Of the following translation of Derjavin's Ode to God, universally esteemed as one of the sublimest effusions of the Russian Muse, I beg leave to say that my aim has been to render it into English as literally as the genius of our language would admit, without adding or suppressing a single thought, or amplifying a single expression, to accomplish which metrically would of course be impossible. If I have succeeded, my readers will be better able to judge whether this Ode, after having been translated into the Japanese language, merited the great honour of being suspended, embroidered with gold, in the temple of Jeddo, than they can be by a perusal of the highly poetic effort of Dr. Bowring. For, whilst he has adhered to the structure of versification adopted in the original, and in some parts has given its sense with remarkable accuracy, in others he has been less fortunate; and in venturing to change the Trinitarian faith of Derjavin to suit his own notions of the unity of the Supreme Being, he has taken a liberty with his author which cannot but be deemed unwarrantable. THE TRANSLATOR. TO GOD. BY DERJAVIN. O! Thou, infinite in space, Existing in the motion of matter, Eternal amidst the mutations of time, Without person, in three persons the Divinity! The single and omnipresent spirit, To whom there is neither place nor cause, Whom none could ever comprehend, Who fillest all things with thyself, Embracest, animatest, and preservest them, Thou whom we denominate God! Although a sublime mind might be able To measure the depths of ocean, To count the sands, the rays of the planets, To thee there is neither number nor measure! Enlightened spirits, although Proceeding from thy light, Cannot penetrate thy judgments; Thought scarce dare lift itself to thee; It is lost in thy greatness, Like the past moment in eternity. Thou calledst chaos into existence, Before time, from the abyss of eternity, And eternity, existing prior to all ages, Thou foundedst within thyself. Constituting thyself of thyself, By means of thyself shining from thyself, Thou art the light from which light first flowed; Creating all things by a single word, Extending thyself throughout the new creation, Thou wast, thou art, thou shalt be for ever! Thou unitest within thyself the chain of beings, Upholdest and animatest it, Thou connectest the end with the beginning, And through death bestowest life. As sparks shoot forth and scatter themselves, Thus suns are born of thee: As, in a cold and clear winter's day, Particles of frost scintillate, Whirl about, reel, and glisten,[1] Even so do the stars in the abysses beneath thee!