| Palacewards their footsteps make | И за ними во дворец |
| With our gallant in their wake. | Полетел наш удалец. |
| There, in regal raiment, sate | Видит: весь сияя в злате, |
| Tsar Saltan in royal state. | Царь Салтан сидит в палате |
| On his head-his jeweled crown; | На престоле и в венце |
| On his face-a pensive frown, | С грустной думой на лице; |
| While the royal cook, and weaver, | А ткачиха с поварихой, |
| And their mother, sly deceiver, | С сватьей бабой Бабарихой, |
| Sitting on his left and right, | Около царя сидят |
| Stared at him with all their might. | И в глаза ему глядят. |
| Tsar Saltan, with royal grace, | Царь Салтан гостей сажает |
| Gave the merchants each his place, | За свой стол и вопрошает: |
| Then he said: "Now, masters mine, | "Ой вы, гости-господа, |
| Sailed you far across the brine? | Долго ль ездили? куда? |
| Are things well where you have been? | Ладно ль за морем, иль худо? |
| What strange wonders have you seen?" | И какое в свете чудо?" |
| Quoth the merchants: | Корабельщики в ответ: |
| "If you please, We have sailed the seven seas; | "Мы объехали весь свет; |
| Peace reigns overseas, serene. | За морем житье не худо, |
| There, we saw this wondrous scene: | В свете ж вот какое чудо: |
| There's an island in the sea, | В море остров был крутой, |
| Shores as steep as steep can be; | Не привальный, не жилой; |
| Cheerless once, deserted, bare- | Он лежал пустой равниной; |
| Nothing but an oak grew there. | Рос на нем дубок единый; |
| Now it has a new-built city, | А теперь стоит на нем |
| Stately mansions, gardens pretty, | Новый город со дворцом, |
| Churches tall with domes of go | С златоглавыми церквами, |
| Fair and wondrous to behold. | С теремами и садами, |
| Prince Guidon reigns there, and | А сидит в нем князь Гвидон; |
| Sends his compliments to thee.' | Он прислал тебе поклон". |
| Here the tsar said, in amaze: | Царь Салтан дивится чуду; Молвит он: |
| "If but God prolong my days, | "Коль жив я буду, |
| I shall visit this strange isle, | Чудный остров навещу, |
| Guest with this Guidon a while." | У Гвидона погощу". |
| But the royal cook, and weaver, | А ткачиха с поварихой, |
