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The Little Humpbacked Horse
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Translated by Louis Zellikoff
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Text edits and subs by N.Giroux
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Past the woods and mountains steep,
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Past the rolling waters deep,
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You will find a hamlet pleasant
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Where once dwelt an aged peasant.
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Of his sons-and he had three
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Th'eldest sharp was as could be;
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Second was nor dull nor bright,
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But the third-a fool all right.
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But, upon an evil day,
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Dire misfortune came their way-
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Someone, 'twixt the dark and dawn,
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Took to trampling down their corn;
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Never had such grief before
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Come to visit at their door;
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Day and night they sat and thought
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How the villain could be caught,
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Till at last they understood
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Nightly guard would do them good.
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You, Ivan just go around
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Watch the field and space abound
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Danila and Iíll stay behind
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Soon the pesky thief weíll find.
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Stars, starsÖ one, two, threeÖ
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All night long, I count thee
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Three, four, fiveÖand sixth one too!
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Ainít no summing you on fingers few!
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"Oh, ho ho-so this is it!
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You're the rogue-but wait a bit!
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Since you sat me, I confess
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I am yours now to possessÖ
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But if you will set me free
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Two brave stallions I would give thee
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And such handsome steeds I'd bear
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As have ne'er been seen, I swear.
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And a third I promise you,
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Only twelve hands high, with two
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Little humps upon his back-
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Ears-a yard long...
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If you wish, why, sell the two,
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But, Ivan, whate'er you do,
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Part not with the little steed,
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Though you be in direst need.
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Faithful friend to you he'll be,
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Where you go, on land or sea.
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So, farewell, Ivan
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For now I will roam free...
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-Not in our fieldsÖhopefully!!!
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Log house, stoveÖ all swing around,
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Ainít no place for their master to lay down
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Where in this hangover dread
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Shall I hide my rowdy head ?
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Hey, stomp with your foot
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Donít you worry ëbout the boot
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Drunks ìknee-deepî all seas shall measure
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But their heads they do not treasure
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Lord be merciful and fair!
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Just you look what lovely pair
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Our young fool has hidden thereÖ
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Across the meadows and the ponds
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At dawnís earliest hour
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The rain of multicolored gems
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The Sun from its beard doth shower
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Oh, the field, the field of mine
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Roaming free just feels so fine!
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Oh, my horses black as night,
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With your golden manes so bright!
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Did not I look after you?
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What foul devil stole you? Who?
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Donít blame devils for their deeds-
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Your two brothers stole those steeds.
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Yes, your loss is great, I know-
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But I'll help you in your woe.
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Mount my back-when I say: 'Go',
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Hold to me for all you know.
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Now, this is a'curious light.
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Look-there's light in plenty here-
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But no smoke or heat-I swear
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And you very well may stare!
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That's a Fire-Bird's feather there!
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But, Ivan, for your own sake,
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Touch it not, for in its wake
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Many sorrows, many woes
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Follow everywhere it goes
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Is that what you're telling me?
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Woes and sorrows-we shall see!
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Many sorrows, many woes
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Follow everywhere it goes
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Capital City
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Now, there was an old tradition
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That, without the Mayor's permission,
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Nothing could be bought or sold,
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Nor for barter, nor for gold.
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As the church-bells called for prayer,
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On his palfrey rode the Mayor.
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Golden trumpet gaily sounding,
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Voice stentorian resounding:
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Guests and honest merchants there,
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Open up and sell your ware!
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You, my watchmen, guard their stalls
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Keep the order, squash the brawls!
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Then the merchants loudly call,
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As each opens up his stall:
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"Honest masters-come this way!
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See what wares we have today!î
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Sables, ferretsÖ different furs
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Pick and choose, you lovely girls!
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Here I have the yokes renowned
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Saddles and some horsewhips sound!
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Tawed reins!
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Honey cakes!
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Spiced brine apples!
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Tasty bakes!
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Come young maidens and young lads!
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Savor all my gingerbreads!
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-Tsarís approaching
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-Redhead chamberlain ëside him
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Heís horse keepersí chief supreme.
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Oh dear father!
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Oh dear mother!
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What a sight theyíre to behold
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Just to me, you wil be sold!
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My good people, who
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Owns these handsome chargers two?
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Tsar, these steeds belong to me,
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I'm their owner, too, you see.
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Will you sell them to me, say?
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No, I'm swapping them today.
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What will you be taking, then?
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Twice five caps of silver
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That I think will make it..ten?
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I will give you that, young man!
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Brothers, are you not ashamed?
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Though you're clev'rer than Ivan,
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Still, Ivan's an honest man.
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Whatcha looking at, old snake?
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Take the steeds, for goodness sake!
