(FRAGMENT)
I
On Ivan-Kupalo
Ivan was bathing.
And he fell into the water
On the Day of Kupalo.
II
Hai! On the Day of Ivan-Kupalo
A beautiful maid her fortune sought.
She plucked the flowers to make her garlands—
The Malva-flower and Lewbistok—
She strewed them on the river’s breast.
“Float, my wreath, with the wave’s swift flowing,
Straight to the window of my love—
Float to the heart of the one I love,
And bring good fortune with thee!”
The wreath is floating,
Carrying with it
The heart of the maid.
At the bend of the river,
’Tis swamped by the wave—
Kupalo, Kupalo,
No fortune gave!
That night the maiden
Trezilie[3] sought.
In the midnight hour
She dug them up.
She made a brew
In the dead of night,
And ere the dawn
The poison drank.