Kings and kingdoms of the earth. To help a schoolchild
M. V. Lomonosov is a great scientist and poet. He became a luminary of science in the 18th century. and to this day his works have not been forgotten. For Lomonosov, poetry is not fun, not an immersion in the narrow, in his opinion, world of a private person, but a patriotic, civic activity. It was the ode that became the main lyrical genre in Lomonosov’s work.
One of the most famous works Lomonosov became an ode “On the day of the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna.” Lomonosov begins it with glorification of the world:
Kings and kingdoms of the earth are a delight,
Beloved silence,
The bliss of the villages, the city fence,
How useful and beautiful you are!
When she took the throne,
How the Supreme One gave her a crown,
Brought you back to Russia
Put an end to the war.
Sent a man to Russia
What has not been heard since ages.
Through all the obstacles he ascended
Head, crowned with victories,
Russia, I will trample on barbarism,
He raised him to the skies.
Describing Peter I, Lomonosov resorts to ancient mythology. He uses the images of Mars and Neptune to symbolize war and the sea, which adds even more solemnity to the ode.
The ode “On the day of the accession of Elizabeth Petrovna” is not only praise for the empress, but also an instruction to her. The Russia that Lomonosov wants to see is great country, she is powerful, wise and at peace, but the main thing is that such a future is possible if Russia is a sacred power, the existence of which is impossible without an enlightened monarch. In a digression to the era of Peter I, Lomonosov seems to be telling Elizabeth that she should take an example from her father and continue his great works, in particular, contribute to the development of science, as her father did:
...Divine sciences
Through mountains, rivers and seas,
Look at the mountains above,
Look into your wide fields,
Where is the Volga, Dnieper, where the Ob flows;
Wealth is hidden in them,
Science will be frank,
What blooms with your generosity.
Such a huge country, the vastness of which stretches from the western plains, through the Urals and Siberia to the Far East, needs educated people. After all, only knowledgeable people will be able to reveal all the natural resources of Russia:
O you who await
Fatherland from its depths,
And he wants to see them,
What calls from foreign countries!
Be of good cheer, now you are encouraged,
Show with your speech,
What can Platonov's own
And the quick-witted Newtons
Russian land gives birth.
In these lines, the poet also draws the readers’ attention to the fact that the Russian land is capable of producing minds equal to those “which it calls from foreign countries!” He makes it clear that Russia is rich not only natural resources, but also capable people. People who can not only absorb science, but also sow their fruits. The natural continuation of the ode is the following lines:
Sciences nourish youths,
Joy is served to the old,
In a happy life they decorate,
Take care in case of an accident;
There's joy in troubles at home
And long journeys are not a hindrance.
Sciences are used everywhere -
Among the nations and in the desert,
In the city noise and alone,
Sweet in peace and in work.
Reading these lines, one cannot but agree with the author. A person who does not have knowledge is not only uninteresting and boring in himself, he also leads the same life. Without knowledge, a person is not able to develop spiritually, therefore, while praising science, the author also glorifies the human soul. The glorification of man, his soul and genius is the main idea of the ode; it is the connecting thread. Science and knowledge connect not only generations, but also peoples. Knowledge is the fundamental principle of everything.
Lomonosov's ode is more than just literary work- this is the message. A message not only to the empress and contemporaries, but also to descendants. An excellent example of the fact that his descendants followed his behests is the State University named after Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.
“Our literature begins with Lomonosov... he was its father, its Peter the Great,” as defined by V.G. Belinsky, the place and significance of the work of the outstanding Russian educator, scientist, naturalist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov in the history of Russian literature. He became not only a reformer of Russian versification, but also the author of wonderful poetic creations that formed a special page of Russian poetry.
Perhaps now we are not very interested in those statesmen to whom Lomonosov’s poems are addressed, and for some the name of Elizaveta Petrovna, to whom his ode, written in 1747, is dedicated, is completely unfamiliar. But the thoughts and feelings of a great man, citizen and patriot, a tireless researcher and discoverer of the unknown in natural world, is something that has not lost its value to this day and will probably remain so forever.
What does Lomonosov write about in his ode, called, as was customary in poetry of the 18th century, very ornately: “Ode on the day of the accession to the All-Russian throne of Her Majesty the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, November 25, 1747”?
The composition of the ode, in accordance with the requirements of classicism, is distinguished by its logical harmony. Each of the main topics receives its own justification and detailed development, each new thought logically follows from the previous one.
