svoim gréyet sólnyshko. Vsyem shto-nibúd’ ulybáetsa, tól’ko ko mnye niktó nye pridyót, niktó stan moy rukóy nye obnimet, niktó gúby k moim nye prizhmyót. Niktó moyú byléluyu grud’ nye pogládit, niktó strástnoy laskoy menyá nye istomit. Prokhódyat moi dni bezrádostnyye, promelknyót moyá zhizn byez ulýbki. Niktó, niktó ko mnye nye pridyót. Niktó ko mnye nye pridyót.
Interlude 15 Kto éto, kto, kto stuchit? SERGEY Nye izvól’te pugát’sa. Eto ya.
33
Scene 3 (Katerina’s bedroom)
SERGEY (outside the door) Please don’t be afraid. It’s me.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kto?
KATERINA Who?
SERGEY Kak nye skuchát’!
SERGEY No wonder!
SERGEY Sergéy.
SERGEY Sergey.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Yésli b rebyónochek rodilsa.
KATERINA If only I had a child!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sergéy? Zachém? Shto tebyé nádo da nóchu?
KATERINA Sergey? What is it? What do you want here at night?
SERGEY Dýel’tse yest’, otvorite!
SERGEY Just a small matter, open the door!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kakóe dy el’tse?
KATERINA What small matter?
SERGEY Otvorite, togdá skazhú.
SERGEY Open the door, then I’ll tell you. (Katerina opens the door. Enter Sergey.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nu, shto tebyé?
KATERINA Well, what is it?
SERGEY Da vyed’ i rebyónochek, pozvól’te mnye vam dolozhit’, tózhe vyed’ ot chevó-nibúd’ byváet, a nye sam po sebyé. Nu, skázhem, byl by u vas predmyét so storoný tak, kak vsye drugie dyélayut… Da vam v váshem polozhénii videt’sa s nim pochti nevozmózhno. Rázve byl by on zdyes v étom dóme? Ya, dúmaete, nye ponimáyu? Skól’ko lyet u khozhyáev zhivú, naglyadyélsa na zhénskuyu dólyu.
SERGEY Yes, but even a child, if you’ll allow me to put it like this, comes as a result of something, not just of its own accord. Now let’s suppose you did have a bit on the side, like all the other women do… in your position you’d find it pretty well impossible to meet him. Say he was someone here in this very house? Do you think I don’t understand? I’ve been in service for years and seen enough of women’s lot.
SERGEY Prishól k vam knizhku poprosit’…
SERGEY I’ve come to ask if I can borrow a book…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Da… Nu shtozh, Sergéy, ukhodi.
KATERINA Yes… All right, Sergey, go away now.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kakúyu knizhku?
KATERINA What book?
SERGEY …pochitát’.
SERGEY …to have a read.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Proshcháy.
KATERINA Goodbye. (Sergey does not leave.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nyétu u menyá, Sergéy, nikakikh knizhek. Samá ya negrámotnaya, a muzh nye knig chitáet.
KATERINA Sergey, I haven’t any books. I can’t read anyway and my husband doesn’t read books.
SERGEY Khoroshó vy togdá so mnoy borôlisa, silishcha u vas…
SERGEY That was a good wrestle we had, you’re certainly strong…
SERGEY Skúka odoleváet.
SERGEY I’m dying of boredom.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nu, shtozh vspominát’.
KATERINA Well, why bring that up?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shtozh ty nye zhénishsa?
KATERINA Well, why don’t you get married?
SERGEY Na kom? Khozyáyskaya doch za menyá nye poydyót. A prostýkh mnye nye nádo; neobrazóvannost’ vsyo, a ya chelovyék chustvitel’ny; vot i skucháyu.
SERGEY Who to? A daughter of the house would never have me and I’ve no use for common girls; they’re so ill-educated and I’m a man of fine feelings; that’s why I’m bored.
SERGEY Pomiluyte, sámy schastlivy mig v moyéy zhizni. Nye khotite l’ yeshchó?
SERGEY Allow me to say, it was the happiest moment in my life, would you like to try again?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nyet, shto ty!
KATERINA Don’t you dare!
SERGEY A to skhvátimsa.
SERGEY Or let’s get hold of each other. (He embraces Katerina.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA I ya skucháyu.
KATERINA I’m bored too.
SERGEY 16 Ya poydú.
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SERGEY I’ll be on my way.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pusti, Sergéy, pusti! Shto ty výdumal? Pusti! Prodyót svyókor, mózhet uvídet’; pusti, Sergéy.
KATERINA Let go, Sergey, let go! What are you thinking of? Let go! The old man might come back and see us; let go, Sergey!
SERGEY Ya vsyo-taki sil’nyéy.
SERGEY Anyway, I’m stronger than you.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sergéy, nye nàdo. Shto ty? Ya boyús.
KATERINA Sergey, you mustn’t. What are you doing? I’m afraid.
SERGEY Zhizn moyá!
SERGEY My dearest!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto ty dyélaesh? Mily, pusti, mily. Ya nye kho…
KATERINA What are you doing? Darling, let go, darling, I don’t wa…
SERGEY Akh, Kátya, rádost’ ty moyá!
SERGEY Oh, Katya, my dearest love!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Uydi ty, rádi bóga, ya múzhnyaya zhená.
KATERINA Go away, for God’s sake, I’m a married woman.
SERGEY Nye nádo ob étom.
SERGEY You mustn’t speak of that.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nyet u menyá múzha tól’ko ty odin.
KATERINA I have no husband but you alone.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Katerina…
BORIS (off-stage) Katerina…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Svyókor…
KATERINA The old man…
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH …leglá?
BORIS …are you in bed?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Lozhús.
KATERINA I’m just going.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nu to-to.
BORIS Well, all right.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Idi.
KATERINA Go, quick.
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SERGEY Nikudá ya otsúda nye poydú.
SERGEY I can’t go anywhere away from here.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Svyókor dvyéri zapryót.
KATERINA The old man will lock the doors.
SERGEY Dóbromu mólodtsu i ókna dvyer. A nu, Kátya!
SERGEY To a lover windows can be a doorway. Come, my Katya!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Mily!
KATERINA Darling!
Act 2
Act 2
Scene 4
Scene 4 (Boris is walking through the courtyard carrying a lantern.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH 17 Shto znáchit stárost’: nye spitsa. Vsyo chúditsa, búdto vóry khotyát ográbit’; khozhú, smotryú, nyet li vóra. Byl mólod – tózhe nye spal, no po drugóy prichine!
BORIS That’s what old age means: you can’t sleep. You’re all the time thinking burglars are on the prowl; I wander around to see if there’s a burglar anywhere. When I was young I couldn’t sleep either, but for a different reason!
18 Pod óknami u chuzhikh zhon pokházhival,
I used to hang around under the windows of other men’s wives, singing songs, talking whatever nonsense came into my head, sometimes even climbed through the windows; I’ve had a good life, I’ll say so! Zinoviy doesn’t take after me: can’t even respect his own wife, if I were his age, how I’d – Ay! I’d get her and… He, he, he!… (He notices a light shining in Katerina’s room.) There’s a light in the window. Seems she can’t sleep; of course, she’s a young woman; hot-blooded too and there’s no one to console her. Ah! Now if I were younger, just ten years or so, what I’d do! She’d have it hot from me; hot, yes, by God, so hot, it’d even be good enough for her! A healthy woman like that and no man around, no man, no man, no man, no man, no man around; no man, no man at all. No man, no man, no man, no man; it’s dull for a woman without a man, I’ll go and see her, yes I will! (At the window Katerina and Sergey are saying farewell.)
pyésni pyel, vral, shto v gólovu pridyót, a inogdá i v ókna zabirálsa; khoroshó prozhíl zhizn, yeshchó by ya. Zinóviy nye v menyá: dázhe zhenú uvazhit’ nye mózhet, mnye by yevó godá, vot by ya, ekh! Ya b yeyó… He, he, he!… Svyet v oknyé. Nye spitsa yey navyérno; izvyéstno, zhénshchina molodáya; krov, znáchit, igráet, a uteshát’sa nye s kyem. Ekh! Bud’ ya pomolózhe, khot’ lyet na desyátok… Togdá, togdá! Zhárko býlo b yey ot menyá; zhárko, zhárko, yey-bógu zhárko oná samá dovól’na búdet! Takáya zdoróvaya, a muzhiká, a muzhiká nyet i nyet; a muzhiká, a muzhiká, a muzhiká, a muzhiká nyet i nyet; nyet muzuhiká, nyet muzhiká, nyet i nyet; nyet muzhiká, nyet muzhiká, nyet muzhiká, nyet muzhiká; byez muzhiká skúshno bábe, poydú k nyey, postóy.
SERGEY 19 Proshcháy, Kátya, proshcháy!
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SERGEY Goodbye, Katya, goodbye! (Sergey climbs out of the window and down the drainpipe.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Eto shto takóe? Gólos kakóy-to; nádo posmotryét’.
BORIS What’s all this? I can hear somebody’s voice; better have a look.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Podozhdí yeschchó.
KATERINA Wait a bit longer.
SERGEY Svetáet.
SERGEY It’s getting light.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Prézhde nóchi tyanúlis dólgo, dólgo, a tepyér éti syem nochéy, shto my s tobóyu vmyéste provódim, letyát, kak na krýl’yakh.
KATERINA The nights always used to drag on, endlessly, but now these last seven nights that we’ve spent together have flown by as though on wings.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Izmyéna, izmyéna, Katerina múzhu izmenyáet, molodtsá otyskála. Kto zh on? Opozdál Boris Timofyévich; akh chort, srámy-to skól’ko, góspodi bózhe moy!
BORIS Here’s treachery, treachery! Katerina’s betraying her husband and has found a lover. Who is he? You’re too late, Boris Timofeyevich! Ah, hell, what a scandal, God in heaven!
SERGEY Izvyéstno, vrémya v lyubvi prokhódit bystréye. Proshcháy, Kátya!
SERGEY It’s true, when you’re with a lover, time passes more quickly. Goodbye, Katya!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Ish d’yávol!
BORIS What a scoundrel!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Proshcháy, Seryózha!
KATERINA Goodbye, Seryozha!
SERGEY Kátya!
