Page:Poems (Eminescu).pdf/33

 All that in the neighb’ring countries was deformed and misbegotten, All that’s stained with foul corruption’s mark by nature, all that’s rotten, All these helots, mean and greedy, which the Phanar here has sent, Self-styled patriots, so-called brothers, on their selfish schemes intent, Babblers, stutterers, and cretins, wry-mouthed wretches, now grown great Are your masters,— yes, these prattlers are the pillars of the state.

You the heirs of Rome? You, eunuchs, of her fame are boasting when All the world, with horror shrinking, is ashamed to call you men! And this pestilence, these creatures with their nasty mouths proclaim That they are the country’s saviours, and they dare, they have no shame, All the glory of our nation with their filth but to besmear And thy holy name pronouncing to disgrace it, country dear!

In the lupanars, in Paris, day and night you have been seen With the most depraved of women and in revelry obscene, You have lost your youth and fortune, gambling, drinking, wild and lewd, How could Paris make you better, since in you was nothing good? Wearing monocles like dandies, with a little walking cane, You came back, your heads pomaded, in your brains did nought remain But some waltz learnt in the ballrooms, nothing else was left behind: And all prematurely withered, with an empty childish mind, And a harlot’s dancing slippers, all the wealth you did acquire… I admire you, proudest offspring of the Romans, I admire!

Now you look amazed and frightened to our cold and sceptic eyes, And you wonder why no longer we can listen to your lies? When we see that all these loafers, who with great words make such din Are but chasing after money, cheaply, without work to win. If these polished, empty phrases, all this idle talk, my brothers, Cannot cheat us any longer, is it now the fault of others? Too much did you this poor country with our foes to pieces tear, Too much did you shame our nation, too much, too much did you dare