Тварам да шыбеніцы
Язэп Янушкевіч
Памер: 137с.
Ракаў 2013
It is difficult to say how long we would have served corvee if it were not for the Polish uprising. The Polish Government, having promulgated its decree, gave the peasants’ land to the peasants in perpetuity and we immediately stopped performing corvee.
And when God Almighty converted the landlords back to the truth and made them fulfil the decrees of the Polish Government, then the Muscovites fell upon bad times, and despite themselves they had to enlist in our brotherhood with us and the Jews. Look at him, this smart brother. But even so he somehow fooled himself, because, as they say, «Your brother’s house isn’t his either,» and
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our brother, too, would have joined the uprising if he had a poker to grab. As for the Jew, although the saying has it that «When it’s an emergency, go to the Jew,» he does not always receive the penniless, especially those who have soaked up no small amount of Jewish tears and blood.
However, to see the Muscovite slyness more clearly, let us cast a sincere look at what the Muscovites have been doing to us at this moment, unpropitious to them, when having gone to war with the Poles to maintain their dominion, they want to enlist themselves in a brotherhood with us. The Polish Government because of our work is giving us our land in perpetuity, while the Muscovites are writing up and establishing some sort of land tax (czynsz) to which there will never be an end, as it is among the state peasants.
While the Polish Government is giving us true freedom, the Muscovites are chasing people into the Siberian deserts, not by entire villages but by entire communities, completely depriving them of their liberty. While the Polish Government is giving all brotherly peoples selfrule, the Muscovites not only are not doing the same, but in areas inhabited by Poles, Lithuanians, and Byelorussians, they are establishing Muscovite schools and in those schools they teach you in the Muscovite language, you’ll never hear a word in Polish, Lithuanian, or Byelorussian in them as the people want; to these schools they only send Muscovites from the other end of the world, who only know how to steal and rob men and women, and to serve an evil cause for money to the detriment of the people. The savage Muscovites think that once they can strip the people of any belongings, they can also drive into their heads their stupid reason, stupid because Muscovites’ intelligence, while it often intends well, never does anything in a human manner but only deceives the people and cringes before the tsarist whip like the very worst tramp.
It is difficult to relate everything which has been written in blood, so that tears flow when one reads about the lawlessness perpetrated by the Muscovites — which they are still doing until now. Let whoever wants to have a real taste of it live for a while under Muscovite rule, then he will see what kind of «benefits» the peasants had. This is why we say: the Polish cause is our cause, the cause of freedom.
However, much work will be needed to acquire this freedom, for which everyone is waiting — from children to old people — because if for so many years the Muscovites have kept tneir claws sunk into our breast, no wonder people have to suffer a long time to get rid of their «brotherly» care. This is why it will be beneficial if we now discuss the means available to us for that. We shall speak sparingly — everybody knows why — so that the Muscovites should not find out in case they intercept this letter.
For a long time the Poles had been waiting for assistance from abroad. Foreign
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nations shouted much, but until now have done nothing for us. They say there is no need whatsoever for them to go to war in the Polish cause, for us, against the Muscovites. As long ago as two hundred years our forefathers had a better saying — «If you have God and his law in your heart, help your neighbor» — and they went off to defend Christianity against Tatar savagery. Although we are entitled to such help, we do not demand it. Let everybody do as seems best to him. However, it has to be said here that when all the kings underwrote our Muscovite captivity, they greatly neglected their honor, and disgrace not only should, but must be, washed off by everyone in order to have a clear conscience.
This is why, knowing how our cause is understood abroad, we continue to believe that Divine Providence, having lasted for centuries, will not permit truth and justice to perish, and if it will find no method for it in the present order of things, it will cut this knot and turn the might ot the people the way it chooses. We only have to stand strong for our own cause with deep belief, and our government should be sensitive to everything, using anything for the good of the people. Our forces are still great, we can fight with them for God knows how long, but, on the one hand, they must be preserved for that, and on the other continuously replenished.