Like any solemn ode, in accordance with the rules of classicism, this poem begins with a majestic glorification of the world:
Kings and kingdoms of the earth are a delight,
Beloved silence,
The bliss of the villages, the city fence,
How useful and beautiful you are!
A natural continuation of this majestic picture is the praise of Elizabeth, who ensured the prosperity of the country primarily by bringing peace to it - after all, during her reign the wars that Russia had waged for a long time actually stopped:
When she took the throne,
How the Supreme One gave her a crown,
Brought you back to Russia
Put an end to the war.
Sent a Man to Russia
What has been unheard of since ages.
Through all the obstacles he ascended
The head, crowned with victories,
I will trample Russia under barbarism,
He raised him to the skies.
Lomonosov, like Pushkin later, considered Peter I a great reformer, an enlightened monarch and a brilliant military leader - a true national hero. Talking about him, the poet resorts to personifications associated with images of ancient mythology. For example, Mars and Neptune serve as symbols of the concepts of war and the elements of the sea. This imagery, along with the widespread use of Slavicisms, rhetorical questions, exclamations and appeals, creates a particularly solemn “high” style of the ode, corresponding to the subject of its depiction. This is very clearly visible in the description of Peter I, his military victories that strengthened the power of Russia:
In the bloody fields Mars was afraid,
Petrov’s sword is in vain in his hands,
And with trembling Neptune imagined,
Looking at the Russian flag.
For Lomonosov, as for Pushkin, Peter I is also the great builder of the northern capital, which opened new paths of development for Russia:
The walls are suddenly fortified
And surrounded by buildings,
Doubtful Neva advertisement:
“Or am I now forgotten?
And I bowed down from that path,
Which I flowed before?”
It is quite logical after this description that the idea develops that under Peter I
...divine sciences
Through mountains, rivers and seas,
They extended their hands to Russia...
Concluding the story about Peter I with a description of his tragic death, Lomonosov moves on to the next part of the poem: he again turns to modernity and expresses the hope that Elizabeth will follow the example of her father and begin to patronize the sciences, promote the strengthening and prosperity of Russia. He wants to see Elizabeth as an enlightened queen who cares about the good of the fatherland, and further in his ode he presents her with a kind of “program of action” that should ensure further development countries.
Calling on Elizabeth to be the patroness of education, sciences and crafts, Lomonosov shows that the country where she reigns is amazingly beautiful and has inexhaustible natural resources:
Look at the mountains above,
Look into your wide fields,
Where is the Volga, Dnieper, where the Ob flows;
Wealth is hidden in them,
Science will be frank,
What blooms with your generosity.
The further logic of the development of thought is quite obvious: unfolding before the reader’s eyes a grandiose landscape of a gigantic country, washed by seas and oceans, stretching from the distant North, through the mountains of the Urals (“the tops of Rifeyski”), the expanses of the Siberian taiga to Far East and the Amur, which “spins on the green banks,” the poet argues that such a country cannot be left in the darkness of ignorance. To develop its natural resources, educated people are required, and therefore he further calls:
Oh you who are waiting
Fatherland from its depths,
And he wants to see them,
What calls from foreign countries!
Be of good cheer, now you are encouraged,
Show with your speech,
What can Platonov's own
And the quick-witted Newtons
Russian land gives birth.
This logic of development of poetic thought allows the author to complete his ode not only with the traditional praise of Elizabeth, but also with a genuine hymn in honor of science:
Sciences nourish youths,
Joy is served to the old,
In a happy life they decorate,
Take care in case of an accident;
There's joy in troubles at home
And long journeys are not a hindrance.
Sciences are used everywhere -
Among the nations and in the desert,
In the noise of the city and alone,
Sweet in peace and in work.
These words about science are known to everyone, even to those who are not very familiar with the work of Lomonosov the poet. They reflect the position modern society and man in the best possible way, and therefore can serve as a kind of emblem of our time, when science has received unprecedented development. We can say that the dream of the great scientist and poet has gone astray: Russia has proven that it is truly capable of giving the whole world “its own Platos and quick-witted Newtons.” And Moscow, which occupies one of the first places in the world State University rightfully bears the name of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.
Kings and kingdoms of the earth are a delight,
Beloved silence,
The bliss of the villages, the city fence,
How useful and beautiful you are!
The flowers around you are full of flowers
And the fields in the fields turn yellow;
The ships are full of treasures
They dare to follow you into the sea;
You sprinkle with a generous hand
Your wealth on earth.
Great light of the world,
Shining from the eternal heights
On beads, gold and purple,
For all the earthly beauties,
He lifts his gaze to all countries,
But he doesn’t find anything more beautiful in the world
Elizabeth and you.
