The Roussalka poem – Alexander Pushkin

A poem by Alexander Pushkin – Pouchkine, Pooshkin (1799-1837), in English translation

A LEGEND OF THE WATER-SPRITE

In forest depths, beside a mere,

A monk once made his habitation ;

Absorbed in penances severe,

In fast and prayer he sought salvation.

Already by his own poor spade

His grave was hollowed to receive him,

And every day the good saint prayed

That Heaven from earth would soon relieve him.

One summer’s eve, the hermit poor,

At prayer within his narrow room,

Looked out beyond his humble door

And saw the forest wrapped in gloom ;

Night-mists were rising from the mere,

Between the clouds the moon ‘gan peep;

The monk unto the pool drew near

And gazed into its waters deep.

He saw himself-drew back perturbed

By fears he ne’er had known before ;

For, lo, the waters were disturbed,

Then suddenly grew calm once more ;

“While fitful as a twilight shade,

Than virgin snow more purely white,

From out the pool appeared a maid

Approaching in the silver light.

She shook the bright drops from her hair

And gazed upon the anchorite ;

To look upon her form so fair

The good monk trembled with affright.

And he beheld her from afar

With head and hand strange signals make,

Then swifter than a shooting star

Dive back into the silent lake.

All night the hermit could not sleep,

All day in agony he prayed ;

But still he could not choose but keep

The image of that wondrous maid

Before him. So, when day did wane,

And overhead the moon was bright,

He watched, and saw her come again

In all her beauty, dazzling white.

She beckoned to him where he stood,

And gave him greeting glad and free.

She played and splashed about the flood,

She laughed and danced in childish glee,

As softly to the monk she cried :

” Come hither, monk, and join me here!”

Then suddenly she dipped to hide

Her beauty in the darkling mere.

The third day came-grown mad with love,

The hermit sought th’ enchanted shore

Ere yet night’s veil was drawn above,

And waited for the maid once more.

Dawn broke-the monk had disappeared . . .

And now the frightened children say

He haunts the pool: and lo! his beard

Floats on the water night and day.

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Poems in English 

• Calais, August 1802 by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Calais, August 15, 1802 by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• By The Side Of The Grave Some Years After by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• By The Seaside by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• “By Moscow Self-Devoted To A Blaze” by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• “Brook! Whose Society The Poet Seeks” by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• British Freedom by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• “Brave Schill! By Death Delivered” by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Bothwell Castle by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Twelfth [Imagination And Taste, How Impaired And Restored ] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Thirteenth [Imagination And Taste, How Impaired And Restored Concluded] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Third [Residence at Cambridge] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Tenth {Residence in France continued] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Sixth [Cambridge and the Alps] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Seventh [Residence in London] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Second [School-Time Continued] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Ninth [Residence in France] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Fourth [Summer Vacation] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book Fourteenth [conclusion] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth
• Book First [Introduction-Childhood and School Time] by William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth

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