Alexander Puschkin.

any regular attempt to master the difficulties of the entire Kussian original . Bodenstedt ' s German translation is familiar to some of us , and , if Ave are not in error , Sir John Boivring gaA'e us some translations from Puschkin . Our knowledge of the Eussian Poet comes mainly through Bodensteclt , and some chance translations picked up here and there . The first remark we -will make is this , that Ave doubt Puschkin ever being very popular amongst Englishmenand the reason is threefold . First there is tho uncertaint

, y whether Ave reach to tho true meaning of Puschkin through the medium of a translation . Bodenstedt ' s translation is here and there both obscure and doubtful , ( according to us , ) in the highest degree , but that is not surprising , considering the intense difficulty of the Eussian language .

But besides this , there is an occasional , if not . intentional , mysterioiiBiiess in -Puschkin , which is very hard indeed to fathom , much less to explain . He seems to delight in leaving us to guess what it is he wants really to say , rather than to express it himself , and eA'cn when you think you have mastered Puschkin ' s idea , you find that there is something yet beyond , Avhich has , so to say , eluded your grasp . You still are in darkness . Your ' s is still the Sibylline oracle without its explanation . This is probably after all only an artificial " tour de force " on the part of tho poet , but it is one of the main elements Ai'hich constitutes the great difficulty of perfectly understanding Puschkin ' s pregnant AA'ords .

Another draAvback in Puschkin is his morbidity . His is apparently AA'hat the Germans call " First Lieutenant ' s melancholy " in all he writes . He seems to have lived unhappily—Ave ICUOAV he died unhappily—and the gloom of his social existence , his outward associations and his inward emotions , seem to throAv that tone of unhealthy cynicism over his otherwise fine ideas and poetic beauties . We find in him , indeed , the aspirations of the Epicurean , nay , and the fortitude of

the Stoic , hut Ave look in A'ain even for one ray of that nobler trust in God , His present ProA'idence , His certain Future , Avhich gleams from amid the often stormy words , and over the erratic pen of Heine . But Ave always feel sorry for Puschkin , as Ave cannot shut our eyes to the fact , or resist the conviction , that , despite his Avayivard fancies and his gloomy fears , his despondent imaginings and his morbid feelings , there runs through all he Avrites the golden scintillation of true poesy .

We give some translations from Puschkin , partly from Bodensteclt ancl other sources , some of which A \ e have made ourselves , and contributed specially to the MASONIC MAGAZINE , in order to afford , lmwever imperfectly , an idea of AA'hat Puschkin is , and of the truth of our humble if critical remarks respecting him ; others Ave have taken from different sources , and re-translated and re-arranged , AVC think it fair to observe .

The Angel.

THE ANGEL .

An angel stood , a glorious vision At Eden's door , the head bowed IOAV ; Meanwhile the Avild and crafty Demon Arose from Hell ' s abyss below . The Spirit then of doubt , denial , Looked on that sinless One sublime , And grieved Repentance for the appearance Of Avioked thoughts , —for the first time .

" I ' ve not in vain regarded theo , I don ' t , ( 0 purest heavenly guest , ) Profess all that ' s earthly to despise , All that ' s heavenly to detest . "