I will now refer to a group of writers whose fame--though many of them have also written in prose--is mainly founded on their poetry. The critics of the future will probably consider as the greatest Bohemian poet of the day Jaroslav Vrchlický, though some now prefer Svatopluk Čech to him. Jaroslav Vrchlický--the pseudonym of Mr. Emil Frida--was born at Loun in Bohemia in 1853. He began writing at an early age, and has continued doing so uninterruptedly up to the present day. Like Victor Hugo, to whom he has been compared, and who certainly has greatly influenced him, Vrchlický has produced an enormous number of works. His writings, which include lyric and epic poems, dramas, numerous translations, and a few works in prose, had in 1903 already reached a total of 185 volumes. The principal characteristic of Vrchlický's poetry is his mastership of the Bohemian language, which he can almost be said to have raised to a higher level. As the late Dr. Albert wrote, "He works on his language as Paganini or Ondřiček on their violins." This is particularly obvious in Vrchlický's numerous translations from the works of English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish writers. To mention but one example, his rendering of Browning's _Toccata of Galuppi_ is masterly. I wish, however, to devote to Vrchlický's original work the short space that remains to me. The poet visited Italy early in life, and soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the language of that country. He also studied the literatures of France and Spain. A new current of thought was a result of these studies introduced into the Bohemian language, for the writers of an earlier period, brought up in the Bohemian schools, which were then almost entirely German, had been with scarcely an exception under the influence of German literature. Of Vrchlický's early works I will mention _Z Hlubin_ ("From the Depths"), which appeared in 1875, _Rok na jihu_ ("A Year in the South"), which contains reminiscences of the poet's Italian travels, and _Bodlaci z Parnasu_ ("Thorns from Parnassus "), in which is included that truly beautiful poem, _Krumlovská Legenda_. Vrchlický is a master of the difficult art of the sonnet, and his _Sonety samotare_ (_i.e._ of a recluse) and _Nové_ _sonety samotare_ are among his finest works. One of the poet's latest books, entitled _Episody_, contains some beautiful poems referring to the period of the Hussite wars. That period, as is natural, has inspired the greatest works of many of the greatest Bohemian writers. Vrchlický has also obtained fame as a dramatist His _Noc na Karlštejne_ ("A Night at the Karlštejn"), the scene of which is laid in the time of Charles IV., has deservedly had great success, and figures frequently in the repertoire of the National Theatre of Prague. Vrchlický's _Julian Apostata_ deals with its difficult though fascinating subject in a very striking manner. This brilliant play well bears comparison