Slumber sweet, my fairest baby, <br />Slumber calmly, sleep— <br />Peaceful moonbeams light thy chamber, <br />In thy cradle creep; <br />I will tell to thee a story, <br />Pure as dewdrop glow, <br />Close those two beloved eyelids— <br />Lullaby, By-low! <br /> <br />List! The Terek o’er its pebbles <br />Blusters through the vale, <br />On its shores the little Khirgez <br />Whets his murdrous blade; <br />Yet thy father grey in battle— <br />Guards thee, child of woe, <br />Safely rest thee in thy cradle, <br />Lullaby, By-low! <br /> <br />Grievous times will sure befall thee, <br />Danger, slaughterous fire— <br />Thou shalt on a charger gallop, <br />Curbing at desire; <br />And a saddle girth all silken <br />Sadly I will sew, <br />Slumber now my wide-eyed darling, <br />Lullaby, By-low! <br /> <br />When I see thee, my own Being, <br />As a Cossack true, <br />Must I only convoy give thee— <br />“Mother dear, adieu!” <br />Nightly in the empty chamber <br />Blinding tears will flow, <br />Sleep my angel, sweetest dear one, <br />Lullaby, By-low! <br /> <br />Thy return I’ll wait lamenting <br />As the days go by, <br />Ardent for thee praying,—fearing <br />In the cards to spy. <br />I shall fancy thou wilt suffer, <br />As a stranger grow— <br />Sleep while yet thou nought regrettest, <br />Lullaby, By-low! <br /> <br />I will send a holy image <br />’Gainst the foe with thee, <br />To it kneeling, dearest Being, <br />Pray with piety! <br />Think of me in bloody battle, <br />Dearest child of woe, <br />Slumber soft within thy cradle, <br />Lullaby, By-low!<br /><br />Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cradle-song-of-the-cossack-mother/
