III.

The Renaissance

At the end of the 15th century Polish literature began to change significantly, opening a new era, often called the golden age, of Polish literature. This was the Polish Renaissance, which lasted from about 1500 to 1600. The tradition of the medieval historians was carried on during this period by Maciej of Miechów in two Latin works, Tractatus de Duabus Sarmatiis (Treatise on the Two Sarmatias, 1517) and Chronica Polonorum. The same tradition was continued by Marcin Kromer in his Latin De Origine et Rebus Gestis Polonorum (On the Origins and Deeds of the Poles, 1555), and by Marcin Bielski and Maciej Stryjkowski, who wrote chronicles in Polish. The social and political thought of the time was manifested in the famous Latin treatise De Republica Emendanda (On the Reform of the State, 1551-1554), by Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski. The production of sermons and lives of saints continued during this period; the outstanding writer of these was the Jesuit Piotr Skarga, who followed the great tradition of classical rhetoric.

Poetry developed during this period as never before in Polish history. In the early years of the Polish Renaissance notable poetic works were written in Latin by Paweł of Krosno, Andrzej Krzycki, Jan Dantyszek, Mikołaj Hussowski, and Klemens Janicjusz. By the middle of the 16th century, Polish had begun to supplant Latin as the literary language of the country.

Among the leading Polish writers of this era was Mikołaj Rej, who produced, in prose as well as verse, dramatic dialogues and moralistic and didactic works including Wizerunek własny żywota człowieka poczciwego (A Faithful Image of an Honest Man, 1558), Zwierciadło (The Mirror, 1567-1568), and Zwierzyniec (Bestiary, 1562). The most significant figure in Polish poetry, however, and especially in lyric poetry, was Jan Kochanowski, who translated the Psałterz Dawidów (David’s Psalter, 1578) and wrote songs, epigrams, and the notable Treny (1580; Laments, 1920), a cycle of poems in which he mourned the loss of his daughter. Kochanowski also wrote a famous play based on classical motifs, Odprawa poslów greckich (1578; The Dismissal of the Grecian Envoys, 1918).

Other poets achieved eminence in this area, among them Sebastian Fabian Klonowic, who wrote the Latin poems Roxolania (Ruthenia, 1584), describing the life of the Ruthenians, and Victoria Deorum (Victory of the Gods, 1587), dealing with educational and moral problems. He also wrote in Polish Flis (1595; The Boatman, 1958) and Worek Judaszów (Judas’s Sack, 1600), portraying particular social classes. Szymon Szymonowic wrote a collection of idylls in the vernacular, and Mikołaj Sp Szarzyński wrote a collection of lyric poetry, Rytmy (Rhythms, 1601), in the baroque style.