The White Czar

The White Czar is Peter the Great.    Batyushka, Father dear, and Gosudar, Sovereign, are titles the Russian people are fond of giving to the Czar in their popular songs.     Dost thou see on the rampart's height     That wreath of mist, in the light     Of the midnight moon?    O, hist!     It is not a wreath of mist;     It is the Czar, the White Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     He has heard, among the dead,     The artillery roll o'erhead;     The drums and the tramp of feet     Of his soldiery in the street;     He is awake! the White Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     He has heard in the grave the cries     Of his people: "Awake! arise!"     He has rent the gold brocade     Whereof his shroud was made;     He is risen! the White Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     From the Volga and the Don     He has led his armies on,     Over river and morass,     Over desert and mountain pass;     The Czar, the Orthodox Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     He looks from the mountain-chain     Toward the seas, that cleave in twain     The continents; his hand     Points southward o'er the land     Of Roumili!    O Czar,          Batyushka!    Gosudar!     And the words break from his lips:     "I am the builder of ships,     And my ships shall sail these seas     To the Pillars of Hercules!     I say it; the White Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     "The Bosphorus shall be free;     It shall make room for me;     And the gates of its water-streets     Be unbarred before my fleets.     I say it; the White Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!     "And the Christian shall no more     Be crushed, as heretofore,     Beneath thine iron rule,     O Sultan of Istamboul!     I swear it; I the Czar,         Batyushka!    Gosudar!"