"Oh, my tray is full,
There are and chintz and brocade.
Have pity, my sweetheart,
On the young guy!
I go to the high rye,
I'll be waiting there till night,
As soon as I see my black-eyed beloved,
I'll display all my goods".
At last, the foggy night has come,
The young guy waits:
"Quiet!.. My beloved is coming!"
The merchant sells his goods.
Katya* bargains carefully,
She's afraid to overpay.
The guy kisses the girl,
He asks her to raise the price:
"I paid high prices too,
Don't bargain, don't be stingy!
Pucker up your red lips,
Sit down closer to the young guy!"
Only the dark night knew
How they got along with each other.
Straighten up, high rye,
Keep piously their secret!
"Oh, my tray is light,
The strap doesn't cut into my shoulders,
But my sweetheart has taken
Only a ring with a turquoise.
I have given her a length of chintz,
A red ribbon for her tresses,
A sash for a white chemise
In the haymaking time.
My darling has put everything back
In my tray except a ring:
"I don't want to dress up
Without a husband!"
translated by Natalia Chernega
* Katya is a diminutive of Russian female name Yekaterina.