Motionless upon her beaches Did the grey Sea still remain, And the Terek foaming yellow In displeasure spoke again. "So then, take him as a present, As I nothing fairer know On this round earth,--for thee only This rare prize I've guarded so! 'Tis a mountain Cossack's body Wafted 'mid my billows' dance, See his hair,--no silk is softer-- See his shoulder's gold expanse! See how o'er his red lips speechless Now the seated eyes find rest; Trickling yet the purple life blood From the small wound on his breast. For a young and holy maiden, Weeps lamenting, every heart! One sole Cossack in the village, In this mourning takes no part. From the confines of his country Rode he forth with boding grey, 'Neath the dagger of the Tscherkes He has breathed his soul away." And the Terek paused; behold now In the gleaming foam flood drowned, Silvered in the spraying billows Dips a head with rushes crowned. And the hoary one's lips whisper Haughty words of youthful fire, And the eyes lit with love lustre Flame with passionate desire. Foaming, rushing on swift longing, Seethed he up in youthful zest-- And the Terek flood was wedded With him in embraces blest. LERMONTOFF. ON DEPARTURE FOR THE CAUCAS Farewell my hateful Russian country! People of lord and serf you are-- Farewell, salute, bent knee and hand-kiss, Three-masters, uniform and star! Soon will the Caucas now conceal me, There I shall not discovered be By eyes and ears of paid, false sergeants-- Who all do hear and all do see! LERMONTOFF. TO THE CLOUDS Clouds--ye eternal wanderers in hunting grounds of air, High o'er the verdant Steppes, wide through the blue of heaven-- Coursing fraternal,--say, must ye exiled as I From the beloved North to the far South be driven? O tell me, were ye outlawed thus by Fate's behest? Drives ye forth open hate, or secret grudge flee ye? Follows ye unappeased an evil-doer's curse? Are ye pursued by poisonous words of calumny? Ah no! Only from the unfruitful earth ye fly; Free are your sufferings, your blessedness is free, Ye know not wretchedness that holds us here in chains, Know not the joy of home or exile's misery! LERMONTOFF. TO MY COUNTRY With love of my own race I cling unto my country, Whatever dubious reason may protesting cry; The shame alone of all her blood bought glory, Her haughty self-assurance, conscious pride, And the ancestral faith's traditions dark, With woe have penetrated all my heart.