Vasily Zhukovsky - The Tale of the Armament of Igor: Bilingual Edition (English – Russian)

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Leonard A. Magnus
Vasily Zhukovsky THE TALE OF THE ARMAMENT OF IGOR 1. Were it not seemly to us, brothers, to begin in ancient diction the tales of the toils of the army of go, go Svyatoslvi? 1. , , , ! 2. [Or] to begin this song in accordance with the ballads of this time, and not like the invention of Boyn? 2. 3. 3.

For the wise Boyn when he wished to make a song for any man, in his thought used to fly in the trees, [race] like a grey wolf on earth, [soar] like a dusky eagle beneath the clouds. 3. , , , , . 4. He used to recall the words and the dissensions of the early times. 4. , . : : , , , . 5. 5.

Yet, Boyn, my brothers, did not let loose ten falcons on a flock of swans, but laid his own wizard fingers on the living strings, which then themselves throbbed out praise for the princes. 5. , , ! , . 6. Let us begin, my brothers, this tale from the elder Vladmir up to our contemporary go, who extended his mind with firmness and sharpened his heart with manliness; 6. , , 7. and, filling himself with war-like spirit, led his brave hosts to the land of Plovtsy, for the sake of the land of the Russians. 7. , . 8. 8.

Then go gazed up at the bright sun, and saw all his warriors covered with the darkness [that proceeded] out of it. 8. , , , 9. And go said to his druna: 9. : 10. ! , . 11. 11.

So let us mount, brothers, on our swift steeds and look upon the blue Don! 11. , , ! 12. The princes mind flamed with desire, and his eagerness to have experience of the mighty Don concealed from him the omen. 12. , . 13.

I wish, he said, to shatter a spear on the borders of the land of the Plovtsy, with you, my Russians: I wish to lay down my head and to drink of the Don in my helmet! 13. , , , ! . 14. Oh, Boyn, nightingale of the times agone! If only thou hadst warbled of these hosts, leaping in the tree of thought, flying up with thy mind beneath the clouds, weaving together the glories of both halves of this time, racing on the path of Troyn through the plains to the mountains. 14. , ! , , , , ! 15.

Thus might have been sung in song to go, [his (Olgs) grandson]. 15. , : 16. Like as a storm bore hawks before it across the broad fields, the crows, in flocks run towards the mighty Don. 16. ! 17.

Or, thus might have been sung, oh wizard Boyn, scion of Vles 17. , , : 18. The horses neigh beyond the Sul, the glory echoes at Kev, the trumpets blare at Nvgorod, the banners stand fast at Putvl. go awaits his dear brother Vsvolod. 18. , , , , ! 19.

And Vsvolod said to him: 19. - : 20. My one brother, my one bright light, thou go! we are both sons of Svyatoslv! 20. , , , ! 21. Brother, saddle thy swift horses; 21. mine are ready for thee, saddled at Kusk beforehand: 22. , ! 23. and my men of Kusk are experienced fighters, nursed amid trumpets, rocked in helmets, fed at the spear-blades, 23. , , , , 24. well-known to them are the paths; familiar to them are the ravines; their saddle-bows are strung; their quivers are open; and their sabres are whetted. 24. , , , , , 25. , , , , , 25.

They themselves gallop like grey wolves in the field, seeking honour for themselves, and for their prince glory. 25. , , , . 26. Then Prince go stepped into his golden stirrup, and set out in the open field. 27. 27.

The sun barred his way with darkness, 27. ; 28. night groaned to him; and roused the birds with terror; the shrill tones of beasts aroused him; 28. , , ; ! 29. Div arose crying calls on the tree-top; he commands a hearing from the Unknown Land, the Vlga, the sea-border, and the Sul country on the Sea of Azov, Korsu, and thee, thou idol of Tmutarok. : , , , , , , , . 30. 30.

But the Plovtsy on trackless roads ran to the mighty Don. The carts creak at midnight, like swans released. go leads his hosts towards the Don. 30.. , ; ! 31. 31. , , , 32. , , , 32.

Oh land of Russia, already art thou beyond the frontier-hill! 32. ! 33. Long is the night dark; 33. ! , 34. the dawn has begun to give forth light; mist has rolled over the fields; 34. the twitter of the nightingales is hushed; the speech of the crows has been awakened. 35. , . 36. 36.

The sons of Russia have barred the broad fields with their crimson shields, seeking for themselves honour, for their prince renown. 36. , , . 37. From the dawning on Friday they trampled on the heathen hosts of the Plovtsy and scattered themselves like arrows over the field. 37. , , , , , ! 38. , , , , , ! 38.

With the mantles and cloaks and coats they set about bridging over the myre and greasy places , with all the various patterned raiments of the Plovtsy. 38. , , , 39. [To go] the brave son of Svyatoslv [there fell] a purple flag, a white banner, a red panache and a silver spear. 39.. , ! 40.

The valiant brood of the lgovii slumbers on the battle-field; afar has it flown. 40. ! 41. It had not been born to be insulted by hawk or gerfalcon, nor by thee, thou black crow, thou Heathen Polovn! 41. , , , , ! 42. 42. , ! 43. , ! 43.

On the second day, very early, blood-stained dawn-lights announce the day; 43. ; 44. black clouds approach from the sea, and are eager to bedim the four Suns, and in them there quiver blue lightning-flashes. 44. , , . 45.

There shall ensue a fearful thunder; it shall rain arrows from the mighty Don. 45. ! ! 46. And there shall spears be shattered, and swords shall be blunted on the Polovtski helms, by the river Kayla, near the mighty Don. 46. - , - , , ! 47.

Oh land of Russia, thou art now on the frontier-hill. 47. , ! 48. Now the winds, the scions of Strbog, blow from the sea like arrows on to the courageous hosts of go. 48. 49. 49.

The Earth moans, the streams flow sullied, [clouds of] dust cover the fields, 49. , , , 50. the banners murmur. The Plovtsy advance from the Don and the sea 50. ! , , 51. and from all sides.

The Russian regiments retired. 51... 52. The children of Baal barred the fields with their yells; but the brave Russians barred them with their crimson shields. 52. 53. 53.

Oh fierce bull [? ] Vsvolod, thou standest in the struggle, dartest with thy arrows on the hosts, crashest with steel swords on their helmets. 53. ! , , ; 54. Where thou, the bull, didst leap forward, gleaming with thy golden helmet, there the heathen Polovtski heads lie, [and] their 54. , , , , , 55. , ! 56. who repined at the wounds of the enemy and forgot his honour and his life, and the City of erngov, his fathers golden throne, and the wonts and the ways of his dear love, the fair Glbovna! 56. , , , , , , , . 57. 57.

There have been the ages of Troyn; the years of Yaroslv have declined. There have been the armies of Olg, Olg Svyatoslvi. 57. , ; , . 58. 58. , . 59. 59.

He steps into his golden stirrup in the city of Tmutorok. 59. ! 60. Yaroslv the Great, long since departed, heard the peal [of bells], 60. , 61. 61. ; . 62. [Lust for] glory brought Bors Vyaeslvi to the Judgment-seat, and on the Kanna [banks] bedded him with a garment of green, on account of the wrong [done] to Olg, that valiant and young prince. 62. , , . 63. 63.

From this river Kayla Svyatoplk bade his father-in-law be carried amid Hungarian amblers [to Saint Sophia at Kev]. 63.. 64. Then, in the time of Olg, Bors wrought for evil: feuds were sown and grew apace, the life of [Russia] the scion of Dbog [the Sun-god] was wasted in the factious of the princes and the generations of mankind were shortened. 64.. 65. 65.

Then on the Russian land seldom did the villeins shout gee-up, but often did the ravens croak, as they divided the corpses [amongst themselves]; the crows spake in their own tongue, they wish to fly to the banquet. 65. , , ; : ! 66. Thus it was in those battles and those expeditions; but, such as this battle, none has been heard of. From early moon until the evening, from the evening until the day-light, tempered arrows fly, the sabres thunder about the helmets, the lances crack 66. in the foreign country, amid the land of the Plovtsy. in the foreign country, amid the land of the Plovtsy.