| "Now, masters mine- Tell me what you have for sale, | "Чем вы, гости, торг ведете |
| Whither bound and whence you hail?" | И куда теперь плывете?" |
| Said the merchants: | Корабельщики в ответ: |
| "If you please, We have sailed the seven seas, | "Мы объехали весь свет, |
| Contraband, prince, was our ware, | Торговали мы недаром |
| And our profits- rich and rare, | Неуказанным товаром; |
| We have far to travel yet- | А лежит нам путь далек: |
| Homewards- East- our course is set, | Восвояси на восток, |
| Past the Island of Buyan, | Мимо острова Буяна, |
| Back to gracious Tsar Saltan." | В царство славного Салтана". |
| "Gentles," murmured Prince Guidon- | Князь им вымолвил тогда: |
| "May fair breezes speed you on, | "Добрый путь вам, господа, |
| O'er the ocean, o'er the main, | По морю по Окияну |
| Back to Tsar Saltan again. | К славному дарю Салтану; |
| Pray remind your tsar from me, | Да напомните ему, Государю своему: |
| That his gracious majesty Said he'd visit us some day: | К нам он в гости обещался, |
| We regret his long delay. | А доселе не собрался - |
| Give him my regards." Thereon | Шлю ему я свой поклон". |
| Off the merchants went. | Гости в путь, а князь Гвидон |
| Guidon This time stayed with his fair bride, | Дома на сей раз остался |
| Never more to leave her side. | И с женою не расстался. |
| Merrily the breeze is singing, | Ветер весело шумит, |
| O'er the waves a ship is winging | Судно весело бежит |
| Past the Island of Buyan | Мимо острова Буяна |
| To the realm of Tsar Saltan. | К царству славного Салтана, |
| Now his longed-for land, so dear, | И знакомая страна |
| Stands out in the distance, clear. | Вот уж издали видна. |
| Now each merchant is the guest | Вот на берег вышли гости. |
| Of the tsar, by his behest. | Царь Салтан зовет их в гости. |
| On his royal throne of state, | Гости видят: во дворце |
| Crowned in glory, there he sate, | Царь сидит в своем венце, |
| While the royal cook, and weaver, | А ткачиха с поварихой, |
| And their mother, sly deceiver, | С сватьей бабой Бабарихой, |
| With four eyes, though they be three, | Около царя сидят, |
