JB/110/064/001

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to be inserted after – "A blank oblivion"

A1

Goethe has given a translation of one of the Russian Sclavonian ballads
from the Morlachian dialect, equally remarkable for the liveliness
of its pictures, – the simplicity of its style – & the correct display of
natural & appropriate passions: It is called Asan Aga's wife's Lament of Agan Asa's wife. It begins in this fanciful matter manner† See (note) at

Who
What's so white upon you verdant forest?
Is it snow, or is it swans assembled?
Were it snow it surely had been melted;
Were it swans long since they had departed;
No! it is not swans, it is not snow there
Tis the tent of But It is the tent of Aga Asan Aga.
He is lying there severely wounded.

His mother & his sister comes to his assistance. His wife lingers on
of this alar fearful anxiety. Asan, when the acuteness of his suffering is
diminished declares he will no longer dwell among his kindred. That
the hastens home "full of bitter sorrow," and hearing the stamp of horse's feet
supposes that Asan is returning returning & springs to the door of the tower
which she forces open in order to welcome her husband. Two of her daughters
follow her in tears, and tell her that the sound is not of their father's horses, but
of those of their uncle Pīntŏrōwĭch.

Then approached the wife of Asan Aga
Threw her arms in misery around her brother
'Tis the sorrow, brother! of thy sister
So forlorn – a mother of five children."

He makes no reply, – but draws from his pocket a written document which
is folded in a covering of scarlet silk, – & tells her that it is a decree of divorce
& that she must sel accompany himself forthwith to the dwelling of her
ancestors –

"Free to win & free to wed another.
When she saw the letter of divorcement
Kisses on her young boy's forehead – Kisses
On her girl's fair cheeks she pressed – the nursling –
For there was a nursling in the cradle

(Note)
† The metre measure is preserved in this, as in most of the following
translations. The original runs thus:
Shta se bjeli u gori zelenoi?
Il je snieg, il su labudovi?
Da je snieg vech bi okopnio
Labudovi vech bi odletili.
Nit je snieg, nit su labodovi,
Nego sbator Age Asan age.

Identifier: | JB/110/064/001"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 110.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	110	Main Headings
Folio number	064	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	collectanea	Number of Pages	2
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[partial motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	36054
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