Balada pra Cmoka

Balada pra Cmoka (Ballad of the Dragon) is a legend about St. George's famous defeat of a dragon, which is the most heroic episode in known myth or history. We restored Belarusian folk version of the ballad, it is known as Daŭnym-daŭno toje bylo (Once upon a time there was). The eternal theme of the fight between darkness and light, the confrontation of old and new, the story about courage, strength, bravery and faith. Lyrics and music are folk. Arrangement: Stary Olsa. Translation into English: Alena Martsyanava and Julia Cimafiejeva.

Daŭnym-daŭno toje bylo
Kruhom ziamli mora liahlo
A ŭ mory tym žyŭ liuty Cmok
Štodnia zbiraŭ z liudziej abrok
Bylo Cmoku ŭdzień abroku
Pa asminie pa čalavieku
I davali štodzień abroku
Štodzień abroku pa čalavieku

Pryjšla čarha i da karalia
Aby sam idzi aby žonku šli
Jak ja sam pajdu vojska zhinie
A žonku pašliu nie z kim žyć budzie
Ja sam nie pajdu žany nie pušču
A ja vyšliu sličnu pannu
A ja vyšliu sličnu pannu
Sličnu pannu svaju curku

Skidaj dačka čorna placcie
Nadziavaj dačka biela placcie
A pa bielieńkaj kašuliečcy
Padpieražy pojas kovany
Šaty nadziavaj darahija
Boty abuvaj zalatyja
Idzi k moru moru siniamu
Idzi k Cmoku na sniadannie

Žalobnym dy suknom
Usiu vulicu dy scielie
Srebram zolatam usiu vulicu
Srebram zolatam vyscilaje
Panna išla Jurja malila
Jurja malila jaho prasila
Čytajučy spiavajučy
Usio Jurja paminajučy

Panna k moru padstupaje
Z mora čorny Cmok vyplyvaje
Z paščy ahoń vykidaje
A iz vačej iskry sypliucca
U jaho z nazdrej usio polymia
U jaho z vušej sivy dym klubom
Sinie mora dy chvaliujecca
Karalieŭnaj Cmok dy liubujecca
Karalieŭnačka spužalasia
Za bielkamień schavalasia

Až skuĺ uziaŭsia dy sam Jurja
Pahnaŭ u mora svajho kania
Jak udaryŭ koń dy kapytom
A Jurja svaim kapjom
Prabiŭ Cmoka zlotym kapjom
Rassiek Cmoka vostrym miačom
Zakidaj lancuh Cmoku na rahi
Dy viadzi Cmoka pa ŭsiamu svietu
Zakidaj lancuh Cmoku na rahi
Dy viadzi Cmoka pa ŭsiamu svietu
Zakidaj lancuh Cmoku na rahi
Dy viadzi Cmoka pa ŭsiamu svietu

Actual English translation:

Once upon a time there was
a sea around the land
A cruel Dragon there lived
Day by day he claimed a tribute
Day by day his tribute was
One eighth of one’s wealth and a soul
Day by day his tribute was paid
Day by day he was given a soul

There came the king’s turn
Either he should go or his wife should go
If I go myself, my army will perish
If I send my wife, I will be alone
Neither I will go nor my wife will go
Let a beautiful maiden go
Let a beautiful maiden go
That beautiful maiden, my daughter

Take off your black dress, my daughter
Put on your white dress, my daughter
Bind that beautiful belt
about your white dress
Put on your gorgeous garments
Put on your golden boots
Go to the sea, to the blue sea
Go to the Dragon to be swallowed

With her shroud cloth
She covers the street
She covers the street with silver
She covers the street with gold
The maiden is walking
The maiden is begging
She’s begging Yurja while walking
Reciting and singing she is
Beseeching Yurja for help

The maiden approaches the sea
The black Dragon shows up from the depth
Devouring fire comes from his mouth
Bright sparks pour down from his eyes
Heat rises from his nostrils
Gray smoke streams down his ears
The blue sea runs high
The Dragon delights in the princess
The princess takes fright
The princess shelters behind the rock

And there he comes, Yurja
And rides his horse to the sea
And when the horse stomps its hoof
And when Yurja strikes his spear
The Dragon is pierced with the golden spear
The Dragon is split with the sharp sword
Put the chain on the Dragon’s horns
Take him around the world to show
Put the chain on the Dragon’s horns
Take him around the world to show
Put the chain on the Dragon’s horns
Take him around the world to show