Fly, hide thyself from out my sight,
Queen Venus, whom Cythera ringeth!
Come, menace to ignoble might,
Muse that of FREEDOM proudly singeth!
Come, tear the roses from my brow,
Break the Sweet lyre of passions tender:
For I would sing – Freedom’s defender –
Vice on the throne to vanquish now.
Tremble, ye tyrants of the earth!
Fate’s random minions, heed and cower!
Awake, ye bondsmen of their power!
Rise up, I say, and show your worth!
Looking around I ever face
Whips upon whips and fetters groaning,
Laws’ peril in a world’s disgrace,
And helpless slaves for the ever moaning;
Arrayed on every hand I mark
Dense superstition, fatal craving
For fame, and genius for enslaving,
And unjust power thunder-dark.
Where a sure stronghold doth surround
The law and holy FREEDOM reigning –
There only o’er the rulers crowned
Drones not the people’s dire complaining.
It is the law that doth instal
You rulers in your kingly stations:
You stand aloof above the nations,
But Law stands high above you all.
And woe, and woe to every race
Where Law shall lurk neglectful, dozing,
Where King or people shall outface
Her equity, o’er justice glozing.
Hark to the truth, ye Tsars and Kings!
Neither rewards, nor prosecutions,
Nor prisons’ gloom, nor altars’ wings
Can shield you, safe from revolutions!
Come first, abase with bended knees
Your heads ‘neath Law’s protective entry –
And at your thrones shall stand as sentry
The nations’ liberty and peace!
by Alexander Pushkin
This Russian Romantic poet is believed to be Oromantic.
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