TO THE CIRCASSIANS
"OUR bread and home," in your own tongue,
In Tartar words you dare to say.
Nobody gave it you, your world is young,
So far no one has ta'en it away.
Nobody yet has led you in fetters,
But we have wisdom in such matters.
In God's good word we daily read,
But from dungeons where the pris'ners moan,
To Caesar's high-exalted throne
'Tis gilt without, while the soul's in need.
To us for wisdom should you come,
We'll teach you all the tricks of trade.
Good Christians we, with church and Ikon;
All goods, even God, our own we've made.
But that house of yours
Still hurts our eyes;
If we didn't give it,
Why should you have it?
These ways of yours
cause much surprise.
We never granted
The corn you planted.
The sunlight, you
Should pay for, too.
Oh, quite uneducated you!
