RHYMES FROM THE RUSSIAN

BEING FAITHFUL TRANSLATIONS OF SELECTIONS FROM THE BEST RUSSIAN POETS PUSHKIN, LERMONTOF, NADSON, NEKRASOF, COUNT A. TOLSTOI, TYOUTCHEF, MAIKOF, LEBEDEF, FET, K. R., Etc.

BY JOHN POLLEN, LL.D., T.C.D. INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE

LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., Ltᴰ. 1891

[Pg iv]

[Pg v]

(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.)

TO THE MARQUESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA, TO WHOSE EXAMPLE AND KIND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT THE AUTHOR TRACES THE SOURCE OF HIS RUSSIAN STUDIES, THIS LITTLE EFFORT IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED.

[Pg vii]

[Pg vi]

PREFACE.

The chief merit the Translator claims for this little effort is “faithfulness of translation.” He has endeavoured to translate every word and every thought of the Russian writer, and to avoid additions.

Most of the poems selected for translation are popular, not only amongst the higher classes of Russian society, but also with the Russian soldiery and peasantry, who are very fond of poetry, and amongst whom education has spread, and continues to spread, with marvellous rapidity.

The Translator trusts that this little volume may not only prove interesting to ordinary English readers wishing to get a general idea of Russian poetry, but may also be found of some service to Englishmen studying Russian, and Russians studying English.

J. POLLEN. Sebastopol, March 21, 1891.

[Pg viii]

[Pg ix]

CONTENTS.

[Pg 1]

FROM THE RUSSIAN OFVLADIMIR VLADISLAVLEF.

[Pg 3]

FROM LERMONTOF.

THE ANGEL.

[Pg 5]

THE VOYAGE.

[Pg 6]

PRAYER.

[Pg 7]

THANKSGIVING.

[Pg 8]

ON DEATH OF PUSHKIN.

[Pg 9]

DREAM.[1]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] This poem partakes of a prophecy. Lermontof was himself killed in a duel on the slopes of the Caucasus.

[Pg 11]

CLOUDS.(AN EXPERIMENT IN RUSSIAN DACTYLS.)

FOOTNOTES:

[2] Lermontof was banished from St. Petersburg to the Caucasus.

[Pg 12]

PRAYER.(AN EXPERIMENT IN RUSSIAN DACTYLS.)

[Pg 14]

HOW WEARY! HOW DREARY!

[Pg 15]

⁂

FOOTNOTES:

[3] Lit., “oak.”

[Pg 17]

⁂

[Pg 18]

BALLAD.THE QUEEN OF THE SEA.

[Pg 21]

THE PROPHET.

[Pg 23]

WHEN—THEN.

[Pg 24]

MY NATIVE LAND.

[Pg 26]

TO ——.

[Pg 27]

THE DAGGER.

[Pg 29]

⁂

[Pg 30]

DISPUTE.[4]

FOOTNOTES:

[4] This piece is famous for the description it contains of Russia’s progress eastward.

[5] Two mountains in the Caucasian range subdued by Russia with the rest of the Caucasus.

[Pg 35]

“WHY.”

[Pg 36]

MOSCOW.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Napoleon.

[Pg 37]

FROM PUSHKIN.

⁂

[Pg 39]

ANACREONTIC.

[Pg 40]

(TO HIS WIFE.)

[Pg 41]

⁂

[Pg 43]

⁂

[Pg 44]

PETER THE GREAT.

[Pg 45]

THE PROPHET.

[Pg 47]

⁂

[Pg 48]

A MONUMENT.[7]

FOOTNOTES:

[7] Like our Shakespeare, Pushkin knew his own merits.

[Pg 49]

THE POET.

[Pg 51]

FROM NADSON.

⁂

[Pg 52]

FROM NEKRASOF.

TE DEUM.

[Pg 54]

THE PROPHET.

[Pg 55]

⁂

[Pg 56]

DREAM.

[Pg 57]

A SICK MAN’S JEALOUSY.

[Pg 59]

THE LANDLORD OF OLD TIMES.

(Loquitur.)

Before the Emancipation of the Serfs.

After the Emancipation of the Serfs.

[Pg 61]

THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER.

[Pg 62]

FROM MAIKOF.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.

[Pg 64]

WHO WAS HE?A STORY OF PETER THE GREAT.

[Pg 66]

THE EASTER KISS.[8]

FOOTNOTES:

[8] It is the custom in Russia for all friends meeting on Easter morning (known as “Sun-bright Feast-day”) to exchange kisses three times in the name of the Trinity.

[Pg 67]

ON LOMONOSSOEF.[9]

FOOTNOTES:

[9] Lomonossoef—the first great Russian scholar—was the son of an Archangel fisherman.

[10] Ancient name of Russia.

[Pg 68]

PROPRIETY.

[Pg 69]

THE SINGER.

[Pg 70]

A LITTLE PICTURE. AFTER THE PROCLAMATION OF THE 19TH FEB., 1861, FREEING THE SERFS.

[Pg 73]

THE ALPINE GLACIER.

[Pg 74]

THE MOTHER.

[Pg 77]

THE KISS REFUSED.

[Pg 78]

THE SNOWDROP.

[Pg 79]

⁂

[Pg 80]

FROM COUNT TOLSTOI.

BELIEVE IT NOT.

[Pg 81]

THE SCOLDING.

[Pg 82]