The Tale of Solid Gold Cockerel after A.Pushkin

1
Someplace at thrice ninth the kingdom,
At trice tenth the state of vastness,
Once there lived nice  king Dadon,
From young ages he was fearsome,

And to neighbours  every while he
Applied detriment so bravely.
But with old age he desired
Take a break from martial  deeds

And repose himself finally.
Now neighbours started assaulting
The  old tired  languorous king,
Doing terrible harm to him.

To protect from attacks promptly
All thе  ends of his possessions
He had to constantly keep
A large number of armies.

The governors did not doze off,
But they did not  manage problems:
They’r waiting from the South -
An army climbs from the East.

They will do it there - dashing guests
Comes from the sea. Out  of anger
Even  king Dadon had wept,
Even he forgot to sleep.

How to live at such anxiety?
So he asked for help urgently
The sapient, who  lived far,
Astrologer and eunuch.

Sent the messenger with greeting.
So, the sage  before Dadon face
Took from his mystery bag.
Purely golden cockerel.

“Put this little bird instantly,-
He said the king,- on the long spire;
My gold cockerel  from now on
Will be your faithful watchman.

If the peace is just around,
He will sit without motion.
But if only  from the side
War’s expected suddenly,

Or hordes raid ferocious,
Or another your misfortune,
Instantly my cockerel
Will raise up his red  cockscomb,

Will get scream and will get starting ,
Will turn straight in that direction”.
The king thanks the wise eunuch,
Piles of gold promising  him.

"Then for such a good favour,-
He proclaimed in admiration,-
Your first any requirement
I will do as for myself!”

Cockerel from a high spire
Started guarding every  borders.
Barely danger visible,
Faithful guard, as from a dream,

Will get scream and will get starting ,
Will turn straight in that direction,
And shouts: "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!
Reign you, lying on your side!"

And the neighbors all subdued:
They no longer dared just fighting.
Thus to them victor Dadon
Gave a rebuff from all sides.

2
A year or two passed quietly
The cockerel sat so  calmly.
Suddenly once King Dadon
Was awakened by a noise.

“You are our king - the father”,-
Governor, proclaiming, shouts,-
“Sir, wake up, trouble news now! -
"What’s the matter, gentlemen?" -

Says Dadon, yawning plangently,-
“Or is there a problem urgent?”
Warlord loudly exclaims:
"Cockerel is crowing again!

Fear and noise throughout peaple!"
The king watched  - indeed on the spire
Cockerel struggles furious,
Points  direction to the East.

There is nothing to delay for!
People, horses be livelier!
The king sends a troop  to East,
Elder son leads detachment.

Cockerel calmed down shortly.
The noise vanished, the king’s sleeping.
It’s  been eight days already
But no news from the army.

Was, or was  no any battle -
Dadon had no information.
Cockerel calls  again.
The king calls for an army.

He does now the son younger
Send to rescue of the older.
The cockerel’s quiet again,
But there is no news from them.

Eight days pass again in vainness,
People spend their days in fearness.
Cockerel calls out again.
The king the third army gains

(version
Eight days stretch gloomily again;
People in dismay pass the days.
Cockerel crows as before -
The king gathers the third troop)

And leads it to the east straightly,
But not seeing any use there,
Troops march day, and they march night;
They feel like exhausted worn.

Neither battlefield, nor  encampment,
Nor a mound over soldiers
King Dadon does still not meet.
"What a miracle?" he ponders.

3
This is the eighth day already,
The king's army goes to highlands.
And beside  wide mountain
He sees clearly a silk tent.

All in silence mysterious
Near the tent; in a tight  ravine
The  deceased warriors lay.
King Dadon aspires  the tent...

What’s a frightening  appearance:
Before him are his two children
Helmet-less and armor-less
Both are dead, as real death.

Theirs  swords plunged in both  bodies,
Their horses roam at  meadow,
On trampled down sorrowful grass,
Where ants crawl on the blood.

The king howled: “Oh, children, children!
Woe is me! caught in the mantrap
Both of our dear falcons!
Woe! My death has truly come!”

Everyone howled as  Dadon did ,
Moaned with a heavy groan
Lowland, the heart of mount
Shocked. But suddenly a tent

Widely open… and the maiden
Shamakhan queen resplendent,
Brightly shining like sunrise,
Quietly met the mighty king.

Like a night bird before sunshine,
He  shut up, to her eyes  staring,
And forgot in front of her
Death of both precious sons.

And she is in front of Dadon
Smiled  - and with an polite  bow
Tight kept him by the both hands,
Quickly  took him to her tent.

There she put him at the wide table
And fed him especially tasty,
Offered him to laid for rest
On a brocade cosy  bed.

Afterwards, exactly all week,
Obeying her absolutely,
Bewitched deeply, enraptured
Dadon feasted there  at her.

Finally, it's time to go back      
With his military power,
And with a young girl as  prey
The king's going backward home.

A rumor ran before his stepping
And declared the fact and fiction.
Under City, near the gate,
The folk greeted them with noise.
(Or The people roared towards them)

Everyone escorts the chariot,
With Dadon and with  the young queen.
Dadon welcomes everyone...
At once he see at the crowds

In a Sarachin white turban
With hair like the swan grey feathers
His old friend, the wise eunuch.
"Ah, hello, my father dear,-

The king spoke,- “What are  you saying?
Closer come! What do you order?".
“King!- The sage speaks him quiet back,
Let's get over with at last.

Do remember? For  my service
Promised me as to your sidekick
My first  every kind volition
You would do as yours it’s one.

Give me a girl, mighty king here,
Shamakhan the queen, which fairly”.
The king was so much  surprised.
"Silly request”,- He replied.

“Or the demon was into you,
Or  you are a crazy psycho.
What is in your  empty  head?
Yes, I promised you, of course ,

But, everything has a limit,
And why do you want a girl, chap?
Do you know who am I?
Beg from me your any wish:

Though the wealth, though boyar’s power
Even a horse from the royal stable,
At least half of my kingdom!”
“I want nothing in exchange.

Give me a girl, I crave so  hardly,
Queen of Shamakhan solely”,-
The sage’s speaking in return.
The king spat: “So dashing: no!

You will get for never nothing,
Sinner, you yourself tormenting.
Get out of here alive still!
Pull the old man  right away!"

The old man wanted to argue,
But it's hard quarrel to unashamed:
The king slammed  him royal rod
On the brow; he fell down,

His spirit was gone. — All  city
Shivered, and the girl   however -
Hee-hee-hee! and hahaha!
Of sin faithless not  afraid.

The king was  severely alarmed,
Nonetheless smiled at her sweetly.
He enters the city place.
Suddenly there was a voice,

And  in eyes of the whole City
Cockerel flew off the needle,
Flew  to the chariot direct,
Landed  the king’s sinciput,

Startled, pecked at the head then
And soared, simultaneously
Dadon fell from the chariot,
Gasped once and passed away.

And the queen suddenly evanished,
Like she hasn’t never happened.
Fable lies, hiding a hint,
Certain have  some lesson here.