⁵Roma godlasa i džides[1]

Pir Bessarabija[2] lodena.

Ke len'[3] jone adadyves

Dre bedy šatry[4] ratkirena.

Syr rada[5] lengro soiben

Tel bolyben e čergenenca.

Maškir e roty ko urden,

Savo učakirdo cergenca.

Xačola jag; čave, daja

Ke šatry xabena skedena,

Pre felda sy zmekne graja,

Pal šatry o ryča psirena.

E felda sy džidy sari:

Phari zabota[6] dre iri,

Te otlodel, so skedyjape,

Jasva, romnengri gilori –

I o sastyr džides mard'ape.

Ne oke o roma sute,

Obuxtylde sy tiximasa[7]

I sy šundle jekh o džukle,

Ta graj rund'a phare godlasa.

Jaga sare murd'akirde,

Sy štyl saro, o čon khelela

¹¹⁰The Gypsies in a clamorous throng[8]

Wander round Bessarabia.

Tonight above a river-bank

They have spread their tattered tents.

Their camp-site is, like freedom, gay,

Peaceful their sleep beneath the heavens;

Between the wagon-wheels a fire

Is burning, and the family sits

Around it, cooking supper; horses

Graze in the bare field; behind

The tent a tame bear lies, unchained;

Everything's alive amid the steppes:

The peaceful labours of the family,

Ready to be off at dawn,

And women's songs, and children's shouts,

And the travelling anvil's clang.

But now, a sleepy silence falls

Over the nomad band; and one can hear

Only the bark of dogs, the neigh of horses,

In the brooding steppes. The lights

Everywhere are doused, all is quiet,

Only the moon is shining, high,

⁶Dro bolybnytko učipen,

Svetosa šatry začivela.

Ne jekh phuro nane suto,

Ko vangara jov sy bešto,

Pritatkirdo ada jagasa,

Dre felda dur dykhja phuro,

Savi sy zalyny rosasa[9].

E čaj phureskiri terny

Gyja pir felda bel'vel'asa.

Sykly te na javel sphandl'asa,

Javela joj; e rat terdy, –

I syges, syges čon čurdela

Duratuno da bolyben;

Joj ugyja, joj na javela,

Šyl'ola čororo xaben.

Ne oke joj. Palal šperasa[10]

Pir felda džala syges raj;

Phuro nane džindlo o rasa.

„Mro dado, rakirela čaj,

Prile, me džava manušesa:

Dro praxi les nange lathjom

I ke ame pre rat khard'om.

Jov te javel kamel romesa[11];

Les zaxaja tasaiben,

Ne leske me romny javava.

Aleko – leskro khariben;

Karik kami me lesa džava.

Phuro

Mišto, dak ačpe ko dyves

Dre šatra amari; kames

I dlengedyr tu jav amenca.

Syr tu kames. Me skedyno[12]

Po paš te roskerav maro;

Hal'ov amen i jav amenca,

Only the moon is shining, high,

Shedding her twilight on the camp.

In one tent, an old man does not sleep;

He sits before the embers, warmed

By their last glow, and gazes out

At the distant fields, covered in night.

His daughter has gone rambling in

The desolate fields; she is inured

To coltish freedom, she will come back;

But it is night already, soon

¹¹¹The moon will leave that distant cloud -

Zemfira is still out; the supper

Her father's cooked for her is cold.

But here she is. And after her

Across the steppe a young man hurries;

He is a stranger to the gypsy.

'Father,' the girl says, 'I bring a guest,

He was wandering on the steppe,
I've asked him

To stay with us tonight. He wants

To be a gypsy like us; the law

Is hunting him;
I'll be his friend.

His name is Aleko - he's

Ready to follow me everywhere.'

old man

I'm plod. Sleep here with us tonight

Under the shelter of our tent

Or slay with us longer if you wish.

Share with us our bread and roof.

Be one of us, learn to enjoy

Our wandering poverty and freedom;

⁷Udžin e vol'a čororenca.

Uštela-ž kham pre bolyben

Dro drom udžasa urdenesa.

Le piro di zaleiben:

Bilav sastyr, le khalyben,

Obdža gava phure ryčesa.

Aleko

Mišto.

Zemfira

Javela jov miro:

{Miro![13]} Kon mandyr les otlela?

Ne rat javja... i čon terno

Vzgyja, pre felda šylalo,

I soiben šero ravela.

Ačja dyves. Phuro psirela;

Dre šatra sy sare sute.

«Ušty, Zemfira, kham uštela,

Ušty, Aleko, ne že, ne!

Dyves parno; vydžan šatratyr».

Godlasa manuša uštne,

E šatry, urdena jekhatyr

Dro drom sy lenca skedyne;

Dre menta[14] skedynepe khetane:

Roma pir feldy džana, {džana}[15]

O osle[16] pre dumo lydžana

Čaven, so bida[17] na džinen,

Čaja, pšala, roma romnenca, –

Tyrdela špera jekh saren;

Džidy e godla e gilenca,

Rovela ryč i xačkirdes

E sastyrenca trinskirela;

Jagitka šmaty[18] riskirde,

Čave, phure – sare nange;

Our wandering poverty and freedom;

Tomorrow morning at sunrise

We will move off in one wagon;

Find for yourself a task that suits you:

Forge iron and sing songs, and make

The rounds of the villages with the bear.

