 | The epic songs of Russia |  |
vi
TO THE NAMELESS HEROES
Memory Eternal, ye Battlers for Russia,
Who for Russian honour made a fort with your breasts!
Your duty done, now in peace ye rest,
And with death a new dawn breaketh fair for you.
And if ye have sinned, await pardon with boldness—
Ye have given your lives to God for the Tzar.
Know this—our first prayer to the Saints is yours ever.
Know this, e'en now to all full pardon is granted.
Your glorious deeds God will never forget.
Memory Eternal, ye Battlers for Russia,
Who for Russian honour made a fort with your breasts!
MEMORY ETERNAL!
Who for Russian honour made a fort with your breasts!
Your duty done, now in peace ye rest,
And with death a new dawn breaketh fair for you.
And if ye have sinned, await pardon with boldness—
Ye have given your lives to God for the Tzar.
Know this—our first prayer to the Saints is yours ever.
Know this, e'en now to all full pardon is granted.
Your glorious deeds God will never forget.
Memory Eternal, ye Battlers for Russia,
Who for Russian honour made a fort with your breasts!
MEMORY ETERNAL!
(By Moryak. Trans. I. F. H.)
| The epic songs of Russia | |