THE RUSSIAN CZAR.
OH, Russian Czar! oh, Russian Czar!
On me you shall not play the fool;
You thought to make a tool of me
Before you occupied Stamboul.
You drew your plan en gentleman,
But I was not to be deceived;
A Russian Czar's a Russian Czar—
You are not one to be believed.
* * * *
Oh, Russian Czar! oh, Russian Czar!
Some softer envoy you must gloze,
For were you Emperor of the world,
I would not stoop to tricks like those.
You set a cunning trap for me,
But I was cunning in reply;
The monjeike at your palace gate
Was not more down to you than I.
* * * *
But trust me, ruthless Russian Czar!
Though heaven above be brightly blue,
'Tis writ upon your palace walls—
Dark is the doom prepared for you!
Howe'er it be, it seems to me
The truly great are truly good;
God watches o'er those minarets
When Christian faith sheds Turkish blood.
I know you, haughty Russian Czar!
You sigh to leave your frozen towers;
Short-sighted are your bloated eyes,
Which strain to feast on Moslem bowers.
You move by stealth through boundless wealth;
Your very nobles are o'erawed;
You do so little good at home,
You needs must play such pranks abroad.
Oh, Russian Czar! oh, Russian Czar!
If power be heavy on your hands,
Are there no wretches in your realm,
Nor any slaves upon your lands?
Oh teach your monjeiks how to read,
Emancipate your serfs; but no—
First pray to have a human heart,
And let the turban'd Moslem go.
Diogenes, April, 1854.
(This parody contained nine verses in all.)