In conclusion, I desire to express my gratitude to my friends and colleagues who have aided me in this work: to Prof. A. C. Coolidge, for leaving at my disposal his collection of translations from the Russian, and for many valuable hints; to Dr. F. N. Robinson, for reading a number of my translations; to Prof. G. L. Kittredge, to whom is largely due whatever literary merit there may be in the introductory chapters and in the biographical sketches. I also take this occasion to thank all the publishers and authors from whose copyrighted works extracts have been quoted with their permission. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v A SKETCH OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE 1 I. The Oldest Period 3 II. The Folklore 18 III. The Eighteenth Century 26 THE OLDEST PERIOD 39 Treaty with the Greeks (911) 41 Luká Zhidyáta (XI. c.) 44 Instruction to his Congregation 44 The Russian Code (XI. c.) 45 Ilarión, Metropolitan of Kíev (XI. c.) 48 Eulogy on St. Vladímir 48 Vladímir Monomákh (1053-1125) 50 His Instruction to his Children 51 Abbot Daniel, the Palmer (XII. c.) 56 Of the Holy Light, how it Descends from Heaven upon the Holy Sepulchre 56 Epilogue 61 Cyril, Bishop of Túrov (XII. c.) 62 From a Sermon on the First Sunday after Easter 62 Néstor’s Chronicle (XII. c.) 65 The Baptism of Vladímir and of all Russia 65 The Kíev Chronicle (XII. c.) 71 The Expedition of Ígor Svyatoslávich against the Pólovtses 72 The Word of Ígor’s Armament (XII. c.) 80 The Holy Virgin’s Descent into Hell (XII. c.) 96 Daniel the Prisoner (XIII. c.) 100 Letter to Prince Yarosláv Vsévolodovich 101 Serapión, Bishop of Vladímir (XIII. c.) 104 A Sermon on Omens 104