ve the descendants of those who composed
and sang the great epic songs, no more recent upheavals have brought
forward heroes to replace the historic paladins, who there hold
undisputed sway to the present time.

Of the songs still sung by the people, the following favorite (in the
version from the Olonetz government) may serve as a sample. It is not
rhymed in the original.

Akh! Little guelder-rose, with pinkish azure bloom,
And merry little company, where my dear one doth drink;
My darling will not drink, until for me he sends.
When I, a maiden, very young did dally,
Tending the ducks, the geese, the swans,
When I, a young maid, very young, along the stream-bank strolled,
I trampled down all sickly leaves and grass,
I plucked the tiny azure flowerets,
At the swift little rivulet I gazed;
Small was the hamlet there, four cots in all,
In every cot four windows small.
In every little window, a dear young crony sits.
Eh, cronies dear, you darlings, friends of mine,
Be ye my cronies, one another love, love me,
When into the garden green ye go, then take me, too;
When each a wreath ye twine, twine one for me;
When in the Danube's stream ye fling them, drop mine, too;
The garlands all upon the surface float, mine only hath sunk down.
All your dear lover-friends have homeward come, mine only cometh not.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. How was Christianity introduced into Russia?

2. In what two important centers was it finally established?

3. How was the Greek Church able to supply these converts with
a Slavonian translation of the Bible?

4. Who were Kyrill and Methody? Describe their work.

5. Why was "Ancient Bulgarian" not the original language of the
Bulgarians?

6. In what language was Russian literature written up to the
time of Peter the Great?

7. Where, according to tradition, did the early Slavonians
settle in Europe?

8. How are the forces of nature represented in the ancient
marriage songs?

9. What custom is illustrated in "The Sowing of the Millet"?

10. What connection is there between the funeral wails of
modern and of ancient Russia?

11. What was the festival of Kolyada?

12. What Christian character has been given to the ancient
"Glory Song"?

13. Why is pork commonly used at the Russian New-Year?

14. Wha