Две судьбы [Dve sud'by] [English translation]

I lived splendidly the first third,

For the twenty years I was in the world -

according to learning,

I lived unthinkingly, but I was busy,

Swam, where my eyes looked, -

with the stream.

I thought - there is it, the reward, -

However I neither use oars,

nor palms.

Mosquitos, horse-flies and wasps

Bloodsuckers tormented,

but didn't harass me.

At the beginning I heard from the riverbank

shouts to help,

rescuing them.

They have waited, poor devils, -

I lay, mad with home-made beer,

senseless.

If shaken at the turning,

Wrapped up in the maelstrom -

everything improves.

I take my shoes off, put them on,

I indulge seeing myself in the water -

it pleases me very much.

The banks fluctuate past the boat,

And now I spoil my throat

with mead.

After a superfluous gulp

Look - I am swimming not alone, -

but with an old woman.

And while I am astonished,

The mist comes down

I appeared at the hopeless place, -

And the enormous old woman

Guffawed right into my ear

the evil beast.

I shout, - I don't hear the scream,

I can't say a word with fear,

I don't see well,

The wind rocks me ...

- Who is there? I hear - the answer:

- I am, the Evil One!

Stop making the signs of the cross and lamenting, -

You won't be saved by the holy

virgin:

Those, that throw away rudder and paddle,

Are driven away by the Evil One -

as it is usual! -

In the darkness I am looking for the way,

A little gulp of mead -

Only a hundred gramme each time, -

And she doesn't fall asleep,

She strides in front of me

with a heavy gait.

There, she stumbles over the roots,

Because of such an obesity

is badly groaning.

Now she has even shortness of breath,

And wears out however - thither,

the bad creature.

Suddenly meeting us is a living,

A limping, crooked one,

the mug cunning.

And shouts: - You are standing over the abyss,

But I shall save you, my dear one,

your tears I shall wipe away! -

I asked: Who are you? -

And she to me - I am the Crooked One, -

Well, she says, I shall bring you out, -

- And though I am lopsided,

Twisted, squinting, -

I shall bring you out.

I exclaimed, pouring out:

- Get me out, Crooked One!

I am dependent!

I shall supply you with a jug,

Improving your crookedness -

Only bring me out!

And you mummy, daughter of a bitch,

Now come on drink a little gulp -

your are nervours.

You forget me for some time,

You are thick - in the harem

you will be the first one. -

And the two old women fell

Beside a big bottle of mead

They succumbed to dipsomania and hysterics.

I am hiding behind the hummocks,

I move slowly backwards

straight to the banks.

Quickly I rowed to the torrential current

And with two strokes to the middle -

oh, I am a scoundrel!

You shall kick the bucket, boozed up,

Two of my fates -

Crooked One and Evil One!

Probably after a malicious calculation

And under the secret care

of anybody

I am a blockhead and was unlucky,

And dragged along by troublemakers,

in the course of the current.

It appeared to me, life is a delight,

Well, neither oars are needed, oh not needed -

oh, I am a scoundrel!

...they moved howling away,

My two fates -

Crooked One and Evil One.

• Artist:Vladimir Vysotsky