Chapter I: Front Matter

РОССІЙСКАЯ АНТОЛОГІЯ.

SPECIMENS

OF

_THE RUSSIAN POETS_:

TRANSLATED BY

JOHN BOWRING, F.L.S.

_Вамъ, вамъ плетутъ Хариты Безамертные вѣнцы! Я вами здѣсь вкушаю Восторги Піеридъ, И въ радости взываю: О Музы! я Піитъ!_ БАТЮШКОВЪ

WITH PRELIMINARY REMARKS AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

SECOND EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS.

London: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR: SOLD BY R. HUNTER, ST. PAUL’S CHURCHYARD; AND A. CONSTABLE AND CO., EDINBURGH.

1821.

PRINTED BY R. AND A. TAYLOR,

SHOE-LANE, LONDON.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO

THE SECOND EDITION.

The first edition of this work was published without any strong expectations that it would excite attention. It has been received with singular indulgence, nay with flattering encouragement, and I trust it will be followed, at no distant period, by Specimens of the Poetry of other nations, which is as yet a stranger to our literature and language.

The objects of this publication have been in a great degree answered. Many of the Poets of Russia, whom I have ventured to introduce to my countrymen, have met with a cordial welcome, and their claims have been cheerfully admitted by the mighty arbiters of fame. For myself I own, that my hopes of the future progress of that vast empire in civilization and virtue and liberty have been greatly flattered, greatly increased by the observations which this little volume has served to elicit.

It must not, however, be forgotten, that this is a representation of nothing but the unformed and infant poetical literature of Russia. That literature had its birth but yesterday, and certainly its present strength and beauty give fair hope for to-morrow. In it are elements of improvement, and buds and blossoms of future expectation. They are scattered over “half a world,” and in due time will ripen, to encourage, to console, and to stimulate myriads and millions. It will then be an interesting task, to compare the maturer charms of Sclavonic song, with these its earliest gems.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION vii

Derzhavin 1

Batiushkov 45

Lomonosov 65

Zhukovsky 71

Karamsin 103

Dmitriev 117

Krĭlov 129

Khemnitzer 135

Bobrov 145

Bogdanovich 163

Davĭdov 175

Kostrov 179

Neledinsky Meletzky 183

National Songs 192

Biographical and Critical Notices 203