"'Shalashnikov flogged like A prince, but be certain The treasures he thrashed from The doughty Korojins Were not of much weight. The weak yielded soon, But the strong stood like iron 290 For the commune. I also Bore up, and I thought: ''Though never so stoutly You flog us, you dog's son, You won't drag the whole soul From out of the peasant; Some trace will be left.'' "'When the Barin was sated We went from the town, But we stopped on the outskirts 300 To share what was over. And plenty there was, too! Shalashnikov, heh, You're a fool! It was our turn To laugh at the Barin; Ah, they were proud peasants-- The plucky Korojins! But nowadays show them The tail of a knout, And they'll fly to the Barin, 310 And beg him to take The last coin from their pockets. Well, that's why we all lived Like merchants in those days. One summer came tidings To us that our Barin Now owned us no longer, That he had, at Varna, Been killed. We weren't sorry, But somehow we thought then: 320 ''The peasants' good fortune Has come to an end!'' The heir made a new move: He sent us a German.[48] Through vast, savage forests, Through sly sucking bogs And on foot came the German, As bare as a finger. "'As melting as butter At first was the German: 330 ''Just give what you can, then,'' He'd say to the peasants. "'''We've nothing to give!'' "'''I'll explain to the Barin.'' "'''Explain,'' we replied, And were troubled no more. It seemed he was going To live in the village; He soon settled down. On the banks of the river, 340 For hour after hour He sat peacefully fishing, And striking his nose Or his cheek or his forehead. We laughed: ''You don't like The Korojin mosquitoes?'' He'd boat near the bankside And shout with enjoyment, Like one in the bath-house Who's got to the roof.[49] 350 "'With youths and young maidens He strolled in the forest (They were not for nothing Those strolls in the forest!)-- ''Well, if you can't pay You should work, little peasants.'' "'''What work should we do?'' "'''You should dig some deep ditches To drain off the bog-lands.'' We dug some deep ditches. 360 "'''And now trim the forest.'' "'''Well, well, trim the forest....'' We hacked and we hewed As the German directed, And when we look round There's a road through the forest!