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The Sufferings and Renaissance of Belgium.
A contemporary allegory
Skobelev Committee Military-Cinematic Dpt.

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Director: Vladislav Starevich
Text: Boris Martov

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A dear girl, a tiny girl, ran into a
wood gathering flowers and mushrooms...

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And she found a pale, tragic
dying flower.

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The mite's dignified old grandpa studied
the mysteries of life and the sciences.

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And he waited for his beloved granddaughter
to return from her walk in the woods,
with a mischievous smile, as always.

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"Tell me about the Lily", she asks nicely.
Her eyes burning with attention.

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The old man smiled and, sighing sadly,
began telling the story of the Lily of Belgium.

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Beautiful, stately, the pure Lily
Flowered above the limpid stream.

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A shady creek protected her...
The sun cossetted her in its rays.

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By day there flew around the Lily
Armies of honey-bees and bumble-bees,

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A variegated butterfly fluttered by,
Swarms of dragonflies began to dance.

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In the evening, from the sedgy bank,
Her croaking friends floated to her

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With a little grasshopper, tenderly,
They sang her sweet hymns of spring.

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Ah! But the stately Lily knew not
That among the marsh and rotten roots

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Lived beetles, evil servants of violence,
Malignantly hiding from the bright rays.

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Their leader, a bearded beetle,
Often summoned them to a secret council

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And told them that their sure defence
Was the fist, symbol of eternal victory.

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Our lands are too small for our forces,
We must wage war on our neighbours

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And make them serve us, the beetles!
Go boldly forth!.. Follow me to victory!..

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So the black army moved against
their neighbour.

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The bright Lily stood in their path.
"Away, Lily! Our destiny is victory!

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Let us through to the enemy's realm!"
The free Lily flared up in anger:

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"Foul specter, I will not obey you!"
"Death to her!" said the violent leader.

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He put everything to fire and the sword!

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The white Lily fell in sacrifice,
And the fire of war flowed.

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The furious beetles broke through.
The holy places of the land perished.

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In its anger, nature, to save the holy places,
Sends cold waves against the foes.

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Making a desert of the Lily's country,
It prepares destruction for the beetles.

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"Grandad, what happened to poor Lily?
Will she never flower again?"

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"No, my dear, the power of victory
Will resurrect joy on her Calvary."

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"Know that faithful beauty will conquer,
The Lily is broken, but the root lives.

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Time will pass and once more, undecaying,
The bright Lily will flower again!"

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Her wondrous raiment will shine again,
Hymns will resound to youthful spring,

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And the blessed forces of heaven
Will heal her holy wounds!"

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THE END
(subtitles - ? and Niffiwan)