Oh, to whom I only didn’t put the hats on!
Mon dieu! - talked with such great heads!...
On their heads I pulled on such hats,
That those enemies were on the spot struck down!

I saw daredevils, reckless men:
In their eyes is fire, in their mouth obscenities and gags!...
But there were, however, among them such hats,
That I even wouldn’t put on the hats on them...

And on the great king and on the satrap it would,
And on the negro, and on Pope in Vatican, -
The hats are looking good on all!
Will you agree at last, that it’s as good as done, -
But not for the head, but for the soul!