ALEKO

I'd like to stay.

ZEMFIRA

He shall be mine -

Who will dare to drive him from me?

But it is light... the young moon

Has set; mist covers all the fields,

And I am overcome by sleep.

¹¹²Daybreak. The old man quietly

Wanders around the silent tent.

'Get up, Zemfira: the sun is rising;

Wake up our guest; it's time, it's time!...

My children, leave the couch of bliss!...'

Noisily the tribe poured out,

The tents were taken down; the wagons

Were ready to start out once more.

The trek began; the wagon-wheels

Churned, rolled, into the empty plain.

Donkeys carry playful children

In panniers; husbands, brothers,

Wives, maidens - both old and young

Follow along; the noise of shouts,

Gypsy airs,
the bear's roar,

His chain's impatient jangling;

The motley of garish rags,

Old men's and children's nakedness,

⁸Džukel rovela i bašela,

Šundle volynka i urden;

Niči nane sphandlo cunglenca;

Jekh džidypen dživela lenca,

Baro amendyr duripen,

Ad'ake dur jone mulendyr,

Syr e gily, jandly xartendyr.

Dukh e terneste pro ilo,

Phares pre felda jov dykhela,

I men'ka[19], so ilo tyrdela,

Na roskedela o terno.

Zemfira leskiri javela,

Adaj nikon na tasavela,

I khamoro pašyl džides

Lučenca[20] peskire khelela,

So-ž leste o ilo rovela?

Savi že dukh dandyrla les?

E zabota na džinela

Amaro čirikloro,

Xačkirdes jov na skhuvela

Pre berša o kheroro,

Rat sari dro veš sovela;

Kham ust'a dro lolypen,

Čiriklo Devles šunela,

Čiriklo pal bagiben.

Palo vesna[21] prourn'ala

Xačkirdo, lolo lynaj,

Pozdn'o osen'[22], dykh, lydžala

Kindypen i šyl adaj:

Sy pharo o manušeske;

Oturn'ala čiriklo

Palo sin'o mor'o[23] peske,

⁹Kaj dživelape lokho.

Dogs barking and yelping,
the bagpipe's voice,

The wagons' creak; all wretched, wild,

Disorderly, and yet so briskly -

Restless, unlike our deathly pleasures,

This idle life as mournful as

The song of slaves under the lash!

Gloomily the young man gazed

At the deserted steppe, and dared

Not ask himself the reason for

His sorrow. Black-eyed Zemfira's there

Beside him, he's at liberty

And the sun beams cheerfully at noon;

Why, then, does the young man's heart

Quake? By what care is he oppressed? ...

Syr čiriklo e bikheritko

Jov, stradyno[24], lokhešeritko,

O kher tato jov na džind'a

I ni ke so na syklyja,

Droma sys otkerde vaš leske;

Saro pre rat prilelas les;

Uštelas, i saro dyves

Otdelas dre vasta Devleske.

I leskire sute ileske

Na sys ni sostyr trašanes.

Les na jekh molo prityrdalas

Uče slavakiri[25] čergen,

Vavir že molo zadykhelas

Zabistyrdo barvalypen;

Pre ačade o manušeste

I bleskovica[26] čindyja,

Ne pre ilo mišto sy leste –

Ni šyl, ni kham na čilad'a.

Jov na dykhja, so delas leske

E sud'ba frento[27], korori;

Ne, Devla, syr jaga khelena

Tel leskri cypa čorori!

I syr trinskirna, xačkirena

Kolyn terneskiro khino!

Pre but, pre dlengo-l' ačavena?

Neves hazdenape, dykhno.

Zemfira

Mro lačo, na tanginesa,

So našad'an dro džiiben?

Aleko

So-ž čurdyjom?'

¹¹³ ZEMFIRA

Tell me, my friend: you don't regret

What you have given up forever?

ALEKO

What have I given up?

¹⁰Zemfira

Ne, tu polesa:

Bare o forja, manušen.

Aleko

Te tangines? Koli b džinesas,

Kili b god'asa uxtylesas

Foritko džiiben pharo!

Dro barune gone dživena,

Khamitko vesna na dykhena,

Dyves duxm'ano[28] nadžindlo;

Ladžasa kamlypen tradena,

Zorjake zdena e šere,

Gody xas'kirna, pes biknena,

Mangena penty[29], ta love.

So čurdyjom? Sabnytko sendo,

Il' dylyno xoxaiben,

Ili fely[30] phari i frento

Il' barvalo ladžaipen.

Zemfira

Odoj bare khera sy lende,

Odoj sare mištypena,

Khelybena i xabena

I gožo uriben čajende!

Aleko

Ke so foritko mištypen,

Koli pharo odoj ileske?

