SOURCE: Kustec, Aleksander. “The Poetry of a Nation: Francè Prešeren, Slovene Literature's Pater Patriae.” Wordworth Circle 30, no. 1 (winter 1999): 64-70.

In the following essay, Kustec evaluates Prešeren's work by examining the three phases of his poetry, as represented by his well-known poems “A Farewell to My Youth,” “The Baptism on the Savica,” and “A Toast.”

          Živé naj vsi naródi,           ki hrepené dočakat' dan,           ko, koder sonce hodi, prepir iz svéta bo pregnan                               ko rojak                     prost bo vsak ne vrag, le sosed bo mejak! 

                    God's blessing on all nations, Who long and work for that bright day,                     When o'er earth's habitations No war, no strife shall hold its sway;                                         Who long to see                                         That all men free No more shall foes, but neighbours be. 

France Prešeren, from “Zdravljica” (1844) [from “A Toast”. Translated by Janko Lavrin (1954)]

This essay introduces to the English-speaking public a selection...