Songs

Vchera my vstretilis': - ona ostanovilas' -
Yesterday we chanced to meet: – she stopped,
Ja takzhe - my v glaza drug drugu posmotreli.
And so did I – we looked into each other’s eyes.
O Bozhe, kak ona s tekh por peremenilas',
Oh heavens, how much she had changed since last we met,
V glazakh potukh ogon', i shchjoki pobledneli.
Her eyes had lost their brightness, her cheeks were pale.
I dolgo na nejo gljadel ja molcha strogo -
And for a long time I gazed at her in stern silence –
Mne ruku protjanuv, bednjazhka ulybnulas';
Offering me her hand, the poor creature smiled;
Ja govorit' khotel - ona zhe radi Boga
I was about to speak, but for Heaven’s sake
Velela mne molchat', i tut zhe otvernulas',
She bad me hold my tongue and turned away forthwith,
I brovi sdvinula, i vydernula ruku,
With furrowed brow she withdrew her hand
I molvila: Proshchajte, do svidan'ja.
And spoke: ‘Farewell, goodbye!’
A ja khotel skazat': Na vechnuju razluku
And I wanted to say: ‘Farewell, we part forever,
Proshchaj, pogibsheje, no miloje sozdan'e.
Dear, but ruined creature.’