SERGEY Katya!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Sergéy, nóvy rabótnik, svóloch. Vot kto vor… Nu ládno, pogodí.
BORIS It’s Sergey, that new labourer, the swine. He’s the thief… All right, just you wait.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, proshcháy, proshcháy!
KATERINA Seryozha, goodbye, goodbye!
SERGEY Kátya, proshcháy, proshcháy!
SERGEY Katya, goodbye, goodbye! (Sergey comes out. Boris seizes him by the collar.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Stoy! gdye byl?
BORIS Stop! Where have you been?
SERGEY Tam, gdye byl, menyá uzh nyet.
SERGEY Wherever it was, I’m not there now.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Vóna, iz vsyekh bogátstv kakóe výbral u nevyéstki nochevál. Ey, lyúdi! Ey!
BORIS So that’s it, of all our treasures he had to choose the best: he’s spent the night with my son’s wife. Hey, everybody! Hey!
SERGEY Da nye krichí ty!
SERGEY Don’t shout like that!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Khochú krichát, ya zdyes khozyáin! Lyúdi, sudá! Vóra poymál!
BORIS I’ll shout if I want, I’m the boss around here! Come here, everybody! I’ve caught a thief! (The labourers run in half-dressed.)
SERGEY Shto zh ty ot menyá seychás zheláesh?
SERGEY Well, what do you want of me now?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Zheláyu ya tebyé pyat’sót pletyéy zakatit’.
BORIS I want to give you five hundred lashes.
SERVANT AND LABOURERS Góspodi, pomíluy!
SERVANTS AND LABOURERS Lord have mercy!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Daváy nagayku! Nu, zhivyéy! Snimáy s nevó rubákhu!
BORIS (to the porter) Give me the whip! Come on, look lively! Take his shirt off! (The porter runs off for the whip.)
SHABBY PEASANT Ekh, brat, tovó…eto sámoe… Odnó slóvo – tovó…
SHABBY PEASANT Well, mate, you asked for it… And you’re certainly going to get it… (Shabby peasant strips off Sergey’s shirt.)
PORTER Sam li búdesh bit’, khozyáin, ili komú povelish?
PORTER Are you going to flog him yourself, master, or get someone else to do it?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Sam! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina!
BORIS I’ll do it myself! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! Katerina! (Katerina appears at the window.)
37
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto takóe? Ya splyu!
KATERINA What’s all this? I’m asleep!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Spish? Spish! A nye tak davnó ty k oknú podkhodíla, zyvózdy schitála, voskhód zhdalá. Glyan, Katerina, vóra poymál; tepyér drat’ yevó búdu. A nu! Nachnyóm! Smotrí, Katerina, zanyátnoye zrélishche: krov vystupáet, krov vystupáet, a nu, yeshchó, dlya plezíru, dlya plezíru, dlya plezíru.
BORIS (to Katerina) Asleep? Asleep? No so long ago you came to the window and counted the stars as you waited for dawn. Look, Katerina, I’ve caught a thief; now I’m going to thrash him. Come on! Let’s start! (Boris flogs Sergey.) Look, Katerina, what an entertaining sight: I’ve drawn blood, I’ve drawn blood, right, let’s give him some more, just to entertain ourselves, to entertain ourselves.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Otpustíte yevó, éto ya, ya… Otpustí!
KATERINA Let him go, I tell you, let him go!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Krovyéy, brat, u tebyá mnógo, potomú i v blud pustílsa.
BORIS You’ve got plenty of blood, my friend, no wonder you’re so lecherous.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Dvyer u menyá otkróyte! Dvyer u menyá otkróyte! Na klyuch zapertá! Oktkróyte, otkróyte!
KATERINA Open the door! Open the door! It’s locked! Open up, open up!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH A my krovyéy tebyé ubávim, zhívo ty smirishsa, negodyáy, kholúy! Shto zh ty nye krichish, d’yávol, pyéred báboy khóchesh khorokhóritsa? Ya iz tebyá krik vy byu! A nu, a nu, a nu! Yeshchó, yeshchó, yeshchó, yeshchó!
BORIS We’ll get rid of some of that blood for you, you’ll soon feel less energetic, you scoundrel, you villain! Why don’t you cry out, blast you, trying to show off in front of a woman? I’ll get a scream out of you! Take that, and that, and that! Again, again, again, again!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Lyúdi! Lyúdi! Kto-nibúd’, pomogíte! Akh! Otpustíte; kto mnye dvyer otkróet, tomú lyubóv moyú podaryú. Broshús v oknó! Lyúdi! Poskoryéy!
KATERINA All you people there! Help me, someone! Oh! let him go; whoever opens the door for me will be rewarded with my love. I’ll jump out of the window! Come on! Quickly!
SHABBY PEASANT Seychás, seychás…
SHABBY PEASANT (to Katerina) Just coming, just coming…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!…
LABOURERS Ha, ha, ha!…
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Molchát, ni s my esta!
BORIS Shut up, stay put!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye uderzhíte, nye uderzhíte!
KATERINA You’ll not stop me, you’ll not stop me! (She climbs down the drainpipe and hults herself at Boris. The servants seize her and hold her.) You brute! You brute! I won’t let you! Let go…you monster, let go, let go, let go, let me go! Let me go! Let go, let go, let go, let go, let go, let go, let go, let go!
Zvyer! Zvyer! Nye pozvólyu! Pustí…Izverg, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, otpustíte! Otpustíte! Pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte, pustíte! BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Derzhite yeyó! Shto zh ty molchísh, kak statuy? Nye khorokhórsya pyéred báboy! Molchish? Molchish? Zakrichí, togdá perestánu! Nu! Nu! Nu! Nu! Nu! Nu! Nu! 20 Ustál.
PORTER 21 V kladovúyu Sergéya záperli, vot klyuch.
BORIS Hang on to her! Why are you standing there like a statue, not saying anything? Don’t show off in front of a woman! So you won’t speak? You won’t speak? Just yell, then I’ll stop! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! (stops flogging) I’m tired out.
PORTER Prikázhete mnye postegát’?
PORTER Would you like me to carry on, master?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nyet, khvátit, zaráz mnógo nel’zyá. Yeshchó sdókhnet. Otnesite v kladovúyu, závtra snóva drat’ búdem.
BORIS No, that’ll do, we can’t do too much at once, or he’ll peg out. Take him off to the store-room, we’ll flog him again tomorrow. (Sergey is carried away and Katerina is released.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nu shto? Progolodálsa ya. Nye ostálos li chevó ot úzhina? Nu! tebyé ya govoryú?
BORIS (to Katerina) Well, what now? That’s really made me hungry. Is there anything left from supper? Hey there! Are you deaf?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gribkí ostális.
KATERINA There are some mushrooms left.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Eto dyélo, daváy sudá gribki.
BORIS Just the thing! Bring me some mushrooms. (Exit Katerina.)
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PORTER Sergey’s been locked in the store-room, here’s the key.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Skachí na myél’nitsu, otyshchí Zinóviya Borísovicha. Skazhí, shtóby skoryéye vozvrashchálsa domóy. Skazhí: grekh dóma sluchílsa.
BORIS Go quickly to the mill and find Zinoviy Borisovich. Tell him to come home as quickly as he can, tell him there’s trouble at home. (Exit porter. Katerina returns.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Podsy pala yádu, sdókhnet starík, ot krysinoy otrávy.
KATERINA (aside) I’ve put in some poison. The old man’ll snuff it from rat poison! (Boris eats the mushrooms.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Gribkí vkúsnyye, masterítsa ty, Katerina, gribkí gotóvit’. Podí odyénsa, vyed ty chut’ nye gólaya po dvorú khódish. Idí… Stoy! Zhzhot menyá vnutri… Vody …prinesí.
BORIS They’re delicious mushrooms, you’re really an expert, Katerina, at preparing mushrooms. Go along and get dressed, you’re wandering around the yard almost naked. Go on… No, stop! My inside’s on fire… Bring some…water.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye prinesú.
KATERINA I won’t.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto? Kak ty skazála? Ty smyéyesh…
BORIS What? What did you say? How dare you…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Smyéyu!
KATERINA I do dare!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Smyéyesh…
BORIS You dare…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Smyéyu!
KATERINA I dare!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shlyúkha!
BORIS You slut! (He raises his hand threateningly at Katerina, then falls to the ground.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nu!
KATERINA Well!
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Shto so mnoy?
BORIS What’s the matter with me?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gribkóv, znáchit, ná noch poyéli… Mnógie, mnógie ikh poyévshi pomiráyut.
KATERINA Well, you had mushrooms late at night… Lots of people die after eating them.
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Zoví popá, Katerínushka milaya, zoví popá, mózhet i vprávdu smyert’ moyá prikhódit. Zhzhot…zhzhot… Zhzhot tóchno pozhár. Ya mnógo pózhil, mnógo greshíl. Popá sudá, popá sudá. Bózhe bózhe, kakáya bol’… Kakáya bol’…
BORIS Call the priest, Katerina dear, call the priest, maybe it’s true that death is approaching. How it burns…burns… burns like fire. My life has been long and my sins many. Bring the priest here, the priest! God, O God! It’s so painful… So painful…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gdye klyuchí ot kladovóy?
KATERINA Where are the store-room keys? (She searches Boris, takes the keys and goes out.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Dúshno…
BORIS I can’t breathe… (In the distance is heard the singing of the foremen coming to work. Their voices get nearer and nearer.)
LABOURERS 22 Vidno, skóro uzh zaryá, vidno, skóro uzh zaryá. Ekh! Nyébo prosvtelyélo, nyébo prosvtelyélo. Ekh! Nyécha trátit’ vrémya zrya, ey, skoryéye, za dyélo. Ekh! Nas ambáry vyérno zhdut. Nas ambáry vyérno zhdut. Ekh! Zhdyot muká kormílitsa, zhdyot muká kormílitsa, ekh! Nash khozyáin zol i lyut tóchno krokodílitsa. Ekh!
LABOURERS See, the dawn is breaking, see, the dawn is breaking. Hey! The sky is getting lighter, the sky is getting lighter. Hey! Mustn’t waste time like this, hey, to work, and quickly, fellows. Hey! The barns await us, that’s for sure. The barns await us, that’s for sure. Hey! And the flour that feeds us waits, and the flour that feeds us waits. Hey! Our master’s fierce and cruel just like a crocodile. Hey! (Enter labourers.)
