Text & Translation
Oni otvechali
Russian source:
Lev Aleksandrovich Mey
Nam beloju chajkoj skol'zit' na volnakh,
Chtob nas storozha nedognali?``
,,Grebite!`` oni otvechali.
Sprosili oni: ,,Kak zabyt', navsegda,
Chto v mire judol'nom jest' bednost', beda,
Chto jest' v njom groza i pechali?``
,,Zasnite!`` oni otvechali.
Sprosili oni: ,,Kak krasavic privlech'
Bez chary: chtob sami na strastnuju rech'
Oni nam v ob"jatija pali?``
,,Ljubite!`` oni otvechali.
The answer
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
Are we to glide across the waves, like a white seagull,
Lest the guards should catch us?’
‘Row!’, they answered.
They asked: ‘How are we to forget for ever
That there is poverty and misfortune in this vale of tears,
That there is enmnity and sorry?
‘Sleep’, they answered.
They asked: ‘How are we to win beautiful girls
Without spells: so that our passionate words
Will make them fall into our embraces?
‘Love!’ they answered.
Oni otvechali
Russian source:
Lev Aleksandrovich Mey
The answer
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Sprosili oni: ,,Kak v letuchikh chelnakh
They asked: ‘How, in swift boats,
Nam beloju chajkoj skol'zit' na volnakh,
Are we to glide across the waves, like a white seagull,
Chtob nas storozha nedognali?``
Lest the guards should catch us?’
,,Grebite!`` oni otvechali.
‘Row!’, they answered.
Sprosili oni: ,,Kak zabyt', navsegda,
They asked: ‘How are we to forget for ever
Chto v mire judol'nom jest' bednost', beda,
That there is poverty and misfortune in this vale of tears,
Chto jest' v njom groza i pechali?``
That there is enmnity and sorry?
,,Zasnite!`` oni otvechali.
‘Sleep’, they answered.
Sprosili oni: ,,Kak krasavic privlech'
They asked: ‘How are we to win beautiful girls
Bez chary: chtob sami na strastnuju rech'
Without spells: so that our passionate words
Oni nam v ob"jatija pali?``
Will make them fall into our embraces?
,,Ljubite!`` oni otvechali.
‘Love!’ they answered.
Composer
Sergei Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninov was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period.
