The _wedding-songs_, of which there is a large number in the long ceremony of the wedding (_cf._ Kotoshíkhin’s account of the seventeenth century wedding, p. 143 _et seq._) contain reminiscences of the ancient custom of the stealing of the bride, and, later, of the purchase of the bride. Most of the love songs that are not part of the khorovód are detached songs of the wedding ceremonial. The _beggar-songs_ are more properly apocryphal songs of book origin, handed down from great antiquity, but not preceding the introduction of Christianity. There are also _lamentations_, _charms_, and other similar incantations, in which both pagan and Christian ideas are mingled. An account of the folksong will be found in Talvi’s _Historical View of the Languages and Literatures of the Slavic Nations_, New York, 1850; W. R. S. Ralston’s _The Songs of the Russian People_, London, 1872; _Russian Folk-Songs as Sung by the People, and Peasant Wedding Ceremonies_, translated by E. Lineff, with preface by H. E. Krehbiel, Chicago, 1893. Also in the following periodical articles: _The Popular Songs of Russia_, in Hogg’s Instructor, 1855, and the same article, in Eclectic Magazine, vol. xxxvi; _Russian Songs and Folktales_, in Quarterly Review, 1874 (vol. cxxxvi). A number of popular songs have been translated by Sir John Bowring in his _Specimens of the Russian Poets_, both parts. KOLYÁDKA Beyond the river, the swift river, Oy Kolyádka! There stand dense forests: In those forests fires are burning, Great fires are burning. Around the fires stand benches, Stand oaken benches, On these benches the good youths, The good youths, the fair maidens, Sing Kolyáda songs, Kolyáda, Kolyáda! In their midst sits an old man; He sharpens his steel knife. A cauldron boils hotly. Near the cauldron stands a goat. They are going to kill the goat. “Brother Ivánushko, Come forth, spring out!” “Gladly would I have sprung out, But the bright stone Drags me down to the cauldron: The yellow sands Have sucked dry my heart.” Oy Kolyádka! Oy Kolyádka! --From W. R. S. Ralston’s _The Songs of the Russian People_. BOWL-SONG A grain adown the velvet strolled--Glory! No purer pearl could be--Glory! The pearl against a ruby rolled--Glory! Most beautiful to see--Glory! Big is the pearl by ruby’s side--Glory! Well for the bridegroom with his bride--Glory! --From John Pollen’s _Rhymes from the Russian_. A PARTING SCENE