Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia? Part 23

"Cruel hated husband, Hark! he is coming!

Holding the knout...."

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!

See the blood spurt!

Ai, leli, leli!

See the blood spurt!"

"Run to his father!

Bowing before him-- 200 'Save me!' I beg him; 'Stop my fierce husband-- Venomous serpent!'

Father-in-law says, 'Beat her more soundly!

Draw the blood freely!'"

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!

See the blood spurt!

Ai, leli, leli!

See the blood spurt!" 210

"Quick--to his mother!

Bowing before her-- 'Save me!' I beg her; 'Stop my cruel husband!

Venomous serpent!'

Mother-in-law says, 'Beat her more soundly, Draw the blood freely!'"

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!

See the blood spurt! 220 Ai, leli, leli!

See the blood spurt!"

"On Lady-day Philip Went back to the city; A little while later Our baby was born.

Like a bright-coloured picture Was he--little Djoma; The sunbeams had given Their radiance to him, 230 The pure snow its whiteness; The poppies had painted His lips; by the sable His brow had been pencilled; The falcon had fas.h.i.+oned His eyes, and had lent them Their wonderful brightness.

At sight of his first Angel smile, all the anger And bitterness nursed 240 In my bosom was melted; It vanished away Like the snow on the meadows At sight of the smiling Spring sun. And not longer I worried and fretted; I worked, and in silence I let them upbraid.

But soon after that A misfortune befell me: 250 The manager by The Pomyeshchick appointed, Called Sitnikov, hotly Began to pursue me.

'My lovely Tsaritsa!

'My rosy-ripe berry!'

Said he; and I answered, 'Be off, shameless rascal!

Remember, the berry Is not in _your_ forest!' 260 I stayed from the field-work, And hid in the cottage; He very soon found me.

I hid in the corn-loft, But Mother-in-law Dragged me out to the courtyard; 'Now don't play with fire, girl!'

She said. I besought her To send him away, But she answered me roughly, 270 'And do you want Philip To serve as a soldier?'

I ran to Savyeli, The grandfather, begging His aid and advice.

"I haven't yet told you A word of Savyeli, The only one living Of Philip's relations Who pitied and loved me. 280 Say, friends, shall I tell you About him as well?"

"Yes, tell us his tale, And we'll each throw a couple Of sheaves in to-morrow, Above what we promised."

"Well, well," says Matrona, "And 'twould be a pity To give old Savyeli No place in the story; 290 For he was a happy one, Too--the old man...."

CHAPTER III

SAVYeLI

"A mane grey and bushy Which covered his shoulders, A huge grizzled beard Which had not seen the scissors For twenty odd years, Made Savyeli resemble A s.h.a.ggy old bear, Especially when he Came out of the forest, So broad and bent double. 10 The grandfather's shoulders Were bowed very low, And at first I was frightened Whenever he entered The tiny low cottage: I thought that were he To stand straight of a sudden He'd knock a great hole With his head in the ceiling.

But Grandfather could not 20 Stand straight, and they told me That he was a hundred.

He lived all alone In his own little cottage, And never permitted The others to enter; He couldn't abide them.

Of course they were angry And often abused him.

His own son would shout at him, 30 'Branded one! Convict!'

But this did not anger Savyeli, he only Would go to his cottage Without making answer, And, crossing himself, Begin reading the scriptures; Then suddenly cry In a voice loud and joyful, 'Though branded--no slave!' 40 When too much they annoyed him, He sometimes would say to them: 'Look, the swat's[46] coming!'

The unmarried daughter Would fly to the window; Instead of the swat there A beggar she'd find!

And one day he silvered A common bra.s.s farthing, And left it to lie 50 On the floor; and then straightway Did Father-in-law run In joy to the tavern,-- He came back, not tipsy, But beaten half-dead!

At supper that night We were all very silent, And Father-in-law had A cut on his eyebrow, But Grandfather's face 60 Wore a smile like a rainbow!

"Savyeli would gather The berries and mushrooms From spring till late autumn, And snare the wild rabbits; Throughout the long winter He lay on the oven And talked to himself.

He had favourite sayings: He used to lie thinking 70 For whole hours together, And once in an hour You would hear him exclaiming:

"'Destroyed ... and subjected!'

Or, 'Ai, you toy heroes!

You're fit but for battles With old men and women!'

"'Be patient ... and perish, Impatient ... and peris.h.!.+'

"'Eh, you Russian peasant, 80 You giant, you strong man, The whole of your lifetime You're flogged, yet you dare not Take refuge in death, For h.e.l.l's torments await you!'

"'At last the Korojins[47]

Awoke, and they paid him, They paid him, they paid him, They paid the whole debt!'

And many such sayings 90 He had,--I forget them.

When Father-in-law grew Too noisy I always Would run to Savyeli, And we two, together, Would fasten the door.

Then I began working, While Djomushka climbed To the grandfather's shoulder, And sat there, and looked 100 Like a bright little apple That hung on a h.o.a.ry Old tree. Once I asked him:

"'And why do they call you A convict, Savyeli?'

"'I was once a convict,'

Said he.

"'You, Savyeli!'

"'Yes I, little Grandchild, Yes, I have been branded. 110 I buried a German Alive--Christian Vogel.'