I can do:
Paint him all o'er black and blue!
He wouldn't dare! The way he mocks
And makes fools of Russian folks!
I'll take care of him somehow,
I've got nothing to lose now!
Fedot got angry indeed;
he appealed to men in the street;
his neighbours decided to help him;
Frol took a beam,
Ignat took a bat,
Max took an axe,
Ustin took a bar,
and of they went to have it
out with the Tsar.
The god damn General
came stealthily out,
his eyes flashed
as he looked round,
then he rushed to the court
to give his report.
GENERAL
There's... what is it?.. a crowd
of people on the palace grounds!
So it's obvious: things are taking
A social turn, if I'm not mistaken!
It's Fedot who is to blame,
He is playing a deep game,
Setting people against you,
Urging them to stage a coup!
TSAR
What about you, my lord?
You've got such a sharp sword,
Don't I keep you by my side
To protect my peace and quiet?
Some day, when two Sundays meet,
You'll get a medal, I promise it.
All you must do is prevent
The overthrow of my government!
GENERAL
A lot I care for a medal!
I've got heaps of them already!
When I have them all on me
I look like a Christmas tree!
And I don't see any sense
To come out in your defence,
You have made your own bed,
So you lie on it, my friend!
The stupid rat!
How dared he talk like that!
The Tsar was cross,
yet he let it pass
for those were not the days
to hit a man in the face.
He went downstairs
and made a strict face.
He looked over the square:
the whole of Russia seemed to be there!
TSAR
What the hell, explain to me,
Does this all suppose to mean?
We are not a France of a sort
Where people sow discord!
Who is willing to Siberia?
One by one, come out here!
Staying there in a prison
Will quickly bring you all to reason!
FEDOT
As for reason, we are not blind,
We all have a lucid mind
And distinguish, thanks to God,
Rubbish from forget-me-not!
Tell me, why did you send me of
To a place no one knows of?
Is it not because you wanted
To get married to my wife?
TSAR
How did this idea get
Into your goddamn villain's head?
Throwing dirt at honest people
That's what I call what you said!
Does it befit a man like me
To court your wife? How can it be?
There's no use, as I can see,
To send you out across the sea!
FEDOT
Now calm down, your majesty,
We're not here for a cup of tea,
If you quarrel, you big bug,
I shall smash you in the mug!
Your notorious malice spreads
As far as Che-re-po-vets!
In my person, ill-intentioned,
You have spat upon the nation!
TSAR
Calm down, Fedya, don't be mean,
My people are my kith and kin,
Without thinking of them, I should say,
I can't live a single day!
When I eat my butter and bread
Thoughts of the people enter my head,
Both the caviar and compote
Stick like crazy in my throat!
Late at night I'm awake
Sitting up until daybreak,
Thinking about my poor Russia:
"How is it, for goodness sake?"
It's the General's dirty tricks,
He engages in intrigues,
And he's the only one to blame
For defaming my good name!
Find him now! He's over there!
I am going to curl his hair!
I shall tear of his medal,
Smash his face and call it square!
General appear.
GENERAL
No, no, brothers, it's not true!
I have lost my eye for you!
You're my people, can I ever
Be against you? Well, I never!
I have failed and fallen flat,
I'm sorry, it's too bad .
I don't know, I can't, I won't ,
I've nothing to do with that!
I'll atone for it, I will
Go through prison... any ordeal!
I do not belong to those
Who oppress you, I suppose.
You should blame Yaga for this,
She's the worst of enemies,
Even dragon Gorynytch
Cannot rival our witch!
Come out, you old wicked mouse,
Stand before the people's eyes,
I can't keep from hitting you,
With the sabre, once or twice!