Czar Alexander The Second

FROM him did forty million serfs, endow'd Each with six feet of death-due soil, receive Rich freeborn lifelong land, whereon to sheave Their country's harvest. These to-day aloud Demand of Heaven a Father's blood,—sore bow'd With tears and thrilled with wrath; who, while they grieve, On every guilty head would fain achieve All torment by his edicts disallow'd. He stayed the knout's red-ravening fangs; and first Of Russian traitors, his own murderers go White to the tomb. While he,—laid foully low With limbs red-rent, with festering brain which erst Willed kingly freedom,—'gainst the deed accurst To God bears witness of his people's woe.