Besides that, you are above everything;
The soul of her zephyr is quieter,
And the vision is more beautiful than ra I.
When she took the throne,
As the Most High gave her a crown,
Brought you back to Russia
Put an end to the war;
She kissed you when she received you:
I'm full of those victories, she said,
For whom blood flows.
I enjoy Russian happiness,
I don't change their calmness
The whole west and east.
Befitting the divine lips,
Monarch, this gentle voice:
O how worthily exalted
This day and that blessed hour,
When from a joyful change
The Petrovs raised the walls
Splash and click to the stars!
When you carried the cross with your hand
And she took her to the throne with her
Your kindness is a beautiful face!
So that the word can be equal to them,
Our strength is small;
But we can't help ourselves
From singing your praises.
Your generosity is encouraging
Our spirit is driven to run,
Like a swimmer's show-off, the wind is capable
The waves break through the ravines;
He leaves the shore with joy;
The food flies between the depths of the water.
Be silent, fiery sounds,
And stop shaking the light;
Here in the world to expand science
Elizabeth did so.
You impudent whirlwinds, don’t dare
Roar, but meekly divulge
Our times are wonderful.
Listen in silence, universe:
Behold, the lyre is delighted
The names are great to say.
Terrible with wonderful deeds
Creator of the world from time immemorial
He laid down his destinies
Glorify yourself in our days;
Sent a Man to Russia,
What has been unheard of since ages.
Through all the obstacles he ascended
The head, crowned with victories,
Russia, trampled by rudeness,
He raised him to the skies.
In the bloody fields Mars was afraid,
Petrov’s sword is in vain in his hands,
And with trembling Neptune imagined,
Looking at the Russian flag.
The walls are suddenly fortified
And surrounded by buildings,
Doubtful Neva advertisement:
"Or am I now forgotten?
And I bowed down from that path,
Which I flowed before?"
Then the sciences are divine
Through mountains, rivers and seas
They stretched out their hands to Russia,
To this monarch saying:
"We are ready with utmost care
Submit in the Russian gender new
Fruits of the purest mind."
The monarch calls them to himself,
Russia is already waiting
It is useful to see their work.
But ah, cruel fate!
Immortality worthy husband,
The reason for our bliss,
To the unbearable sorrow of our souls
The envious one is rejected by fate,
He plunged us into deep tears!
Having filled our ears with sobs,
The leaders of Parnassus rebelled,
And the muses saw off with a cry
The most luminous spirit enters the heavenly door.
In so much righteous sadness
Their path was doubtful;
And just as they walked they wished
Look at the coffin and the deeds.
But meek Catherine,
There is only one joy in Petra,
Accepts them with a generous hand.
Oh, if only her life could last longer,
Sekwana would have been ashamed long ago
With your art in front of the Neva!
What kind of lordship surrounds
Is Parnassus in great sorrow?
Oh, if it rattles in agreement there
Pleasant strings, sweetest voice!
All the hills are covered with faces;
Cries are heard in the valleys:
Great Peter's daughter
Father's generosity exceeds
The muses' satisfaction aggravates
And fortunately he opens the door.
Worthy of great praise
When the number of your victories
A warrior can compare battles
And he lives in the field all his life;
But the warriors are subject to him,
His praises are always included,
And noise in the shelves from all sides
The sounding glory drowns out,
And the thunder of trumpets disturbs her
The lamentable groan of the vanquished.
This is your only glory,
Monarch, belongs,
Vast is your power
Oh how he thanks you!
Look at the mountains above,
Look into your wide fields,
Where is the Volga, Dnieper, where the Ob flows;
Wealth is hidden in them,
Science will be frank,
What blooms with your generosity.
A lot of land space
When the Almighty ordered
Happy citizenship to you,
Then I opened the treasures,
What does Indus boast about? And I;
But Russia demands it
By the art of approved hands.
This is gold at cleans the vein;
The stones will also feel the power
Sciences restored by you.
Although the constant snow
The northern country is covered,
Where the frozen boar's wings
Your banners flutter;
But God is between the icy mountains
Great for its miracles:
There Lena is pure rapids,
Like the Nile, he will give the peoples drink
And Bregi finally loses,
Comparing the width of the sea.
Since many are unknown to mortals
Nature creates miracles,
Where the density of animals is cramped
There are deep forests
Where in the luxury of cool shadows
On the flock of galloping fir trees
The cry did not disperse the catchers;
The hunter did not aim his bow anywhere;
The farmer knocks with an ax
Didn't frighten the singing birds.
