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.
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