On the death of a linnet | In this little coffin lies my dear linnet

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by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852)

Translation © by Sergey Rybin

На смерть чижика

(Sung text for setting by S. Rachmaninov)

See original

Language: Russian (Русский)

Our translations: ENG

В сём гробе верный чижик мой!
Природы милое творенье,
Из мирной облости земной
Он улетел, как сновиденье.

Он для любви на свете жил,
Он нежной песенкой приветной,
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.

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Note on Transliterations

Composition:

Sergei Vasil'yevich Rachmaninov

Text Authorship:

by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852), "На смерть чижика", written 1819, first published 1827

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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: 60

On the death of a linnet

(Sung text translation for setting by S. Rachmaninov)

See original

Language: English after the Russian (Русский)

In this little coffin lies my faithful 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 greeting
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.

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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Based on:

a text in Russian (Русский) by Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky (1783 - 1852), "На смерть чижика", written 1819, first published 1827
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This text was added to the website: 2018-02-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 84