Graduation Song [of the Students of Tsarskoye Selo Lycée]

Chorus

Six years have flown by like a dream,

Embraced by sweet silence,

And already the motherland thunders

Its call: go forth, sons!

1st Voice

O Mother! We heed your call,

The young blood boils in our hearts!

Hand firmly pressed to hand,

We are joined by own love for you.

We have sworn it all to our homeland,

Wholeheartedly–our blood and toil.

We stand firm, ready for battle,

We stand firm, ready for the righteous trial.

Chorus

Six years have flown by like a dream,

Embraced by sweet silence,

and already the fatherland thunders

Its call: go forth, sons!

2nd Voice

To you, our tsar, we give thanks!

It was you who united our young lives

And in this sacred seclusion

You delivered us unto the Muses' service!

Accept now not those fond companions

Of lighthearted joy,

But men of pure heart, truth's defenders,

Worthy of your nobility.

Chorus

Six years have flown by like a dream,

Embraced by sweet silence,

and already the fatherland thunders

Its call: go forth, sons!

3rd Voice

Blessing to those who have taken a vow

To love their fatherland!

And who, with a childlike tenderness, loved

You, friends of our carefree years!

We will not forget the lessons

And fruits of your experience and thought,

And our memory of them, like some inspiration,

Sustains our callow minds.

Chorus

Farewell, brothers! Hand in hand!

Let us embrace a final time!

Perhaps fate brought us together here

That we might part forever.

4th Voice

Fix your gaze upon each other

With a farewell tear!

Preserve, O friends, preserve

Intact your friendship and your souls,

Your powerful striving for glory,

Your yes to truth, your no to falsehood,

Your proud patience with misfortune,

Your even-tempered happiness!

Finale

Six years have flown by like a dream,

Embraced by sweet silence,

and already the fatherland thunders

Its call: go forth, sons!

Farewell, brothers! Hand in hand!

Let us embrace a final time!

perhaps fate brought us together here

That we might part forever.

To a Bird, Set Free

In the name of lovely Delia,

In the name of burning love,

Winged warbler, I give you

Freedom - Fly away!

And my beloved has dealt me

An equally happy lot:

As you owe her your freedom

I owe her my captivity.

1823