0 sinner. Thou hast not left me comfortless. Lord, strengthen me in the knowledge of my Saviour Jesus Christ, whom I love and honor. How many parts of the Scriptures speak of the necessity of being born again! Raise my desires, purify my affections, sanctify my soul, to go to heaven-think what that is!-to go to my Saviour, who died that I might live! Lord, humble me, subdue every evil temper in me. May we meet in a robe of glory! Through Jesus Christ's merits we alone can be saved. Look down, O Lord, upon thy unworthy servant with eyes of compassion." XXII. DERZHAVIN There are few single poems that are SO widely known among mankind as the hymn, or prayer of Derzhavin, beginning: "O, Thou eternal One! whose presence bright All space doth occupy, all motion guide: Unchanged through time's all devastating flight: Thou only God! There is no God beside!" It was translated into Japanese by the imperial order, and, embroidered with gold, was hung up in the temple of Jeddo. It has been translated into Chinese and inscribed on silk; it found a place in the halls of the royal palace of Pekin. It even has been admired But, as great as has been the favor shown to this poem, the history of its author, outside of Russia, is little known. Gabriel Ramanovich Derzhavin was born at Kasan, on the third of July, 1743. He was early instructed in the private academies, and in the imperial gymnasium. At the age of seventeen he was enrolled in in the the engineer military service, and won soon after, his first reputation with his pen, by a fine description of the Bulgarain ruins on the banks of the Volga. He was advanced rapidly in his military career; and, in 1784, his conspicuous talents and virtues led to his appointment as Chancellor of State. In 1791, he was advanced to the office of Secretary of State, by Catherine II.; in 1793 he was called to the Senate; and the next year he was made President of the College of Commerce. His brilliant career of statesmanship extended over a period of nearly twenty years. But, amid the glory of virtuous success, the cares of State, and the pomps and splendors of the Court, his character and tastes as a contemplative poet grew and ripened; and it so predominated, in the end, that he retired from his official career, and began to mould into poetic form the noble thoughts of a life-time. A few years after his retirement, in 1808, his poems were printed in four volumes, and began their mission in the world. Three of these poems-" God," "On the death of Meshchersky," and "The Waterfall," each translated by Bowring, are known to English scholars. "The Waterfall" is a heroic poem of wonderful force and grandeur of thought; portraying the pomps and vanities of ambitious achievements in the halls of State and on the field of battle. The following lines from "The Waterfall " will show the cast of thought in the poem: “O, glory! glory! mighty one of earth; How justly imaged in this waterfall! Dashing thy torrents down and dazzling all; Sublimely breaking from thy glorious height, Majestic, thundering, beautiful and bright. “How many a wandering eye is turned to thee, In admiration lost-short-sighted men! Thy furious wave gives no fertility : Thy waters, hurrying fiercely through the plain, Bring nought but devastation and distress, And leave the flowery vale a wilderness. "O, fairer, lovelier is the modest rill, Watering with steps serene the field, the grove — Its gentle voice as sweet and soft and still, As shepherd's pipe, or song of youthful love. It has no thundering torrent, but it flows Unwearied, scattering blessings as it goes." His ode on Meshchersky closes with the following stanza: |