Who Can Be Happy and Free in Russia?

We're orthodox peasants,
  From District 'Most Wretched,'
From 'Destitute Parish,' 410
  From neighbouring hamlets—
'Patched,' 'Barefoot,' and 'Shabby,'
  'Bleak,' 'Burnt-Out,' and 'Hungry,'
And 'Harvestless,' too.

We met in the roadway
  And argued about
Who is happy in Russia.

Luká said, 'The pope,'
  And Demyán, 'The Pomyéshchick,'
And Prov said, 'The Tsar,' 420
  And Román, 'The official.'
'The round-bellied merchant,'
Said both brothers Goóbin,
  Mitródor and Ívan.
Pakhóm said, 'His Highness,
  The Tsar's Chief Adviser.'

Like bulls are the peasants:
  Once folly is in them
You cannot dislodge it
  Although you should beat them 430
With stout wooden cudgels,
  They stick to their folly
And nothing will move them.

  We argued and quarrelled,
While quarrelling fought,
  And while fighting decided
That never again
  Would we turn our steps homewards
To kiss wives and children,
  To see the old people, 440
Until we have found
  The reply to our question,
Of who can in Russia
  Be happy and free?

We've questioned the pope,
  We've asked the Pomyéshchick,
And now we ask you.

  We'll seek the official,
The Minister, merchant,
  We even will go 450
To the Tsar—Little Father,
  Though whether he'll see us
We cannot be sure.

  But rumour has told us
That you're free and happy.

  Then say, in God's name,
If the rumour be true."

Matróna Korchágin
  Does not seem astonished,
But only a sad look 460
  Creeps into her eyes,
And her face becomes thoughtful.

  "Your errand is surely
A foolish one, brothers,"

  She says to the peasants,
"For this is the season
  Of work, and no peasant
For chatter has time."

"Till now on our journey
  Throughout half the Empire 470
We've met no denial,"
  The peasants protest.

"But look for yourselves, now,
  The corn-ears are bursting.
We've not enough hands."

  "And we? What are we for?
Just give us some sickles,
  And see if we don't
Get some work done to-morrow!"
  The peasants reply. 480

Matróna sees clearly
  Enough that this offer
Must not be rejected;

  "Agreed," she said, smiling,
"To such lusty fellows
  As you, we may well look
For ten sheaves apiece."

  "You give us your promise
To open your heart to us?"

"I will hide nothing." 490
Matróna Korchágin
  Now enters her cottage,
And while she is working
  Within it, the peasants
Discover a very
  Nice spot just behind it,
And sit themselves down.

  There's a barn close beside them
And two immense haystacks,
  A flax-field around them; 500
And lying just near them
  A fine plot of turnips,
And spreading above them
  A wonderful oak-tree,
A king among oaks.

  They're sitting beneath it,
And now they're producing
  The magic white napkin:

"Heh, napkin enchanted,
  Give food to the peasants!" 510

The napkin unfolds,
  Two hands have come floating
From no one sees where,
Place a pailful of vodka,
  A large pile of bread
On the magic white napkin,
  And dwindle away.

The two brothers Goóbin
 Are chuckling together,
For they have just pilfered 520
  A very big horse-radish
Out of the garden—
  It's really a monster!

The skies are dark blue now,
  The bright stars are twinkling,
The moon has arisen
  And sails high above them;

The woman Matróna
  Comes out of the cottage
To tell them her tale. 530