Four Verses of Captain Lebyadkin
Song Cycle by Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (1906 - 1975)
View original-language texts alone: Четырёх стихотворениях капитана Лебядкина = Chetyrjokh stikhotvorenijakh kapitana Lebjadkina
Любви пылающей граната Лопнула в груди Игната. И вновь заплакал горькой мукой По Севастополю безрукий. — Хоть в Севастополе не был, и даже не безрукий, но каковы же рифмы! — [...]1 И порхает звезда на коне В хороводе других амазонок; Улыбается с лошади мне Ари-сто-кратический ребёнок. [...]1 Совершенству девицы Тушиной. Милостивая государыня, Елизавета Николаевна! О, как мила она, Елизавета Тушина, Когда с родственником на дамском седле летает. А локон её с ветрами играет, Или когда с матерью в церкви падает ниц, И зрится румянец благоговейных лиц! Тогда брачных и законных наслаждений желаю И вслед ей, вместе с матерью, слезу посылаю.2 [...]1 В случае если б она сломала ногу. [...]1 Краса красот сломала член, И интересней вдвое стала, И вдвое сделался влюблён Влюблённый уж немало. [Составил неученый за спором.]2
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 1, Part 3, Chapter 9 (first portion); Book 1, Part 4, chapter 2 (second portion); and Book 2, Part 2, Chapter 2 (last portion)
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Constance Clara Garnett née Black)
- FRE French (Français) (Victor Derély) , "L'amour du capitaine Lébiadkine"
1 indicates text has been omitted.
2 In the novel, the line "I vsled jej, vmeste s mater'ju, slezu posylaju." is followed by "Sostavil neuchenyj za sporom." Shostakovich has moved it to the end of this movement.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
A bomb of love with stinging smart Exploded in Ignaty's heart. In anguish dire I weep again The arm that at Sevastopol I lost in bitter pain! Not that I ever was at Sevastopol, or ever lost my arm, but you know what rhyme is. Among the Amazons a star, Upon her steed she flashes by, And smiles upon me from afar, The child of aris-to-cra-cy! To a Starry Amazon. To the Perfection, Miss Tushin. Gracious Lady Lizaveta Nikolaevna! Oh, she's a sweet queen, Lizaveta Tushin! When on side-saddle she gallops by, And in the breeze her fair tresses fly! Or when with her mother in church she bows low And on devout faces a red flush doth flow! Then for the joys of lawful wedlock I aspire, And follow her and her mother with tears of desire. In case she were to break her leg. With broken limbs my beauteous queen Is twice as charming as before, And, deep in love as I have been, To-day I love her even more. Composed by an unlearned man in the midst of a discussion.
Authorship:
- by Constance Clara Garnett née Black (1861 - 1946)
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 1, Part 3, Chapter 9 (first portion); Book 1, Part 4, chapter 2 (second portion); and Book 2, Part 2, Chapter 2 (last portion)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-02
Line count: 29
Word count: 183
Жил на свете таракан, Таракан от детства, И потом попал в стакан Полны мухоедства -- - Господи! Что такое? [...]1 - То есть, когда летом [...]1 в стакан налезут мухи, то происходит мухоедство, всякий дурак поимёт, не перебивайте, не перебивайте, вы увидите, вы увидите! [...]1 [Пожалуйста, сначала! Жил на свете таракан, Таракан от детства, И потом попал в стакан Полны мухоедства.]2 Место занял таракан, Мухи возроптали, ,,Полон очень наш стакан``, -- К Юпитеру закричали. Но пока у них шёл крик, Подошёл Никифор, Бла-го-роднейший старик ... ... Тут у меня ещё не докончено, но всё равно, словами! [...]1 Никифор берёт стакан и, несмотря на крик, выплёскивает в лохань всю комедию, и мух и таракана, что давно надо было сделать. Но заметьте, [но]2 заметьте, сударыня, таракан не ропщет! [...]1 ,,Таракан не ропщет.`` Что же касается до Никифора, то он изображает природу.
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 1, Part 5, Chapter 4
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Constance Clara Garnett née Black) , "The cockroach"
- FRE French (Français) (Victor Derély) , "Le cancrelas"
1 indicates text has been omitted.
