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Anonymous translation
RUSSIA had a noble Tzar, | |
| Sovereign honored wide and far; | |
| He a father’s love enjoyed, | |
| He a father’s power employed. | |
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| And he sought his children’s bliss, | 5 |
| And their happiness was his: | |
| Left for them his golden halls; | |
| Left for them his palace walls. | |
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| He, a wanderer for them, | |
| Left his royal diadem: | 10 |
| Staff and knapsack all his treasure; | |
| Toil and danger all his pleasure. | |
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| Wherefore hath he journeyed forth | |
| From his glorious, sceptred north? | |
| Flying pride and pomp and power; | 15 |
| Suffering heat and cold and shower. | |
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| Why? because this noble king | |
| Light and truth and bliss might bring; | |
| Spread intelligence, and pour | |
| Knowledge out on Russia’s shore. | 20 |
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| Wherefore would this noble king | |
| Light and truth and virtue bring, | |
| Spread intelligence, and pour | |
| Knowledge out on Russia’s shore? | |
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| He would guide by wisdom’s ray | 25 |
| All his subjects in their way; | |
| And while beams of glory giving, | |
| Teach them all the arts of living. | |
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| O thou noble King and Tzar! | |
| Earth ne’er saw so bright a star,— | 30 |
| Tell me, have ye ever found | |
| Such a prince the world around? | |
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