Sovay, the Female Highwayman [Russian translation]

Sovay Sovay all on a day

She dressed herself in man's array

With a brace of pistols all at her side

To meet her true love, to meet her true love, away she ride.

As she was galloping on the plain

She met her sweetheart and bid him stand:

“Stand and deliver, young man,” she said,

“If and you do not, if and you do not, I'll shoot you dead.”

He delivered up his golden store

And still she craved for one thing more:

“That diamond ring that I see you wear,

Oh hand it over, oh hand it over, and your life I'll spare.”

“From me diamond ring I wouldn't part,

For it's a token from me sweetheart.

Shoot and be damned, you rogue,” said he,

“And you'll be hanged, and you'll be hanged for murdering me.”

She being soft-hearted much like a dove

She turned her horse and she rode away from her true love.

Next morning in the garden green

Young Sophie and her love were seen;

He spied his watch hanging by her clothes

Which made him blush, lads, which made him blush like any rose.

“Why do you blush you foolish thing,

I thought to have that diamond ring.

Twas I who robbed you all on the plain

And here's your gold, love, and here's your gold and your watch and chain.”

“I only did it for to know

Whether you were a man or no;

If you had given me that ring,”she said,

“I'd have pulled the trigger, I'd pulled the trigger and shot you dead.”

• Artist:A.L. Lloyd