Part II · IV. The Dream of Svyatoslav Vsevolodic

The ramparts of the cities were hushed and mirth declined. And Svyatoslav dreamed a troubled dream at Kiev on the hills. "This night," he said, "from even-time, ye dressed me with a black coverlet on my bed of yew; [men] poured me out blue wine mixed with dust; they scattered great [treasure of] pearls from the empty quivers of the nomads on to my lap and [try to] soothe me. Already are the boards in my golden-roofed abode bereft of wall-plates.

All night long from even-time have the crows of Bus [or Blus] croaked; two captives [stand] by the fen: mercilessly [the foe] have carried the two to the landing-stage of the river, down to the blue sea."

And the Boyars answered the Prince; "Already, Prince, has grief taken captive our mind. For two hawks have flown away from their sires' golden throne, to seek the city of Tmutarakan, or, may be, to quaff in their helms of the Don.

Already are the wings of the two hawks by the sabres of the heathen made to walk afoot; and, [Igor] himself they have fettered in fetters of iron."