Alas, had I bethought me.

They take me to another room,

The uniform,—that is my doom.

Woe has come and sought me,

Alas, had I bethought me.

Rather than wear the cap of the czar,

To study the Torah were better by far.

Woe has come and sought me,

Alas, had I bethought me.

Rather than eat of the czar's black bread,