… …
"Run to his father!
Bowing before him— 200
'Save me!' I beg him;
'Stop my fierce husband—
Venomous serpent!'
Father-in-law says,
'Beat her more soundly!
Draw the blood freely!'"
Chorus
"Hear the lash whistle!
See the blood spurt!
Ai, leli, leli!
See the blood spurt!" 210
… …
"Quick—to his mother!
Bowing before her—
'Save me!' I beg her;
'Stop my cruel husband!
Venomous serpent!'
Mother-in-law says,
'Beat her more soundly,
Draw the blood freely!'"
Chorus
"Hear the lash whistle!
See the blood spurt! 220
Ai, leli, leli!
See the blood spurt!"
* * * * *
"On Lady-day Phílip
Went back to the city;
A little while later
Our baby was born.
Like a bright-coloured picture
Was he—little Djóma;
The sunbeams had given
Their radiance to him, 230
The pure snow its whiteness;
The poppies had painted
His lips; by the sable
His brow had been pencilled;
The falcon had fashioned
His eyes, and had lent them
Their wonderful brightness.
At sight of his first
Angel smile, all the anger
And bitterness nursed 240
In my bosom was melted;
It vanished away
Like the snow on the meadows
At sight of the smiling
Spring sun. And not longer
I worried and fretted;
I worked, and in silence
I let them upbraid.
But soon after that
A misfortune befell me: 250
The manager by
The Pomyéshchick appointed,
Called Sitnikov, hotly
Began to pursue me.
'My lovely Tsaritsa!
'My rosy-ripe berry!'
Said he; and I answered,
'Be off, shameless rascal!
Remember, the berry
Is not in your forest!' 260
I stayed from the field-work,
And hid in the cottage;
He very soon found me.
I hid in the corn-loft,
But Mother-in-law
Dragged me out to the courtyard;
'Now don't play with fire, girl!'
She said. I besought her
To send him away,
But she answered me roughly, 270
'And do you want Phílip
To serve as a soldier?'
I ran to Savyéli,
The grandfather, begging
His aid and advice.