To show how little has changed in Europe since 1831, a poem by Russias national poet, A.S. Pushkin, written in response to French parliamentarians who urged war on Russia in support of the Polish insurrection of 1831, is given below: To Russias Slanderers Of what the clamor, nations’ bards? Why need to anathematize Russia? What so outraged you? The throes of Lithuania? Desist: this is the Slavs’ quarrel among themselves, An old domestic quarrel, already weighed by fate, A problem not to be resolved by you. Long since among themselves These tribes have feuded; More than once has bent beneath the storm Now their, now our side. Who will prevail in the unequal strife: The snobby Lekh, or faithful Ross? Will Slavic streams converge in Russia’s sea? Will it dry up? That is the question. Let us be: you have not read Those bloody tablets, and; Is unintelligible to you, and alien This family feud; To you are mute, both Kremlin and Prague; Pointlessly you are beguiled By the valor of a desperate struggle - And you hate us . . . And for what? Reply: is it because On the ruins of blazing Moscow We did not acknowledge the insolent will Of him under whom you quaked? Because we hurled into the abyss This idol looming over kingdoms, And with our blood redeemed Europes freedom, honor, and peace? You’re menacing in words - just try to be, in deed! Is then the old thane, decedent on his bier, Unfit to mount his Ismail bayonet? Or is the Russian Tsars word powerless now? Or is it new to us to be at odds with Europe? Or has the Russian grown unused to winning? Are there too few of us? Or will, from Perm to Tauris, From Finland’s frigid cliffs to flaming Colchis, From shaken Kremlin To immobile walls of China, Glistening with steely quills, Not rise the Russian land? So, send to us, oh, bards, Your angry sons: Theres room for them in Russias fields, Mid graves not unknown to them. 1831
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:48:24 +0000
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