Dmitry Merezhkovsky (b. 1865)

WITH heavy anguish, hopeless straining,

The bonds of love I would remove.

Oh, to be loosed from their enchaining!

Oh, freedom, only not to love!

The soul that shame and fear are scourging

Crawls through a mist of dust and blood.

From dust, great God, my spirit purging,

Oh, spare me from love’s bitter flood!

Is pity’s wall alone unshaken?

I pray to God, I cry in vain,

More weary, by all hope forsaken;

Resistless love grows great again.

There is no freedom, unforgiven,

We live as slaves, by life consumed;

We perish, tortured, bound and driven,

Promised to death, and to love—doomed.