* * * * *
The barge-tower's fateLead the thoughts of young GrishaTo dwell on the wholeOf mysterious Russia— 380The fate of her people.For long he was rovingAbout on the bank,Feeling hot and excited,His brain overflowingWith new and new verses.
Russia
"The Tsar was in moodTo dabble in blood:To wage a great war.Shall we have gold enough? 390Shall we have strength enough?Questioned the Tsar.
"(Thou art so pitiful,Poor, and so sorrowful,Yet thou art powerful,Thy wealth is plentiful,Russia, my Mother!)
"By misery chastened,By serfdom of old,The heart of thy people, 400O Tsar, is of gold.
"And strong were the nation,Unyielding its might,If standing for conscience,For justice and right.
"But summon the countryTo valueless strife,And no man will hastenTo offer his life.
"So Russia lies sleeping 410In obstinate rest;—But should the spark kindleThat's hid in her breast—
"She'll rise without summons,Go forth without call,With sacrifice boundless,Each giving his all!
"A host she will gatherOf strength unsurpassed,With infinite courage 420Will fight to the last.
"(Thou art so pitiful,Poor, and so sorrowful,Yet of great treasure full,Mighty, all-powerful,Russia, my Mother!)"
* * * * *
Young Grísha was pleasedWith his song; and he murmured."Its message is true;I will sing it to-morrow 430Aloud to the peasants.Their songs are so mournful,It's well they should hearSomething joyful,—God help them!For just as with runningThe cheeks begin burning,So acts a good songOn the spirit despairing,Brings comfort and strength."But first to his brother 440He sang the new song,And his brother said, "Splendid!"
Then Grísha tried vainlyTo sleep; but half dreamingNew songs he composed.They grew brighter and stronger….
Our peasants would soonHave been home from their travelsIf they could have knownWhat was happening to Grísha: 450With what exaltationHis bosom was burning;What beautiful strainsIn his ears began chiming;How blissfully sang heThe wonderful anthemWhich tells of the freedomAnd peace of the people.
[1] Many years later, after his mother's death, Nekrassov found this letter among her papers. It was a letter written to her by her own mother after her flight and subsequent marriage. It announced to her her father's curse, and was filled with sad and bitter reproaches: "To whom have you entrusted your fate? For what country have you abandoned Poland, your Motherland? You, whose hand was sought, a priceless gift, by princes, have chosen a savage, ignorant, uncultured…. Forgive me, but my heart is bleeding…."
[2] Priest.
[3] Landowner.
[4] The peasants assert that the cuckoo chokes himself with young ears of corn.
[5] A kind of home-brewed cider.
[6]Laputis peasants' footgear made of bark of saplings.
[7] Priest
[8] New huts are built only when the village has been destroyed by fire.
[9] The lines of asterisks throughout the poem represent passages that were censored in the original.
[10] There is a superstition among the Russian peasants that it is an ill omen to meet the "pope" when going upon an errand.
[11] Landowners
[12] Dissenters in Russia are subjected to numerous religious restrictions. Therefore they are obliged to bribe the local orthodox pope, in order that he should not denounce them to the police.
[13] There is a Russian superstition that a round rainbow is sent as a sign of coming dry weather.
[14]Kashaandstcheeare two national dishes.
[15] The mud and water from the high lands on both sides descend and collect in the villages so situated, which are often nearly transformed into swamps during the rainy season.
[16] On feast days the peasants often pawn their clothes for drink.
[17] Well-known popular characters in Russia.
[18] Each landowner kept his own band of musicians.
[19] The halting-place for prisoners on their way to Siberia.
[20] The tax collector, the landlord, and the priest.
[21] Fire.
[22] Popular name for Petrograd.
[23] The primitive wooden plough still used by the peasants in Russia.
[24] Three pounds.
[25] Holy pictures of the saints.
[26] The Russian nickname for the bear.
[27] Chief of police.
[28] An administrative unit consisting of a group of villages.
[29] The end of the story is omitted because of the interference of the Censor.
[30] A three-horsed carriage.
[31] The Pomyeshchick is still bitter because his serfs have been set free by the Government.
[32] The Russian warriors of olden times.
[33] Russian Easter dishes.
[34] Russians embrace one another on Easter Sunday, recalling the resurrection of Christ.
[35] The Russians press their foreheads to the ground while worshipping.
[36] The official appointed to arrange terms between the Pomyéshchicks and their emancipated serfs.
[37] The haystacks.
[38] A long-skirted coat.
[39] The forced labour of the serfs for their owners.
[40] Holy images.
[41] Meenin—a famous Russian patriot in the beginning of the seventeenth century. He is always represented with an immense beard.
[42] It is a sign of respect to address a person by his own name and the name of his father.
[43] Ukhá—fish soup.
[44] A national loose sleeveless dress worn with a separate shirt or blouse.
[45] The marriage agent.
[46] The marriage agent.
[47] Inhabitants of the village Korojin.
[48] Germans were often employed as managers of the Pomyéshchicks' estates.
[49] In Russian vapour-baths there are shelves ranged round the walls for the bathers to recline upon. The higher the shelf the hotter the atmosphere.
[50] Police-official.
[51] Heave-to!
[52] This paragraph refers to the custom of the country police in Russia, who, on hearing of the accidental death of anybody in a village, will, in order to extract bribes from the villagers, threaten to hold an inquest on the corpse. The peasants are usually ready to part with nearly all they possess in order to save their dead from what they consider desecration.
[53] The Saviour's day.
[54] A reference to the arranging of terms between the Pomyéshchicks and peasants with regard to land at the time of the emancipation of the serfs.
[55] There is a Russian superstition that a good memory is gained by eating magpies' eggs.
[56] Chief of Police.
[57] A wooden splinter prepared and used for lighting purposes.
[58] Polish title for nobleman or gentleman.
[59] Serfs.
[60] Alexander II., who gave emancipation to the peasants.
[61] A popular Russian drink composed of hot water and honey.
[62] There was a very heavy tax laid upon salt at the time.