Čaja... Dre tute kamlypen

Butyr. Nane o uriben,

Nane džindle tyre mujeske

Mut'a i goža mirikl'a!

ZEMFIRA

You know;

People you shared your life with, cities.

ALEKO

What is there to regret? If you

Could see
those stifling cities!

I here people stifle behind bars,

Don't breathe the cool morning, nor

The scent of the spring meadows;

They are ashamed of love and passion;

Bowing their heads before an idol

They trade their freedom,
ask for chains.

What have I given up? The anguish

Of being betrayed, of being judged

By bigots, the mob's mindless howl,

The glitter of corruption.

ZEMFIRA

There are vast buildings, many-coloured

Carpets, games,
rich feasts, and dresses -

The girls' dresses are so fine there -

aleko

What of the pleasures of the city?

Where love is not, there are no pleasures.

As for the girls ... you're lovelier,

Even without
pearls and finery,

Without necklaces! My love, don't change

¹¹Ne na paruvpe, tut mangava!

A me... man baxt bari lathja,

Me veko[31] tusa prodživava.

Phuro

Kames amen, ne bijandlo

Tu san dadendyr barvalendyr,

I tu sprastasa e feldendyr.

Pole, dre nega[32] san syklo.

Amende častes vzripirenas,

Syr krali zbičad'a jekhes

{Gadžes,} Kaj amare lodenas[33]

(Džind'om šukar me čorores,

Ne bistyrd'om, syr les kharenas.)

Jov e beršenca phurija,

Terno-ž pir kovlypen ilytko:

Jov but lače gil'a džind'a

I glos, syr khelyben panitko.

I pokamne sare phures.

Piro Dunajo jov lodelas,

Na čilavelas nikones,

Saren gilenca prityrdelas.

Pharo sys leske te dživel,

E zor i strax[34] sys syr čavende;

Pes zor na sys te čaravel,

Jov pro vasta sys manušende.

Koli o mraze[35] zorales

Hazdenaspe e balvalenca,

Priučakirnas e mexenca[36],

E sventone[37] jone phures.

¹¹⁴From what you are! My one desire

Is to share days and years of love

With you, and voluntary exile!

old man

Though you were born to luxury,

You like our life. But there are some

Who can't get used to freedom, after

A life of ease. We have a legend,

Handed down from age to age.

There was a man who had been banished

By his Emperor; he had to leave

His southern home and live among us

In exile. I used to know his name,

A queer sort of name, but I've forgotten.

He was already old, yet young

Still in his lively, innocent soul -

He had a marvellous gift for song

And a voice like the sound of rushing waters -

And everyone liked him. He lived

On the banks of the Danube, offending

No one, charming everyone with tales;

He did not understand anything,

And was weak and timid, like a child;

His neighbours, taking pity on him,

Caught game and fish for him; and when

The river froze and the wintry gusts

Blew, they found the saintly old man

Some furs to cover himself with;

¹²Pal džiiben na duminelas,

Ni syr ke jov na syklyja;

Vyšutimo, parno psirelas,

I pre Devleste rakird'a,

So xol'amo jov, tasavela;

Dužakird'a, koli zrakhela.

E čororeste di rund'a,

Psiri pir brego[38] dunaitko,

Kirke jasva jov sa čid'a

Pal džiiben, palo foritko, '

Mangja dre menta maribnytko,

Soby pre jugo[39] slydžine

Khines e čužone[40] phuvjatyr, –

Jov i mulo dre zor nane

Te otkhin'ol adaj bidatyr.

Aleko

Pre so mekjan tu tre čaven,

O Rimo, zoraly deržava?[41]

Phen tu, kon bagand'an devlen,

Ne phen že, so sy pestyr slava?

Mogil'no gulo[42], šariben,

Savo prastala jekh jekhendyr

Ili thuvitkone šatrendyr

Kale romeskro phenyben?

Ne trito berš gyja. Lodena

Šatrenca čorore roma,

Sare romen šukar prilena,

Len lač[43] lathela dro droma.

Aleko sveto[44] čurdyja,

Jov rozačjape zabotenca,

Na tanginela akana,

Lodela khetane romenca,

But he could never accustom himself

To our poor life;
he wandered around,

Pale and withered, looking lost.

He used to say an angry God

Was punishing him for his transgressions ...

He waited for deliverance, grieved,

¹¹⁵Walked along the Danube banks,

Wept every day, remembering

His far-off city.
When he lay dying,

He asked that his dead body should

lie carried to the south: even

His bones, lie thought, would hate to lie

In this foreign place.

ALEKO

Is this, then,

The fate of your sons, O Rome? Singer

Of love and of the gods, tell me

What is glory? A hollow sound

From the grave, a voice extolling life

From generation to generation

On-rushing? Or a wild gypsy's tale

Related in a smoky tent?

Two years go by. The gypsies wander

Still in their friendly noisy throng;

And, as before, they take their rest

And food, wherever pleases them.

Having thrown off the chains and shackles

Of enlightenment, Aleko lives

Freely like them; without regrets

Or cares lie passed the roving days.

