WEDDING SONGS

SONG OF DEPARTURE: A BRIDE OF BUKOVINA

Dear my mother, weep not!
I shall not take all;
See, the cows and oxen
Leave I in the stall.
I take just black eyebrows,
Only eyes of blue;
And upon your table—
Tears I leave for you.
And the little pathway
Where my footsteps fell
While I brought you water
Daily from the well.
The Mother speaks—
Pathway, little garden—
(Ah, she must depart!)
When I gaze upon you
Faints my breaking heart.

UNPLAITING THE HAIR[14]

(Przemysl District)
“Unbraid her dusky hair
And place a garland there.”
The Duchess Marusenka
To the city Horodenka
Trips with her small white feet.
She cuts barwēnok there
To wreathe her dusky hair.
Her mother comes, pursuing,
“My child, what art thou doing?”
“Dear mother, can it be
Thou hast no need for me?
“Thou wilt not let me stay
But strive to force away.
“To give away thy daughter
To him who now has sought her?
“Still very young am I,
Not very wise. Then why ...”
“I force and give away
What I would not have stay.
“No longer I’m inclined
For thee upon my mind!
“Strangers for thee inquire;
I yield to their desire.”

THE BRIDE’S SONG

On the threshold of her mother’s house, as she is leaving
“Mother mine, keep well!—for now we two must part.
Say not that I’ve taken all, I pray you have no fears.
Lo, upon the table I am leaving—tears!
While outside more tears shall fall from my saddened heart.”
“Manisma, go then; leave me quite alone!
Leave the flowers you used to tend—who will watch them grow?
Who will plant more in the spring in a pretty row,
Who will water them when all the buds are blown?”
“Some one else must water them! If I unhappy be
Why then should I just for flowers ever weep or sigh?”
“Who will sweep from off the walk leaves that on them lie?”
“If my lover comes no more the dead leaves he won’t see!”

THE BRIDE

(This is sung by a maiden about to be married in a land far from her parents and native land)
“Marusya, Marusya, dost thou not lonesome feel?
And tears from thy blue eyes must surely unbidden steal.
“In a strange new country thy wedding-day sun must rise;
And none of thy kin will be near thee to love, praise or advise.
“Why dost thou not write, therefore, and tell thy mother to sail?
Surely her hands are anxious to cover thy head with a veil.”
Then to the wondering maidens the sad Marusya said:
“Verily now I know not if ever I shall be wed:
“I shall never write to my mother and ask her to come to me.
For alas, I have no mother since I dwell in this far country!”

THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING

(Old Folk-Song)
The bride sings to her lover:
“Thick were the leaves on the lofty tree—
Why came you not last night to me?
“I wonder! But, of course,
Maybe you had no horse,
Maybe you lost your way;
Your mother made you stay?”
Her lover replies:
“I had the horse and the way I knew,
And my mother kept me not from you.
“But my youngest sister loves you not....
She hid my saddle—long I sought—
“My oldest sister, seeking, found,
Swift on my horse’s back ’twas bound.
“She whispered, ‘Try and get there soon,
Riding along by the light o’ the moon.
“‘In body brave keep a good head,
Brother o’ mine!’ she laughing said.
“‘In Sweetheart Land there’s much to learn,
The road has many a curve and turn.
“‘Don’t loose your horse, don’t go astray;
Ride! Ere yet dawns your wedding day.’”