Пушкин и Мицкевич: или Почему Пушкин не стал переводчиком сонетов Мицкевича?

Abstract

The great Russian poet has not undertaken translation of sonnets of Mickiewicz for many reasons: did not know language of the original, did not feel himself the authoritative master sonnet’s form, at all had no propensity to translation as to those, preferring “imitations” and “free improvisations on a theme”. But the main reason, obviously, – in other: it was necessary for Pushkin to respond to Mickiewicz’s poetic ideas polemically, and for this purpose translation – not the most convenient occasion. Pushkin sonnets together with its other products in which the noble shape of the Polish poet was anyhow reflected, allow to speak about congenial both pilgrims of Crimea who before people have learned to understand each other without translators.