"'Don't fear, little pigeon,
We shall not regret it,'
Said Phílip, but still
I was timid and doubtful. 210
'Do go,' murmured I, and he,
'When you come with me.'
Of course I was fairer
And sweeter and dearer
Than any that lived,
And his arms were about me….
Then all of a sudden
I made a sharp effort
To wrench myself free. 219
'How now? What's the matter?
You're strong, little pigeon!'
Said Phílip astonished,
But still held me tight.
'Ah, Phílip, if you had
Not held me so firmly
You would not have won me;
I did it to try you,
To measure your strength;
You were strong, and it pleased me.'
We must have been happy 230
In those fleeting moments
When softly we whispered
And argued together;
I think that we never
Were happy again….
"How well I remember….
The night was like this night,
Was starlit and silent …
Was dreamy and tender
Like this…." 240
And the woman,
Matróna, sighed deeply,
And softly began—
Leaning back on the haystack—
To sing to herself
With her thoughts in the past:
"'Tell me, young merchant, pray,
Why do you love me so—
Poor peasant's daughter?
I am not clad in gold, 250
I am not hung with pearls,
Not decked with silver.'
"'Silver your chastity,
Golden your beauty shines,
O my belovèd,
White pearls are falling now
Out of your weeping eyes,
Falling like tear-drops.'
"My father gave orders
To bring forth the wine-cups, 260
To set them all out
On the solid oak table.
My dear mother blessed me:
'Go, serve them, my daughter,
Bow low to the strangers.'
I bowed for the first time,
My knees shook and trembled;
I bowed for the second—
My face had turned white;
And then for the third time 270
I bowed, and forever
The freedom of girlhood
Rolled down from my head…."
"Ah, that means a wedding,"
Cry both brothers Goóbin,
"Let's drink to the health
Of the happy young pair!"
"Well said! We'll begin
With the bride," say the others.
"Will you drink some vodka, 280
Matróna Korchágin?"
"An old woman, brothers,
And not drink some vodka?"