Page:Songs of Russia.djvu/25

 I sang to them a glowing hymn, inspired and filled with hope; I sang that truth was destined to be victor in the fight; That darkness could not evermore resist its radiance clear, And that the future of our land would joyful be and bright.

And all that I had hidden and cherished in my heart, Like to a precious treasure, through hard days, slow and long— My highest aspirations, my best and noblest dreams, I poured them all forth freely in the accents of that song.

I ceased. The song was followed by no thunders of applause, No wreaths came dropping at my feet, a fragrant, flowery storm; The guerdon of the singer is a moment’s silence deep, And, in the hush, a hand-clasp—a hand-clasp close and warm.

But whence and wherefore are these tears? How proud and glad am I!