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Спросили они: ,,Как в летучих челнах Нам белою чайкой скользить на волнах, Чтоб нас сторожа недогнали?`` ,,Гребите!`` они отвечали. Спросили они: ,,Как забыть, навсегда, Что в мире юдольном есть бедность, беда, Что есть в нём гроза и печали?`` ,,Засните!`` они отвечали. Спросили они: ,,Как красавиц привлечь Без чары: чтоб сами на страстную речь Они нам в объятия пали?`` ,,Любите!`` они отвечали.
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Note on TransliterationsText Authorship:
- by Lev Aleksandrovich Mey (1822 - 1862), no title, written 1862, first published 1862 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre guitare", appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 23, first published 1838
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Mikhail Mikhailovich Ivanov (1849 - 1927), 1899 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943), "Они отвечали", op. 21 (Двенадцать романсов = Dvenadcat' romansov (Twelve songs)) no. 4 (1902) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Vasily Andreyevich Zolotaryov (1872 - 1964), "Спросили они", op. 26 no. 2 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Jurgenson [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sergey Rybin) , "They answered", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 61
The men asked: “How, in our flying boats, Might we glide like a white seagull on the waves, So that the watchmen will not catch us?” “Row!” — the women replied. The men asked: “How can we forget forever That in this earthly world there is poverty, sorrow, That there are storms and griefs within it?” “Sleep!” — the women replied. The men asked: “How can we draw fair maidens, Without magic, so that to our passionate words They fall into our arms willingly?” “Love!” — the women replied.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2026 by Sergey Rybin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Lev Aleksandrovich Mey (1822 - 1862), no title, written 1862, first published 1862
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre guitare", appears in Les Rayons et les Ombres, no. 23, first published 1838
This text was added to the website: 2026-03-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 89