Part II · X. The Lament of Yaroslavna

(1) The mourners sing on the Danube.

Yaroslavna hears their voice; she moans early like a cuckoo in the unknown land: — "I will fly" she spoke, — "like a cuckoo along the Danube; I will wet my beaver sleeves in the Kayala river, I will wipe away for the prince his bloody wounds on his stricken body.

(2) The Incantation of the Wind.

Yaroslavna wails early at Putivl' on the rampart, saying: — "Oh Wind, little Wind, wherefore, Master, blowest thou with violence? Wherefore hurlest thou with thy tireless wing torturing arrows on the hosts of my love?

Little were it to thee to waft woes beneath the clouds, thou who rockest ships on the blue sea; wherefore, Master, — thou who waftest away my joy over the feathergrass [of the steppe]?"

(3) The Incantation of the Water.

Yaroslavna wails early at Putivl' on the rampart, saying. "Oh Dnepr Slovutic, thou hast pierced the stone mountains through the land of the Polovtsy. Thou hast rocked on thyself Svyatoslav's barges up to the armies of Kobyak; rock up to me, Master, my love. Would that I had never sent tears to him over the sea!"

(4) The Incantation of the Sun.

Yaroslavna wails by the waters on the rampart at Putivl' early, saying: — "Oh sun, thou bright, thrice bright one! To all men art thou warm and beauteous! Wherefore, Master, hast thou spread thy burning beam over my love's men? Thou hast stretched their bows in the waterless plain with thirst, and choked their quivers with tribulation."