I found him lost on the wild steppe,

And refuge in our camp I offered.

He lies beneath the ban of law,

But i have sworn to be his friend;

Aleko is his name, and he,

Where'er I go, will follow me."

OLD MAN.

I welcome thee. Remain the night

Beneath the shelter of our tent;

Or, if thou wilt, stay longer here,

As thou thinkst fit, for I consent

Our board and roof with thee to share.

Be one of us, and learn our fate

To bear, the fate of vagrants poor,

But free, and with the early dawn

Shalt find a place with us in van,

And prove what trade art skilled to ply:

The iron forge.... or sing a song,

And show the villagers our bear.

ALEKO.

I will remain.

ZEMPHIRE.

He shall be mine:

And who shall chase him from my side?

But it grows late; the crescent moon

Has set; the fields drink in the mist;

And heavy sleep weighs down mine eyes.

II.

Tis dawn. Around the sleepy tent

With watchful steps the old man strolls.

"Arise, Zemphire, the sun is up;

Awake, my. guest, 'tis time to march:

Quick, children, quit the couch of ease!

With busy haste they all start up;