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Oh, good people, what a show!
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I could die just laughing so!
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Now, my grooms can't hold those two-
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So, there's nothing else to do,
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But to come along with me.
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I shall issue a decree,
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Make you Master of my Horse,
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Like a lord, you'll live, of course
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What a wonder! Let it be
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I shall serve Your Majesty!
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Have I fallen from your grace ?
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And my job which I embrace?
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My displeasure, do observe!
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Under Ivan you shall serve!
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Take them, Ivan, faithful slave
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To my stable, steeds so brave!
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Just you wait, you dirty lout,
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Time will come, I'll turn you out.
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Tsarís Stables
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Servant life is sloth and folly
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Chasing pigeons-he is jolly
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Steeds well-fed and clean appear
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Could some ghost be working here?
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Can it be, a goblin sprite
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Comes and braids their manes at night?
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Watch him-that's what I shall do.
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And wonít stop until Iím through.
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In the city now is night,
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All around are sleeping tight
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But no peace will come to me
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Even when Iím tired, see?
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Iíll your silky bangs unbraid
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With a fine-toothed comb inlaid
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Brush your manes and braid'em back
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And admire your beauty black.
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Oh you, skipping horses mine
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You are graceful, you are fine!
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But the heart perceives most dear
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My humpback thatís always near.
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Oh, so thatís whatís going on
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With our little fiendish spawn!
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This shall be your bitter end,
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To the gallows youíll be sent.
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To confess, O Majesty,
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I have dared to come to thee!
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Be not angry with thy slave.
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Suffer me to speak, I crave.
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Speak without any fibs,
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Or the whip will count your ribs.
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All the Court knows it is true,
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That Ivan conceals from you
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Fire-Bird's feather, SireÖBehold!
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And he boasts, as I have heard,
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That, did you but say the word,
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He could bring the Bird of Fire
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To your Royal Chamber, Sire.
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Fetch for me that foolish lad!
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Wonít escape my fist-too bad!
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By what law and what decree
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Have you from Our Majesty
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Hidden what is ours by right?
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Yes-the Fire-Bird's feather bright?
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ëBout the feather in my hatÖ
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How could he discover that?
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How could he discover that?
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I've no feather-and, how, pray,
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Could such wonders come my way?
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What? You dare refute thy Sire?
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Look, what have just acquired!
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Pardon me this once, please do
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And I'll lie no more to you.
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You'll be pardoned for the nonce,
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Seeing you have sinned but once
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You have boasted, as I've heard,
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That, did I but say the word,
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You could bring the Bird of Fire
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To the Chamber of your Sire.
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May the lightning strike my head
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If such thing I ever said!
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If you do not bring it to me
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To my Royal Chamber, now,
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By my Royal Beard I vow,
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I will find you anywhere
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And impale you, so take care.
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Off, you serf!
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Now you'll shed many a tear!
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You rejected my advice-
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Now, you have to pay the price.
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Oh, whatever shall I do?
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Help me, oh my friend so true.
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I will say 'twixt you and me-
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This is easy as can be.
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Service lies ahead, so please
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Put your mind, Ivan, at ease.
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But whatever shall I do?
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Help me, oh my friend so true.
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Telling you in language plain,
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We will need the best of grain,
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And two troughs; then, if you please,
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Wine, brought in from overseas.
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Really, weíve no time to waste.
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And at dawn we must make haste.
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Hereís to where the Birds so bright
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Flock before the dawn at night.
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These are hellish beings, I swear
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Fiery riff-raff everywhere
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Oh, my little humpback dear,
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Hurry fast,come-do you hear!
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-Ivanís gone long time from here
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-Somewhere lies he drunk, I fear.
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Let you down this time, I think,
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Broke decrees and did not blink
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Were he empty-handed to arrive
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I would have to skin the fool alive.
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I am twisting little rope
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Lovingly, kidís noose I grope
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Just for his, of all the heads
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He shall test the strength of threads.
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Soon, Iíll finish with my noose
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Insultís gone when heíll hang loose.
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Vile hound, snout of swine
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May you bow-like twist your spine!
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May you choke on birch bark shoe!
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May you fall the black earth through!
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What have you brought back for me?
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Show me! patienceís not my trait.
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Father Tsar, a momentís wait!
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Bid them first, Your Majesty,
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Shut the chamber casement tight,
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Draw the shades, keep out the light.
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Hey, Boyars! You should make haste
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need day with night replaced,
Shadows by the black embraced.
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Call the firemen-and quick!
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Water hose would do the trick!
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Hold him still and hold him tight
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Bind the rascal, bind him right
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Get him, catch him, grab a hold!
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Quickly, flee from fowl bold!
