Songs

Ot lastočki do solov’ja
From the swallow to the nightingale
Vsja povest’ malaja moja.
My tale is slight.
Vesnu kasatka načinaet,
The swallow heralds the spring,
A solovej konec ej znaet.
And the nightingale knows its end.
S kasatkoj pervoj v pervyj grom
When the swallow first comes, with the first thunder,
Parnym umojsja molokom,
Wash your face with warm, fresh milk,
I budeš’ bel, ne budeš’ lišnij pred devoj,
To make yourself white and please your girl,
Pod cvetuščej višnej.
Beneath the flowing cherry tree.
Gnezdo, v kotorom malym raj,
Be careful not to destroy the swallow’s nest,
U lastočki ne razorjaj,
Where little birds find their rest,
Ne to pril’nut k tebe vesnuški,
Otherwise your face will be covered with freckles,
Smejat’sja budut i durnuški.
And silly girls will mock you.
Kogda zasviščet solovej,
When the nightingale begins to trill,
Vnikaj v tu pesnju, vver’sja ej.
Listen carefully to its song and trust in it.
No est’ i lešego v nej dudka.
But there is something devilish in its notes.
Ne sleduj, ėto zlaja šutka,
Be careful, there’s a cruel joke
Julinaja est’ stukotnja.
In its melodious warbling.
Ne sleduj ej, pojmi menja.
Be careful and mark my words.
No serdcem slušajsja, raskata,
But listen to your heart
I sčast’e rascvetët bogato.
And you will be richly rewarded with happiness.
I est’ kukuški i perelët
And in that song, which speaks of love,
V toj pesne, čto ljubov’ zovët.
There is the cuckoo’s fickle flight.
Ne sleduj mudrosti kukuški,
Do not head the cuckoo’s wisdom,
I ne igraj v ljubvi igruški.
And do not play games with love.
Po solov’inomu zapoj
Strike up instead a song like the nightingale’s
Do samoj vysi goluboj.
And sing it to the azure heights.
I znaj, čto svjatost’ gnëzd-doroga
And know that the sacred nature of the nests
Do zvëzd, do solnca i do boga.
Is the path to the stars, to the sun, and to God.