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Я знаю, отчего у этих берегов Раздумье тайное объемлет дух пловцов: Там нимфа грустная с распущенной косою, Полузакрытая певучей осокою, Порою песнь поёт про шелк своих власов, Лазурь заплаканных очей, жемчуг зубов И сердце, полное любви неразделенной. Проедет ли челнок-пловец обвороженный, Её заслушавшись, перестает грести; Замолкнет ли она -- но долго на пути Ему всё чудятся напевы над водою И нимфа в камышах, с распущенной косою.
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Note on TransliterationsAuthorship
- by Apollon Nikolayevich Maykov (1821 - 1897), no title, written 1841, appears in В антологическом роде (V antologicheskom rode) [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 Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908), "Нимфа", op. 56 (2 романса на слова Майкова для сопрано с сопровождением фортепиано (2 romansa na slova Majkova dlja soprano s soprovozhdeniem fortepiano)) no. 1 (1898). [soprano and piano] [ sung text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Kyle Gee) , title 1: "The nymph", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "La nymphe", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sergey Rybin) , copyright © 2017, (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: 65
I know the reason why by these shores A mysterious pensive mood seizes the sailors: A melancholy nymph with flowing tresses, Half-hidden by rustling reeds, Sometimes sings a song there about the silk of her hair, The azure of her tearful eyes, the pearls of her teeth, And a heart full of unrequited love. Passing by in a boat an enchanted sailor Listening to her song stops rowing; And, even when she falls silent, He still imagines for a while the singing above the waters, And the nymph in the reeds with flowing tresses.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Нимфа" = "Nymph"Authorship
- Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2017 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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- a text in Russian (Русский) by Apollon Nikolayevich Maykov (1821 - 1897), no title, written 1841, appears in В антологическом роде (V antologicheskom rode)
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 94