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Kto-nibúd’ odin za popóm sbyégayte… Khúdo mnye.
BORIS One of you run and fetch the priest… I’m in a bad way.
FIRST FOREMAN Odín sekúnd…
FIRST FOREMAN In a moment…
SECOND FOREMAN Mózhet, v dom prikázhete snestí?
SECOND FOREMAN Maybe you’d like us to carry you into the house?
39
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Nyet, zdyes lúchshe. Sólnyshko skóro výydet, polozhíte sudá. Klyuchí…
BORIS No, it’s better here. The sun will soon be rising, put me down here. The keys…
SECOND FOREMAN Shto?
SECOND FOREMAN What?
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Klyuchí otnimíte. Potaskúkha…
BORIS Get the keys. She’s a trollop…
SECOND FOREMAN Bryédit, vyérno?
SECOND FOREMAN He must be raving!
THIRD FOREMAN Nu, tak i yest’, bryédit.
THIRD FOREMAN Yes, he’s certainly raving.
SECOND FOREMAN Znáchit, uzh sovsyém plokh.
SECOND FOREMAN Must mean he’s really bad.
THRID FOREMAN Vidát’ plokh.
THIRD FOREMAN He looks bad.
SECOND FOREMAN Mózhet byt’, umryót.
SECOND FOREMAN Maybe he’s going to die.
THIRD FOREMAN Umryót.
THIRD FOREMAN Yes, he is…
SECOND FOREMAN Ya pro to i govoryú, umryót.
SECOND FOREMAN That’s what I’m saying, he’s going to die. (Enter first foreman and the priest.)
PRIEST Gdye tut umiráyut?
PRIEST Who’s dying around here?
FIRST FOREMAN Tut.
FIRST FOREMAN This chap.
PRIEST A! Vo imya otsá i sy na i svyatágo dúkha…
PRIEST Ah! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH 23 Bátya, ispovyédatsa. Grekhóv u menyá mnógo. I pritóm znay: nye sprósta ya umiráyu, tákzhe vot kry sy dókhli, a snádob’e ot krys, byélenky takóy poroshók…
Oná! Oná!
BORIS (to the priest) Father, hear my confession. My sins are many. But you must know this: mine is not a natural death, rats die like this, and the rat poison, is a white powder… (Enter Katerina.) (pointing to Katerina) It was her! It was her! (falls back senseless)
Compact Disc 48 Scene 5
EKATERINA LVOVNA 1 Sergéy, Seryózha! Vsyo spit…
Scene 5 (Katerina’s bedroom. Katerina and Sergey are lying in bed. Sergey is asleep.) KATERINA Sergey, Seryozha! He’s still asleep.
SERGEY A?
SERGEY (waking up) What?
PRIEST Kónchilsa.
PRIEST He’s dead.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Prosnís!
KATERINA Wake up!
FOREMEN Amín.
FOREMEN Amen.
SERGEY Chevó tebyé?
SERGEY What do you want?
EKATERINA LVOVNA 24 Akh, Borís Timoféyevich, zachém ty ot nas ushól? Na kovó ty nas s Zinóviem Borísovichem pokínul? Shto my s Zinoviem Borísovichem dyélat’ byez tebyá tepyér búdem?
KATERINA Oh, Boris Timofeyevich, why have you left us? To whom have you abandoned Zinoviy and me? What will Zinoviy and I do now without you?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Prosnís!
KATERINA Wake up!
SERGEY Nu?
SERGEY Well?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Potselúy menyá!
PRIEST S chevó b yemú, yeshchó krépky byl starichók.
PRIEST (to Katerina) Why should it happen to him? He was still a strong old boy.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gribkóv znáchit, nóchu poyél; mnógie, mnógie, ikh poyévshi, pomiráyut.
KATERINA He’d eaten mushrooms at night, you know, a lot of people die after eating them.
KATERINA Kiss me! (Sergey kisses her.) Not like that, not like that; kiss me so it hurts my lips and the blood rushes to my head and the icons fall from their shelves. (Sergey kisses her.) Oh! Seryozha!
PRIEST I tóchno. Okh, uzh éti mnye gribkí da botvínyi, kak skazál Nikoláy Vasil’ich Gogol’, velíky pisatel’ zemlí rússkoy. Da, chudny ye my sli pyéred smyértiyu prikhódyat. Boris Timoféyevich govoríl, shto on kak krýsa izdykháet; tol’ko nye mózhet étovo byt’: kry sa dókhnet, a chelovyék prestavlyáetsa. Chudnó… Odnáko panikhídku nye mesháet otsluzhít’. “Ny ne otpushcháeshi rába tvoevó, vlady ko…”
PRIEST That’s so. ‘Oh, these mushrooms and cold soups are too much’, as Nikolay Vasilyich Gogol said, that great writer of our Russian land. Yes indeed, people get strange ideas when they’re dying. Boris Timofeyevich said that he was dying like a rat; only that can’t be right; a rat dies, but a human being passes away. Strange… But that doesn’t stop us saying a requiem for him. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace…
25 Interlude
Nye tak, nye tak; potselúy, shtóby bol’no gubám býlo, shtóby krov k golovyé prilíla, shtob ikóny s kióta posy palis. Akh! Seryózha! SERGEY 2 Kátya, prikhódit konyéts lyubvi náshey.
Interlude
40
SERGEY Katya, our love is nearing its end.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pochemú?
KATERINA Why?
SERGEY Priyédet Zinóviy Borísych, zakónny tvoy suprúg, kak zhe mnye byt’? Smotrét’, kak ty s zakónnym múzhem spat’ lozhishsa?
SERGEY Zinoviy Borisych will be coming back, your lawful husband, how do you think I’m going to feel, seeing you go to bed with your lawful husband?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Etovo nye búdet.
KATERINA That won’t happen.
SERGEY Katerína Lvovna, Kátenka, ya nye kak drugie próchie, kotórym vsyo bezrazlíchno, lish by sládkim zhénskim tyélom polákomitsa. Vyed’ ya delikátny, ya chústvuyu, shto takóe lyubóv. Akh, zachém ya tebyá polyubíl, k tebyé li lyubóvyu mnye pylát’, i rázve éto pochót dlya tebya, imenitoy kupchíkhi, moyéy polyubóvnitsey byt’? Akh, Kátya, ya b khotyél pyéred bógom stat’ tvoim suprúgom! A tak shto, i vidimsa my tól’ko nóchu, a pri sólnyshke boímsa pokazát’sa lyúdyam na glazá. EKATERINA LVOVNA 3 Nye pechál’sa, Sergéy, sdyélayu tebyá kuptsóm, i zhit’ s tobóy kak slyéduet stánu.
SERGEY Katerina Lvovna, Katenka, I’m not like other men, who don’t care about anything, so long as they’ve got a woman’s soft body to caress. I’m a sensitive person, you know, I can feel what love is. Oh why did I fall in love with you and burn with passion just for you? Can it really be an honour for you, an eminent merchant’s wife, to be my mistress? Oh Katya, what I’d give to become your husband in God’s eyes! As it is, we can meet only at night and in daylight we’re afraid to show our faces to the world.
SERGEY How will you manage that?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye tvoyá zabóta. Tvoyó dyélo tselovát’ menyá krépko, vot tak.
KATERINA That’s not your worry. It’s your business to kiss me hard, like this. (Sergey kisses her, then falls asleep.)
Vot on v uglú.
KATERINA He’s asleep again. Oh Sergey, can you really sleep, when your lover’s lips are so close? Oh, Sergey, I’ll not fear anyone, I’ll make you my husband, I’ll not be afraid of anyone. Boris Timofeyich tried to interfere and he’s gone: dead, buried and forgotten, only I remember him at nights. His fearful face often appears before me. (The ghost of Boris appears.) There he is in the corner!
GHOST OF BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Katerína Lvóvna, ubíytsa! Ya prishól posmotryét’, kak ty s Sergéyem sogreváesh postyél’ moevó sy na.
GHOST OF BORIS Katerina Lvovna, you murderess! I’ve come to find out how you and Sergey are keeping my son’s bed warm.
EKATERINA LVOVNA 4 Opyát usnúl. Ekh, Sergéy, rázve mózhno spat’, kogdá lyúbyashchie gúby tak blízko? Akh, Sergéy, nikovó nye poboyús, sdyélayu tebyá svoim múzhem, nikovó nye ustrahús. Khotyél Boris Timoféyich pomeshát’, i nyet yevó: úmer, pokhorónen, zaby t, tol’ko ya vspomináyu o nyom po nochám. Chásto yavlyáetsa on ko mnye stráshny.
KATERINA You can’t frighten me; look at me sleeping with Sergey.
GHOST OF BORIS TIMOFEYEVICH Glazá moi nye vídyat; smotri, v glazákh moíkh pustotá i ogón. Katerína, Katerína, bud’ vyéchno proklyáta!
GHOST OF BORIS My eyes cannot see; look, in my eyes is but emptiness and fire. Katerina, Katerina, a curse on you forever!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh, Sergéy, prosnis!
KATERINA Oh, Sergey, wake up! (Sergey wakes up.)
SERGEY 5 Nu? Chevó tebyé?
KATERINA Don’t upset yourself, Sergey, I’ll make you a merchant and we’ll live together properly.
SERGEY Kak zhe éto ty sdyélaesh?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye zapugáesh, smotrí, kak ya s Sergéyem splyu.
KATERINA Sergéy, Seryózha, posmotrí, vídish, stráshny stoít Boris Timoféyich.
KATERINA Sergey, Seryozha, look and see, the fearful ghost of Boris Timofeyich standing there. (Sergey cannot see the ghost.)
SERGEY Pustóe, nikovó tam nyet, uspokóysya, Kátya.
SERGEY Nonsense, there’s no one there, calm down, Katya.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Stráshno, Seryózha, tselúy, tselúy, tselúy menyá; míly, dorogóy, krepche prizhmí menyá k syerdtsu!
KATERINA I’m scared, Seryozha, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me; darling, dearest one, press me closer to your heart! (The ghost disappears, Katerina and Sergey fall asleep. Later Katerina wakes up and rouses Sergey.) (in a whisper) Listen, Sergey, Sergey!
