Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/13

 given in the present book of translations. These were most of them written in 1858. They are very popular in Bohemia. In fact a large number of them have been set to music and are now the volkslieder of the people. The student of Heine will observe that several of the ideas in these Bohemian poems have been adapted from the Jewish writer. For example, one of Halek’s lyrics beginning:—

is a very close copy of Heine’s

A wild poem by Heine, beginning, Ich kam von meiner Herrin Haus, in which the dead are supposed to rise from their graves and recount to one another what brought them there is also twice imitated by Halek in his idyllic poems. Once in a scene in a poem called Alfred (1858) and again most elaborately in a poetical historical retrospect, Dedicove bile hory (1869).

This brings me to mention his volume of Idyllic poems written at different times between 1858 and 1871, some of which I judge to be the most perfect of his works. In the latest of these idylls Devce z Tater [A maiden of the Carpathians] the splendour of the language and melody of the verse outshine that of any modern poet, Leopardi not excepted. The story is simple and interesting, the sentiment healthy, and the characters life-like; could it be adequately translated English critics would, I think, admit it to be one of the most perfect idylls in any language. Krasna Lejla and Mejrima and Husejn, Turkish stories in verse (1859), and Alfred (a Czech romance) are also readable and highly poetical. Goar and Cerny prapor [The black flag] are the names of two others.

A volume of prose stories written between 1857 and 1859 is of less interest. The stories are diffuse, full of criticisms about art and Wagner’s music, the plot is slight and the characters commonplace. Two volumes of prose stories written at a much later period, a story called In the cottage and on the estate, and a volume or two of criticism comprise the rest of Halek’s works.

One of these volumes of stories is here presented to the public in an English dress and of their merits the English reading public can therefore form its own opinion. The stories are for the most part translated literally and I must apologize for retaining here and there