The Slaver in the broad lagoon Lay moored with idle sail; He waited for the rising moon, And for the evening gale. Under the shore his boat was tied, And all her listless crew Watched the gray alligator slide Into the still bayou. Odors of orange-flowers, and spice, Reached them from time to time, Like airs that breathe from Paradise Upon a world of crime. The Planter, under his roof of thatch, Smoked thoughtfully and slow; The Slaver's thumb was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. He said, "My ship at anchor rides In yonder broad lagoon; I only wait the evening tides, And the rising of the moon." Before them, with her face upraised, In timid attitude, Like one half curious, half amazed, A Quadroon maiden stood. Her eyes were large, and full of light, Her arms and neck were bare; No garment she wore save a kirtle bright, And her own long, raven hair. And on her lips there played a smile As holy, meek, and faint, As lights in some cathedral aisle The features of a saint. "The soil is barren, -- the farm is old," The thoughtful planter said; Then looked upon the Slaver's gold, And then upon the maid. His heart within him was at strife With such accursèd gains: For he knew whose passions gave her life, Whose blood ran in her veins. But the voice of nature was too weak; He took the glittering gold! Then pale as death grew the maiden's cheek, Her hands as icy cold. The Slaver led her from the door, He led her by the hand, To be his slave and paramour In a strange and distant land!
Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "The Quadroon Girl", appears in Poems on Slavery, first published 1842 [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 Michael William Balfe (1808 - 1870), "The Quadroon Girl" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 - 1912), "The Quadroon Girl", op. 54 no. 4, published 1904 [ SATB chorus and piano or orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- RUS Russian (Русский) (Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov) , "Кватронка", first published 1861
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-22
Line count: 48
Word count: 282
Povesiv prazdno parusa, Korabl' v zalive zhdal, Chtob mesjac vyshel v nebesa I vzdulsja temnyj val. Prichaliv k beregu v chelne, Rabochij ljud sledil, Kak alligator polz na dne Ulech'sja v mjagkij il. A vozdukh vkrug blagoukhal Ot trav i ot cvetov, Kak budto raj poroj dyshal Na `etot mir grekhov. Plantator v shalashe svojem Zadumchivo kuril. Kupec, pribyvshij s korablem, Okonchit' torg speshil. On molvil: «Ne gostit' privel Ja svoj korabl' v zaliv. Ja zhdu, chtob mesjac lish' vzoshel, Da nachalsja priliv». V lice s predchuvstvijem nemym, Robka i khorosha, Kvatronka-devushka pred nim Stojala chut' dysha. Bol'shije iskrilis' glaza; Po grudi molodoj Spuskalas' chernaja kosa Do jubochki cvetnoj. Ulybki svet v lice u neje Mercal tak svjat i tikh, Kak svet lampad v uglu cerkvej Na like u svjatykh. Plantator dumal: «Star moj dom, I proku net v zemle!» Vzgljanul na devushku — potom Na den'gi na stole. V dushe smushchennoj verkh brala To zhadnost', to ljubov': On znal, ch'ja strast' jej zhizn' dala I ch'ja tekla v nej krov'. No glub' dushi byla cherna: On ne osilil zla — I den'gi vzjal. Tut vsja ona Zastyla, zamerla. I zhertvu novuju svoju Kupec povel s soboj, Chtob byt' jemu v chuzhom kraju Nalozhnicej, raboj.
Confirmed with Михайлов М. Л.. Сочинения в трёх томах / Под общей редакцией Б. П. Козьмина — М.: Государственное издательство художественной литературы, 1958. — Т. 1. — pages 189—191.
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Authorship:
- by Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov (1829 - 1865), "Кватронка", first published 1861 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), "The Quadroon Girl", appears in Poems on Slavery, first published 1842
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-07-16
Line count: 48
Word count: 205