¹³Jov i iri na sparudepe,

Berša pre leste na phendlepe,

Romanypen jov prilyja,

Feldytko džiiben kamela,

Joj pal buty na duminela[45],

Čib čorori jov halyja.

O ryč našlo e berlogatyr[46]

Kosmato gost'o[47] ko roma,

Piro gava dre rig feldatyr

Pašyl moldavska o khera,

Pre manušende, so rakhitko[48]

Terde adaj, kheld'a, rund'a,

Sastyr pre peste riskird'a.

Zmeki pes pre desto dromitko,

Dre bubno[49] khella o phuro,

Aleko o ryčes lydžala,

Zemfira manušen obdžala

Pal dyiben e čororo;

Ne oke sygo rat javela,

Skedena čororo xaben;

Saro sy štyl, phuro sovela...

Terdo dre šatra štylypen.

Phuro pro vešn'o[50] kham tat'ola,

Ke kuna[51] čaj terny bešly,

Bagala joj nevi gily,

A Alekoste muj parn'ola.

Zemfira

Rom phuro, xol'amo,

Čin tu man, thov dre jag:

Na darava čuri[52],

Na davara e jag.

He is the same, the family too;

Not even recalling former years,

He has grown used to the gypsy habits.

He likes the shelter of the camp

At night, and the intoxication

Of everlasting unhurriedness,

And their frugal tuneful tongue. The bear,

A fugitive from home like him,

¹¹⁶Ponderously dances, roaring,

And gnawing at the irksome chain,

Watched by a cautious crowd outside

A Moldavian homestead in the hamlet

Along the steppeland road; there, leaning

On his staff, the old man strikes

Unhurriedly the tambourine,

Aleko sings and leads the beast,

Zemfira flits around the village

Collecting the voluntary gifts.

Night falls; all three have cooked the millet

The day has gleaned; their shaggy guest,

The bear, is hanging round the tent.

The old man's gone to sleep - and all

Is peaceful in the tent, and dark.

The old man in spring sunlight warms

His cooling blood; his daughter sings

A love-song as she rocks the cradle.

Aleko listens and turns pale.

zemfira

Hoary man, hateful man,

Gash my frame, burn my frame:

Brave I am, scoff I can

At the knife, at the flame.

¹⁴Na kamam zorales,

Te slydžav[53] tut pharo,

E vavres me kamam,

I merava kamles.

Aleko

Pirjač tu, tut me na šunava.

Me dika[54] na kamam gil'a.

Zemfira

Kames il' na? Me na rodava!

Bagava me pal peste la.

Čin tu man, thov dre jag;

Zaphandlo sy ilo;

Rom phuro, xol'amo,

Garado sy kamlo.

Nane vesna terny,

Nane kham xačkirdo;

Jov na darla niči!

Jov terno i vkamlo!

Čamud'om zorales

Me dre rat-kalypen,

I sand'ampe odoj

Pre tyro phuripen!

Aleko

Uxtylla[55] že, saro polava...

Zemfira

Bagaiben miro džines?

O how him I caressed

In the night still and fine!

O how then we did jest

At that grey head of thine!

ALEKO

Be quiet, Zemfira!

I've had enough ...

ZEMFIRA

So you have understood my song?

¹⁵Aleko

Zemfira!..

Zemfira

Tuke me bagava.

Tu xol'asov, koli kames.

(Džala i bagala: «Rom phuro» i ad['ake] dur)

Phuro

Ada gili džidy amende,

Sthody dre amare berša,

Bagalape maškir romende

Dre šatry amare hara.

{Hara…} Pir felda dro Kagulo[56]

But moly e dre zimn'o[57] rat

Bagalas gožo[58] Mariula

E tykne časa pašyl jag.

E dre miri gody beršendyr

Rikirlape saro phares, –

Joj jekh sare šundle gilendyr

Včind'ape mange zorales.

E rat; {saro} sy štyl, čonesa

O bolyben rozurido[59],

Phuro e časa džangado.

«Mro dado, trašano sy lesa:

Pošun, syr pirdal soiben

Les tasavela roiben».

ALEKO

Zemfira!

ZEMFIRA

Be angry if you like,

I am singing the song about you.

[Goes off singing 'Hoary man', etc.]

OLD MAN

Yes, I remember, I remember.

That song has long been
sung among

The gypsies roaming
the Kagul steppes,

My Mariula used to sing it

¹¹⁸Once in a while of a winter night,

Dandling her daughter before the fire.

In my mind the years gone by

Hour by hour grow
darker, darker;

But that song stays with me, Aleko.

All is quiet; night. The moon

Has turned the southern sky to azure.

The old man is wakened by Zemfira:

'Oh, father! Aleko frightens me.

Listen: through his heavy sleep

He groans and sobs.'

¹⁶Phuro

Jav štyl, Zemfira; jov sovela.

Manuš jekh russko rakirela:

So e raty k'a zorales

O di suteste tasavela

Mulengro vast, a ko dyves

Našela[60]. Na trebi te dares.

Zemfira

Mro dado, lav miro kharela!

