Classic Poem

(Variant)

Song in a play — " Go not to the Wechernyci, Hritz " )

" Go not, I pray thee, to the dance, Hritz!
For there await thee daughters of the witch.

" They burn the straw beneath the bubbling roots —
They'll take your life just when their wish it suits.

" That one with black, black eyes — most potent witch is she;
She knows all roots that grow by river or by tree.

" She knows what each distils — and she loves you!
With envious love she watches what you do. "

Sunday morn she dug the roots;
Monday, cleaned them; Tuesday, brewed;
Wednesday from her cup Hritz
Drank; on Thursday he lay dead;
Friday comrades buried him.
Greatly mourned the maidens all;
Comrades, much lamenting, cursed
Her who brought about his death:
" Hritz, was never one like thee!
May the devil take the witch! "

On Saturday the old witch beat full sore
Her wicked daughter, crying o'er and o'er,

" Why did you poison him? Did you not know
What all the roots could tell you? Ere cockcrow
That he must die? " " O mother, speak not so;

" There are no scales for sorrow — why did he
Make love to her, saying he loved but me?
For this, O Hritz, your just reward I gave —
A dark house of four planks — a grave, a grave! "