6 Slúshay, Sergéy, Sergéy!
41
SERGEY Well? What do you want?
SERGEY Nu?
SERGEY Well?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sly shish?
KATERINA Can you hear it?
SERGEY Shto takóe?
SERGEY What?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kto-to khódit tíkho, tíkho.
KATERINA Someone’s walking softly, softly.
SERGEY Tebyé opyát’ meréshchitsa.
SERGEY It’s your imagination again.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nyet, nyet. Sobáki nye láyali, svoy kto-nibúd’; slýshish? Idyót kto-to.
KATERINA No, no. The dogs didn’t bark, so it’s someone they know; can you hear? Someone’s coming.
SERGEY Sly shu.
SERGEY Yes, I can.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Dóma.
KATERINA Yes, I have.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Spryáchsa gdnye-nibúd, eto Zinóviy Borísych, moy muzh.
KATERINA Hide somewhere, it’s Zinoviy Borisych, my husband. (Sergey whistles.)
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Tak! Khoroshó, nu ládno, kak zhe pápenka-to úmer?
ZINOVIY I see! Well, that’s fine then, but how did my dad die?
SERGEY Vot tebyé bábushka i Yúryev dyen!
SERGEY Now we’re really in the soup!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Tak úmer, i pokhoroníli s chést’yu.
KATERINA Well, he just died; we gave him a good funeral.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pryáchsa, pryáchsa!
KATERINA Hide quick, hide! (Sergey hides.) He’s listening at the door, the swine, just you wait!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH A pochemú postyél’ na dvoíkh prigotóvlena?
ZINOVIY And why is the bed made up for two?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Vas vsyo dozhidálas.
KATERINA I was expecting you any time.
ZINOVIY (outside the door) Katerina!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH I na tom spasíbo.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kto tam?
KATERINA Who’s there?
A éto shto za predmyét?
ZINOVIY Thanks for that anyway. (noticing Sergey’s belt) And what might that thing be?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Otvoryáy!
ZINOVIY Open the door!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gdye?
KATERINA Where?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye razberú… Kto tam?
KATERINA I can’t make it out… Who’s there?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Tut! Skól’ko mnye izvyéstno, eto muzhskóy poyasók.
ZINOVIY Here! From what I can make out, it’s a man’s belt.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Ya…
ZINOVIY It’s me…
EKATERINA LVOVNA V sadú nashlá i yúbku im povyazála.
KATERINA I found it in the garden and fastened my skirt with it.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kto?
KATERINA Who?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Ya, rázve nye slýshish?
ZINOVIY Me, can’t you hear?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH My kóe-shto slykháli o váshikh yúbkakh, o váshikh yúbkakh.
ZINOVIY We’ve been hearing some things about your skirts, about your skirts.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye razberú.
KATERINA I can’t make it out.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto zhe vy slykháli?
KATERINA What have you heard then?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Nu ya, Zinóviy Borísovich.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Slykháli my ob amúrakh váshikh mnógo…
ZINOVIY We’ve heard a lot about your affairs…
Kak zhivyóte, mózhete?
ZINOVIY Look, it’s me, Zinoviy Borisovich. (Katerina opens the door. Enter Zinoviy.) And how are you getting on?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto slykháli?
KATERINA What have you heard?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Po teátram nye khódim, po balám tózhe sámoe.
KATERINA I haven’t been going to any theatres, nor to any balls either.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Vsyo slykháli.
ZINOVIY We’ve heard everything.
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Tak znáchit dóma vsyo sidyéli?
ZINOVIY (noticing Sergey’s trousers) So you’ve been at home all the time?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Shto slykháli?
KATERINA What have you heard?
U dvyéri podslúshivaet, svóloch, nu, podozhdí! ZINOVIY BORISOVICH 7 Katerína!
42
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Vsyo slykháli, vsyo slykháli, vsyo slykháli, vsyo, vsyo, vsyo!
ZINOVIY We’ve heard it all, we’ve heard it all, we’ve heard it all, just everything!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ya nye lyublyú, kogdá so mnóyu govoryát nakhál’no. Obyasníte mnye vy, o kakíkh takíkh amúrakh govorite? Vy nichevó nye znáete sovsyém, a ya vsyo znáyu. Nye pozvólyu govorít’ so mnóyu o moíkh amúrakh vam i próchim, nye vam menyá sudít’, nye lyez protívny, zhálky: dázhe nye mogú skazát’ shto muzh, a prósto pyen, brevnó, khíly, sláby, kak rýba kholódny. Ty protíven mnye. Akh ty zhálky kúpchik!
KATERINA I don’t like people talking to me in that insolent way. Kindly explain what “affairs” you’re talking about. You know absolutely nothing about it, I’m the one who knows it all. I won’t allow you or anyone else to talk to me about my “affairs”. It’s not for you to judge me. Hands off, you disgusting, pathetic creature; I can’t even call you a husband, you’re as lifeless as a lump of wood, a feeble weakling and as cold as a fish. You disgust me. Ugh, you pathetic tradesman!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Smotri, Katerína, ból’no ty rechísta stála, govorísh, kak píshesh; shto takóe? Pochemú takíe náglyye zamáshki u tebyá? Nye dárom govoryát, shto izmeníla ty mnye. Pogodíte, Katerína, vsyo uznáyu, vsyo uznáyu, pogodíte, Katerína, vsyo uznáyu i nakazhú tebyá ya zhestóko, ból’no, ból’no, ból’no, ból’no, ból’no vysekú tebyá. Ya muzh tvoy pyéred bógom i tsaryóm. Ya otvecháyu za chest’ semyí. Skazhi mnye právdu.
ZINOVIY Look here, Katerina, that’s very fine language coming from you, just like you’d read in books! What’s it all about? Where have you got such insolent manners from? There must be some truth in the rumour that you’ve been unfaithful to me. Just you wait, Katerina, I’ll get to the bottom of it, never fear, just you wait, Katerina, I’ll get to the bottom of it and then I’ll give you sheer hell, absolute, sheer hell. I’ll beat the living daylights out of you. I am your husband before God and the Tsar. I am responsible for the family’s honour. I demand the truth!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Dlya chevó?
KATERINA What good’ll that do you?
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Skazhí mnye právdu!
ZINOVIY I demand the truth!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye khochú i govorít’ ya, vsyo ravnó vyed’ zhálky kúpchik, nichevó ty nye poymyósh!
KATERINA I don’t even want to talk to you, after all you’re nothing more than a pathetic tradesman, you’d never understand anything! (Zinoviy beats Katerina with the belt.)
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Nu-ka, nu-ka, poluchí!
ZINOVIY Take that, and that, and another!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ay! Ay! Sergéy, Sergéy, byut menyá! Vykhodí, zashchití!
KATERINA Oh! oh! Sergey, Sergey, he’s beating me! Come out and protect me!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Kakóy Sergéy? Kto éto? Gdye? kakóy Sergéy?
ZINOVIY Who’s this Sergey? Who is it? Where is he? Who’s this Sergey? (Enter Sergey. Katerina rushes to him and kisses him.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sergéy, lyubóv moyá!
KATERINA Sergey, my dearest love!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Ubiváyut! Lyúdi, sudá!
ZINOVIY Murder! Come here, everybody! (He runs to the window.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye uydyósh!
KATERINA You won’t get away! (Katerina catches up with Zinoviy, pushes him to the floor and begins to strangle him. Sergey runs up and holds Zinoviy on the floor. Zinoviy struggles.)
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Ya…vsyo…vsyo…
ZINOVIY I…knew it…all…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Derzhí yevó, Seryózha, krépche!
KATERINA Hold him tighter, Sergey!
ZINOVIY BORISOVICH Svólochi, na pómoshch! Oy, dushát!
ZINOVIY You swine! Help! Oh, they’re strangling me! (weakly) Get a priest…
Popá… SERGEY Vot tebyé pop!
SERGEY I’ll give you priest all right! (Sergey hits Zinoviy over the head with a heavy candlestick.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Khripít…
KATERINA He’s choking… (Zinoviy dies.)
SERGEY 8 Tepyér shabásh…
43
SERGEY Well, that’s the end of that…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nesi v pógreb. Ya búdu svetít’.
KATERINA Take him to the cellar. I’ll light the way. (Sergey lifts Zinoviy’s body on to his shoulders and carries it into the cellar. Katerina lights the way with a candle. When they come to the cellar, Sergey rolls away some stones and puts Zinoviy’s body in the hole.)
SERGEY Svetí, Kátya.
SERGEY Let’s have some light, Katya.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Skoryéy, skoryéye.
KATERINA Hurry up, oh do hurry up! (Sergey replaces the stones.)
SERGEY Seychás koncháyu. Vsyo…kónchil…
SERGEY Just finishing. That’s all…it’s done…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Tselúy, tselúy, tselúy menyá.
KATERINA Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me. (They kiss.)
SERGEY Kátya…
SERGEY Katya…
EKATERINA LVOVNA Tepyér ty moy muzh.
KATERINA Now you are my husband. (Katerina and Sergey stand locked in an embrace.)
Act 3
Act 3
Scene 6
Scene 6 (Katerina is standing near the cellar and gazing towards it. Enter Sergey. Both are dressed in fine clothes.)
SERGEY 9 Shto ty tut stoísh? Shto smótrish?
44
SERGEY Why are you standing there? What are you staring at?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, vyed’ tut lezhít Zinóviy Borísych, tut yevó my zakopáli.
KATERINA But, Seryozha, Zinoviy Borisych is lying there, that’s where we buried him.
SERGEY Tíshe!
SERGEY Not so loud!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kak vspómnyu, stráshno mnye, Seryózha!
KATERINA When I think of it I feel afraid, Seryozha!
SERGEY Myórtvykh nye bóysa, strashís zhivy kh.
SERGEY Don’t be afraid of the dead, it’s the living you should fear.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Znáyu.
KATERINA I know that.
SERGEY A yésli znáesh, tak nyéchevo tut stoyát’, lyúdi zamyétyat.
SERGEY Then if you know it, what’s the point of standing there? People will notice.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Ládno. Seryózha, sevódnya svád’ba násha, porá nam v tsérkov. Vsyo búdet khoroshó.
KATERINA All right. Seryozha, today’s our wedding day, it’s time to go to the church. Everything will be all right.
