carry
Who always lushly wine and dine.
I, with a beauty pert and hot,
Eat, drink, make merry at a joint.
The time of life is much too short
Not to be thoroughly enjoyed.
Now warrior, at last your day's here
Just as I made to you my vow.
Pull out your weapon,
To horse I say,
We start to find the princess now.
We start to find the princess now.
Farlaf, so innocent and guileless,
Knight so handsome, valiant,
young...
Following a witch through a desert
pathless!
I pray, I pray he return before
long!
Look there. The coveted prize
before you.
Kill Ruslan and the lass is won.
Fear not. Naina does implore you!
One stroke, and the deed is done!
One stroke, and the deed is done!
Look there. The coveted prize
before you.
Highness! Do you hear the clamorous
shout?
A gallant warrior rides to thee
Through the golden gates without!
I pray you, summon him to me!
Ludmila is here!
Farlaf, was't thou?
That slew her enemy so dire?
What spell is this upon her now?
- Why stirs she not?
- She's sleeping, sire.
Sleeping, Farlaf?
Deep in a forest where I her found,
Far in the heart of Murmansk wild.
A Genii guarded your only child.
There, by myself, I did him
confound.
Three days we battled, and the stars
Gazed thrice upon our bloody fray.
He fell, and then the young princess
In my hands I carried sleeping away.
But who can break this wizardry?
And raise to life my child to me?
I know not. That I can't foresee.
It seems, and I trust you may agree
Our only chance is, wait and see.
- Ludmila's sleeping still.
- Three days her father fought.
To wake her yet it avails nought.
Harken, the cymbals clamor,
trumpets blow!
- The horns as well.
- 'Tis strange. Why so?
His Highness' will. With their aid
Perchance he will awake the maid.
Beware! Here come the Pechenegs!
They'll drain our blood, and drink
the dregs!
My Lord! The Pechenegs are here!
Their hordes are drawing near!
Billows of dust around they raise!
- The hills beyond are all ablaze!
- The horses gallop thru our fields!
- The sun's shining on their shields!
- They pitched the tents on our shore!
They come. They're here. I can no
more!
We shall prepare the foe to fight!
Ruslan on the plain?
Murdered is he?
Why no, Naina. We shall see.
Before the night has fallen quiet,
I shall go help the noble knight.
Here have I found, by wisdom led,
The water living, and water dead.
Great Khan, this battle is ill
starred.
On every side they press us hard!
Bring here oxen, on Kiev send them.
We'll use them as a battering ram.
The living water, and the dead
I'll pour on your body,
And upon your head.
I pour, Ruslan, that you may go
To find Ludmila and rout the foe.
Where is Ludmila?
Gone is she?
Such is the will of destiny!
A bloody task awaits you, where
Your sword triumphant you shall
bear.
You shall bring peace to Kiev's
shore
And with your love shall meet
once more.
Take you this ring, it has magic
grace,
Pass it around her head and face,
And wake her once again to life.
Your foes shall perish in the
strife.
This kingdom shall once more
be free.
All will be well, I promise thee.
And now, good defender of the poor,
Adieu. I may not meet you more.
Why, herdsmen, do the oxen stay?
Petrified? They must move, I say.
Pardon us, Khan! We're fully ready
To perish for you, happy and gladly.
Your oxen fear the stormy hail
Of Russian arrows that them impale.
Protect the oxen, and in their stead
Send the Russian captives on ahead.
Hold! Hold! Before it is too late!
It is our wives, our children there,
wait!
Behold, Oh friends, it is Ruslan!
Now is the enemy dead to a man!
Approach and see how it is done.
I've cut two slices out of one.
Goad on the bulls, surround Ruslan!
Let him be gored and trampled on!
Trampled on!
Roar like a tiger, let's hear your
roar!
Roar louder, roar, Chernomor!
Roar louder, with all your might
Before I strangle you outright!
Invincible Ruslan, warrior bold!
Worthy