[The Poet describes the city and spelling of Kiow, Kioff, or Kiova.] A thousand years ago, or more, A city filled with burghers stout, And girt with ramparts round about, Stood on the rocky Dnieper shore. In armor bright, by day and night, The sentries they paced to and fro. Well guarded and walled was this town, and called By different names, I'd have you to know; For if you looks in the g'ography books, In those dictionaries the name it varies, And they write it off Kieff or Kioff, Kiova or Kiow. II. [Its buildings, public works, and ordinances, religious and civil.] Thus guarded without by wall and redoubt, Kiova within was a place of renown, With more advantages than in those dark ages Were commonly known to belong to a town. There were places and squares, and each year four fairs, And regular aldermen and regular lord-mayors; And streets, and alleys, and a bishop's palace; And a church with clocks for the orthodox-- With clocks and with spires, as religion desires; And beadles to whip the bad little boys Over their poor little corduroys, In service-time, when they DIDN'T make a noise; And a chapter and dean, and a cathedral-green With ancient trees, underneath whose shades Wandered nice young nursery-maids. [The poet shows how a certain priest dwelt at Kioff, a godly clergyman, and one that preached rare good sermons.] Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-ding-a-ring-ding, The bells they made a merry merry ring, From the tall tall steeple; and all the people (Except the Jews) came and filled the pews-- Poles, Russians and Germans, To hear the sermons Which HYACINTH preached godly to those Germans and Poles, For the safety of their souls. III. [How this priest was short and fat of body;] A worthy priest he was and a stout-- You've seldom looked on such a one; For, though he fasted thrice in a week, Yet nevertheless his skin was sleek; His waist it spanned two yards about And he weighed a score of stone. IV. [And like unto the author of "Plymley's Letters."] A worthy priest for fasting and prayer And mortification most deserving; And as for preaching beyond compare, He'd exert his powers for three or four hours, With greater pith than Sydney Smith Or the Reverend Edward Irving. V. [Of what convent he was prior, and when the convent was built.] He was the prior of Saint Sophia (A Cockney rhyme, but no better I know)-- Of St. Sophia, that Church in Kiow, Built by missionaries I can't tell when; Who by their discussions converted the Russians, And made them Christian men. VI. [Of Saint Sophia of Kioff; and how her statue miraculously travelled thither.]