“Nor must we stint our roubles
For the honor of the State,
We dare not wrong impressions
In foreign lands create.”
The Minister of Finance,
With penury beset,
Urged that by public auction
The job of god be let.
“Whoever makes the offer
To take the smallest pay,
Shall, disregarding fitness,
Be hired, without delay.
“But ere we sign a contract
Conditions we’ll insert
That churchly gold and silver
Must to our mint revert.
“So that with our obligations
Our bonds be kept at par,
This is a financial problem;
All the rest is—caviar.”
Now the Minister of Buildings
Argued that they must arrange
Into military barracks
Every monast’ry to change.
By this coup the Tsar’s possessions
Greatly would accumulate,
Ere they place in his position
The prospective candidate.
[53]
