Historical View of the Languages and Literature of the Slavic Nations Part 26

their gentle "nourisher," their "stilly Don Ivanovitch." [34]

From the Zaporoguean Kozaks, meanwhile, had issued the population of the Ukraine. Their first establishment consisted of a strict republic of warriors; no female was admitted into their strongholds on the islands of the Dnieper. By degrees they relaxed; and began with keeping their families in villages in the vicinity, where they spread with incredible rapidity. Then a line of separation was drawn between the inhabitants of the settlements, and the Zaporogueans in the castles; none of these latter were allowed to marry. Thus their youth were always ready for the enemy; and the distinction was only dropped in more peaceful times. They kept themselves independent of Russia until the latter part of the seventeenth century; but their more dangerous enemies had long been the Poles, their north-western neighbours. It was the period of Poland's glory. The Poles were conquerors in the North and in the East. At last the Kozaks, after a century of struggles, acknowledged the authority of the Polish sovereign Stephan Bathori (ob. 1586); moved partly, it is said in their traditions, by the personal grandeur of that chevaleresque monarch. But now the Polish n.o.bility overspread the Ukraine. They became land-owners and oppressors; and their stewards, their still more detested a.s.sistants. They were followed by the Jesuits; who alternately by persuasion and compulsion attempted to entice the natives, who all belonged to the Greek church, to come under the dominion of the Pope. A war of religious persecution and resistance arose. The Kozaks ultimately revolted in 1648; and a few years after (in 1654) their Hetman Chmielnitzky submitted himself and the whole Ukraine to Tzar Alexei, the father of Peter I.

The struggles of this insurrection, their previous feuds with the Poles their oppressors, and afterwards their repeated revolts from the Russians, who tried to undermine their liberties, have given birth to a great number of simple ballads, the bold spirit of which presents a n.o.ble relief to the habitual melancholy of Malo-Russian poetry in general. They have professional singers, who are called _Bandurists_; and who, with a kind of simple guitar in their hand, ramble through the country, sure to find a willing audience in whatever village they may stop. Their ballads are of course not confined to the scenes of the earlier centuries; the more recent wars with the Turks and Tartars also, and the campaigns made in modern times in the service of Russia, present subjects enough of interest; for their productiveness is still alive, although the race of the professional bards is growing more and more scarce. They call their historical ballads _Dumi_, or _Dumki_, an appellation for historical elegies, which has recently been adopted by Polish literati.[35]

We give here a few characteristic specimens of their poetry; serving to ill.u.s.trate their warlike spirit, as well as their domestic relations; their skill in narrative ballads, as well as their power of expressing in lyric strains the unsophisticated feelings of a tender heart. We begin with two genuine Kozak elegies.

ON THE MURDER OF YESSAUL TSHURA.[36]

O eagle, young gray eagle, Tshura, thou youth so brave, In thine own land, the Pole, The Pole dug thee thy grave!

The Pole dug thee thy grave, For thee and thy Hetman; They killed the two young heroes, Stephen, the valiant Pan.

O eagle, young gray eagle, Thy brethren are eagles too; The old ones and the young ones, Their custom well they knew!

The old ones and the young ones They are all brave like thee, An oath they all did take Avenged shalt thou be!

The old ones and the young ones, In council grave they meet; They sit on coal black steeds, On steeds so brave and fleet.

On steeds so brave and fleet They are flying, eagle like; In Polish towns and castles Like lightning they will strike.

Of steel they carry lances, Lances so sharp and strong; With points as sharp as needles, With hooks so sharp and long.

Of steel they carry sabres, Two edged, blunted never; To bring the Pole perdition For ever and for ever!

LAMENT FOR YESSAUL PUSHKAR.

There flows a little river, And Worskla is its name; And of the little river Know old and young the fame.

And on the little river, They know good songs to sing; And on the little river, They like good thoughts to think.

O thoughts, ye manly thoughts, Ye call up sorrow and woe; O thoughts, ye manly thoughts, From you strong deeds can grow!

Where are you, brave Kozaks?

Where are you, valiant lords?

Your bones are in the grave, In the deep moor your swords!

Where art thou, O Pushkar?

Where art thou, valiant knight?

Ukraina weeps for thee, And for her fate so bright.

His bones are in the grave, Himself with G.o.d is now; O weep, O weep, Ukraina, An orphan left art thou.

Ukraina, thy bright fate Destroy'd Wihowski's spell;[37]

He with the heart of stone, And with the mind of h.e.l.l!

The following melancholy song expresses the general hatred against the Pole, the oppressor, in a manner not less strong. _Haidamack_ is another name for the Ruthenian peasant under Polish dominion, and was formerly, as well as _Burlak_, also applied to the Malo-Russian Kozaks in general.

SONG OF THE HAIDAMACK.[38]

Gladly would I to the war, To the war so full of prey, Pleasure of the Haidamack!

But the steward bids me stay, Lest the proud Pole's cows should stray!

Gladly to the merry dance Would I on the gusli play, Pleasure of the rosy maid!

But the steward bids me stay, Lest the proud Pole's sheep should stray!

Gladly I would hunting go, With the bobtailed dog so fleet, Pleasure of a good brave youth!

But the steward bids me stay, Lest the proud Pole's steeds should stray!

O farewell, thou rosy maid, Rattle gently, rusty sabre!

Quick on horseback, Haidamack!

Stray may steeds, sheep, cows and all; Perish may the haughty Pole!

We finish with a few Ruthenian ballads, having no political reference.

The first is interesting as ill.u.s.trating a peculiar popular superst.i.tion. The Leshes are a kind of Satyrs; covered like them with hair, and of a very malicious nature. They steal children and young women. Their presence has a certain benumbing influence; a person whom they visit cannot move or stir; although, in the case of our ballad, we have some suspicion that "the brandy, the wine, and the mead," had some preparatory influence.

The second exhibits the whole plaintive, yielding mood of a Russian loving maid; and may be considered as a _characteristic_ specimen.

SIR SAVA AND THE LESHES.[39]

With the Lord at Nemirov Sir Sava dined so gladly; Nor thought he that his life Would end so soon and sadly.

Sir Sava he rode home To his own court with speed; And plenty of good oats He bids to give his steed.

Sir Sava behind his table To write with care begun; His young wife she is rocking In the cradle her infant son.

'Holla! my lad, brisk butler, Bring now the brandy to me; My well-beloved lady, This gla.s.s I drink to thee.

'Holla! my lad, brisk butler, Now bring me the clear wine; This gla.s.s and this, I drink it To this dear son of mine.

'Holla! my lad, brisk butler, Now bring me the mead so fast; My head aches sore; I fear I've rode and drunk my last!'

Who knocks, who storms so fiercely?

Sir Sava looks up to know; The Leshes stand before him, And quick accost him so:

'We bow to thee, Sir Sava, How far'st thou, tell us now!

To thy guests from the Ukraina, What welcome biddest thou?'

'What could I bid you, brethren, To-day in welcome's stead?

Well know I, ye are come To take my poor sick head!'

'And tell us first, Sir Sava, Where are thy daughters fair?'

'They are stolen by the Leshes, And wash their linen there.'

'Now to the fight be ready!

Sir Sava meet thy lot!

Thy head is lost! one moment, Death meets thee on the spot.'