A human being, as much as he is grand,
Essentially, is just a thinking plant.
We are related to all trees and grass,
And their kinship can’t belittle us.
We're given from before our birth
The steadfastness of plants, their life force.
Человек — хоть будь он трижды гением —
Остается мыслящим растением.
С ним в родстве деревья и трава.
Не стыдитесь этого родства.
Вам даны до вашего рождения
Сила, стойкость, жизненность растения.
«Strong and wealthy have a hard time, / It is hard to all the lords. / I won't lower the light eyes / A red soldier before. City's moaning and carousing, / Moon in cloud made of wine. / Not a living soul will touch me: / Poor and arrogant am I.»
«A Cossack, a Cossack's son... / Thus the speech has begun. / Homeland. Darkness. Foe. / Everyone's heads fall down. Sound alarm, priests. / "There's no food." "Good." / Not a day should be lost! / A soldier must / Clean the horse...»
«1 You did not bend the shoulders, when the red-haired / Impostor seized you and for you did reach. / Where is your pride, you baroness? Your blush, / You beauty? Brilliant girl, your speech? Like Tsar Peter, the law of sons despising, / Did lust with avarice after your head — / You ans...»
«2 The thief Grishka did not make you Polish, / The Tsar Peter did not make you German. / "What're you doing, little dove?" "I'm crying." / "Where, Moscow, is your pride?" "It's gone." "Where are all your doves?" "There is no feed." / "Who bore him away?" "The raven black." / "Where are a...»