Songs

Skazhi, o chjom v teni vetvej,
Oh say, what is it, in shady branches,
kogda priroda otdykhajet,
When nature is at rest,
pojot vesennij solovej
That makes the nightingale sing in spring,
i chto on pesnej vyrazhajet?
And what it is that his song expresses?
Chto tajno vsem volnujet krov'?
What stirs our blood so mysteriously?
Skazhi, skazhi, kakoje slovo
Oh say, oh say, what word
znakomo vsem i vechno novo?
Is known to all and is so ever new?
Ljubov'!
It is love!

Skazhi, o chjom najedine
Of say, what causes, all alone,
v razdum'e devushka gadajet,
The maiden to wonder and presume,
chto tajnym trepetom vo sne
What fills her sleep with secret trembling,
jej strakh i radost' obeshchajet?
And promises fear and joy?
Nedug tot strannyj nazovi,
Oh name that strange affliction,
v kotorom svetlaja otrada.
Full of radiant delight, for which
Chego jej zhdat'? Chego jej nado?
She longs and so desires:
Ljubvi!
It is love!

Kogda ot zhiznennoj toski
Oh say, when burdened by life’s cares,
ty, utomlennyj, iznyvajesh'
You languish in exhaustion,
i, zloj pechali vopreki,
And yet for all sad care,
khot' prizrak schast'ja prizyvajesh'
You still summon up the ghost of happiness,
chto uslazhdajet grud' tvoju?
What brings gladness to your breast?
Ne te li zvuki nezemnye,
Is it not those unearthly sounds,
kogda uslyshal ty vpervye --
When you first heard
Ljublju?!
The words, the words of love!