SERGEY Porá nam v tsérkov.
SERGEY It’s time to go to the church.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Yédem skoryéy, sevódnya nash dyen i závtra, i vsegdá.
KATERINA Let’s go quickly, today is our day and tomorrow and always. (Exit Katerina and Sergey. Enter the shabby peasant, drunk.)
SHABBY PEASANT 10 U menyá bylá kumá, pit’ lyubíla byez umá, ukh! U menyá byl mily svat, na vinó i vódku, khvat, ukh! Kryóstny bátya tózhe byl, khoroshó pokóynik pil, ukh! Ukh! Ukh! Ukh!… Byez viná moyá rodnyá nye moglá prozhit i dnya, ukh! Nu, a chem ya khúzhe ikh? Dúyu vódku za troikh, ukh! ukh! Nachináyu pit’ s utrá, nóchi, dni i vecherá, zimu, lýeto i vesnú, p’yu pokúda nye zasnú, ukh! Búdu pit’ ya tsély vyek, ya dushévny chelovyék. Ukh! Ukh! Ukh! Ukh!… Khoroshó pyet’, kogdá yest’ shto pit’, a kogdá nyéchevo pit’, togdá, nyéchevo pyet’. A pochemú nyéchevo pit’? Potomú shto dyéneg nyet. Planida u menyá takáya, a u drugóvo byváet planida khoróshaya. Vot Sergéy tózhe byl gol i nishch, a tepyér mózhet v vódke kupát’sa. Pochemú nye menyá, a Sergéya v muzhyá sebye beryót? A chem ya khúzhe? Rúki, nógi, golová, zhivót, vsyo na myéste, vot tólko planidy nyet. Zheláyu vypit’! Pógreb zdyes, a khozyáyka chásto stoit ókolo pógreba, i smótrit, smótrit… Dolzhnó byt’, v nyom khoróshie vina… Smótrit, smótrit, smótrit… Posmotryú i ya. Ukh, kakíe tam navyérnoe yest’ vina!
Oy, kakáya von! Oy, oy, oy! kakáya von! Vonyáyut, vonyáyut, vonyáyut! Shto zhe éto tak vonyáet? Neuzhéli vsye zakúsky protúkhli? Posmotryú… Bózhe, kakáya von! Ay!
SHABBY PEASANT Once a lady friend of mine crazy was on drinking wine, hic! Then I had a kindly mate, wine and vodka he drank straight, hic! And as for my godfather dear, his only interest was in beer, hic! Hic! Hic! Hic! That whole family of mine couldn’t last a day without good wine, hic! Why should they then outstrip me? I drink vodka enough for three, hic! hic! I can drink the whole day through, nights and days and evenings too, summer, spring and winter deep, drink until I fall asleep, hic! I shall drink for evermore, I’m a jolly sort, for sure, hic! Hic! Hic! Hic! Singing’s fine when there’s something to drink, but when there’s nothing to drink, then there’s nothing to sing about. And why is there nothing to drink? Because I’m broke. I’ve got an unlucky star, other people have got lucky stars. That Sergey – he had absolutely nothing and now he can swim in vodka. Why did she choose Sergey for her husband and not me? What’s he got that I haven’t? Arms, legs, head, belly – all in the right place. I’ve just got an unlucky star. I like to have a good swig! Here’s the cellar, the mistress often stands near it and keeps on staring, just staring… Must be some good wine in there… She stares and stares and stares… Well, I’ll just have a look. Ah, there must really be some good wines in there! (He breaks the lock and enters the cellar, then quickly runs out again, holding his nose.) Ugh, what a pong! Ugh, ugh, ugh! What a pong! What a frightful, frightful pong! What could cause such a pong? Has all the food gone bad? (goes into the cellar again) I’ll have a look… God, what a pong! Oh! (Noticing Zinoviy’s body in the cellar, the shabby peasant runs out in horror.)
Trup! Trup Zinóviya Borisovicha, trup, trup Zinóviya Borisovicha, ay! ay! V politsiyu!
11 Interlude Scene 7
SERGEANT 12 Sózdan politséysky byl vo vrémya onó, dázhe u egiptyan by li faraóny. Kak zhe v prosveshchónny ny neshniy nash vyek zhit’ byez politséyskikh mózhet chelovyék?
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A corpse! The corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich, the corpse, the corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich. Oh! Oh! Get the police! (runs away in horror) Interlude Scene 7 (At the police station. The sergeant and the policemen – 20–24 men – are sitting around idly and despondently.) SERGEANT The police were formed, so we are told, when the Pharaohs ruled in days of old, how then in our enlightened civilisation can men exist without a police station?
SERGEANT AND POLICEMEN No za vsye svoí starániya vidim my odní stradániya, náshe zhálovanye skúdno, brat’ zhe vzyátki óchen trúdno.
SERGEANT AND POLICEMEN But for all our application we receive but tribulation, they pay us most unfairly and good bribes are offered rarely.
SERGEANT Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by, ekh! vodítse.
SERGEANT Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
POLICEMEN Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by vodítse.
POLICEMEN Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
SERGEANT Sónste i luná drug drúga zamenyáyut, zvyózdy dazhe tye nochámi lish siyáyut.
SERGEANT Sun and moon in turn give light, the stars they twinkle but at night.
POLICEMEN Ekh!
POLICEMEN Hey!
SERGEANT A gorodovóy bessmyénno na postú v vyódro i nenást’e, v zásukhu i mglu.
SERGEANT But a policeman’s always on the job, come rain or tempest, drought or fog.
SERGEANT AND POLICEMEN No za vsye svoí starániya vidim my odní stradániya, náshe zhálovanye skúdno, brat’ zhe vzyátki óchen trúdno.
SERGEANT AND POLICEMEN But for all our application we receive but tribulation, they pay us most unfairly and good bribes are offered rarely.
SERGEANT Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by, ekh, vodítse!
SERGEANT Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
POLICEMEN Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by vodítse!
POLICEMEN Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
POLICEMEN A! I! O! U! Y! Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN A! I! O! U! Y! Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT Dlya tovó kvartál’ny bódrstvuet nochámi, dlya tovó povódit gróznymi ochámi, shtob na nigilístov strákhu nagonyát’, shtóby blagopristóynost’ vsyúdu sokhranyát’, i za vsye svoi starániya vídim my odni stradániya, náshe zhálovanye skúdno, brat’ zhe vzyátki óchen trúdno!
SERGEANT That’s why a sergeant vigil keeps all night and why his aspect is a dreadful sight, to cause in nihilists fear and agitation, preserving peace and quiet for the nation. But for all our application we receive but tribulation, they pay us most unfairly and good bribes are offered rarely!
SERGEANT Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMAN On v bóga, váshe blagoródie, nye vyéruet.
POLICEMAN He says, your honour, he doesn’t believe in God.
TEACHER Bog-to…yest’…
TEACHER God does…exist…
SERGEANT POLICEMEN Ekh! za vsye, ekh, svoi, ekh, starániya, ekh, ekh, vídim, ekh, my odní, ekh, stradániya, ekh! Ekh! Náshe zhálovanye ekh, ekh, skúdno, ekh, brat’ zhe, ekh, vzyátki, ekh ekh, óchen, ekh, trúdno!
POLICEMEN Hey! And for all, hey, our, hey, application, hey, hey, we receive, hey, but, hey, tribulation, hey! Hey! They pay us, hey, hey, most unfairly, hey, and good, hey, bribes, hey, hey, are offered, hey, rarely!
Molchát!
SERGEANT (to the teacher) Shut up!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by, ekh, vodítse!
SERGEANT Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
POLICEMAN I pro lyagúshek…
POLICEMAN And he talks about frogs…
SERGEANT Kakikh lyagúshek?
SERGEANT What frogs?
POLICEMEN Gdye by, kak by pozhivítsa nam by v mútnoy by vodítse!
POLICEMEN Where could we make the extra bob, if we didn’t fiddle on the job?
TEACHER Stal ya dúmat’, tóchno odín chelovyék obladáet dushóy, nyet li yeyó u lyagúshek. Vzyal lyagúshku, isslyédoval.
TEACHER I started wondering why only man should possess a soul and why frogs shouldn’t have one too. So I took a frog and examined it.
SERGEANT Nu?
SERGEANT Well?
TEACHER I yest’ dushá, tókma málaya i nye bessmyértnaya…
TEACHER It has a soul, only a very small one and it’s not immortal…
SERGEANT Vzyat’!
SERGEANT Lock him up!
TEACHER Prostíte, yest’ bog, yest’ bog.
TEACHER Sorry, God does exist, God does exist!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho! (The policemen take the teacher away and then return.)
SERGEANT 13 U Izmaýlovoy seychás pir goróy, vencháetsa pódlaya, a menyá nye priglasíla. Ya yey pripómnyu, kak byez nachál’stva venchátsa. Ya yey pripómnyu, kak byez nachál’stva venchátsa.
SERGEANT There’s a real feast now at the Ismailov’s, that hussy’s getting married and she hasn’t invited me. I’ll get even with her, for getting married without the authorities. I’ll get even with her, for getting married without the authorities.
POLICEMEN Tak tóchno, my vsye pripómnim!
POLICEMEN That’s right, we’ll all get even with her!
SERGEANT Bylá by tól’ko prichína, khotyá prichína vsyegdá naydyótsa.
SERGEANT If only we had a pretext, although a pretext can always be found.
POLICEMEN Tak tóchno, vsyegdá naydyótsa.
POLICEMEN That’s right, one can always be found. (A policeman enters leading a teacher. The teacher looks scared. The policeman and the sergeant jump to their feet and start looking interested.)
POLICEMAN Ya sotsialísta poymál.
POLICEMAN I’ve caught a socialist.
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Sózdan politséysky byl vo vrémya onó… A u Izmáylovoy-to pir goróyu.
SERGEANT That’s that. (Silence again and an air of boredom.) The police were formed, so we are told… But there’s a real feast now at the Ismailov’s.
POLICEMEN Skóro, skóro, skóro, skóro, shtóby nye by lo ukóra, v potakányi, v neradyényi, v bespolyéznom promedlyényi!
POLICEMEN Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, then we’ll have no cause to worry, won’t get blamed for inattention in a serious situation!
POLICEMEN Ekh!
POLICEMEN Ah!
