Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.
Song of the Good Tzar
By Nikolay Karamzin (17661826)R
Sovereign honored wide and far;
He a father’s love enjoyed,
He a father’s power employed.
And their happiness was his:
Left for them his golden halls;
Left for them his palace walls.
Left his royal diadem:
Staff and knapsack all his treasure;
Toil and danger all his pleasure.
From his glorious, sceptred north?
Flying pride and pomp and power;
Suffering heat and cold and shower.
Light and truth and bliss might bring;
Spread intelligence, and pour
Knowledge out on Russia’s shore.
Light and truth and virtue bring,
Spread intelligence, and pour
Knowledge out on Russia’s shore?
All his subjects in their way;
And while beams of glory giving,
Teach them all the arts of living.
Earth ne’er saw so bright a star,—
Tell me, have ye ever found
Such a prince the world around?