A fisher's song above the water

That drowns its gentler voice and sofu

The man has cast his nets, and, bendi

With zeal and promptness to the oar,

His humble vessel now is sending

Straight for the hut perched on the shore,

The good prince shades his eyes and watches:

There now-the boat the green bank touches,

And from the hut there hurries out

A sweet young maid; her hair about

Her shoulders loosely falls, she's slender

And bare of breast, her smile is tender,

She's charm itself. The two embrace

And on the bank sit, taking pleasure

In one another, in this place,

And in a quiet hour of leisure.

But whom to his intense surprise

Does Prince Ruslan now recognize

In this young fisherman? Dear Heaven!

It is Ratmir! Yes, it is he,

A man for exploit born, and even

For fame itself, one of his three

Sworn rivals. On this halcyon shore

He turned to fair Ludmila faithless,

And for his new love's warm embraces

Relinquished fame for ever more.

Ruslan came up to him, astounded;

The recluse khan his rival knew.

A cry, and to the prince he flew

And joyous threw his arms around him

"You here, Ratmir? Lay you no claim

To greater things?" our hero asked hin

"Have you found life like ours too tasking