The Boyars
explain their
sovereign's
dream
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And the boyars said to the Prince:
"Already, Prince, grief has enthralled
the mind;
for indeed two falcons
have flown off the golden paternal,
throne
in quest of the town of Tmutorokan –
or at least to drink a helmetful of the
Don.
Already the falcons' winglets
have been clipped
by the pagans' sabers,
and the birds themselves
entangled in iron meshes."Indeed, dark it was
on the third day [of battle]:
two suns were murked,
both crimson pillars
were extinguished,
and with them both young moons,
Oleg and Svyatoslav,
were veiled with darkness
and sank in the sea.
"On the river Kayala
darkness has covered the light.
Over the Russian land
the Kumans have spread,
like a brood of pards,
and great turbulence
imparted to the Hin.
"Already disgrace
has come down upon glory.
Already thralldom
has crashed down upon freedom.
Already the daeva
has swooped down upon the land.
And lo! Gothic fair maids
have burst into song
on the shore of the blue sea:
chinking Russian gold,
they sing demon times;
they lilt vengeance for Sharokan;
and already we, [your] Guards, hanker
after mirth." |
