Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79.
The Feast of Peter the Great
By Alexander Sergevitch Pushkin (1799–1837)O
Flag and pennant flutter fair;
From the boats in line advancing
Oarsmen’s chorus fill the air.
Loud and joyous guests assembling
Throng the palace of the Tzar;
And to cannon crash is trembling
All the Neva from afar.
Why is Petersburg so gay?
Why those shouts and cannon thunders,
And the fleet in war array?
Is new glory dawning on ye,
Russia’s eagle, Russia’s sword?
Has the stern Swede fled before ye?
Has the foe for peace implored?
On the shore that was the Swede’s?
Through our young fleet proudly steering
Like a grandame she proceeds.
They, her giant brood, seem kneeling
’Fore their grandame, black and grim;
And to Science’ name are pealing
Cannon crash and choral hymn?
That he feasts the herd of war?
When his empire’s life victorious
Saved from Charles the Russian Tzar?
Greet they Catherine’s saint those thunders,
Hath she given a prince to life?
Of our giant Tzar of wonders,
She, the raven-tressed wife?
To the guilty, guilt he sinks,
By a subject’s side he ’s sitting,
From a subject’s cup he drinks:
And his brow he kisses smiling,
Gay of heart and bright of eye;
And he feasts a reconciling,
Like some mighty victory.
Hence is Petersburg so gay;
Hence the songs and cannon thunder,
And the fleet in war array;
Hence the guests in joy assembling;
Hence the full cup of the Tzar;
Hence with cannon crashes trembling
All the Neva from afar.