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Злая смерть, как коршун хищный, впилась Вам в сердце и убила; и убила; Палач от бытия веков проклятый, она похитила и Вас! О, если-бы могли постигнуть Вашу душу все те, Кому, я знаю, дик мой вопль безумный! О, если-б Вам внимали... В беседе, в жарком споре, Мечтой, быть может смелой, я начертал-бы людям Ваш образ светлый, любовью правды озаренный, Ваш ум пытливый, спокойно на людей взиравший. Вы во-время порвали с блеском света связь привычки, Расстались с ним без гнева И думой неустанной познали жизнь иную. Когда кончиной матери любимой, всякою житейскою невзгодой Отброшенный от очага родного, разбитый, злой, измученный, Я робко, тревожно, как пуганный ребёнок, в Вашу святую душу постучался... Искал спасенья...
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Note on TransliterationsText Authorship:
- by Modest Petrovich Musorgsky (1839 - 1881) [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 Modest Petrovich Musorgsky (1839 - 1881), "Злая смерть", subtitle: "Надгробное Письмо", 1875, published 1912. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "Evil Death (Epitaph)", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "Mort cruelle", copyright © 2015, (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: 32
Word count: 112
Evil Death, like a rapacious bird of prey, has sunken its claws into your heart and murdered you; The cursed Butcher of all existing ages has taken even you. O, if only they could understand your soul, those people to whom I know my wail of desolation sounds mad! O, if only they could hear you in conversation, in hot debate; I would outline to the people by means of a dream, perhaps a bold one, your radiant face, lit by your love of truth, your inquisitive intelligence as you calmly gazed at people. Just in time, you broke with "brilliant society" your connection of custom, and parted from it without anger, and through tireless thought, you have known a different life. When my beloved mother died, all sorts of misfortunes befell me; driven from my childhood home, shattered, evil, tormented and exhausted, I timidly and anxiously - like a frightened child - sought refuge in your holy soul.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Modest Petrovich Musorgsky (1839 - 1881)
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 157
