Like blood and sweat it is simple:
To people — tsar, to tsar — people.
Like mystery of two it is clear:
The third is the spirit, the two are near.
From the sky tsar is placed on the throne:
That is clear like dream and snow.
To the throne tsar will come again yet:
It is holy like blood and sweat.
Это просто, как кровь и пот:
Царь — народу, царю — народ.
Это ясно, как тайна двух:
Двое рядом, а третий — Дух.
Царь с небес на престол взведён:
Это чисто, как снег и сон.
Царь опять на престол взойдёт —
Это свято, как кровь и пот.
«Six. / As heavy as a blow. / "Render unto God… render unto Caesar…" / But where is someone / like me / to go? / What refuge or shelter is there? / If only I were / shallow, / like the Pacific Ocean, — / I’d rise on the tiptoes of waves / to caress the moon with the tide...»
«The hooves stomped faster, / singing as they trod: / — Grip. / Grab. / Rob. / Grub. — Wind-fostered, / ice-shod, / the street skidded. / Onto its side, a horse / toppled, / and immediately, / the loafers gathered, / as crowds of trousers assembled up close / on the Kuz...»
«When from thine error, dark, degrading, / With words of fiery persuading, / I drew thy fallen spirit out; / And thou, thy hands in anguish wringing, / Didst curse, filled with a torment stinging, / The sin that compassed thee about; / When thou, thy conscience dilatory / Chastisin...»
«Yesterday at six / I stopped by Hay Square; / They were whipping a woman, / A young peasant, there. Not a sound from her breast, / Just the lash, playing, whistled... / And I said to my Muse: / "Look! It's your sister!"»