Wide open field
Where should the muses stretch their path!
To your magnanimous will
What can we repay for this?
We will glorify your gift to heaven
And we will put up a sign of your generosity,
Where the sun rises and where is Cupid
Spinning in the green banks,
Wanting to come back again
To your power from Manzhur.
Behold the gloomy eternity of the cuff
Hope opens to us!
Where there are no rules, no law,
Wisdom there builds the temple;
Ignorance pales before her.
There the wet fleet path turns white,
And the sea tries to give in:
Russian Columbus through the waters
Hastens to unknown nations
Proclaim your bounties.
There the darkness of islands is sown,
The river is like the ocean;
Heavenly blue blankets,
The peacock is put to shame by the corvid.
There are clouds there different birds fly,
What variegation exceeds
Tender spring clothes;
Eating in fragrant groves
And floating in pleasant streams,
They don't know harsh winters.
And behold, Minerva strikes
To the top of Rifeyski with a copy;
Silver and gold are running out
In all your inheritance.
Pluto is restless in the crevices,
What the Russians are putting into their hands
Dredge his metal from the pores,
Which nature hid there;
From the brilliance of the daylight
He turns away his gaze gloomily.
O you who await
Fatherland from its depths
And he wants to see them,
Which ones are calling from foreign countries,
Oh, your days are blessed!
Be of good cheer now
It’s your kindness to show
What can Platonov's own
And the quick-witted Newtons
Russian land gives birth.
Sciences nourish youths,
Joy is served to the old,
In a happy life they decorate,
In case of an accident they take care of it;
There's joy in troubles at home
And long journeys are not a hindrance.
Science is used everywhere
Among the nations and in the desert,
In the city noise and food And Not,
Sweet in peace and in work.
To you, O source of mercy,
O angel of our peaceful years!
The Almighty is your helper,
Who dares with his pride,
Seeing our peace,
To rebel against you with war;
The creator will save you
In all ways I am without stumbling
And your life is blessed
It will be compared with the number of your bounties.
Mikhail Lomonosov, End of 1747
Kings and kingdoms of the earth are a delight,
Beloved silence,
The bliss of villages, city walls,
How useful and beautiful you are!
The flowers around you are full of flowers
And the fields in the fields turn yellow;
The ships are full of treasures
They dare to follow you into the sea;
You sprinkle with a generous hand
Your wealth on earth.
Great light of the world,
Shining from the eternal heights
On beads, gold and purple,
For all the earthly beauties,
He lifts his gaze to all countries,
But he doesn’t find anything more beautiful in the world
Elizabeth and you.
Besides that, you are above everything;
The soul of her zephyr is quieter,
And the vision is more beautiful than heaven.
When she took the throne,
As the Most High gave her a crown,
Brought you back to Russia
Put an end to the war;
She kissed you when she received you:
I'm full of those victories, she said,
For whom blood flows.
I enjoy Russian happiness,
I don't change their calmness
The whole west and east.
Befitting the divine lips,
Monarch, this gentle voice:
O how worthily exalted
This day and that blessed hour,
When from a joyful change
The Petrovs raised the walls
Splash and click to the stars!
When you carried the cross with your hand
And she took her to the throne with her
Your kindness is a beautiful face!
So that the word can be equal to them,
Our strength is small;
But we can't help ourselves
From singing your praises.
Your generosity is encouraging
Our spirit is driven to run,
Like a swimmer's show-off, the wind is capable
The waves break through the ravines;
He leaves the shore with joy;
The food flies between the depths of the water.
Be silent, fiery sounds,
And stop shaking the light;
Here in the world to expand science
Elizabeth did so.
You impudent whirlwinds, don’t dare
Roar, but meekly divulge
Our times are wonderful.
Listen in silence, universe:
Behold, the lyre is delighted
The names are great to say.
Terrible with wonderful deeds
Creator of the world from time immemorial
He laid down his destinies
Glorify yourself in our days;
Sent a Man to Russia
What has been unheard of since ages.
Through all the obstacles he ascended
The head, crowned with victories,
Russia, trampled by rudeness,
He raised him to the skies.
In the bloody fields Mars was afraid,
Petrov’s sword is in vain in his hands,
And with trembling Neptune imagined,
Looking at the Russian flag.
The walls are suddenly fortified
And surrounded by buildings,
Doubtful Neva advertisement:
“Or am I now forgotten?
And I bowed down from that path,
Which I flowed before?”
Then the sciences are divine
Through mountains, rivers and seas
They extended their hands to Russia,
To this monarch saying:
“We are extremely careful to
Submit in the Russian gender new
Fruits of the purest mind."
