Pagina 19 di 788

The age-long conflict between Pole and "Muscovite" is the theme

of the epic, but the tone is not that of passionate hatred and

revolt such as fills The Forefathers; human kindliness breathes

through the whole work; not indignation and rebellion, but faith,

hope, and love are at its foundation.

This brief introduction may fitly close with some verses that

Mickiewicz wrote as an epilogue for Pan Tadeusz, but which he

never finally revised and which were never printed during his

lifetime. Since his death they have most frequently been inserted

as a prologue to the poem rather than as an epilogue.

"What can be my thoughts, here on the streets of Paris, when I

bring home from the city ears filled with noise, with curses and

lies, with untimely plans, belated regrets, and hellish quarrels?