Everybody must respect him;
Who dares pester him, or twit,
Or else in the slightest taunt him,
He may have to do his bit.
The police commands obeisance,
It will flay you if you kick—
With a switch it whips the tailor,
And the cobbler with a stick.
Hearken, people, and take warning;
With my doleful eloquence
I will show that ’gainst policemen
E’en a god has no defense.
Here they lead him, bound and shackled—
How it galls my peace of mind!—
Two are pulling at his elbows,
One is pushing from behind.
“Lead me through the darker alleys,
Please—not through the market place;
I’ll be gentle—only spare me
The dishonor and disgrace!”
Perun’s wife was in the backyard
Washing out the dirt
At the well, from Perun’s little
Youngster’s muddy shirt.
As she spied her lord, arrested,
She became extremely wroth
And assaulted his attendants
With a soppy, dirty cloth.
[34]