SERGEANT Vot gdye by bylá pozhiva khoróshya, vot tól’ko nyétu prichíny. Ekh!
SERGEANT That’s where we’d get something good, only we’ve no excuse for going! Ah! (Enter shabby peasant.)
SERGEANT Zhívo, zhívo, zhívo, zhívo, tam predvíditsa nazhíva, vsye my mózhem podkormítsa, búdem, búdem toropítsa!
SERGEANT Quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker, we might get free food and liquor, stuff ourselves until we’re sick, so we’ll hurry, hurry quick!
POLICEMEN Zhívo, zhívo, zhívo, zhívo, tam predvíditsa nazhíva, vsye my smózhem podkormítsa, búdem, búdem toropítsa!
POLICEMEN Quicker, quicker, quicker, quicker, we might get free food and liquor, stuff ourselves until we’re sick, so we’ll hurry, hurry quick!
SERGEANT To-to.
SHABBY PEASANT 14 Váshe blagorodie!
SHABBY PEASANT Your honour!
SERGEANT Chevó tebyé?
SERGEANT What do you want?
SHABBY PEASANT Sluchílos…
SHABBY PEASANT Something’s happened…
SERGEANT Shto sluchílos?
SERGEANT What’s happened?
SHABBY PEASANT U Izmáylovykh…
SHABBY PEASANT At the Ismailov’s…
SERGEANT U Izmáylovykh? Ho, ho!
SERGEANT At the Ismailov’s? Ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
SHABBY PEASANT Trup v pógrebe…
SHABBY PEASANT There’s a corpse in the cellar…
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho! (The policemen and the sergeant get up and cheerfully set off.)
SERGEANT Prislál gospód’!
SERGEANT What a godsend!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
POLICEMEN Ho, ho, ho!
SERGEANT Skóro, skóro, skóro, skóro, shtóby nye by lo ukóra, v potakányi, v neradyényi, v bespolyéznom promedlyényi!
SERGEANT Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, then we’ll have no cause to worry, won’t get blamed for inattention in a serious situation!
15 Interlude Scene 8
GUESTS 16 Sláva suprúgam, Katerine Lvóvne i Sergéyu Filíppychu, sláva! Sláva suprúgam, suprúgam sláva, sovyét da lyubóv! Sláva suprúgam, Katerine Lvóvne i Sergéyu Filíppychu, sláva! Zheláem vam dobrá i schást’ye i soglásnoy zhízni, sláva.
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Interlude Scene 8 (In the garden the tables are set out to form three sides of a rectangle; the guests, already drunk, are celebrating the wedding of Katerina and Sergey. The bridal pair are in the centre. The feast is coming to an end. Nearby is the cellar, where Zinoviy’s body lies. Katerina is very restless and on edge. The guests are toasting the bridal pair.) GUESTS Long live the happy pair, Katerina and Sergey, long life to you! Long live the happy pair, may they live long in love and harmony! Long live the happy pair, Katerina and Sergey, long life to you! We wish you health and happiness and a life of harmony. Long life!
PRIEST Górko! Górko!
PRIEST Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss!
GUESTS Górko! Górko!
GUESTS Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss! (Katerina and Sergey kiss.)
GUESTS Ha, ha, ha!…
GUESTS Ha, ha, ha!…
PRIEST Khoroshó! Górko!
PRIEST That’s fine! Kiss her again!
GUESTS Górko! Górko!
GUESTS Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss! (They kiss again.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Gósti dorogíe, kúshayte, proshú vas!
KATERINA Dear friends, help yourselves, please!
GUESTS Spasíbo, spasíbo.
GUESTS Thank you, thank you.
PRIEST Kto kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, kto kráshe sóntsa v nyébe? A?
PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky, who is fairer than the sun in the sky? Eh!
GUESTS Nikovó nyet kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, nikovó nyet kráshe sóntsa v nyébe? Da!
GUESTS Is there none fairer than the sun in the sky, is there none fairer than the sun in the sky? Yes there is!
PRIEST An yest’! An yest’ kráshe sóntsa v nyébe! Yest’! Yest’! An, yest’ kráshe sóntsa v nyébe! Kto?
PRIEST Indeed there is! Indeed there is one fairer than the sun in the sky, there is! There is! Indeed there is one fairer than the sun in the sky! Who is it?
GUESTS My nye znáem kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, my nye znáem kráshe sóntsa v nyébe nikovó!
GUESTS We know of none fairer than the sun in the sky, we know of none fairer than the sun in the sky!
PRIEST Katerína Lvóvna kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, mm…e…vesmá prelyéstna! Mm…rúchku… Górko!
PRIEST Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky, mm…ah…really lovely! Mm…her hand… Give her a kiss!
GUESTS Górko, górko!
GUESTS Give her a kiss, give her a kiss!
PRIEST He, he, he!… Zastydílis?
PRIEST He, he, he!… Have they gone all shy?
GUESTS He, he, he!
GUESTS He, he, he! (The guests are drunk and almost asleep.) Long live Katerina Lvovna, she’s fairer than the sun in the sky, long may she live!
Katerína Lvóvna sláva, shto kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, sláva! PRIEST Górko!
PRIEST Give her a kiss! (Katerina notices that the lock on the cellar door is broken.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh!
KATERINA Oh!
PRIEST Górko! SERGEY 17 Shto takóe?
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PRIEST Give her a kiss! SERGEY What’s the matter?
GUESTS He, he, he!
GUESTS He, he, he!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Zamók sórvan.
KATERINA The lock’s broken.
SERGEY Nu?
SERGEY Well?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Tam Zinóviy Borísych, smotrí, stráshno. Oy! Kogdá uydút, my ubezhím, spasyómsa!
KATERINA That’s where Zinoviy is, look, it’s terrifying. Oh! When they all go home we’ll make a run for it!
SERGEY Nye mózhet byt’, vyérno, slóman; tishe, tishe.
SERGEY It can’t be. It’s true, it’s broken; hush, hush.
PRIEST Kto kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, kto kráshe… Gdye zhe suprúgi, shumúkayutsa? Ráno, yeshchó nye noch, he, he, he!
PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky. Who is fairer… Where are the happy pair, having it off together? Bit early isn’t it, it’s not yet night, he, he, he!
GUESTS Sláva!
GUESTS Long life!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kúshayte, proshú vas.
KATERINA (to the guests) Help yourselves, please.
GUESTS Katerína Lvóvna kráshe sóntsa v nyébe!
GUESTS Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky! (They fall asleep.)
PRIEST Kto kráshe sóntsa v nyébe, a?
PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky, eh?
DRUNKEN GUEST Górko!
DRUNKEN GUEST Give her a kiss! (The guests are asleep. Katerina and Sergey are very agitated.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sergéy, nádo bezhát’, kto-to vzlomál zamók, navyérnoe videl tam trup.
KATERINA Sergey, we must escape, someone’s broken the lock, they must have seen the body there.
SERGEY A kak zhe khozyáystvo? Torgóvlya?
SERGEY What about the household? And the business?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Brósit’ vsyo pridyótsa. Vozmyóm vsye dyéngi, na náshu zhizn khvátit, mózhet byt’ uspyéyem. Idí za dengámi skoryéy, nel’zyá myédlit’ ni minúty!
KATERINA We’ll have to drop everything. Let’s take all the money, it’ll be enough for us to live on; we might just have time. Go and get the money quickly, there’s not a moment to lose! (Sergey runs into the house.) Oh, where’s he got to, where’s he got to?
Nu gdye zh on? Gdye zh on? SERGEY Idú, idú!
EKATERINA LVOVNA 18 Shto takóe? Pózdno!… Akh, Sergéy, pogíbli my…
SERGEY Coming, coming! (Sergey returns. Katerina hears footsteps and sees the policemen approaching, led by the sergeant. Katerina is distraught and rushes about the stage trying to escape.) KATERINA What’s this? It’s too late… Oh, Sergey, we’re done for…
SERGEY Pochemú pogíbli, bezhím!
SERGEY What do you mean, done for? Let’s run for it!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nyékuda!
KATERINA Wherever to? (A knock is heard at the gate.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye tyanite, nye tyanite, vyazhite, vyazhite, akh, Sergéy, prostí, prostí menyá Seryózha! Seryózha!
KATERINA Don’t keep beating about the bush, put the handcuffs on, then! Oh, Sergey, forgive me, forgive me, Seryozha! Seryozha! (She holds out her hands to the policemen. They handcuff her.)
SERGEANT A nu, daváy, zavyázyvay! Zhivo!
SERGEANT Get the handcuffs on! Look sharp! (Sergey tried to escape.)
SERGEY Pustí, svóloch!
SERGEY Let me go, you swine!
POLICEMEN Derzhí, derzhi¸derzhí, derzhí!
POLICEMEN Get him, get him, get him, get him! (They immediately get hold of him. He resists and they beat him. Katerina in handcuffs rushes to defend Sergey. They are both securely handcuffed.)
SERGEY Pustí! Pustí! Pustí!
SERGEY Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!
SERGEANT Vryosh! Nye uydyósh! Nye uydyósh! Raz! Raz! Raz! Raz!
SERGEANT No you don’t! You won’t get away! You won’t get away! Take that, and that, and that, and that! POLICEMEN No you don’t! Ha, ha, ha!… That’s what he needs, just what he needs! That’s what he needs, just what he needs!
SERGEY Kto tam?
SERGEY Who’s there?
POLICEMEN Vryosh! Ha, ha, ha!… Tak yevó! Tak yevó! Tak yevó! Tak yevó! Tak yevó! Tak yevó!
POLICEMEN Politsiya!
POLICEMEN The police! (The gate opens. Enter the police.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Nye smyey! Mye smyey!
KATERINA Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!
SERGEANT Zdrástvuyte!
SERGEANT How do you do?
SERGEANT Krépche derzhíte! Vedíte v ostróg!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Zdrástvuyte!
KATERINA (outwardly calm) How do you do?
SERGEANT Keep a tight hold of him! Off to prison with him! (He is led away.)
SERGEANT Vy nas nye priglasíli, pobryézgovali? A vot my sámi prishlí! Dyél’tse vy shlo odnó! Da, gostyéy-to skól’ko! Viná, nebós, mnógo výpito! Da? Dyél’tse takovo róda, da odnim slóvom, dyél’tse!