2 added by Shostakovich.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Lived a cockroach in the world Such was his condition, In a glass he chanced to fall Full of fly-perdition. Heavens! What does it mean? That's when flies get into a glass in the summer-time hen it is perdition to the flies, any fool can understand. Don't interrupt, don't interrupt. You'll see, you'll see. Please, start again! Lived a cockroach in the world Such was his condition, In a glass he chanced to fall Full of fly-perdition. But he squeezed against the flies, They woke up and cursed him, Raised to Jove their angry cries; 'The glass is full to bursting!' In the middle of the din Came along Nikifor, Fine old man, and looking in... I haven't quite finished it. But no matter, I'll tell it in words, Nikifor takes the glass, and in spite of their outcry empties away the whole stew, flies, and beetles and all, into the pig pail, which ought to have been done long ago. But observe, madam, observe, the cockroach doesn't complain. 'The cockroach does not complain.' As for Nikifor he typifies nature.
Authorship:
- by Constance Clara Garnett née Black (1861 - 1946), "The cockroach"
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 1, Part 5, Chapter 4
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-02
Line count: 32
Word count: 180
Здравствуй, здравствуй, гувернантка! Веселись и торжествуй, Ретроградка иль жорж-зандка, Всё равно теперь ликуй! [...]1 Учишь ты детей сопливых По-французски букварю И подмигивать готова, Чтобы взял, хоть понмарю! [...]1 Но в наш век реформ великих Не возьмет и пономарь; Надо, барышня, ,,толиких``, Или снова за букварь. [...]1 Но теперь, когда, пируя, Мы собрали капитал, И приданое, танцуя, Шлём тебе из этих зал, -- Ретрогадка иль жорж-зандка, Всё равно теперь ликуй! Ты с приданым, гувернантка, Плюй на всё и торжествуй!2
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 3, Part 1, chapter 2
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Constance Clara Garnett née Black)
- FRE French (Français) (Victor Derély)
1 indicates text has been omitted.
2 Shostakovich adds an additional line: "Pluj! Likuj! I torzhestvuj!"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Governesses all, good morrow, Triumph on this festive day. Retrograde or vowed George-Sander -- Never mind, just frisk away! [...]1 Teaching French to wet-nosed children, You are glad enough to think You can catch a worn-out sexton -- Even he is worth a wink! [...]1 But in these great days of progress, Ladies, to your sorrow know, You can't even catch a sexton, If you have not got a 'dot'. [...]1 But, henceforth, since through our feasting Capital has flowed from all, And we send you forth to conquest Dancing, dowried from this hall -- Retrograde or vowed George-Sander, Never mind, rejoice you may, You're a governess with a dowry, Spit on all and frisk away!
Authorship:
- by Constance Clara Garnett née Black (1861 - 1946)
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), no title, appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 3, Part 1, chapter 2
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View original text (without footnotes)1 indicates text has been omitted.
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-12
Line count: 23
Word count: 113
Он незнатной был породы, Он возрос среди народа, Но гонимий местью царской, Злобной завистью боярской, Он обрёк себя страданью, Казням, пыткам, истязанью, И пошёл вещать народу, Братство, равенство, свободу.1 И, восстанье начиная, Он бежал в чужие краи Из царева каземата, От кнута, щипцов и ката. А народ, восстать готовый Из-под участи суровой От Смоленска до Ташкента С нетерпеньем ждал студента.1 Ждал его он поголовно, Чтоб идти безпрекословно, Порешить в конец боярство, Порешить совсем и царство, Сделать общими именья И предать навеки мщенью Церкви, браки и семейство!1 Мира старого злодейство!1
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), "Светлая личность", appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 2, Part 6, Chapter 3
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Constance Clara Garnett née Black) , "A noble personality"
- FRE French (Français) (Victor Derély) , "Une personnalité éclairée"
1 Shostakovich adds: "Эх!" ("`Ekh!")
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
He was not of rank exalted, He was not of noble birth, He was bred among the people In the breast of Mother Earth. But the malice of the nobles And the Tsar's revengeful wrath Drove him forth to grief and torture On the martyr's chosen path. He set out to teach the people Freedom, love, equality, To exhort them to resistance; But to flee the penalty Of the prison, whip and gallows, To a foreign land he went. While the people waited hoping From Smolensk to far Tashkent, Waited eager for his coming To rebel against their fate, To arise and crush the Tsardom And the nobles' vicious hate, To share all the wealth in common, And the antiquated thrall Of the church, the home and marriage To abolish once for all.
Authorship:
- by Constance Clara Garnett née Black (1861 - 1946), "A noble personality"
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881), "Светлая личность", appears in Бесы (Besy) = Demons [novel], Book 2, Part 6, Chapter 3
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 133