Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.

Appendix

The White Czar

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)

The White Czar is Peter the Great. Batyushka, Father dear, and Gosudar, Sovereign, are titles the Russian people are fond of giving to the Czar in their popular songs.

DOST thou see on the rampart’s height

That wreath of mist, in the light

Of the midnight moon? O, hist!

It is not a wreath of mist;

It is the Czar, the White Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

He has heard, among the dead,

The artillery roll o’erhead;

The drums and the tramp of feet

Of his soldiery in the street;

He is awake! the White Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

He has heard in the grave the cries

Of his people: “Awake! arise!”

He has rent the gold brocade

Whereof his shroud was made;

He is risen! the White Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

From the Volga and the Don,

He has led his armies on,

Over river and morass

Over desert and mountain pass;

The Czar, the Orthodox Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

He looks from the mountain-chain

Toward the seas, that cleave in twain

The continents; his hand

Points southward o’er the land

Of Roumili! O Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

And the words break from his lips:

“I am the builder of ships,

And my ships shall sail these seas

To the Pillars of Hercules!

I say it; the White Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

“The Bosphorus shall be free;

It shall make room for me;

And the gates of its water-streets

Be unbarred before my fleets.

I say it; the White Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!

“And the Christian shall no more

Be crushed, as heretofore,

Beneath thine iron rule,

O Sultan of Istamboul!

I swear it! I the Czar,

Batyushka! Gosudar!”