Kol'co, 'The ring'

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Kol'co, 'The ring'
Russian source: Aleksey Vasil'yevich Kol'tsov

Ja zateplju svechu
Voska jarogo,
Raspajaju kol'co
Druga milova.

Zagoris', razgoris',
Rokovoj ogon',
Raspajaj, rastopi
Chisto zoloto.

Bez nego dlja menja
Ty nenadobno;
Bez nego na ruke —
Kamen' na serdce.

Chto vzgljanu — to vzdokhnu,
Zatoskujusja,
I zal'jutsja glaza
Gor'kim gorem sljoz.

Vozvratit'sja li on?
Ili vestochkoj
Ozhivit li menja,
Bezuteshnuju?

Net nadezhdy v dushe…
Ty rassyp'sja zhe
Zolotoj slezoj,
Pamjat' miloga!

Nevredimo, cherno,
Na ogne kol'co,
I zvenit po stolu
Pamjat' vechnuju.

The ring
translation © Philip Ross Bullock

I shall light a candle
Of purest wax,
I shall melt the ring
Of my beloved!

Flare up, burn bright,
Oh fateful flame!
Soften and melt,
This gold so pure!

If I cannot have him,
You are of no use to me;
Without this ring on my hand,
My heart is heavy.

If I look at the ring, I sigh
And grieve,
And my eyes are filled
With the bitter grief of tears.

Will he ever come back?
Will he send word
To revive me
And dispel my unhappiness?

My soul is bereft of hope…
So let the memory of my beloved
Dissolve,
Like a tear of gold!

Blackened by the flame,
The ring is indestructible,
It falls on the table
With a sound that cannot be forgotten.

Kol'co, 'The ring'
Russian source: Aleksey Vasil'yevich Kol'tsov

The ring
source: Philip Ross Bullock

Ja zateplju svechu
I shall light a candle
Voska jarogo,
Of purest wax,
Raspajaju kol'co
I shall melt the ring
Druga milova.
Of my beloved!

Zagoris', razgoris',
Flare up, burn bright,
Rokovoj ogon',
Oh fateful flame!
Raspajaj, rastopi
Soften and melt,
Chisto zoloto.
This gold so pure!

Bez nego dlja menja
If I cannot have him,
Ty nenadobno;
You are of no use to me;
Bez nego na ruke —
Without this ring on my hand,
Kamen' na serdce.
My heart is heavy.

Chto vzgljanu — to vzdokhnu,
If I look at the ring, I sigh
Zatoskujusja,
And grieve,
I zal'jutsja glaza
And my eyes are filled
Gor'kim gorem sljoz.
With the bitter grief of tears.

Vozvratit'sja li on?
Will he ever come back?
Ili vestochkoj
Will he send word
Ozhivit li menja,
To revive me
Bezuteshnuju?
And dispel my unhappiness?

Net nadezhdy v dushe…
My soul is bereft of hope…
Ty rassyp'sja zhe
So let the memory of my beloved
Zolotoj slezoj,
Dissolve,
Pamjat' miloga!
Like a tear of gold!

Nevredimo, cherno,
Blackened by the flame,
Na ogne kol'co,
The ring is indestructible,
I zvenit po stolu
It falls on the table
Pamjat' vechnuju.
With a sound that cannot be forgotten.