by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852)
Translation © by Sergey Rybin

На смерть чижика
Language: Russian (Русский) 
Our translations:  ENG
В сём гробе [милый]1 чижик мой!
Природы милое творенье,
Из мирной облости земной
Он улетел, как сновиденье.

Он для любви на свете жил,
Он нежной песенкой [ответной]2,
За ласку нежную платил,
И подлетал к руке приветной.

Но в свете страшно и любить:
Ему был дан дружок крылатый;
Чтоб милого не пережить,
Он в гробе скрылся от утраты.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   S. Rachmaninov 

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Rachmaninov: "верный"
2 Rachmaninov: "приветной"

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Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sergey Rybin) , "On the death of a linnet", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 57

On the death of a linnet
Language: English  after the Russian (Русский) 
In this little coffin lies my [dear]1 linnet, 
A darling creation of nature, 
From the peaceful earthly realm
He flew away, like a dream. 

He lived for love in this world, 
With his sweet chirping song [of response]2
He repaid me for my caring affection
When he flew towards my welcoming hand. 

But even to love is perilous in this life.
He had a winged tender friend;
So as not to outlive a dear one
He escaped his loss in a coffin.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Rachmaninov: "faithful"
2 Rachmaninov: "of greeting"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2018 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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This text was added to the website: 2018-02-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 82