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by Yakov Petrovich Polonsky (1819 - 1898)
Translation by Martha Gilbert Dickinson Bianchi (1863 - 1943)

A Gipsy song
Language: English  after the Russian (Русский) 
Pile of embers in the darkness,
  Sparks expire as they fly -- 
Night conceals us from the passing,
  On the bridge we'll say good-by!

At the parting, shawl of crimson
  Cross my shoulders thou shalt lace,
At an end the days swift passing,
  Met within this shaded place.

In the morning, with first splendour,
  All my life compelled to rove -- 
I shall leave with other gipsies
  Seeking happiness and love.

How does fate foretell my future?
  Who, to-morrow by my side,
O'er my heart will loose with kisses
  Knots by thy dear hand fast tied?

Flash of embers in the darkness,
  Sparks expire as they fly -- 
Night conceals us from the passing,
  On the bridge we'll kiss good-by!

Note: the second and third stanzas correspond to the third and second stanzas of the original respectively, and the fifth stanza of the original does not appear to have been translated.

Text Authorship:

  • by Martha Gilbert Dickinson Bianchi (1863 - 1943), "A Gipsy song", appears in Russian Lyrics, first published 1916 [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in Russian (Русский) by Yakov Petrovich Polonsky (1819 - 1898), "Песнь Цыганки", first published 1853
    • Go to the text page.

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 ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ENG FRE ; composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
      • Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-02-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 117

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