Сектор Газа — Ночь перед Рождеством

Once I was riding on the night before Christmas, Urging my horse with a carriage whip. A dark forest stands across my path: Someone in that woods howls and screams.

I rode to my darling full tilt, fifteen versts away, A blizzard swirled round — all you could see Was the tail of my coal-black steed. Wait, my love, I'll see you soon!

But suddenly I hear a howl, my horse breaks into a gallop, Oh my God — I nearly fell into a snowdrift! I pulled my sawed-off shotgun from my sheepskin coat And shouted to my horse: «Save me, old friend!»

The unclean ones chased me so hard I started crossing myself, fear pierced my soul. I fire blind from the shotgun — Oh, if only I had silver bullets!

Lord, help me! Oh, these foes are overwhelming me! Saint Nicholas, protect me! Oh, the devils have done me in, damn their mothers!

The farmstead's just a stone's throw away — Those vile ghouls won't catch me now! Here stands the house where my darling lives, I'll draw a holy circle round the home.

I drove my horse into the lean-to and at once Gave him nearly a haystack of hay in one go. «Eat up, old friend, you saved my life! Oh, my black stallion!» — I praised my horse.

Lord, help me! Oh, these foes are overwhelming me! Saint Nicholas, protect me! Oh, the devils have done me in, damn their mothers!

Protect me — I cross myself — Mother of God, When I race back and the weather clears! I knocked on the window of my darling Galya — «Your sweetheart's here, bring out the wine!»

I'll gulp wine from the ladle, heart of mine, Hug Galya tight and we'll go to bed. Tomorrow in the frost I'll ride home again, Help me, Christ, and my black horse!

Lord, help me! Oh, these foes are overwhelming me! Saint Nicholas, protect me! Oh, the devils have done me in, damn their mothers!