SERGEANT You didn’t invite us, aren’t we good enough for you? But here we are anyway! A little matter has arisen! So, what a lot of guests! Looks as if a lot of wine’s been drunk! Hasn’t it? There’s a little matter of a certain kind, to put it bluntly, there’s a little matter! (Katerina embraces Sergey.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh, Sergéy, prostí menyá, prostí.
KATERINA Oh, Sergey, forgive me, forgive me.
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Act 4
Act 4
Scene 8
Scene 8 (It is evening. The convicts are settling down for the night. The women are separated from the men. Amongst the women are Katerina and a pretty young convict called Sonyetka. Amongst the men is Sergey. All the convicts are in fetters. Sentries are posted everywhere.)
OLD CONVICT 19 Vyórsty odná za drugóy dlínnoy polzút verenítsey, spal utomítel’ny znoy, Sóntse za stepí sadítsa. Ekh, ty, put’, tsepyámi vskópanny, put’ v Sibír, kost’mi zasyéyanny, pótom, króvyu put’ tot vspóenny, smyértnym stónom put’ ovyéyanny! Akh!
OLD CONVICT Verst after verst, one by one, creeps by in an endless procession, the heat of the day now is done, the sun on the steppes is now setting. Ah, road, where the chains have been dragging, where bones of the dead are still lying, where blood and sweat have been flowing, to the echoes of groans of the dying! Ah!
CONVICTS Ekh, ty put’, tsepyámi vskópanny, put’ v Sibír, kost’mi zasyéyanny, pótom, króvyu put’ tot vspóenny, smyértnym stónom put’ ovyéyanny!
CONVICTS Ah, road, where the chains have been dragging, where bones of the dead are still lying, where blood and sweat have been flowing, to the echoes of groans of the dying!
OLD CONVICT Noch otdokhnyóm i opyát’, s pyérvymi sóntsa luchámi, búdem my vyórsty schitát’, myérno zvenyá kandalámi. Ekh, vy stepi neob’yátnyye, dni i nóchi beskonyéchnyye, náshi dúmy bezotrádnyye i zhandármy besserdyéchnyye.
OLD CONVICT We shall rest when the day’s work is done, but the first rays of sunrise will find us counting the versts one by one, our fetters still clanging behind us. Ah, steppes, you are so endless, days and nights so countless, the thoughts we think so cheerless and the guards we have so heartless!
CONVICTS Ey vy, stepí neob’yátnyye, dni i nóchi beskonyéchnyye, náshi dúmy bezotrádnyye i zhandármy besserdyéchnyye!
CONVICTS Ah, steppes, you are so endless, days and nights so countless, the thoughts we think so cheerless and the guards we have so heartless! (Katerina goes up to the sentry who is separating the women from the men.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA 20 Stepánych! Propustí menyá, vot dvugrivenny, vódki kúpish, Stepánych! SENTRY Oy báby! Oy, báby! Bludlívy naród! Nu, uzh ládno, stupáy!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Spasíbo!
Nakonyéts-to! Vyed’ tsély dyen s tobóy nye vídelas. Seryózha! í bol’ v nogákh proshlá, i ustálost’, i góre… Vsyo zaby los, raz ty so mnóyu, Seryózha, Seryózha!
KATERINA Thank you! (She makes her way over to Sergey.) Seryozha! My dearest! (She snuggles up to Sergey. Sergey maintains a sullen silence.) At last! I’ve gone the whole day without seeing you. Seryozha! Even the pain in my legs has gone and the tiredness and the anguish… Everything’s forgotten, once I’m with you, Seryozha, Seryozha!
SERGEY A grekh tózhe zaby la?
SERGEY Have you also forgotten the wrong you’ve done?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kakóy grekh, Seryózha?
KATERINA What wrong, Seryozha?
SERGEY A kto do kátorgi menyá dovyól, zaby la?
SERGEY Whose fault is it I’m a convict, have you forgotten?
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha!
KATERINA Seryozha!
SERGEY Otoydí!
SERGEY Get away!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha! Akh, prostí menyá, Seryózha.
KATERINA Seryozha, oh, forgive me, Seryozha.
SERGEY Udyí, ty zhizn moyú sgubíla! Uydi!
SERGEY Get out, you’ve ruined my life! Get out!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh, prostí menyá, prostí menyá, Seryózha! Bózhe moy, kakáya múka, Seryózha!
KATERINA Oh, forgive me, forgive me, Seryozha! O God, what torment, Seryozha!
SERGEY Tózhe kupchíkha! Prósto svóloch.
SERGEY Fine sort of merchant’s wife! You’re just a hussy. (Katerina returns to her place.)
Seryózha! Khoróshy moy!
KATERINA Stepanych! Let me go through, here’s twenty kopecks to buy some vodka, Stepanych! SENTRY Oh, women! Women! What a lecherous lot! Oh well, all right then, go along!
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SONYETKA Kakúyu éto rádost’?
SONYETKA And what is that desire?
SERGEY Izvyéstno, kakúyu!
SERGEY You must know what it is!
SONYETKA Kakóy prýtky, idí k svoyéy kupchikhe!
SONYETKA What a cheeky fellow you are, run off to that rich merchant’s wife of yours!
SERGEY Oprotívela oná, oprotívela oná, oprotívela oná mnye stráshno!
SERGEY I’m sick of her, I’m sick of her, I’m absolutely sick of her!
SONYETKA Chevó zh ty khorokhórilsa s nyey?
SONYETKA Why did you carry on with her then?
SERGEY Greetings!
SERGEY Iz korýsti!
SERGEY For what I could get out of it!
SONYETKA I kak ty éto vsyúdu pospeváesh?
SONYETKA How do you manage to get around everywhere?
SERGEY Chetverták únteru ya dal.
SERGEY I gave the sentry 25 kopecks.
SONYETKA A dúmaesh, ya rádosti dárom shto li búdu dostaylyát? Obchólsa!
SONYETKA Do you think I’ll give you what you want just to please you? Well, you’ve got it wrong! (She gets up and makes as if to leave.)
SONYETKA I gdye ty stól’ko beryósh chetvertakóv?
SONYETKA And where do you get so much money from?
SERGEY Stoy, Sonyétka!
SERGEY Wait, Sonyetka!
SERGEY U kupchíkhi.
SERGEY From my rich merchant’s wife.
SONYETKA Nu vot, to lozhís, to stoy!
SONYETKA Well, I can’t make out what you want! (Sergey embraces Sonyetka. Sonyetka resists.)
SONYETKA U kupchíkhi. Nu i dúra, tvoyá kupchikha!
SONYETKA Your rich merchant’s wife? Then she’s a fool, that rich merchant’s wife of yours!
SERGEY Izvyéstno, dúra, dúra.
SERGEY Yes, she’s a fool, for sure.
SERGEY Lyublyú tebyá, lyublyú tebyá! Lyublyú, lyublyú tebyá, lyublyú!
SERGEY I love you, I love you! I love you, love you, I love you!
SONYETKA Dúra.
SONYETKA What a fool!
SONYETKA Dokazhí, shto lyúbish!
SONYETKA Prove it then!
SERGEY Dúra!
SERGEY Yes, what a fool!
SERGEY Shto ty khóchesh ot menyá?
SONYETKA and SERGEY Ha, ha, ha!…
SONYETKA AND SERGEY Ha, ha, ha…
SERGEY What do you want me to do? (Sonyetka shows Sergey her torn stockings. Sergey seizes her legs, but Sonyetka puts a stop to his advances with a slap on the cheek.)
SERGEY Sonyétochka moyá, zheláyu ya tebyá poprosít’ dostávit mnye rádost’ zhízni!
SERGEY Sonyetka my darling, I want to ask you to grant me my heart’s desire!
SONYETKA Vídish? Chulkí porvális, khólodno mnye, dostán chulkí!
SONYETKA Can’t you see? My stockings are torn and I’m cold. Get me some others!
EKATERINA LVOVNA 21 Nye lekhkó pósle pochóta da poklónov pyéred sudóm stoyát’! Nye lekhkó pósle rádostey i lask spínu pod plyéti palachá podstavlyát’. Nye lekhkó pósle perín pukhóvykh na zemlyé kholódnoy spat’. Nye lekhkó pósle nyégi i pokóya ty syachi vyorst shagát’, nye lekhkó, nye lekhkó! No nyet síly vy terpet’ izmyény Sergéya, videt’ v kázhkom yevó vzglyáde nyénavist’, chúyat’ v kázhdom slóve prezrénye. Vot étovo nye mogú ya vy terpet’.
SERGEY 22 Moyó pochtyénye!
KATERINA It’s hard when you’re used to honour and respect to stand before a judge! It’s hard after endearments and caresses to feel the whip on your back. It’s hard after the luxury of feather beds to have to sleep on the frozen ground. It’s hard after luxury and peace to trudge for thousands of versts, it’s hard, it’s hard! But I’ve no strength to bear Sergey’s betrayal, to see in his every glance his hatred of me, to sense in every word his disdain. That’s what I cannot bear. (Sergey makes his way towards Sonyetka and wakens her.)
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SERGEY No gdye zhe?
SERGEY Wherever from?
SONYETKA U kupchikhi.
SONYETKA From your rich merchant’s wife.
SERGEY Vyérno! 23 Ládno dostánu! Kátya!
SERGEY Of course! All right, I’ll get some! (He makes his way towards Katerina.) Katya!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, prishól?
KATERINA Seryozha, so you’ve come?
SERGEY Kátya, nye serdís ty na menyá, prostí.
SERGEY Katya, don’t be angry, forgive me.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, Seryózha, vyed’ ty odín u menyá, moyá rádost’, ay ty…a ty oskorbíl menyá zhestóko, Seryózha!
KATERINA Seryozha, Seryozha, you’re all I have, you know, my love, and you…you’ve hurt me cruelly, Seryozha!
SERGEY Kátya, prostí, tyazheló mnye… Poslyédniye rasy ’ s tobóy ya vizhus.
SERGEY Katya, forgive me, I’m in a bad way… This is the last time we’ll see each other.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Pochemú? Seryózha?
KATERINA Why? Seryozha?
SERGEY Do góroda doydú, v bol’nítsu slyágu, kandalámi nógu natyór, bol’ nesterpímaya.
SERGEY I’m going to town to the hospital, the fetters have rubbed my leg so sore, the pain’s intolerable.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kak zhe tak? Shtozh ya byez tebyá búdu dyélat’? Vyed’ menyá dál’she pogónyat!
KATERINA But you can’t! What shall I do without you? They’re sure to torment me even more!
SERGEY Pogónyat! Nye mogú ya dál’she idtí, ból’no!
SERGEY They will! But I can’t go on any longer, it hurts so!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, nye mogú ya byez tebyá ni minúty byt’, shto dyélat’? Ya nye mogú, ya nye mogú, Seryózha. Nye pokidáy menyá!
KATERINA Seryozha, I can’t exist even a minute without you, what am I to do? I can’t, I can’t, Seryozha, don’t leave me!
SERGEY Vot yésli gdye-nibúd’ sherstyany ye chulkí dostát’, pomogló b navyérno!
SERGEY If only I could get hold of some woollen stockings from somewhere, that would certainly help!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Chulkí? Shto zhe ty ránshe molchál? Seryózha? Na chulkí, vozmí chulkí!
KATERINA Stockings? Why didn’t you say so before, Seryozha? Here are some stockings, take them! (takes off her stockings)
SERGEY Akh, Kátya, spasíbo, rádost’ ty moyá!
SERGEY Oh, Katya, thank you, my dearest!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Vot, vozmí.
KATERINA (gives Sergey her stockings) Here, take them.
SERGEY Nu, ya seychás pridú!
SERGEY Well, I’ll be back in a moment! (He takes the stockings and quickly goes towards Sonyetka.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Kudá ty?
KATERINA Where are you going?
SERGEY Seychás pridú.
SERGEY I’ll be back in a moment.
EKATERINA LVOVNA Seryózha, Seryózha! Zachém on ushól?
KATERINA Seryozha, Seryozha! Why has he gone off?
SERGEY 24 Na chulkí! Idyóm, tepyér ty moyá!
SONYETKA Ish, zvyer!
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SERGEY (to Sonyetka) Here are some stockings! Come on, now you are mine! (He takes Sonyetka in his arms and carries her off the stage.) SONYETKA (enraptured) Oh, you are a brute! (Katerina, noticing what is going on, rushes after Sergey, but she is restrained by the women convicts, who start mocking her.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA Sergéy, Sergéy, shto éto? Chulkí Sonyétke? Sergéy! Sergéy!
KATERINA Sergey, Sergey, what does this mean? Are the stockings for Sonyetka? Sergey! Sergey!
WOMAN CONVICT Ni odnú nye spítsa nóchku… Nepriyátno v odinóchku, nepriyátno byez Sergéya!
WOMAN CONVICT Not one night can she sleep alone… It is unpleasant on her own, it is unpleasant without Sergey!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMAN CONVICT U kupchíkhi zhar i pyl yeschó klokóchut. A lyubóvnichek ostýl, on i znat’ yeyó nye khóchet!
WOMAN CONVICT The merchant’s wife with passionate fire still is burning. But cold is now her lover’s desire, to know her he has no yearning!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh! Akh!
KATERINA Ah! Ah!
WOMEN CONVICTS A lyubóvnik uzh ostýl, on i znat’ yeyó nye khóchet. Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS But cold is now her lover’s desire, to know her he has no yearning. Ha, ha, ha!…
ALL WOMEN CONVICTS Byez Sergéya Kateríne óchen skúshno, byez Sergeya Kateríne óchen skúshno, byez Sergéya Kateríne óchen skúshno, byez Sergéya.
ALL WOMEN CONVICTS It’ll be dull for Katerina without Sergey, it’ll be dull for Katerina without Sergey, it’ll be dull for Katerina without Sergey, without Sergey. (At the noise the sentry comes running. He restores order.)
WOMAN CONVICT Nichevó nye stálo bóle: poteryála svoí rádosti na vóle! A v nevóle zhenikhá!
WOMAN CONVICT Nothing more to her is left: of her joys in freedom was she bereft! And in bondage of her bridegroom too!
SENTRY Smírno! Smírno! Chevó oryóte?
SENTRY Attention! Attention! What are you yelling for?
WOMAN CONVICT WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!… Poteryála svoí rádosti na vóle! A v nevóle zhenikhá!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!… Of her joys in freedom was she bereft! And in bondage of her bridegroom too!
WOMAN CONVICT (points out to the sentry where Sonyetka and Sergey have gone) There…there…Sergey, Sonyetka.
WOMAN CONVICT Katerína Lvóvna, natvoríla ty delóv!
WOMAN CONVICT Katerina Lvovna, what a mess you’ve made of things!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMAN CONVICT Byez Sergéya Kateríne óchen skúshno!
WOMAN CONVICT It’ll be dull for Katerina without Sergey!
WOMEN CONVICTS Kupchíkha byez Sergéya propadyót, byez Sergéya propadyót.
WOMEN CONVICTS The merchant’s wife will be lost without Sergey, will be lost without Sergey.
WOMAN CONVICT Otdáy, otdáy, otdáy chúlochki nam!
WOMAN CONVICT Give the stockings to us, give them to us!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!… Otdáy chúlochki nam!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!… Give the stockings to us!
EKATERINA LVOVNA Akh! Pustíte!
KATERINA Ah! Let me go! (She keeps trying to break through the women convicts.)
Tam…tam…Sergéy, Sonyétka. SENTRY Molchát’! Ya vas! Nu!
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SENTRY Shut up! I’ll do you! (looks and shakes his head) Well! (Katerina escapes from the ring of women convicts and runs on to the stage.)
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
SENTRY Nu i nu!
SENTRY Well I never!
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!…
WOMEN CONVICTS Ha, ha, ha!… (Katerina stands motionless in an attitude of utter despair, then in horror runs to the front of the stage. She stands still in utter despair.)
EKATERINA LVOVNA 25 V lesú, v sámoy cháshche yest’ ózero, sovsyém krúgloe, óchen glubókoe, i vodá v nyom chórnaya, kak moyá sóvest’, chórnaya. I kogdá vyéter khódit v lesú, na ózere podnimáyutsa vólny, bol’shíe vólny, togdá stráshno; a ósenyu v ózere vsegdá vólny, chórnaya vodá i bol’shíe vólny. Chórnyye bol’shíe vólny.
KATERINA In the wood, right in a grove, there is a lake, almost round and very deep and the water in it is black, black like my conscience. And when the wind blows in the wood, on the lake waves rise up, huge waves and then it’s frightening; in autumn there are always waves on the lake and the water’s black and the waves huge. Huge, black waves. (Sonyetka and Sergey come out from backstage.)
SERGEY 26 Znáesh li, Sonyétka, na kovó s tobóy my pokhózhi? Na Adáma i na Evu.
SERGEY Do you know, Sonyetka, who we resemble? Adam and Eve.
SONYETKA No na ray zdyes nye slíshkom-to pokhózhe!
SONYETKA But it’s not all that like Paradise here!
SERGEY Pustyakí, my seychás pobyváli v rayú…
SERGEY Nonsense, we’ve just been in Paradise together… (Sonyetka goes up to Katerina, who is sitting motion-less, her eyes fixed on one spot.)
SONYETKA Spasíbo, Katerína Lvóvna, spasíbo, Katerína Lvóvna, za chulkí spasíbo! Posmotrí, kak krasívo na moíkh nogákh sidyát. Seryózha mnye ikh nadevál i nógi potselúyami mnye sogrevál. Akh, Seryózha, moy Seryózha, Katerína dúra, nye sumyéla uderzhát’ Sergéya. Ekh, dúra! Ekh dúra! A chúlochki nye vidát’, oní teypyér moi, vídish? Mnye tepyér tepló!
SONYETKA Thank you, Katerina Lvovna, thank you, Katerina Lvovna, thank you for the stockings! Look how fine they look on my legs. Seryozha put them on for me and kissed my legs to make them warm! Oh, Seryozha, my Seryozha, Katerina’s a fool, she couldn’t keep Sergey. Ha, what a fool! Ha, what a fool! And you won’t see your stockings again. They’re mine now, look! I’m warm now! (An officer wakens the convicts. The beating of the drum is heard.)
OFFICER 27 Vstaváy! Po mestám! Zhívo!
OFFICER On your feet! Back to your places! Look lively! (The convicts get up.)
CONVICTS Ekh, vstavát’ nádo, dál’she, dál’she nádo idtí!
CONVICTS Oh, we’ve got to get up and get moving again! (The convicts line up. Katerina remains sitting motionless. An old convict goes up to her.)
OLD CONVICT Ty bábenka, sly shish? Ukhódim! Oní rugátsa búdut, sly shish?
SONYETKA 28 Akh!
OLD CONVICT Hey, old girl, do you hear? We’re off! Otherwise they’ll give us hell, do you hear? (Katerina slowly goes up to Sonyetka, who is standing on the bridge by a broken parapet. She pushes Sonyetka into the river and throws herself in after her.) SONYETKA Ah!
CONVICTS Bózhe moy! Shto takóe?
CONVICTS Good heavens! Whatever’s happened?
OFFICER Ni s myésta! Nu! Ya vas!
OFFICER Don’t move there! Watch it! I’ll do you!
SONYETKA Akh! Akh!
SONYETKA (from a distance) Ah! Ah!
OFFICER Obe potonúli, spastí nel’zyá, techénye sil’noe! Smírno! Po mestám!
OFFICER They’ve both drowned, we can’t save them, the current’s too strong! Attention! Back to your places! (The convicts line up and march off.)
OLD CONVICT Snóva i snóva shagát’, myérno zvenyá kandalámi, vyórsty uny lo schitát’, pyl’ podnimáya nogámi!
OLD CONVICT We trudge along day after day, clanging our fetters behind us. Wearily counting the versts, raising the dust all around us!
CONVICTS Ekh vy, stepí neob’yátnyye, dni i nóchi beskonyéchnyye, náshi dúmy bezotrádnyye, i zhandármy besserdyéchnyye, a…
CONVICTS Ah, steppes, you are so endless, days and nights so countless, the thoughts we think so cheerless and the guards we have so heartless. Ah… (Exeunt the convicts. Their singing can be heard in the distance. The stage is now empty.) Transliteration and English translation © Joan Pemberton Smith, 1979
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