Phuro

Dykhno, vaš leske tu saro,

I dro suno joj tut rodela.

Zemfira

Les na kamel ilo miro,

Pharo sy, lestyr di šut'ola...

Ne štyl! Šunesa khariben?

Neve lavesa[61] jov xačola.

Phuro

Koneskro lav?

Zemfira

Jekh roiben,

Xripine[62], marnape danda;

Me džangavava les.

OLD MAN

Do not touch him.

I have heard of an old Russian belief:

Now, at midnight, a sleeper's breathing

Is stifled by a domestic spirit;

Before dawn it will go away.

Sit with me quietly.

ZEMFIRA

He whispers: 'Zemfira!'

OLD MAN

He's searching for you, sleeping.

You are dearer to him than all the world.

ZEMFIRA

His love is stale to me. I'm bored;

My heart wants to be free - already

I... But hush! you hear? He's saying

Another name...

OLD MAN

Whose name?

¹¹⁹ZEMFIRA

You hear?

Such a hoarse groan and violent gnashing...

How horrible!... I'll waken him ...

¹⁷Phuro

Ivja,

Našty suno te rostrades;

Udžala.

Zemfira

Jov porisija;

Jov kharla man, dykh-dykh, ust'a.

Me džava, trebi te vzdykhes.

Aleko

Ne kaj tu sanas?

Zemfira

Me – dadesa.

So tu dro soiben dykhjan?

Save san trašane sunesa

Zamenčindlo. Man trašad'an:

Tu zorales mard'an dandenca

I man khard'an.

Aleko

Me tut dykhjom,

Dykhjom {...dykhjom}, so xaj amenca...

Me darane sune dykhjom.

Zemfira

Na trebi te pat'as sunenge.

OLD MAN

You shouldn't do;
don't chase away

The night spirit- it will leave of itself...

ZEMFIRA

He has turned over, he's half-risen,

Calling, me... He has woken up -

I'm going to him, - goodnight, go to sleep.

ALEKO

Where have you been?

ZEMFIRA

With father, talking.

Some spirit was plaguing you:
your soul

Was suffering dreadfully in your sleep;

You frightened me: you ground your teeth

And called out to me.

ALEKO

I dreamt of you.

1 dreamt that
between us ... I had

The most terrible dreams!

ZEMFIRA

Don't believe them.

¹⁸Aleko

Me na pat'ava akana

I ni save gudle lavenge

I ni tyre ileske, na!

Phuro

Palso, nagod'varo terno,

Palso ilo i rat xačola?

Čaja, syr lulud'a[63] lol'ona,

Manuš nane adaj sphandlo.

Pirjač; jasvin tut xas'kirela

Aleko

Mro dado, joj man na kamela.

Phuro

Terny joj {čávo}; rakh že pes,

Tri dukh nane sphandly god'asa:

E čaj kamela khelybnasa,

A tu kames drevan phares.

Podykh, syr čon {parno} psirela

Pir bolybnytko učipen,

Syr pre saro džido čivela

Jekhes svetytko mištypen.

Syr gožes khella bolybenca,

Syr ukedela barvales,

Ne oke zakheld'a tučenca[64],

I adathyr tyrdela les.

Kon šteto leske sykavela,

aleko

All, I believe nothing:
neither dreams,

Nor assurances, nor even your heart.

old man

Young madman, what are you sighing for?

¹²⁰Here we're all free, the sky is clear,

And the women are famed for their beauty.

Don't grieve; it doesn't suit you.

aleko

Father,

She does not love me.

old man

She is a child,

And you should treat her moods more lightly.

To you, love is a serious business,

But a girl's heart treats it as a joke.

Look up: look at the distant moon;

She sheds an equal radiance

On everything she passes over.

She will call briefly on a cloud,

Light it up brilliantly - but then

She's off again to another, where

She also won't stay long. And who

Shall appoint to her a place in heaven

¹⁹I vyphenela: ne terd'ov!

Kon terne čake vyphenela:

Ko jekh[65] ilesa tu xačov?

Rakh pes!

Aleko

Syr zorales joj man kamelas[66],

Syr joj zmeki šero kamles,

Koli pašyl[67] sys tixes[68] i mules,

Marde[69] ratitka probešelas

Joj khelybnytko i džidy!

I na jekhvar kamle lavenca

Il' xačkirde {lole} uštenca

Phari ilytko dukh miri

Dre menta mandyr protradelas!

I so-ž? Zemfira syr muly!

Miri Zemfira na kamela.

Phuro

Pošun rosphenyben miro,

Piridžind'om so kokoro.

Hara, koli pal e Dunajo[70]

Sys bidy but, i trašane, –

Togda[71] na trašad'a moskal'o[72]

(Dukh phurany hazdava me).

Ame darasas sultanostyr,

Budžako[73] rikird'a paša

E zorale Akermanostyr[74] —

Ilo i zorale vasta

Xačonas mande e radasa,

And say: there you shall come to rest?

Who shall tell a young girl's heart:

Love one thing only, do not change?

aleko

How she loved me! How tenderly,

In the silent wilderness she leant

Towards me,
and whiled away the night!

