New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


gIsToRICALvIEw or THE LANGUAGES AND LIT
ERATURE OF THE SLAVIC NATlOnSi by TALH'
With Preface, ~ Edward Robinson, D;D' LL"D'
New.Yo orb George P. Putnam l2mo Pr. az
The merit Of work like the present which
.,,;hes mt a comparatively new path Of literary
re,earch will be more fully appreciated in pro-
norton as the subject is made familiar BY
osyefnl examination of the labors o! the author
No previous work 10 the English language has
treated this branch of literary history at such
length. nor with such profound Interrogation
of the original sources. The writer, who, under
the signature Of Talvi, has long enjoyed Eu-
ropean reputation, by her German translations
of the popular songs and ballads OF Servia, is pecu-
Iarly qualified for the task which she has perform
ed with such eminent success, by her intimate &C
ouaintance with the dialects OF the people whose
cnrious literature she describes by personal resi-
dence of several years in different provinces OF
Rns.;s and by the singular mastery which she
no. obtained over the resources Of our own Ian
euage. Her English style betrays no marks Of
foreign origin, and is indeed remarkable for its
precision, gracefulness, aud idiomatic force.
The work commences with brief sketch Of the
early history Of the Slavic nations explaining their
principal divisions and localities, and presenting
general view of the structure and genius Of their
languages The portion which treats of this last
topic is rich in pathological and critical results, which
cannot fail to interest the reader who delights in
what may be called the comp arative anatomy of
languages
A discussion then follows Of the old or church
Slavic Slavonic) literature, which is succeeded by
a copous description of the literature of Russia, Of
the Servians OF the Greek and Romish Church, Of
the Croaiians, Bugarians, Bohemians Poles, and
various tribes of less historical Importance. This
although presented by the author with too great
modesty, as an imperfect outline, to supply an ap-
propriate place until it shall be suppanted by
something more complete, gives view of the pro
ere.s and present state Of the Slavic literature
which will be found far more satisfactory than any
thing ON the subject which is now accessible TO
the general reader.
The Popular Poetry OF the Sclayic nations forms
the subject Of a distinct portion OF the volume and
is discussed with catholic love OF beauty and
sound critical taste, that make it singularly
charming specimen Of aesthetic disqusition. Fol
lowing the steps Of the genial Herder in his Lays
of the People the author has collected beautiful
anthology Of the living flowers which still flourish
in their native luxuriance among these genuine
sons of song No people are more remarkable for
the univ ersal prevalence Of musical ear and taste
than the Slavic nations. d" Where Slavic woman
is" says Schafaick, 'there is also song. House and
ward, mountain and valley, meadow and forest,
garden and vineyard, she fills them all with the
sounds of her voice. Often, after wearisOme day
spent in heat and sweat, hunger and thirst she
anmates, on her way home, the silence of the even
ing twilight with her melodious songs. Without
encountering contradiction, we may say, that
among no other nation Of Europe does natural poe
try exist to such an extent, and in such purity,
beartiness, and warmth Of feeling, as among the
Slavic" But this poetry is to be taken with some
grains of allowance
"Tbe reader must divest himself as much as
possible of his personal and national feelings,
views and prejudices, and to suher hlmself
TO be transported into a world foreign 70 his
habitual course Of ideas. Human feelings, it
is true, are the same everywhere; but We
have more Of the artificial and Fictitious in US
than we are aware of. And in many cases we
hold that it is not the worst part OF US for we
Tar from belonging To the class OF advocates OF mere
nature. The reader, Tor instance, must not expect
TO find in all the immense treasure OF Slavic love
songs, adapted 10 variety OF situations, single
trace OF romance that beautiful blossom Of Chris
tanity among the Teulonic races. The love ex.
pressed in the Slavic songs is the natural heartfelt
Overpowerng sensation OF the human breast, in all
its different shades OF tender affection and glow
ing sensaalty never elevating but always natural
always unsophisticated and much deeper, much
Purer in the female heart, than in that Of In
their heroic songs, also the reader must not ex-
pect 10 meet with the chivalry OF the more western
nations. Weak vestiges OF this kind OF exaitaton
with few exceptions, are % be found among those
Slavic nations only, who, By frequent Intercourse
with other races adopted N part their feelings The
gigantic heroism OF the Slave Wowodes and Boy
is not the bravery 0! honor it is the valor Of
manly strength the valOr OF the heroes OF Homer
The Seryien hero, Mako kralyewitoh was re-
gsrded by Goethe as the personlhcation OF 66so-
tste herolsm bat even Mako does not think II be-
meath him 10 fee, when he meets one stronger than
himself. These are the di 'tates OF nature, which
only artificial point of honor can overcome:
But, ior the foil eDjoy ment OF Slavic popular po
etry We must exact still more from the reader
be must lot only divest himself Of bis habltua
ideas and views bat he must adopt foreign views
and prelodces, IN order to understand motives and
actions Tor the Oriental races are far from being
more IN q state Of pure nature than themselves
tie VIII nave 10 transport himself into a foreign
chime, ~nere the l. sst aud the West the North
and Tue south bend IN wonderful amslgamation.
The suppleness OF Asia and the energy OF urope,
the passive istansm OF the Turk and the active re-
iigion oil me Nnrhuan the revengefa spirit Of the
oppressed, and me chld-ike resignation of him
who cbeeriully subnlits,-ai these seeming contra
dic;ions find expressive organ in Slavic nonnlar
poetry. Even in respect to bis moral ceilings the
reader will frequently have 70 adopt a different
standard Of right and wrong. Actions. which a
bootcb ballad sometimes shields ty seductive