Songs

Stonet rebjonok... Svecha, nagoraja,
A child moans… A candle, burning low,
Tusklo mercajet krugom.
Casts its dull flicker all around.
Celuju noch' kolybel'ku kachaja,
All through the night, as she rocks the cradle,
Mat' ne zabylasja snom.
A mother has not slept.
Ranym-ranjokhon'ko v dver' ostorozhno
Early in the morning comes the gentle knock
Smert' serdobol'naja stuk!
Of Death, the compassionate one, at the door!
Vzdrognula mat', ogljanulas' trevozhno...
The mother shudders, anxiously looking around her…
,,Polno pugat'sja, moj drug!
‘There’s no need to be afraid, my friend!
Blednoje utro uzh smotrit v okoshko...
The pale morning is peeping through the window…
Placha, toskuja, ljublja,
You have worn yourself out with crying, longing, loving,
Ty utomilas', vzdremni-ka nemnozhko,
So rest a while, my dear,
Ja posizhu za tebja.
And I will take your place at his side.
Ugomonit' ty ditja ne sumela.
You couldn’t soothe the little child,
Slashche tebja ja spoju.’’ -
But I can sing more sweetly than you.’
,,Tishe! rebjonok moj mechetsja, b'jotsja,
‘Shhh! The child is tossing and turning,
Dushu terzaja moju!’’
My heart grieves to see him thus!’
,,Nu, da so mnoju on skoro ujmjotsja.
‘Come now, with me he will soon calm down,
Bajushki, baju, baju.’’
Hushaby, hushaby-hush.’
,,Shchjochki blednejut, slabejet dykhan'e...
‘His cheeks are so pale, his breathing so shallow…
Da zamolchi-zhe, molju!’’ -
Please be quiet, I beg you!’
,,Dobroje znamen'e, stikhnet stradan'e,
‘That’s a good sign, his suffering will soon be over,
Bajushki, baju, baju.’’
Hushaby, hushaby-hush.’
,,Proch' ty, prokljataja!
‘Be away with you, accursed woman!
Laskoj svojeju sgubish' ty radost' moju!’’
You will destroy my joy with your caresses!’
,,Net, mirnyj son ja mladencu naveju.
‘No, I will waft the sleep of peace over the infant,
Bajushki, baju, baju.’’ -
Hushaby, hushaby-hush.’
,,Szhal'sja, pozhdi dopevat' khot' mgnoven'e,
‘Have pity! Cease your singing for just a moment,
Strashnuju pesnju tvoju!’’
Cease your terrible song!’
,, Vidish', usnul on pod tikhoje pen'e.
‘See now, my quiet song has sung him to sleep,
Bajushki, baju, baju.’’
Hushaby, hushaby-hush.’