Yes, she is like a playful child -

How often she dispelled dark thoughts

In me with her bright chatter, or

Intoxicating kisses!...
Now

She has grown cold to me; Zemfira's

Unfaithful...

¹²¹OLD MAN

Listen: let me tell you

A story about myself. Long ago,

When the Danube was not yet enslaved

By the Moscal - (there, as you see,

There are things I can't forgive, Aleko).

We feared the Sultan in those days,

And a pasha ruled the Budzhak steppe

From the high towers of Ak-Kerman -

I was young; my soul was joyfully

Astir in those days; and amongst

My curls there was no strand of white;

²⁰E krenca balore mire

Na čilade sys parnypnasa.

Sys gožyn'ka čaja terne,

Ne di sys zalyno jekhasa.

Kamjom, syr kham me, zorales,

I sygo la khard'om romn'asa

Ex, ternypen miro phares

Uxt'a pyne čergenorjasa,

Berša ž, sphandle kamaibnasa

Jekhatyr prouxtle: čona

Džind'am kamles Mariulasa.

Ko Kaguloskire pan'a

Romenca jekhvar udykhjampe;

Amenca šatry rosthode, –

Pašyl amenca[75] ratkirde, –

Jekhe čarestyr čarad'ampe.

Roma našne pre trito rat,

Ča ačad'a romny ko dad,

A kokori nast'a pal lende.

Suto saro sys; štyl amende,

E zor'a[76] džangad'a; ust'om,

Dykhava — la nane, khard'om –

Nikaj nane; rund'a Zemfira,

I me mekjom jasva. Adaj

Na čilad'a nikon dre miro[77]

Ilo miro, i ni jekh čaj

Na rikird'a e duma[78] peste,

Sob te javes e čurdyneste,[79] –

Me rada na dykhjom butyr.

Aleko

Palso na tradyjan i syr

Adaj dro drom sarenge lenge:

I xoxan'ake i čorenge

O dro ile[80] na zamard'an sastyr?

My curls there was
no strand of white;

Among the fair young maidens there

Was one ... I took delight in her

As in the sun, for a long time,

And in the end called her my own ...

Ah, like a falling star my youth

Flashed by'



We fell in with a band

Of gypsies who were strangers to us,

They'd pitched their tents near ours, close to

A hillside and spent two nights with us.

They went off at the third night, and,

Abandoning our little daughter,

Mariula went off after them.

I was fast asleep; when I was wakened

By the rising sun, my love was gone!

I search, and I shout out her name -

No trace of her. Zemfira cried

From hunger; I cried too; since then,

I have had no mind
for any girl;

Never have I sought another lover,

And have not shared the lonely days

And nights with anyone.

¹²²ALEKO

Why didn't

You hurry after the ungrateful

Woman and plunge a dagger into

Her heart, and kill those who had wronged you?

²¹Phuro

O ternypen lokhes urn'ala;

Kon zarikirla o ile?

E baxt ileskiri prodžala;

So sys, — na udykhava me.

Aleko

Na, me ad'ake na zmekavas,

O pravo[81] peskiro džinom;

Me by adaj zatasad'om.[82]

E na!.. pre mor'o[83] me lathavas,

Mek vergo[84] sys suto b odoj,

Ma sovlaxava, so heroj

Na otačja by e vergostyr, –

Na uprastandyja b mor'ostyr;

Me na javel zoralypen[85] –

Sa jekh sy, godla jov hazdelas –

Zatasavelas mro saben.

I dlengo mandyr godla lelas

Te vykharel o gudlypen.

Terno rom

Inke jekh molo man čamude!

Zemfira

Uxtylla:
rom mro xol'amo.

Terno rom

Jekh molyco, i me udžava.

OLD MAN

What good would it have done? Freer

Than a bird is youth; who has the power

To restrain love? To each in his turn

Joy is given, and then removed.

aleko

I'm not like that. I won't give up

My rights without a struggle! Or

At least I'll get some satisfaction

From taking my revenge. Oh no! -

Even if I found my enemy

Lying asleep above the depths

Of the ocean, I would not spare the villain.

I'd thrust him into the sea, and laugh

At the sudden horror of his waking,

And I would enjoy the sound of his fall,

Exult in it, with a clear conscience.

YOUNG GYPSY

One more... one more kiss ...

ZEMFIRA

It's time:

My husband's in a spiteful mood.

gypsy

Just one ... but longer! To say goodbye.

²²Zemfira

Ačav, javela rom miro.

Terno rom

Ne ž phen,
koli tut udykhava?

Zemfira

Syr zaxačola e čergen,

Ke berga, nadur garadenca...[86]

Terno rom

Na javela![87] jekh xoxaiben

Zemfira

Jov džala – naš. Dak tu javesa!..

Suto Aleko. I gody

Phari patrin obuxtylela;

Godlasa jov ust'a raty,

Xol'asa peskro vast čurdela,

I so že?... dre da strax bari

Jekh šylypen pašyl šunela.

Romny sy dur, joj sy našly...

O d'osa[88] jov ust'a; šunela...

Sy štyl, o strax les zakedela,

Dre leskro rat i jag i šyl.

Uštela jov, šatratyr džala

Ko urdena; xol'asa sala;

Saro sy tixes; felda – štyl;

Čon pal e tuča[89] garad'ape,

ZEMFIRA

Goodbye, before he comes.

¹²³gypsy

But when

Will you come to me again?

zemfira Tonight,

When the moon rises. There,

Beyond the mound above the grave ...

GYPSY

You'll break your promise; you won't come!

ZEMFIRA

I'll come, my love ... Now run! He's here!

Aleko is asleep. Confused

Are the visions flickering in his mind;

He wakes in the darkness with a cry

And stretches his hand out,
but it grasps

The cold blanket:
she is not there ...

Shuddering, he half-rises, listens;

Everything is quiet; waves

Of heat and cold run through his flesh;

He gets up, leaves the tent, and paces

Dementedly about the wagons.
The moon

Is hidden in the murk, and all

²³Čergen čurdela jag[90] tykno,

Pir rosa drom phares dykhno,

Dural pal berga tyrdyjape:

Na urikirla les niči

Dro drom pir špera xol'amy

Mogila[91], so pašyl dromesa,

E duripnastyr parnyja,

Jov odorik zamenčindlesa[92]

Khine hera syg lydžija.

Čanga dre leste trinskird'ona

Jov džala...
so-da... soiben?..

Jekhatyr leske sykad'ola:

E ten'[93]... vavir... rakiriben

Ko drom pre čurdyny mogila.

1 glos

Jačen.

2 glos

Inke!

1 glos

Lačo, uxtylla!

2 glos

Ne ačpe manca ko dyves.

1 glos

Našty.

2 glos

Tu trašanes kamesa.

Jekh menta!

1 glos

Tu mak xas'kiresa.

2 glos

Jekh menta!

Is dark and peaceful; a scattering

Of stars sheds a dim light; it brightens;

And in the dew Aleko sees

A faintly discernible trail that leads

Towards the far-off mounds; he strides

Impatiently towards them, though

His heart is filled with dread. A tomb

Shines whitely in the distance, and

¹²⁴It draws his faltering steps...His lips

Tremble, his knees feel shaky, he

Is haunted by presentiment,

But walks on... Suddenly-or does

He dream it? - he can see two figures

Over the desecrated grave,

And hears them whispering.

first voice

It's time ...

SECOND VOICE

Stay ...

FIRST VOICE

I can't. It's time, my dear.

SECOND VOICE

Stay until dawn.

FIRST VOICE

It's late already.

SECOND VOICE

You're a coward.
One minute more.

FIRST VOICE

No, it would ruin everything.

SECOND VOICE

A minute!

²⁴1 glos

Tu, hal'ov, džines.

Uštela...

Aleko

Džangade romes.

Na trebi te prastas tumenge;

Šukar ko grobo[94] i dujenge.

Zemfira

Mro pšal, naš sygydyr!

Aleko

Terd'ov!

Karik i tu i jov? Pas'ov!

(Marla čurjasa)

Zemfira

Aleko!

Terno rom

Xas'kird'a... Merava!

²⁵Zemfira

Aleko, xas'kiresa les!

Podykh, tu začido ratesa.

So tu kerd'an?

Aleko

Niči! Phares?

Ne so ž, čamudepe tu lesa!

Zemfira

Na san tu mange trašano!

Trašaiben me na darava,

Umariben na tanginava!

Aleko

Dak mer!

(Mekja čurjasa)

Zemfira

Merava, syr kamlo.

Vostoko[95], začido khamesa,

Kheld'a. Aleko sys bešlo

Čurjasa; občido ratesa

Pre bar[96], kaj garado mulo.

Paš leste sys mulo mul'asa;

Mujesa vergo trašano;

Roma dre men'ka angrust'asa

Obkrencyndle straxasa les;

Mogila ganade vaš lenge;

Javne romn'a, sob te vzdykhen,

FIRST VOICE

What if my husband wakes

While I am gone?...

aleko

He is awake.

¹²⁵Don't go, you two. There is no need.

This is a fine place, here by the grave.

ZEMFIRA

My love, run, run ...

ALEKO

Where are you going,

My young peacock? Lie there!

[Thrusts a knife into him.]

ZEMFIRA

Aleko!

GYPSY

I am dying ...

ZEMFIRA

You have killed him, Aleko!

You're covered in blood! What have you done?

ALEKO

Never mind.
Now breathe his love.

ZEMFIRA

Enough; I'm not afraid of you!

I despise your threats,
I curse your murder...

ALEKO

Die then, you too!

[Slabs her.]

ZEMFIRA

I die in love...

The morning star shone in the cast.

Near the mound, a knife in hand,

¹²⁶Covered in blood, Aleko sat

On the gravestone. Two corpses lay

Before him.
An abashed throng of gypsies

Surrounded him.
Some distance off

They were digging a grave. The women came

In a sorrowing procession past

²⁶Jandle čamudypen mulenge.

