New-York tribune., 1874-12-03
BOSTON LITERARY NOTES.


THE PRESENT CENTURY-TnE PATEFNAL RULE
OF TIE CZAR NICHOLAS" DEACONs"-" THE
UNLOvELY DEACON" THE YOUNG MOOSE
HUNTERS"
lFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
| BoSToN, Dec. ii. r. OsgOod a. Co. are
about publish The Circassan Boy translated from
| the Russian OF Miclail Lermontof into German, ny
Friedrich Bodenstedt, and rendered into Ensish, rom
this German version of Bodenstedts by s. s. Conant.
This poem particularly worthy OF attention IN view OF
the fact that know little about Russian literature
or Russian novelsts the only know thoroughly
| Turgen!eG. and Of Russian poetry We know next to
| nothing. Mr.. Conant tells us that Lcrmontoh. the
author The Crcassian Boy "holds the second place
in the triad of ustrous poets whose genius illuminated
the literature of Russia the first half OF the present
century" Puschkin. Lermonton and Kolzof were the
three Poets to be born 10 trouble III Russia and
each Of this lus.rous trio led bref and most unhappy
fe Puschkin incurred the anger OF the Cur, and was
banshed TO the Caucasus. On Ills recall he was ap-
pointed Court Chamberlain Tho poet refused, at first
this Guest stOnable honor but he was given to under
stand that he must either accept to the Caucasus
| again. There have been men who would have chosen
death exile rather than diShOnOr bui Poet PuscbAlh
was not quite brave enough for this He became Cham
berlan; aud then sought to drown his sclfeontempt
in dissipation. He surrounded himself with dissolute
companions; and them they had free access 10 ms
house. naturally enough became jealous OF his wife,
a beautiful and refined woman who had shared hs eX-
lie, and whom lie devotedy loved His suspicious were
ipfamed by ANONYMOUS letters and he fought duel
| with Danthes the man whom, rightly Tor wrongly, ne
believed to be the preferred lover Ddnthes had the
first fire. aud the poet fell morally wounded Raising
himself his he fired il his turn and hit his an
tagonis in the shoulder. DInthes fell to the ground
and Pusciin thought he had killed him H. cried out
bitterly, II thought the death OF that man would have
| pleased me morer But DInthes recovered while
PuschIdn died, after lingering agony Car Nicholas
| Gu fiuiu tlntp
papers might contain some satire or invecve upon
himself, Nicholas demanded them all in exchange for
the payment his debts and pension for his wife and
children. Even his grave the Cars hatred pursued
him. He denied public burial, and his body WAS
inferred at dead OF night, and with scant ceremony
Puchkn was only 81 years old the time OF his death
Michan LermontoG, the second OF the three poets,
composed ode the death Of Pdscbhin OF whom ne
was an admircr, certain passages in which gave Sucn
| ofense at court that he Immediately banshed TO
the Caucasus He spent the best years OF his life IN that
wild and magnificent country, and Its grandeur In
spired the nobest flights of his genius His life was
still shorter than that fPuschkn since Lermontoh fell
IN duel at the age 80 Mono OF the trio were long
lived, and Kolzof, the third of them. died at 3d.
Lermontof has been called the Byron Of Russia. His
poems Byronc spirit in them but unlike By
ron he cared nothing for fame and was with difficulty
persuaded to publish anything which lie wrote. He
composed rapidly and scorned TO trouble himself with
the task Of revision But in what he did there
and fire and freedom. The CTcassial Boy " Is 10y
many critics considered his best poem Coming to ns
with the undniaDe disadvantage Of being twice trans
lated it Is s poem winch is saying great deal for
it. Will not undertake to tell the story, but will give
you brief passage specimen Of the spiflt vi The
pg.t and the manner OF the translator
BY narrow pathway, the shore.
Light came the Georgian maid. sac bOro
Sometimes she sipprt. in careless tread
On the smooth. glossy stones and free
ot.r lprl an "A IN cirl liSu uArl.t
GJcking her own unsteady fcet.
Her vail, blown back, exposed her sweet
FAIR face. G'Cr which the sun had thrown
A golden tiut ~ mark his own.
Her lip and cRcek we're lit with fire,
Her breast tho spring Of sweet deslre
with mysteries of the maiden so1.
,Iy thouc!ts one instaut tercclJ glowing.
soon wandered toward dream-lIke goat;
S.trcc heard he pitcher ar it drank
IT, III OF that clear. rushing stream;
mn. waking from my misty dream,
saw her m the distance. gong
Even She came, with sep 80 free,
idrcr none may ever see!
Two little hu,s stood just in view.
That seemed - from me r0cl they grew;
From one light wreaths Of smoke arose.
Open an instant und then cO,c!
Th0u caust lot understand the
Ihat gudw my be;It into the core.
Aud couldst thou, would pity thee.
wake that rciuemDrancc peYcrIuUr0,
Lei il DO buTiGa deep VIII me-
Uithad never entoFed the mind Of tho Rev. W. H. II.
Murray % tell unpleasant truths about deacons,
IN bt he would been, to-day tho adGrcd pastor
OF Park street Church. But shepherd must shut his
ewes 20 the s,aa 6looS7 vi his hock. Shall he be the
- ~ cam, tboir ,J.ek rnarks and notice the spots
,.,oo.,, GO, -. not 20 urh,,o a. q o,,b, 90
"oe'e uer' i"o""t'' "''' - NV ~ "'o "7 ~ '"t"' '"
be 90 TO- io cal ensnies teil tho truth about us
T.. aa,, frtAnd. for II not 10 bc friendly, Rnl
VIM A' Wv -, -, ,,,. -.
M. huuS oponod u" "ou'h ahu SpaAe' In lecture
he todd tho t-ath; and nov Henry l.. shepard & Co.
have pstatoi ut - book. end all the "DcacOns
SEQ themsves thero largo ~ life. Here is the IN