The Eighteenth Century by Alexander Radishchev. Short summary

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The urn of time pours out the drops that gather into streams. On the far shore, the waves of eternity spill out into a sea that has no limit and no shore. Into it flow the centuries, whose trace here disappears.

1 minute

The urn of time pours out its drops that gather into streams. On the far shore, the waves of eternity spill out into a sea that has no limit and no shore. Into it flow the centuries, the trace of which fades here.

There flowed our century, famous for its bloody stream. The ship of hope was crushed and at the very wharf was swallowed by the whirlpool. Happiness and virtue were caught in a fierce pool.

Now the century will be forever cursed. Drenched in blood it will descend into the coffin. But in spite of everything, two statues rose among the bloody streams. They were Catherine and Peter. Thanks to them the centuries-old ice of delusion melted away. Truth, liberty, and light were given to the joyful sweepers.

New nations and lands emerged from the ocean. The author urges the Russian eagle to fly to the sun and bring light to the earth. Peace, truthful judgment, truth, and liberty emanate from the throne erected by Peter and Catherine to make the Russian people happy.