Phuro o rom pašyl best'a

I pre mul'ate jov dykhja

Zamulyno pal xasinende.

Lyne o trupi[97], lydžine,

Kale phuvjake pridyne

Terne romes terne romn'asa.

Jakha Aleko na zmekja

Romendyr. Ne koli phuvjasa

Lyne mulen te začiven,

Jov zniko na dyja, zmekjape,

Pre čar barestyr zarad'ape.

Adaj lavenca podgyja

Phuro: „Ačav amen! – phend'a, –

Sam dika, dur e zakonendyr,

Ame sam dur, sob te maras,

Dur o ratestyr i jasvendyr;

Na lasa tusa te dživas.

Na bijandlo vaš diko dol'a,[98]

Rodesa peske tol'ko vol'a,

Amenge tu san trašano.

Sam darane, kovle ilesa,

Udža amendyr, xol'amo!

Amen zabistyr, dža Devlesa".

Phend'a, i adale lavesa

Zlynepe syges o roma

E darane ada feldatyr.

Dro drom saro zaxasija,

Ne jekh urden dykhno stronatyr,[99]

Jov e cergasa obmardo,

Terdo dre šteto xol'amo.

Ad'ake sy, koli ivesa,

Tumannone[100] o divesesa

Skedelape feldengiri

E staja čiriklengiri,

Pre jugo soby te čurdespe,

The dead lovers and kissed their closed eyes.

The old father sat alone and gazed

At his daughter
without seeing her.

The bodies were lifted up, carried,

And put to rest in earth's chill lap.

Aleko watched it all, from a distance.

But when the bodies had been covered

With the last handful of earth, silently

And slowly he leaned forward and

Fell from the stone on to the grass.

Then the old man approached and said:

Leave us, arrogant man! Leave us.

We are savages; we have no laws.

We do not torture, nor put to death -

We have no need of blood and groans.

But we will not live with a murderer ...

You were not born for the life of the wild,

You crave freedom for yourself

Alone. Dreadful will be your voice

To us: we are timid and goodnatured,

You are strong and fierce - leave us then;

Farewell, and peace be with you.'

He spoke - and in a noisy throng

The nomads struck camp and departed

From the vale of that dreadful night.

Soon all had vanished in the wide

Vistas of the steppe. A single wagon,

¹²⁷Covered with a poor rug, stood

In the fateful field.
Thus, sometimes,

Before winter, at the foggy lime

Of morning when there rises from

The fields a flock of tardy cranes,

Which soars off southwards, crying,

²⁷Ne jekh vergosa podmardo

Bango[101] men'kasa te ačespe,

Zmeki e krylo dukhano.

I dro urden nikon rat'asa

E ko dyves na zasut'a,

Nikon dre šatra e jagasa

Kaly bel'vel' na tradyja.

Epilogo

Ada gil'akire zorjasa

Uštena ripiribena,

Hazdenape e patrin'asa

Pharipena, mištypena.

Dre odo rig, kaj e xol'asa

Baro o mariben gyja,

Kaj russko grani[102] e zorjasa

E Stambuloske sykad'a,

Kaj orlo[103] phurano kralitko,

Džido slavasa, khelybnytko,

Dykhjom me maškir o droma,

Kaj manuša hara mardepe,

Syr urdenenca tyrdynepe

Sud'basa[104] phagirde roma.

{Pal bibut'ákire roménde

Dre féldy částes me psird'óm,

O čororó xabén lyjóm,

Paše jagá sut'óm me lénde.

Droménca násyges psirí,

Kamjóm gil'á me te šunáv,

Te la Mariulákri nav

Gudló sys dre godý mirí.}[105]

Ne baxt nane maškir tumende,

Vešytka čorore čave!

Tel šatry riskirde romende

Dživena o phare sune,

I urdena lodeipnytka

Nange e feldy na zrakhne,

Izdrana bidy manušytka

I zrakhiben nikaj nane.

One, pierced by the fatal lend,

Will stay behind,
its hurt wing hanging.

Night came on; in the dark wagon

No one laid a fire, no one

Rested in sleep until the dawn.

Epilogue

By the magic power of song,

Hazy memories
have revived

Of sunny, and of mournful, days.

In the land where long the dreadful

Clamour of arms was never stilled,

Where our old two-headed eagle

Still rustles
with its bygone glory,

Staking new frontiers to the south,

I used to meet amid the steppes

On the boundaries of ancient forts

The peaceful wagons of the gypsies,

The children of a humble freedom.

In the waste lands I often roamed

Behind their idly moving swarms,

Shared their simple food at night

And fell asleep before their fires.

On those slow treks I learned to love

The joyous rhythms of their songs-

And for a long lime Mariula's

Tender name rang in my thoughts.

But, even among you, there is

No happiness, poor sons of nature!...

Even beneath your tattered tents

There are tormenting dreams and visions,

Your nomad shelters in the wilds

Have not escaped misfortunes, and

Everywhere fateful passions swarm

And no one can resist the fates.