Night on the Road

Dark the road and lonely,
A Cossack comes a-riding—
Who is this he sees there?
Just a girl in hiding.

“Look at me and fear not,
Don’t run home to Mother.
Look! am I not handsome?
Was ever such another?

“But, my pretty lady,
It’s not you I’ll marry,
Unless it be you bring me
Heaps of gold to carry!”

A maiden walks in shadow
Adown the road so lonely.
She hears a sudden clatter—
Ah, it’s a Cossack only.

“Look at me, my brave one,
Black, black is my eyebrow.
If thou could’st see this Halka
Then surely thou would’st sigh now.

“I haven’t got a kopeck—
Ah, how I love to tease thee!
I’d never wed thee, Cossack,
Because thou dost not please me!”