Alexander Pushkin: Freedom's Seed (From Russian)

Freedom's Seed
By Alexander Pushkin
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

With freedom's seed across the land,
Before the star of morn I passed.
My uncorrupt and guiltless hand
Through subjugated furrows cast
The life-bestowing germ I bore,
A waste of time and nothing more.
A well-intended, futile task...

Pasture away, there, docile nation
That will not rise to honor's call!
What need have sheep of liberation?
A hand will shear and slit them all.
Their legacy each generation
Will be the lash, the chain and ball. 

The Original:
Свободы Сеятель
А.С. Пушкин

Свободы сѣятель пустынной,

Я вышелъ рано, до звѣзды;

Рукою чистой и безвинной

Въ порабощенныя бразды

Бросалъ живительное сѣмя —

Но потерялъ я только врѣмя,

Благiя мысли и труды...

Паситесь, мирныя народы!

Васъ не разбудитъ чести кличъ.

Къ чему стадамъ дары свободы?

Ихъ должно рѣзать или стричь.

Наслѣдство ихъ изъ рода въ роды

Ярмо съ гремушками да бичъ.