Καλλιτεχνικός Σύλλογος Δημοτικής Μουσικής Δόμνα Σαμίου

Evgenoula, the fair maid beloved by all,
went and boasted she had no fear of death,
that she had houses tall and a sweetheart brave and strong
and nine brothers to man the castle walls.
And when Charon heard her words, they pleased him not at all,
so out he came to aim at the ring that pledged the maiden’s troth.
And the doctors toed and froed, but no cure could they find
and her mother toed and froed, hair down and despairing.
– Mother, when Konstantis comes,
pray spare his heart the burden,
and lay a meal before him so he may dine.
And Konstantinos arrived from the far meadows
with four hundred flags and four score musicians.
– Standard bearers halt, musicians take your places,
for there’s carrying a golden cross out of my beloved’s home.
My bride’s father has died, or her mother’s perished,
or one of her brothers has got himself killed.
He whipped his horse and towards the house did gallop
and found the carpenter at work upon a coffin on the way.
– Hail, carpenter, whose coffin is that you’re making?
– ’Tis for the rain, for smoke and for the whirlwind.
[– Fear not, carpenter, for whom is that coffin?
– I lack the heart to tell you, I lack the words to tell,
’tis for your Evgenoula, the maid you loved so dear.
– Then make it broad and make it long, make it fit for two.
He whipped his horse and galloped to his bride’s father’s house.
– Singers of hymns, stay just where you are,
for singers of dirges will be much in need today.
And he drew a golden knife from its silver scabbard,
raised it high and plunged it into his heart.
On the spot they buried the youth,
a cypress tree did sprout,
and on the spot they buried the maid,
a cypress tree did grow.
A bird, a good bird, passed by and said:
– Look at those poor, ill-fated souls,
who could not kiss in life, but kiss in death.]

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou