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A father's care, a mother's tender love,
And a rich castle and a joyous land,
Days without longing, nights no dream might move
Peace like a tranquil angel aye did stand
Near me, abroad, at home, by day and night,
Guarding me close, though viewless to the sight.

Three lovely daughters from one mother born.
And I the first demanded as a bride;
Happy in youth, happy in joys to be,
Who told me there were other joys beside?
O lovely youth! why didst thou tell me more
Than e'er in Litwa any knew before?

Of the great God, of angels bright as day,
Of stone-built cities where religion rests,
Where in rich churches all the people pray,
Where princely lords obey their maidens' bests;
Like to our warriors great in warlike pains.
Tender in love as are our shepherd swains.

Where man, from covering of clay set free,
A wingèd soul, flies through a joyful heaven.
I could believe it, for in listening thee
I had a foretaste of those wonders even.