THE SONG OF THE VISITS
I liked a girl too much, too much.
She asked me to come and see her sometime.
So I went to see her upon a Monday—
I did not find my girl at home.
She was in the garden weeding barwēnok.
“Ah ha!” I thought, “she is not at home,
My little sweetheart is not at home.”
When I went to see her upon the Tuesday
I did not find my girl at home.
She was clearing the pea-vines in the garden;
“Ah ha!” I thought, “she is not at home!
Naidorozcha Devchina[[66]] is not at home.”
When I came to see her upon the Wednesday
I did not find my girl at home.
She was out in the pastures herding cattle.
“Ah ha!” I thought, “she is not at home,
My sweet little rose is not at home!”
When I came to see her upon the Thursday
I did not find my girl at home.
So I thought I was lost—I would not get her.
When I came to see her upon the Friday
She was weeding still in the garden bed.
“Ah ha!” I thought, “she is not at home,
My rosy cheeks is not at home.”
Saturday came and found me calling.
When the door was opened they told me this:
“She finishes all her work of cleaning.”
And I thought, “May I never see her again!”
When I came to see her upon the Sunday
I got her that time, you may be sure.
She was sitting there at the dinner table.
I said, “I have you, Naidorozcha Devchina,
The first time for you, the last for me!”
“WASYLKI”[[67]]—SONG OF THE DANCE
O they said, the evil talkers,
I, a maid, should never wed....
I saw Wasyl in the orchard,
The green boughs above his head.
Refrain. They are mine, the blue wasylki,
And Wasyl, he comes closer....
The reason why I like him so,
The Devil’s Father knows, sir!
There’s a dam anear the river—
My Wasylko’s gone from sight!
I call him, he does not answer—
May he spend in health the night.
Refrain.
Kneading bread and bringing calves home....
Where, Wasylko, art thou? Where?...
Laughing now above the oven
My Wasylko’s lying there!
Refrain.
Sleeveless shirt for my Wasylko
I will sew while bread I bake.
For my lad, my own Wasylko,
See the lovely shirt I make!
Refrain. They are mine, the blue wasylki,
My Wasyl, he comes closer.
The reason why I like him so,
The Devil’s Father knows, sir!