N. Minsky (Pseudonym of Nikolai Vilenkin) (b. 1855)

WHO rears a temple, rears two monuments:

His own and the destroyer’s. They who build

Accept Herostratos’ arbitraments:

And to the torch the chisel’s work is willed.

Both will stand firm before posterity,

And equal glory Fame to each will lend.

But thou, my air-domed temple, shalt not be

Mocked by the vengeance of the general end.

On an abyss of ruin is thy lease,

Thou’rt in the furnace of negation fired;

In thee the hymns of solace shall not cease:

With sorrow winged, by calm despair inspired.

Thee, legioned sufferings guard, in iron mail,

And in their vanguard Death, who shall prevail.