Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia? Part 28

One night I was waiting 220 To give him his supper; The cattle already Were home, but he came not.

I went through the village And saw that the people Were gathered together And talking of something.

I listened, then elbowed My way through the people; Fedotka was set 230 In their midst, pale and trembling, The Elder was gripping His ear. 'What has happened?

And why do you hold him?'

I said to the Elder.

"'I'm going to beat him,-- He threw a young lamb To the wolf,' he replied.

"I s.n.a.t.c.hed my Fedotka Away from their clutches; 240 And somehow the Elder Fell down on the ground!

"The story was strange: It appears that the shepherd Went home for awhile, Leaving little Fedotka In charge of the flock.

'I was sitting,' he told me, 'Alone on the hillside, When all of a sudden 250 A wolf ran close by me And picked Masha's lamb up.

I threw myself at her, I whistled and shouted, I cracked with my whip, Blew my horn for Valetka, And then I gave chase.

I run fast, little Mother, But still I could never Have followed the robber 260 If not for the traces She left; because, Mother, Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s hung so low (She was suckling her children) They dragged on the earth And left two tracks of blood.

But further the grey one Went slower and slower; And then she looked back And she saw I was coming. 270 At last she sat down.

With my whip then I lashed her; ''Come, give me the lamb, You grey devil!'' She crouched, But would not give it up.

I said--''I must save it Although she should kill me.''

I threw myself on her And s.n.a.t.c.hed it away, But she did not attack me. 280 The lamb was quite dead, She herself was scarce living.

She gnashed with her teeth And her breathing was heavy; And two streams of blood ran From under her body.

Her ribs could be counted, Her head was hung down, But her eyes, little Mother, Looked straight into mine ... 290 Then she groaned of a sudden, She groaned, and it sounded As if she were crying.

I threw her the lamb....'

"Well, that was the story.

And foolish Fedotka Ran back to the village And told them about it.

And they, in their anger, Were going to beat him 300 When I came upon them.

The Elder, because Of his fall, was indignant, He shouted--'How dare you!

Do you want a beating Yourself?' And the woman Whose lamb had been stolen Cried, 'Whip the lad soundly, 'Twill teach him a lesson!'

Fedotka she pulled from 310 My arms, and he trembled, He shook like a leaf.

"Then the horns of the huntsmen Were heard,--the Pomyeshchick Returning from hunting.

I ran to him, crying, 'Oh, save us! Protect us!'

"'What's wrong? Call the Elder!'

And then, in an instant, The matter is settled: 320 'The shepherd is tiny-- His youth and his folly May well be forgiven.

The woman's presumption You'll punish severely!'

"'Oh, Barin, G.o.d bless you!'

I danced with delight!

'Fedotka is safe now!

Run home, quick, Fedotka.'

"'Your will shall be done, sir,' 330 The Elder said, bowing; 'Now, woman, prepare; You can dance later on!'

"A gossip then whispered, 'Fall down at the feet Of the Elder--beg mercy!'

"'Fedotka--go home!'

"Then I kissed him, and told him: 'Remember, Fedotka, That I shall be angry 340 If once you look backwards.

Run home!'

"Well, my brothers, To leave out a word Of the song is to spoil it,-- I lay on the ground...."

"I crawled like a cat To Fedotushka's corner That night. He was sleeping, He tossed in his dream. 350 One hand was hung down, While the other, clenched tightly, Was shielding his eyes: 'You've been crying, my treasure; Sleep, darling, it's nothing-- See, Mother is near!'

I'd lost little Djoma While heavy with this one; He was but a weakling, But grew very clever. 360 He works with his dad now, And built such a chimney With him, for his master, The like of it never Was seen. Well, I sat there The whole of the night By the sweet little shepherd.

At daybreak I crossed him, I fastened his laputs, I gave him his wallet, 370 His horn and his whip.

The rest began stirring, But nothing I told them Of all that had happened, But that day I stayed From the work in the fields.

"I went to the banks Of the swift little river, I sought for a spot Which was silent and lonely 380 Amid the green rushes That grow by the bank.

"And on the grey stone I sat down, sick and weary, And leaning my head On my hands, I lamented, Poor sorrowing orphan.

And loudly I called On the names of my parents: 'Oh, come, little Father, 390 My tender protector!

Oh, look at the daughter You cherished and loved!'

"In vain do I call him!

The loved one has left me; The guest without lord, Without race, without kindred, Named Death, has appeared, And has called him away.

"And wildly I summon 400 My mother, my mother!

The boisterous wind cries, The distant hills answer, But mother is dead, She can hear me no longer!

"You grieved day and night, And you prayed for me always, But never, beloved, Shall I see you again; You cannot turn back now, 410 And I may not follow.

"A pathway so strange, So unknown, you have chosen, The beasts cannot find it, The winds cannot reach it, My voice will be lost In the terrible distance....

"My loving protectors, If you could but see me!

Could know what your daughter 420 Must suffer without you!

Could learn of the people To whom you have left her!

"By night bathed in tears, And by day weak and trembling, I bow like the gra.s.s To the wind, but in secret A heart full of fury Is gnawing my breast!"

CHAPTER VI

AN UNLUCKY YEAR

"Strange stars played that year On the face of the Heavens; And some said, 'The Lord rides Abroad, and His angels With long flaming brooms sweep The floor of the Heavens In front of his carriage.'

But others were frightened,-- They said, 'It is rather The Antichrist coming! 10 It signals misfortune!'

And they read it truly.

A terrible year came, A terrible famine, When brother denied To his brother a morsel.

And then I remembered The wolf that was hungry, For I was like her, Craving food for my children. 20 Now Mother-in-law found A new superst.i.tion: She said to the neighbours That I was the reason Of all the misfortune; And why? I had caused it By changing my shirt On the day before Christmas!

Well, I escaped lightly, For I had a husband 30 To shield and protect me, But one woman, having Offended, was beaten To death by the people.

To play with the starving Is dangerous, my friends.

"The famine was scarcely At end, when another Misfortune befell us-- The dreaded recruiting. 40 But I was not troubled By that, because Philip Was safe: one already Had served of his people.

One night I sat working, My husband, his brothers, The family, all had Been out since the morning.

My Father-in-law Had been called to take part 50 In the communal meeting.