The monarch calls them to himself,
Russia is already waiting
It is useful to see their work.
But ah, cruel fate!
A worthy husband of immortality,
The reason for our bliss,
To the unbearable sorrow of our souls
The envious one is rejected by fate,
He plunged us into deep tears!
Having filled our ears with sobs,
The leaders of Parnassus rebelled,
And the muses saw off with a cry
The most luminous spirit enters the heavenly door.
In so much righteous sadness
Their path was doubtful;
And just as they walked they wished
Look at the coffin and the deeds.
But meek Catherine,
There is only one joy in Petra,
Accepts them with a generous hand.
Oh, if only her life could last longer,
Sekwana would have been ashamed long ago
With your art in front of the Neva!
What kind of lordship surrounds
Is Parnassus in great sorrow?
Oh, if it rattles in agreement there
Pleasant strings, sweetest voice!
All the hills are covered with faces;
Cries are heard in the valleys:
Great Peter's daughter
Father's generosity exceeds
The muses' satisfaction aggravates
And fortunately he opens the door.
Worthy of great praise
When the number of your victories
A warrior can compare battles
And he lives in the field all his life;
But the warriors are subject to him,
His praises are always included,
And noise in the shelves from all sides
The sounding glory drowns out,
And the thunder of trumpets disturbs her
The lamentable groan of the vanquished.
This is your only glory,
Monarch, belongs,
Vast is your power
Oh how he thanks you!
Look at the mountains above,
Look into your wide fields,
Where is the Volga, Dnieper, where the Ob flows;
Wealth is hidden in them,
Science will be frank,
What blooms with your generosity.
A lot of land space
When the Almighty ordered
Happy citizenship to you,
Then I opened the treasures,
What India boasts of;
But Russia demands it
By the art of approved hands.
This will cleanse the vein of gold;
The stones will also feel the power
Sciences restored by you.
Although the constant snow
The northern country is covered,
Where the frozen boar's wings
Your banners flutter;
But God is between the icy mountains
Great for its miracles:
There Lena is pure rapids,
Like the Nile, he will give the peoples drink
And Bregi finally loses,
Comparing the width of the sea.
Since many are unknown to mortals
Nature creates miracles,
Where the density of animals is cramped
There are deep forests
Where in the luxury of cool shadows
On the flock of galloping fir trees
The cry did not disperse the catchers;
The hunter did not aim his bow anywhere;
The farmer knocks with an ax
Didn't frighten the singing birds.
Wide open field
Where should the muses stretch their path!
To your magnanimous will
What can we repay for this?
We will glorify your gift to heaven
And we will put up a sign of your generosity,
Where the sun rises and where is Cupid
Spinning in the green banks,
Wanting to come back again
To your power from Manzhur.
Behold the gloomy eternity of the cuff
Hope opens to us!
Where there are no rules, no law,
Wisdom there builds the temple;
Ignorance pales before her.
There the wet fleet path turns white,
And the sea tries to give in:
Russian Columbus through the waters
Hastens to unknown nations
Proclaim your bounties.
There the darkness of islands is sown,
The river is like the ocean;
Heavenly blue blankets,
The peacock is put to shame by the corvid.
There are clouds of different birds flying there,
What variegation exceeds
Tender spring clothes;
Eating in fragrant groves
And floating in pleasant streams,
They don't know harsh winters.
And behold, Minerva strikes
To the top of Rifeyski with a copy;
Silver and gold are running out
In all your inheritance.
Pluto is restless in the crevices,
What the Russians are putting into their hands
Dredge his metal from the pores,
Which nature hid there;
From the brilliance of the daylight
He turns away his gaze gloomily.
O you who await
Fatherland from its depths
And he wants to see them,
Which ones are calling from foreign countries,
Oh, your days are blessed!
Be of good cheer now
It’s your kindness to show
What can Platonov's own
And the quick-witted Newtons
Russian land gives birth.
Sciences nourish youths,
Joy is served to the old,
In a happy life they decorate,
In case of an accident they take care of it;
There's joy in troubles at home
And long journeys are not a hindrance.
Science is used everywhere
Among the nations and in the desert,
In the noise of the city and alone,
Sweet in peace and in work.
To you, O source of mercy,
O angel of our peaceful years!
The Almighty is your helper,
Who dares with his pride,
Seeing our peace,
To rebel against you with war;
The creator will save you
In all ways I am without stumbling
And your life is blessed
It will be compared with the number of your bounties.1747
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