Text & Translation
Cvetok, 'Die Blümlein'
Russian source:
Alexander Pushkin
Zabytyj v knige vizhu ja,
I vot uzhe mechtoju strannoj
Dusha napolnilas' moja.
Gde cvel, kogda, kakoj vesnoju?
I dolgo l' cvel, i sorvan kem?
Chuzhoj, znakomoj li rukoju?
I polozhen sjuda zachem?
Na pamjat' nezhnogo l' svidan'ja
Ili razluki rokovoj,
Il' odinokogo guljan'ja
V tishi polej, v teni lesnoj?
I zhiv li tot, i ta zhiva li?
I nynche gde ikh ugolok?
Ili oni uzhe uvjali,
Kak sej nevedomyj cvetok?
The flower
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
Forgotten in the pages of a book,
And suddenly my soul is filled
With a strange dream.
Where did it bloom, and when, and in which spring?
Did it bloom for long, and who plucked it?
Was it a foreign or a familiar hand?
And why was it placed here?
To mark the memory of a tender meeting,
Or perhaps a fateful parting,
Or a solitary stroll
Through silent fields or darkling wood?
Does he still live – does she?
If so, then where is their abode?
Or have they both faded away,
Like this unknown little flower?
Cvetok, 'Die Blümlein'
Russian source:
Alexander Pushkin
The flower
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Cvetok zasokhshij, bezukhannyj,
I see a flower – withered, scentless –
Zabytyj v knige vizhu ja,
Forgotten in the pages of a book,
I vot uzhe mechtoju strannoj
And suddenly my soul is filled
Dusha napolnilas' moja.
With a strange dream.
Gde cvel, kogda, kakoj vesnoju?
Where did it bloom, and when, and in which spring?
I dolgo l' cvel, i sorvan kem?
Did it bloom for long, and who plucked it?
Chuzhoj, znakomoj li rukoju?
Was it a foreign or a familiar hand?
I polozhen sjuda zachem?
And why was it placed here?
Na pamjat' nezhnogo l' svidan'ja
To mark the memory of a tender meeting,
Ili razluki rokovoj,
Or perhaps a fateful parting,
Il' odinokogo guljan'ja
Or a solitary stroll
V tishi polej, v teni lesnoj?
Through silent fields or darkling wood?
I zhiv li tot, i ta zhiva li?
Does he still live – does she?
I nynche gde ikh ugolok?
If so, then where is their abode?
Ili oni uzhe uvjali,
Or have they both faded away,
Kak sej nevedomyj cvetok?
Like this unknown little flower?
Composer
Pauline Viardot
Pauline Viardot, née Garcia (1821-1910) was one of the most remarkable, accomplished musical professionals of the 19th century. Born into a family of music professionals, she wanted to be a pianist, but following the early death of her sister…
Poet
Alexander Pushkin
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (6 June 1799 – 10 February 1837) was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. Pushkin was born…