Akh! kogda ja prezhde snala!

O had I but known before
What a misery love might be!
Had that bright star, shining o’er,
Ne’er employ’d its witchery--
O had I refused to bear
This his ring, that magic spell--
Never sought the window where
He was smiling--it were well!

When the light of passion shone,
Well I might have pass’d it by;
Let the wax-wing’d child fly on
Tow’rds some maid less blest than I:
Wherefore did I seek the grove
Where the swain was wandering then--
Met him with a look of love--
Left him--and return’d again?

Ah! that heart, that was so gay,
Sinks ’neath sorrow’s heavy load:
Wretched one--I turn’d away:--
Fix’d me in the public road--
Wept and wail’d--Art thou unmoved,
Passing traveller?--pity me!
He was faithless that I loved:--
Set me from love’s misery free!