The Slaver in the broad lagoon Lay moored with idle sail; He waited for the rising moon, And for the evening gale. Under the shore his boat was tied, And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime. The Planter, under his roof of thatch, Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. He said, "My ship at anchor rides In yonder broad lagoon; I only wait the evening tides, And the rising of the moon." Before them, with her face upraised, In timid attitude, Like one half curious, half amazed, A Quadroon maiden stood. Her eyes were large, and full of light, Her arms and neck were bare; No garment she wore save a kirtle bright, And her own long, raven hair. And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint. "The soil is barren, -- the farm is old," The thoughtful planter said; Then looked upon the Slaver's gold, And then upon the maid. His heart within him was at strife With such accursèd gains: For he knew whose passions gave her life, Whose blood ran in her veins. But the voice of nature was too weak; He took the glittering gold! Then pale as death grew the maiden's cheek, Her hands as icy cold. The Slaver led her from the door, He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land!
Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "The Quadroon Girl", appears in Poems on Slavery, first published 1842 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Michael William Balfe (1808 - 1870), "The Quadroon Girl" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 - 1912), "The Quadroon Girl", op. 54 no. 4, published 1904 [ SATB chorus and piano or orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- RUS Russian (Русский) (Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov) , "Кватронка", first published 1861
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-22
Line count: 48
Word count: 282
Повесив праздно паруса, Корабль в заливе ждал, Чтоб месяц вышел в небеса И вздулся темный вал. Причалив к берегу в челне, Рабочий люд следил, Как аллигатор полз на дне Улечься в мягкий ил. А воздух вкруг благоухал От трав и от цветов, Как будто рай порой дышал На этот мир грехов. Плантатор в шалаше своем Задумчиво курил. Купец, прибывший с кораблем, Окончить торг спешил. Он молвил: «Не гостить привел Я свой корабль в залив. Я жду, чтоб месяц лишь взошел, Да начался прилив». В лице с предчувствием немым, Робка и хороша, Кватронка-девушка пред ним Стояла чуть дыша. Большие искрились глаза; По груди молодой Спускалась черная коса До юбочки цветной. Улыбки свет в лице у нее Мерцал так свят и тих, Как свет лампад в углу церквей На лике у святых. Плантатор думал: «Стар мой дом, И проку нет в земле!» Взглянул на девушку — потом На деньги на столе. В душе смущенной верх брала То жадность, то любовь: Он знал, чья страсть ей жизнь дала И чья текла в ней кровь. Но глубь души была черна: Он не осилил зла — И деньги взял. Тут вся она Застыла, замерла. И жертву новую свою Купец повел с собой, Чтоб быть ему в чужом краю Наложницей, рабой.
Confirmed with Михайлов М. Л.. Сочинения в трёх томах / Под общей редакцией Б. П. Козьмина — М.: Государственное издательство художественной литературы, 1958. — Т. 1. — pages 189—191.
Show a transliteration: Default | DIN | GOST
Note on TransliterationsAuthorship:
- by Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov (1829 - 1865), "Кватронка", first published 1861 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "The Quadroon Girl", appears in Poems on Slavery, first published 1842
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-07-16
Line count: 48
Word count: 205