Page:Poems, Alexander Pushkin, 1888.djvu/98

92 The children sleep; the mother slumbers.

On the oven husband lies.

Howls the storm; a sudden knocking

He hears of some one at the window.

"Who's there?"—"Ope the door I say!"

"Time eno'; what is the matter?

Wherefore comes tramp at night?

By the devil art hither brought!

Wherefore with you should I bother?

Crowded my house and dark is."

So saying, he with lazy hand

Open throws the window.

Rolls the moon from behind the clouds—

And now? A naked man before him stands;

From his beard a stream is flowing

His glance is fixed, and is open.

All about him is frightful dumbness

And his hands are dropped down;

And to the puffed-out, swollen body

Black crabs are fastened.

The peasant quickly shuts the window;

He recognized his naked guest,

Is terror-struck. "May you burst!"

Out he whispered and trembled.