Fedor Sologub

When I sailed in a sea of tempests,
And when my ship sunk into sea, 
I wildly cried: “My friend, the best one,
My dear Devil, pray, help me!

Don’t let my evil, restless soul
Have perished before ordered dates,
I will attend to sins the whole
Black train of all my future days.”  

And Devil took and threw me, coarse,
Into the boat, old and frail.
I found there the pair of oars,
The little bench and grayish sail.

And I again brought on the ground
Into the large and evil life
My soul, everywhere pushed out,
My body, sunk in sinful strife.

And I am faithful, Devil-father,
To the pledge, in evil time I gave,
When I was in the sea disaster
And such miraculously saved.

I’ll make your fame midst earthly nations 
To a shame of every day, unjust,
I’ll sing praise to the worlds damnation,
And while enticing, I’ll entice.


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, January, 2001