1901年三月,Rusalka這部劇在布拉格首演。劇情幾乎等於我們所知道的小美人魚,只不過這次主角是水仙精靈Rusalka。她愛上了在湖畔見到的人間王子,所以想要成為人類,也正是在這一幕裡,她唱了有名的「月亮之歌Song to the moon」,希望月亮能傳達她的心意給所愛的王子。愛昏頭的她不顧老爸反對向巫婆求助。Rusalka變成了人,不過魔法的代價是「啞」,她不但無法言語,而且,除非以王子的性命作交換,否則永世不得回返精靈界。然後,接下來當然就是一場大家也可以想到的悲劇。
Pisen Rusalky O Mesiku (Song of the Moon), Rusalka's aria from Rusalka
O moon high up in the deep, deep sky, Your light sees far away regions, You travel round the wide, Wide world peering into human dwellings
O, moon, stand still for a moment, Tell me, ah, tell me where is my lover! Tell him. please, silvery moon in the sky, That I am hugging him firmly, That he should for at least a while Remember his dreams! Light up his far away place, Tell him, ah, tell him who is here waiting! If he is dreaming about me, May this remembrance waken him! O, moon, don't disappear, disappear!
Translation by Jules Brunelle (brunellejules@videotron.ca)