Track Forefathers part. III ends with the so-calledwith a paragraph", in which the poet included his reflections on the despotic tsarist rule. This part of the work is not connected with drama either in terms of plot or form - it is epic in nature.
In the passage entitled "The Road to Russia", he states that the Russian people are equally oppressed by their ruler. For now, these simple, poor people do not yet know what freedom is, but the day will come when they will rise up against their rulers and oppressors.
The poet also speaks with fierce hatred about the tsarist tyranny in the fragment of "Suburbs of the capital", stating that the beautiful buildings of the tsarist state were erected thanks to the slave labor of the conquered nations, i.e. "with the blood of Lithuania, tears of Ukraine and gold of Poland". A similar belief is presented in the fragment "Petersburg", where the poet describes how this "Paris of the North" was created.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian peasants worked on the construction of this city on the tsar's orders, thousands died. The poet predicts, however, that one day the tyrant state will come to an end. He talks about it in the poem "Ustawa" entitled "Monument to Peter the Great".
It was supposed to be carved in imitation of the statue of Marcus Aurelius, but that Roman commander and emperor was worshiped by his people and considered a father, so his horse walks "evenly" so that people can get closer to the ruler. On the other hand, Peter the Great's horse is depicted in a mad rush, so it tramples everything on its way, regardless of anything. At the end of the poem, the poet asks:
“But when the sun of freedom will shine
And the west wind will warm these countries,
And what will become of the cascade of tyranny."
The "Army Review" deserves special attention. The military power of the tsar's state, the ruler's despotism, and the generals' strenuous efforts to win the tsar's favor are shown here. It is shocking to see the square after the inspection of the army, where twenty corpses of soldiers remained. Some were trampled by the horses' hooves, others froze, others were hit on the head with the butt when they lost their step on the march. Terrifying in its cruelty is the image of a wounded man with torn entrails, forbidden to scream lest the tsar pay attention to this unpleasant sight, and a soldier accustomed to follow orders blindly, pursed his lips in pain and fell silent.
With a crushed arm, cursing the tsar, a young Lithuanian remained in the square, to whom the commander deliberately gave a boisterous horse, saying: "Let Lach sobaka twist his neck." The day after the parade, another corpse was found - an officer's servant, who had remained there, waiting for the order of the master who had forgotten about him. The poem ends with a general, regretful reflection of the poet:
“Oh poor boy! heroism, such death,
It is a dog's merit, a man's sin (...)
Oh poor boy! why is my tear flowing,
And my heart beats thinking of your deed.
Ah, I pity you, poor Slav!
Poor nation! I'm sorry for your fate
You know only one heroism - captivity.
/Paul
