A knife, whose edge well sharpened is;

Two drums are at their feet, I wis,

And close beside their lances rest:

They both are sorcerers of Siberian race,

And thus the meaning of their words I trace.

THE OLD MAN

“Roar on, old Irtýsh, let our cry

Along thy stream re-echoing fly;

The gods have chastening sent in ire

And poured on us misfortunes dire.”