Thus, if an uprising is staged at the proper moment, it builds up and enlivens the people; if it is not done in good time, it wastes everybody’s forces, weakens the spirit in its simplicity, as well as spawning doubts in our cause, and in Gods might. The Polish Government and its officials know this and, in order for us to serve well before God and our national conscience, they create no artificial upheavals; having understood the national spirit, its needs and will, to raise and organize with intelligence national regiments and by developing tenacity through endless national revolts to resist Muscovite rule over us. It is not a speedy work, neither is it ostentatious, but it is certain and will lead us to a good end. It is a laborious work. In order to succeed it should be as sincere and simple as the heart that beats under peasant garb, as the peasant mind which does not vacillate when action is needed. Then the Polish Government’s words, «the people’s liberty, equality, and freedom,» will enter everybody’s blood, and all of the might of Muscovy shall not overcome us, even if the Inferno itself were to start helping it.
We have enough willing hands even today, but we should not go with bare hands against Muscovite bayonets. The Polish Government and its officials should carefully think about this. Money we shall have, because we realize the need for it and because we have the means to obtain it. But we must have something to take into our hands for our money. The Polish Government will be able to solve that. And, if it runs up against obstacles, it will in time overcome everything with God’s help and by the right which is inscribed in our breasts.
However, do not wait, my People, but go to fight with whatever you can for
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your God, your right, your glory, and your fatherland. Everything is permissible for you: a knife, an axe, or poison. These are your methods because you, like that enserfed peasant without rights, are being denied the right of selfdefense, because you are not allowed anything.
And when foreign nations stare at us in awe and say, ’’They are foolish,» you, my People, great and honest, should answer them truthfully that they are the cause of it and that this will be a heavy sin on their consciences.
Letter Ne 2
Oh, blackbrowed Mary, my dove, Where have your happiness and your bright fate disappeared? Everything is gone as if it had never existed.
Only a horrible bitterness remains in the breast.
If God started punishing us for our truth
And condemned us to perish by the Eternal Garden, We will perish in vain rather than abandon our truth, Rather give up Heaven and happiness than forego the truth.
Don’t complain, Mary, about your misery,
But accept your heavy punishment — the will of the Almighty. Should you remember me, pray sincerely
And I shall respond to you from the world beyond.
Farewell, my peasant people,
Live in happiness, live in freedom, And recall from time to time your Jasko Who perished for the truth that you might prosper.
But when the word turns into action,
Stand up courageously for the truth, For only with the truth in common counsel Will you, my people, live the length of your days in freedom.
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Letter № 3
My brothers, dear peasants!
I have to write to you from beneath the Muscovite gallows and perhaps for the last time. It is sad to leave my native land and you my dear people. Although my breast will sigh and my heart will ache, I don’t regret perishing for your truth.
Accept, my People, in sincerity my last words for it is as if they were written from the world beyond for your own welfare.
There is no greater happiness on this earth, brothers, than if a man has intellect and learning. Only then will he manage to live in counsel and in plenty and only when he has prayed properly to God, will he deserve Heaven, for once he has enriched his intellect with learning, he will develop his affection and sincerely love all his kinfolk.
But just as day and night do not reign together, so also true learning does not go together with Muscovite slavery. As long as this lies over us, we shall have nothing. There will be no truth, no riches, no learning whatsoever. They will only drive us like cattle not to our wellbeing, but to our perdition.
This is why, my People, as soon as you learn that your brothers from near 'Warsaw are fighting for truth and freedom, don’t you stay behind either, but, grabbing whatever you can — a scythe or an axe — go as an entire community to fight for your human and national rights, for your faith, for your native country. For I say to you from beneath the gallows, my People, that only then will you live happily, when no Muscovite remains over you.
Your servant
Jasko, yeoman from near Vilna.
Translated by Thomas E. Bird and Jan Zaprudnik
© Thomas E. Bird
© Jan Zaprudnik
Гэткім фатограф іі рэвалюцыянер Ахілес Джузэпэ Банольдзі (1821—1871) захаваўдля нашчадкаў паставу Кастуся Каліноўскага: мужнага іі непахіснага, як і належыць апошняму ў Пантэоне Пакутнікаў Зямлі Беларускай змагарнага XIX стагодзьдзя.
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