How can I, in silence pining,
Cruel fair one, mar thy peace?






N O T E.


Of the following translation of Derjavin's Ode to God, universally
esteemed as one of the sublimest effusions of the Russian Muse, I beg
leave to say that my aim has been to render it into English as literally
as the genius of our language would admit, without adding or suppressing a
single thought, or amplifying a single expression, to accomplish which
metrically would of course be impossible.

If I have succeeded, my readers will be better able to judge whether this
Ode, after having been translated into the Japanese language, merited the
great honour of being suspended, embroidered with gold, in the temple of
Jeddo, than they can be by a perusal of the highly poetic effort of Dr.
Bowring. For, whilst he has adhered to the structure of versification
adopted in the original, and in some parts has given its sense with
remarkable accuracy, in others he has been less fortunate; and in
venturing to change the Trinitarian faith of Derjavin to suit his own
notions of the unity of the Supreme Being, he has taken a liberty with his
author which cannot but be deemed unwarrantable.

THE TRANSLATOR.