God (
Russian title: Бог ''Bog''; finished 1784) is a
poem by
Gavrila Derzhavin.
Background
In the 18th century the
deists of various
European nations reveled in singing praises to
God. Such
odes were produced by
Voltaire,
Klopstock,
Haller Haller is a surname of English and German origin. It is the last name of:
* Albin Haller (1849–1925), French chemist
* Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777), Swiss anatomist and physiologist, also notable for his contributions to botany
* Albrecht v ...
,
Brockes and
Young. In Russia, the fashion was set by
Lomonosov
Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (; russian: Михаил (Михайло) Васильевич Ломоносов, p=mʲɪxɐˈil vɐˈsʲilʲjɪvʲɪtɕ , a=Ru-Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov.ogg; – ) was a Russian Empire, Russian polymath, s ...
's "The True God".
Description
Derzhavin commenced writing "God" in 1780, but finished it only in 1784, under the influence of a strong religious emotion. It begins with an appeal to God, then extols the infinite power and wisdom of the Divinity. The individual is the reflex of the Divinity, and hence not insignificant. The relationship to God is recognized and, therefore, immortality beyond the grave is assured.
Translations
Derzhavin's "God" was at once translated into most of the European languages and into
Japanese by
Admiral Golovnin. There are at least 15
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
versions of the poem, while in
English available translations include: "To God", in ''The Bakchesarian Fountain'' (Philadelphia, 1849) by W. D. Lewis; "Ode to the Deity", by J. K. Stallybrass in ''
The Leisure Hour
''The Leisure Hour'' was a British general-interest periodical of the Victorian era which ran weekly from 1852 to 1905. It was the most successful of several popular magazines published by the Religious Tract Society, which produced Christian lite ...
'' (London) of May 2, 1870; and "Ode to God", by N. H. Dole in volume X of ''The Chautauquan''.
Stanisław Czerski translated the ode into Latin in 1815:
Carmen de Deo.
Notes
References
*
External links
at max.mmlc.northwestern.edu
{{DEFAULTSORT:God, Derzhavin
Russian poems
1785 poems