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Oh how lively you do leap
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Come enjoy your peaceful keep!
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Vanya, friend, I love you so,
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Lightened is my heart, you know.
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And, in token of my joy,
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Be my Royal Groom, my boy!
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You won't always prosper so,
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Have such foolish luck-oh no!
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I'll get you in trouble, yet!
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Yes, I will, my little pet!
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In a distant clime, my brothers,
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Flows an ocean, like no others;
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And it washes foreign shores,
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And it's sailed by merchant moors
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Those who have sailed, and so know,
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Tell about a maiden fair
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Living on that ocean there.
She's no common maiden, see-
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Daughter to the Sun is she,
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Moonís her brother, goes the word
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Scarlet dress she wears, I heard.
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Sails a boat-of gold it's made,
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And she wields a silver oar,
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Steers that boat from shore to shore.
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Gusli in her hand, she sings
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As she plucks its silver strings.
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I'll get you in trouble, yet!
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Yes, I will, my little pet!
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Get him, get him get him clean
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Front and back and in between
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Birch twig switch of leafy green
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One,two-water off duckís back is dripping
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Good health comes from all this whipping
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And will be our Father mild
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Rosy red like tender child
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From the waters boiling wild
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One,two-water off duckís back is dripping
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Good health comes from all this whipping
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Poor more water from the bowls
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Bring more heat with steaming coals!
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One,two-water off duckís back is dripping
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Good health comes from all this whipping
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Poor more water from the bowls
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Bring more heat with steaming coals!
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Tsar, your Vanya gaily said,
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Swearing by your Royal Head,
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That he knew this birdie-yes-
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So he called her, I confess.
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And, O Sire, it's also true
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That he bragged to catch her, too.
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I have been informed, dear Vanya,
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That just now, my lad, you said,
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Swearing by my Royal Head,
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That, did I but say the word,
You could bring another bird.
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For your Monarch-you did swear
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You could catch the Tsar-Maid Fair.
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Oh dear father, Iíve been hexed.
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By such gossip Iím perplexed.
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But no matter what you say
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You will not fool me this way!
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Look-If you do not bring to me
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That Tsar-Maid, in short weeks three,
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To my Chamber lovely bird,
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Mark Ivan my royal word,
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Tortures grand till your life ceases.
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Youíll be pulled apart in pieces.
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Turn your gaze ahead, at last
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See ñ the ocean spreading vast
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There it is, the whole year round,
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This Tsar-Maiden can be found.
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This Godís world is full of wonder
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Look at all the beauty yonder!
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In this lovely silky tent
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I my loneliness lament
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And for no-one my voice sings
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As I nod and pluck my strings
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Oh you wild winds, donít howl
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Fall asleep, you beast and fowl
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Slumber deep in vales and coves,
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Mountains steep and oak tree groves
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Master! Slumber quickly shirk
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Tis the time to fix our work
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Oh dear Tsar, itís time to sing
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Since Tsar-Maiden he wonít bring
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Serf has played another trick
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Drive him in a coffin thick.
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May you perish hound mean!
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May you croak in a ravine!
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May you fall into a pond,
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When you roam the great beyond!
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Peerless, beautiful princess-
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Be my bride! Agree-say yes!
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When I first saw you, desire
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Burned within my breast like fire!
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Oh! Your lovely eyes so bright-
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They will haunt me day and night!
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They will torture me by day
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And at nights, drive sleep away!
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Say but one sweet word to me
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Everything is ready, see-
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And tomorrow, oh my life,
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We'll be wedded man and wife.
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Oh, what need is there to wed?
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I shall be alone instead!
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What to do, O Maiden Fair?
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Wedding dreams have made me square!
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If you love me truly, bring
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Me in three days' time, my ring
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Lying in the ocean bed-
Only then can we be wed.
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Get Ivan without ado!
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Vanya-here's a job for you-
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Go down to the ocean blue.
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From its bottom, you must bring
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Me the Tsar-Maid's signet-ring.
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If you execute this task,
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I will give you all you ask.
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But I've only just got back,
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And my joints are fit to crack.
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Back to shore again so soon?
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Want to marry fast, buffoon!
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No more arguments, I say-
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Now, be off without delay
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They come out into the clearing
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To the ocean Ivanís steering,
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Where, with giant head and tail,
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Lies the Monster-Marvel Whale.
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These ten years he lies in pain,
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Ignorant of how to gain
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Pardon, to this very day.
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Oh, his eyes are looking sad
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Why this suffering and dread?
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He endures this punishment,
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For, without the Lord's consent,
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Thirty ships, one day, he swallowed
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As their ocean course they followed.
