Sleep, my pretty child,
Rock-a-bye,
The bright moon silently looks
Into thy cradle.
I shall tell fairy-tales,
I shall sing a song
And fall asleep, thou, having closed thine eyes,
Rock-a-bye.
Over the stories ripples the Terek,
The muddy wave splashes;
The wicked Tchetchenian crawls on the shore
Sharpens his dagger;
But thy father is an old warrior
Hardened in battle...
Sleep, my little one, be calm,
Rock-a-bye.
Thou shalt know thyself — the time will come —
The warlike life;
Boldly thou shalt thrust thy foot in the stirrup
And thou shalt take the rifle.
I the war saddle
Shall embroider with silk...
Sleep, mine own dear child,
Rock-a-bye.
Thou shalt be a champion in figure
And a Cossack in spirit.
I shall go out to see thee off;
Thou shalt wave with thy hand...
How many bitter tears secretly
I shall shed that night!..
Sleep, my angel, silently, sweetly,
Rock-a-bye.
I shall torture myself with longing,
Wait disconsolate.
I shall pray all day long,
I shall "spae" in the nights;
I shall think that thou feelest lonely
In a strange country...
Sleep then, while thou knowest not troubles,
Rock-a-bye.
I shall give thee for thy journey
An holy image;
Thou, when praying to God,
Set it in front of thee.
And when preparing for the dangerous battle,
Remember thy mother...
Sleep, my pretty child,
Rock-a-bye.
___
The above poem is a good example of Lermontov's realistic and unadorned style of writing. Every word in it has the native savour and homeliness of a Cossack mother's speech, and every feeling expressed is one that she would naturally feel.
But to understand this poem, the reader must also realise that the Cossacks form a special body in which every male member is bound to render military service to Russia, practically for life (the exceptions that exist apply only to a priest, a teacher, or one of four brothers). To this high calling, every baby is devoted from the cradle.
Спи, младенец мой прекрасный,
Баюшки-баю.
Тихо смотрит месяц ясный
В колыбель твою.
Стану сказывать я сказки,
Песенку спою;
Ты ж дремли, закрывши глазки,
Баюшки-баю.1
По камням струится Терек,2
Плещет мутный вал;
Злой чечен3 ползет на берег,
Точит свой кинжал;
Но отец твой — старый воин,
Закален в бою:
Спи, малютка, будь спокоен,
Баюшки-баю.
Сам узнаешь, будет время,
Бранное житье;
Смело вденешь ногу в стремя
И возьмешь ружье.
Я седельце боевое
Шелком разошью...
Спи, дитя мое родное,
Баюшки-баю.
Богатырь ты будешь с виду
И казак душой.
Провожать тебя я выйду —
Ты махнешь рукой...
Сколько горьких слез украдкой
Я в ту ночь пролью!..
Спи, мой ангел, тихо, сладко,
Баюшки-баю.
Стану я тоской томиться,
Безутешно ждать;
Стану целый день молиться,
По ночам гадать;
Стану думать, что скучаешь
Ты в чужом краю...
Спи ж, пока забот не знаешь,
Баюшки-баю.
Дам тебе я на дорогу
Образок святой:
Ты его, моляся богу,
Ставь перед собой;
Да, готовясь в бой опасный,
Помни мать свою...
Спи, младенец мой прекрасный,
Баюшки-баю.
___
1. Ба́ять, means to relate, to tell; ба́йка = ба́юшка means tale, story; and баюшки-баю means literally "I tell the story", but has here no special significance. It is the usual accompaniment of cradle songs, equivalent to the English — Rock-a-bye."
2. Те́рек, see Pushkin's poem "Avalanche."
3. Чече́н or чече́нец, Tchetchenian. The Tchetchenians are one of the Caucasian tribes, dwelling on the banks of the River Terek, and its tributary Sunzha (Су́жна).