Dedication
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.
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.