Fedot
What affliction! What a shame!
There isn′t any trace of game.
Pr’haps that’s the bird I have to shoot,
It′s at least some kind of food!

They say pigeon meat is bad,
I should not agree with that,
When you have it with a sauce
It′s like a grouse, or not worse.

Pigeon
Please, don′t hurt me, dear Fedot,
It′s quite worthless, is it not?
Just one bird is not enough
For a dish or pillow stuff.

Your foreigner might like to eat
Some kind of very special meat,
Whereas my meat′s just enough
To make a wild cat laugh.

Fedot
Is the goblin somewhere here?
Are these tricks of the evening air?
Is there anything the matter
With my eyes or with my ear?

Has the Tsar decreed
That pigeons
Should now speak
Like human beings?.

Pigeon
Don′t do wrong to me, Fedot,
Take me home, and you know what:
When you bring me to your chamber
I shall be your destined lot!

I shall sew and wash and cook,
Never give you a rebuke,
I shall keep the house clean,
And I′ll play the violin!

Fedot
What a story, what a gag!
All right, get into my bag,
When we get home I′ll find out
What this trick is all about!