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If he sets them free again
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God will take away his pain,
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May God speed you, gentles two-
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Whither bound, and whence are you?
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We're the Tsar-Maid's envoys, see-
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From the capital are we
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From seaís bottom please do bring
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Us the Tsar-Maid's signet-ring.
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For what sins, can you explain?
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Must I bear this grief and pain?
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Has some sin brought all this bane?
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And how can I the pardon gain?
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I can tell you, Monster-Whale
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Why you suffer and you ail.
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If you help me get the ring
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Freedom my advice will bring.
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Certainly-for friends like you
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There is nothing I won't do.
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Heed my words, 0 Christians true-
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Mark what I am telling you-
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If you wish to keep away
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From a briny grave today,
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Get you gone this minute, now!
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Wonders will take place, I vow,
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For the Monster Whale will turn
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And the sea will seethe and churn.
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Troubleís brewing!
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Troubleís coming!
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From the Whale we should be running!!!
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Youíve endured this torment
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Since without Lordís consent
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Thirty ships, one day, you swallowed
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As their ocean course they followed.
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If you set them free again
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God will take away your pain.
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O'er the billows, o'er the sea,
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O'er the ocean wide and free,
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At the bottom of the world,
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Fly our ships with sails unfurled.
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Masts are rising higher yet,
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Sails from foamy splashes wet,
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Villages and forests green,
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Native region can be seen.
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Tell me, friends, what can I do
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In return, or give to you?
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From the oceanís floor Iíll bring
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You the lovely Maiden's ring.
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Brought no ring from underneathÖ
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May he rot and all his teeth.
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-Thank you kindly, Monster-Whale!
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-No, tis you, my friend, I hail!
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I'll remember till I die
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What you've done for meñgood-bye!
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I canít lift this heavy chest
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Filled with fiendish hordes for jest
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By the wily Monster Whale.
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Mount my back and tightly so
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Hold to me for all you know.
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Maiden fair, hear my voice?
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Ring is found- do rejoice!
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And, forgive my boldness, do,
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I just want to marry you.
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Yes, I know, I know, my lad-
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Still-We can't be wedded yet.
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Why?-I love you more than life!
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Why can you not be my wife?
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Of an old, old man like you?
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Grey haired, ugly, toothless, too?
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Though you think I may be old
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Yet Iím lively and Iím bold.
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Look here-you're old and grey-
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I am but fifteen today-
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You regain your youth anew,
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And I'll gladly marry you.
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O, dear Maiden, listen here-
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One can't be reborn, I fear
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If you have no fear of pain,
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You will soon be young again.
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Listen-early in the morn,
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On the palace court-yard lawn,
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You must have three cauldrons ready,
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Two-on fires burning steady.
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Now, the first one must be filled
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To the brim, with water chilled,
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While the next-with water hot-
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Have it boiled there on the spot;
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Then, with milk fill up the last,
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Heat it, till the milk boils fast.
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If you want to marry me,
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Young and handsome wish to be,
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First you must your robes divest,
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Plunge into the milk, undressed.
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Next, in boiling water.Then,
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In the water cold-and when
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You emerge- Oh, Father my,
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Youíll be young and handsome guy.
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Oh, dear Father, donít get sad,
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Try this trick on our lad.
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Cauldrons' magic he should test
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If it works, then be my guest.
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Listen, now-tomorrow morn
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On the palace court-yard lawn,
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You, Ivan, must do your best-
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These three cauldrons you must test-
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First bathe in the milk, my son,
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Then the waters, one by one.
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Chickens, pigs, and turkeys-yes-
People scald them, I confess.
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A cold bath-why that's quite
Diff'rent and thatís alright.
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As to being boiled alive-
You can't tempt me-don't you strive.
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What? You dare talk back to me?
Put him under lock and key!
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Talk like this-you getting then
Bread and water regimen!
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First you do the cauldron bit
Then weíll talk about it.
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Better if we never met.
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Woes to you, I do regret.
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Tsar will be the death of me.
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Heíll be boiling me, you see.
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God bless you and do not cry-
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We will manage, you and I.
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I would sooner perish, than
Leave you in the lurch, Ivan.
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Say: Your Gracious Majesty!
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Please to send my horse to me
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So that I can say good-bye
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To my horse before I die.
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Now, my lad, go, say your prayers,
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Sleep in peace, forget your cares.
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Now, undress yourself, my man-
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Try the cauldrons best you can.
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Oh, allow Your Majesty,
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Please to send my horse to me
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So that I can say good-bye
To my horse, before I die.
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If the milk does not boil proper,
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Water one will be his stopper.
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Why are you just staying still?
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Waitís been long-now do my will!
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If you have no fear of pain,
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You will soon be young again.
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The End