No More Learning

Strangely enough, Pushkin appeared anxious to
deceive the public as to the real cause of his sudden disappearance
from the capital; for in an Ode to Ovid composed about this time
he styles himself a "voluntary exile. " (See Note 4 to this volume. )

During the four succeeding years he made numerous excursions amid
the beautiful countries which from the basin of the Euxine--and
amongst these the Crimea and the Caucasus. A nomad life passed
amid the beauties of nature acted powerfully in developing his
poetical genius. To this period he refers in the final canto of
_Eugene Oneguine_ (st. v. ), when enumerating the various influences
which had contributed to the formation of his Muse:

Then, the far capital forgot,
Its splendour and its blandishments,
In poor Moldavia cast her lot,
She visited the humble tents
Of migratory gipsy hordes.

During these pleasant years of youth he penned some of his most
delightful poetical works: amongst these, _The Prisoner of the
Caucasus, The Fountain of Baktchiserai_, and the _Gipsies_. Of the
two former it may be said that they are in the true style of the
_Giaour_ and the _Corsair_. In fact, just at that point of time
Byron's fame--like the setting sun--shone out with dazzling lustre
and irresistibly charmed the mind of Pushkin amongst many others.
The _Gipsies_ is more original; indeed the poet himself has been
identified with Aleko, the hero of the tale, which may well be
founded on his own personal adventures without involving the guilt
of a double murder. His undisguised admiration for Byron doubtless
exposed him to imputations similar to those commonly levelled
against that poet. But Pushkin's talent was too genuine for him to
remain long subservient to that of another, and in a later period
of his career he broke loose from all trammels and selected a line
peculiarly his own. Before leaving this stage in our narrative we
may point out the fact that during the whole of this period of
comparative seclusion the poet was indefatigably occupied in
study. Not only were the standard works of European literature
perused, but two more languages--namely Italian and Spanish--were
added to his original stock: French, English, Latin and German
having been acquired at the Lyceum.
To this happy union of
literary research with the study of nature we must attribute the
sudden bound by which he soon afterwards attained the pinnacle of
poetic fame amongst his own countrymen.

In 1824 he once more fell under the imperial displeasure. A letter
seized in the post, and expressive of atheistical sentiments
(possibly but a transient vagary of his youth) was the ostensible
cause of his banishment from Odessa to his paternal estate of
Mikhailovskoe in the province of Pskoff. Some, however, aver that
personal pique on the part of Count Vorontsoff, the Governor of
Odessa, played a part in the transaction. Be this as it may, the
consequences were serious for the poet, who was not only placed
under the surveillance of the police, but expelled from the
Foreign Office by express order of the Tsar "for bad conduct. " A
letter on this subject, addressed by Count Vorontsoff to Count
Nesselrode, is an amusing instance of the arrogance with which
stolid mediocrity frequently passes judgment on rising genius. I
transcribe a portion thereof:


Odessa, _28th March (7th April)_ 1824

Count--Your Excellency is aware of the reasons for which, some
time ago, young Pushkin was sent with a letter from Count Capo
d'Istria to General Inzoff. I found him already here when I
arrived, the General having placed him at my disposal, though he
himself was at Kishineff. I have no reason to complain about him.
On the contrary, he is much steadier than formerly. But a desire
for the welfare of the young man himself, who is not wanting in
ability, and whose faults proceed more from the head than from
the heart, impels me to urge upon you his removal from Odessa.
Pushkin's chief failing is ambition. He spent the bathing season
here, and has gathered round him a crowd of adulators who praise
his genius. This maintains in him a baneful delusion which seems
to turn his head--namely, that he is a "distinguished writer;"
whereas, in reality he is but a feeble imitator of an author in
whose favour very little can be said (Byron). This it is which
keeps him from a serious study of the great classical poets, which
might exercise a beneficial effect upon his talents--which cannot
be denied him--and which might make of him in course of time a
"distinguished writer. "

The best thing that can be done for him is to remove him hence.