Taras Bulba Page #4

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and let spit on my father's grave,

and on my mother's, and

my father's father's, if I lie !

If the master allows, I can even

explain why he passed over.

Why ?!

The Voyvod's daughter is beautiful.

Great God, a true beauty !

It's because of her, if he passed over.

I questioned the Tatar chambermaid.

There will a a marriage, as soon

as the Cossacks are defeated.

Master Andriy promised

to defeat the Cossacks.

Why didn't you kill him

on the spot, son of a b*tch ?

Why kill him ?

Because of what he's done ?

He's better over there.

That's why he passed over.

You...

You saw him ?

The same face ?

In truth, the same face.

He came toward me, recognized

me and said :
Yankel...

What did he say ?

Tell my father.

Tell my brother.

Tell the Cossacks.

Tell it in Zaporozhye, tell them all.

That from now on...

My father is not my father any more.

My brother is not my brother,

my comrade is not a comrade any more.

And that I shall fight them all !

I shall fight them all !

Go away before I kill you, damn Jew.

Alert !

Alert !

What's the matter ?

My brothers, God be praised !

I thought I'd never find you.

I've been riding this horse for five days.

What happened ?

Tatars.

Syetch, ablaze.

People, all killed,

or enslaved.

I alone could escape.

Well, brother,

maybe we'll meet again,

or maybe not.

Forgive me, brother.

God forgive you.

And to the next time.

God forgive.

For the third time, forgive.

God forgive.

Are they leaving ?

I don't understand.

What does that mean ?

Only half of them.

It means that only half of them remain.

Half the Cossacks are gone.

The other half remain.

Sirs, this is our only chance.

Tomorrow, we'll crush and overcome them.

A toast to that !

Vivat ! Vivat ! Vivat !

I appreciate you, friends,

not because you chose me as your chief,

not in honour of our

comrades still over there,

not because this minute

will never come back.

A noble cause is waiting

for us, and will demand

from us sweat and higher virtues !

So let's drink, comrades,

particularly for

the holy orthodox faith !

Let there finally be a time...

when it will spread in the world,

and there will be...

only one single and holy faith !

To faith !

To faith !

And by the same way,

let's drink to Syetch !

To Syetch !

May the city grow in beauty and power

with every passing year !

To Syetch !

To Syetch !

And finally, comrades,

the last toast.

Comrades !

To all Christians in the world !

To Christians !

To Christians !

Cossacks think deeply.

Like eagles, they contemplate

their baleful destiny from above.

The fields will be covered

with their white bones,

generously drenched

in their Cossack blood.

But none of them will be forgotten.

And the Cossacks' glory will live for ever.

A bard's prophetizing soul

will chant their praises aloud.

And all those who will be

born later will remember them.

Because a strong word reaches far away,

as the clock's powerful rumble,

in which many lords have

melted their precious silver,

so it may resound far across,

in towns and villages,

calling everyone to the holy prayer.

Attack !

Forward !

Do not yield !

Don't let them break through our ranks.

Concentrate fire on them !

Hey, your weapons are really worth a lot !

I killed seven Poles but I

haven't seen such a weapon yet.

Filthy dog !

Vivat !

Take this !

Come on !

The colonel has been killed,

do you hear, brothers ?!

The colonel is dead !

Dimitrovitch is dead !

And why aren't you a colonel ?

No, really ?

Kukubenko, colonel !

With me !

Come on !

Our victory, comrade !

No, this is not a victory yet.

Yours.

Yours, damned son.

You're slaying yours.

Hey Cossacks, draw him toward the woods,

draw him there for me !

And what are we going to do now ?

So, sonny, you've been

helping the Polacks ?

Selling yourself like that !

Selling your faith !

Selling your...

Get down !

Get off that horse !

Stop and don't move !

I fathered you...

and I shall kill you.

And you were such a good Cossack.

Strong, and proud.

Noble...

A strong arm in the battle.

Lost...

Lost, shamefully.

Why, mangy dog ?

We are in trouble, chief !

Everybody's looking for you !

The enemy has got some backup forces.

But the Cossacks won't die if they

don't see you before their very eyes !

They want you to come and see them

before it's time to die.

So, comrades,

your cartridges are full ?

The Cossacks' army is still powerful ?

The Cossacks will never surrender ?

Our cartridges are full, chief !

And we haven't lost our power !

And we will never surrender !

I'm leaving this world without regret.

God gives the same death to all.

May Russia remain glorious

until the end of centuries.

May Russia get rid of its

enemies for ever, and rejoice.

And the young soul flies away.

Angels covered it under their wings

and took it to the skies.

There it will be well.

"Sit down to my right, Kukubenko,"

the Lord will say.

"You haven't changed comradeship."

"You have not been disgraced. You have defended and preserved my Church."

So, comrades,

your cartridges are full ?

The Cossacks' army is still powerful ?

The Cossacks will never surrender ?

Our cartridges are full, chief !

And we haven't lost our power !

And we will never surrender !

One of the most valiant Cossack chiefs.

He took part in numerous expeditions,

the most glorious until the Anatolian coasts.

They gathered large wealth

and somptuous objects.

And the bards will chant their

praise long after their death.

It seems, comrades,

that this is a good death.

I killed seven with the saber,

and nine with the dagger.

May Russia blossom for ever.

Cossack Mossiy Shilo was strong.

More than once he commanded at sea,

and he went through numerous trials.

He might have been Koshevoy,

but he was of a particular type of Cossacks.

He used to drink and spend without telling,

and he owed everyone money in Syetch.

Besides, he was a notorious thief : one night,

he stole a harness and sold it to an innkeeper.

For such a shameful act,

he was tied to a post,

next to a club, so that

anyone could punish him.

But not a single Cossack took the club to Shilo,

for all could remember his high deeds.

So was the Cossack Mossiy Shilo.

Farewell, brothers, comrades.

May Russia remain for ever

the pillar of orthodox faith.

May Russia be its honor !

And the Cossacks are fighting.

But already Zadorozhniy is dead,

and Koshevoy is dead.

Then Pysarenko's dead, then another,

and then a third Pysarenko dies too.

But the Cossacks are fighting

to the end of their forces.

I thank God for allowing me

to die before your eyes, comrades.

May our followers live better than we did.

And may our beloved Russia

remain the Lord's favourite.

So, brothers ?

Your cartridges are full ?

Your swords are not dull ?

Your power is intact ?

Did the Cossacks surrender ?

Our swords are still sharp !

And the Cossacks are still fighting.

Fire !

Ostap, hold on !

Good, son, good !

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