Songs

Iunoshu, gor’ko rydaia, 'A youth and a maiden'

by Dmitri Shostakovich From Four Romances on Poems by Pushkin (1936) Op. 46

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.

Text & Translation

Iunoshu, gor’ko rydaia, 'A youth and a maiden'
Russian source: Alexander Pushkin

Iunoshu, gor’ko rydaia,
Revnivaia deva branila.
K nei na plecho preklonen,
Iunosha vdrug zadremal.

Deva totchas umolkla,
Son iego legkii leleia,
I ulybalas’ iemu,
Tikhie slezy liya.

A youth and a maiden
English translation © Philip Ross Bullock

Sobbing bitterly, a jealous maiden
Upbraided a youth.
Leaning on her shoulder,
He suddenly dozed off.

All at once, the maiden fell silent,
Lulling him as he gently slept,
And she smiled at him,
Whilst shedding silent tears.

Iunoshu, gor’ko rydaia, 'A youth and a maiden'
Russian source: Alexander Pushkin

A youth and a maiden
English source: Philip Ross Bullock

Iunoshu, gor’ko rydaia,
Sobbing bitterly, a jealous maiden
Revnivaia deva branila.
Upbraided a youth.
K nei na plecho preklonen,
Leaning on her shoulder,
Iunosha vdrug zadremal.
He suddenly dozed off.

Deva totchas umolkla,
All at once, the maiden fell silent,
Son iego legkii leleia,
Lulling him as he gently slept,
I ulybalas’ iemu,
And she smiled at him,
Tikhie slezy liya.
Whilst shedding silent tears.

Composer

Dmitri Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Russian composer and pianist. He achieved fame in the Soviet Union, although later developed a more complex and difficult relationship with the government. As a composer, he combined a variety of different musical…

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…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets