Anthology of Russian literature from the earliest period to the present time, volume 1 (of 2) : $b From the tenth century to the close of the eighteenth centuryWiener, Leo
General
Anthology of Russian literature from the earliest period to the present time, volume 1 (of 2) : $b From the tenth century to the close of the eighteenth century
Wiener, Leo
Russia -- Literary collections; Russian literature -- Translations into English
There befell a hapless hour, O brothers! Already had the wilderness
covered Russia’s hosts, when Mischief arose in the hosts of Dazhbóg’s
grandchildren: she walked as a maiden in Troyán’s land,[57] splashed
her swan pinions in the blue sea,[58] and splashing them in the Don,
recalled heavy times.
Through the feuds of the princes ruin came from the pagans, for brother
spoke to brother: “This is mine and that is mine also,” and the princes
said of trifling matters, “They are important,” and created discord
among themselves; and the pagans came from all sides victorious into
the Russian land.
Oh, far has the falcon[59] flown, driving the birds by the sea, but
Ígor’s brave army will rise no more! Konchák called, and Gza raced over
the Russian land, hurling fire from a flaming horn.[60] Russian women
wept, saying: “No longer will our thoughts reach our dear ones, nor
shall we ever see them with our eyes, nor be adorned with tinkling gold
and silver!”
And Kíev groaned under its sorrow, and Chernígov on account of its
misfortunes. Sadness spread over the Russian land, and a heavy
gloom. The princes fostered discord among themselves, and the pagans
victoriously overran the country, receiving tribute, a squirrel[61]
from each house.
It is Ígor and Vsévolod, Svyatosláv’s brave sons, who through their
discord had wakened dishonour which their father, Svyatosláv[62] of
Kíev, the great, the mighty, had put to sleep: he had invaded the
Pólovts land and had carried terror to them, with his mighty armies
and tempered swords; had levelled their hills and ravines, ruffled
their rivers and lakes, dried up their streams and swamps; and, like
a whirlwind, had snatched pagan Kobyák[63] away from his mighty,
steel-clad Pólovts army by the Ázov Sea, until Kobyák fell in Kíev
city, in the council-room of Svyatosláv. Germans, Venetians, Greeks and
Moravians sing the glory of Svyatosláv, but blame Prince Ígor who had
merged his wealth in the Kayála, the Pólovts river, and had filled it
with Russian gold. Here Ígor was unseated from his golden saddle and
placed upon the saddle of a slave.
IX
The city walls were silent, and merriment was dead. Svyatosláv saw a
troubled dream: “In Kíev on the mount you enveloped me last night,” he
said, “in a black shroud on a bed of yew; they poured out to me blue
wine mixed with bitterness; from empty quivers they showered large gems
upon my lap, and tried to comfort me. Already are there boards without
a cross beam in my hall of gold, and all night have the devilish crows
been cawing.”[64] ...
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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