Text II. The Lay of the Warfare

WAGED BY IGOR

The Lay of the Warfare Waged by Igor was written as long ago as in 1187, but time has not muted its patriotic appeal or dimmed its brilliant colours. Interest in The Lay, far from slackening, is actually growing wider and deeper.

Why is this not very long epic poem enjoying such a long life? Why do the ideas it carries and the writing itself continue to move us till this day?

The Lay was first published in the autumn of 1800. Count Alexei Musin-Pushkin, a well-known collector and lover of Russian antiquities had acquired the manuscript a few years previously. True, it was not the original author’s text, but one of the copies made by a scribe in the 16^th century and included in a collection of old Russian secular writing. And it was this collection that Musin-Pushkin bought among other manuscripts through a commission agent from Archimandrite Joel of the since closed down Spasso-Yaroslavsky Monastery.

The manuscript perished in the Moscow fire of 1812 together with the whole invaluable collection of Musin-Pushkin, which he kept in his house.

At the beginning of the 19^th century, ancient Russia had been little studied as yet. People had only a very vague notion of ancient Russian literature and the literary language, of its wonderful architecture, painting and jeweler’s art. Therefore, it was not surprising that when The Lay was discovered the skeptics refused to believe that a marvelous work like that could have belonged to the 12^th century. Their voices were all the louder because “scientific skepticism” in general was widespread at the beginning of the 19^th century. In Russia, as in the West, there existed a whole trend in historical science, a “skeptical school”. It subjected to doubt the authenticity of most ancient writings (Russian, Ancient Greek, and West European), even Nestor’s Chronicle (The Tale of Bygone Years) among them although hundreds of 14^th –16^th century copies and numerous testimonials of its authenticity have been preserved.

The more The Lay was investigated, the clearer it became that it was genuine. At the end of the 18^th century, ancient Russian was so little known that an imitation was hardly possible. In the course of research some passages in The Lay which first seemed obscure were clarified, as were also many references to actual historical events found in the poem.

The poem was written at a time when the feudal fractioning of Russia was at its height. The economical, political and cultural life of the princedoms was insulated within their local little worlds. A great number of the smaller princes fought with each other, contending for land, for seniority, and becoming involved in fratricidal wars for the sake of purely personal, local claims. And Kiev list its significance as the centre of the Russian lands.

Just a cursory enumeration of 12^th century cultural achievements is evidence enough that The Lay was not the time’s only work of art. It had its contemporaries in different spheres: in architecture, in painting, in applied arts.

Literature – oral or written – was really the pride of Russian 12^th century culture. The little that has come down to us of the wealth that was destroyed in enemy raids, that perished in fires or was lost through negligence, proves not just the existence of good literary works but also the general development of literature at the time. There were several literary schools, numerous genres, a demand for literature and an ingrained habit of reading.

The diversity of schools, styles, traditions and genres in architecture, painting and literature, reflecting the fractionisation of the land into separate feudal princedoms, must also be put down to another development, typical for the 12^th century, that is, the intensified influence of the old local folk tradition exerted on the development of the Russian national culture. This influence was at its strongest during the writing of The Lay, although it had begun long before, and the poem with its natural combination of folk tradition and elements of refined literature is indisputably typical for the 12^th century.

The name of the author is unknown to us, and will hardly ever be known. So far, all the attempts to establish his identity have been based on the most fantastic assumptions.

Still, there are some things we can assume about the author, his views, and his social position. First of all, he was not a monk, he was most likely a soldier, seeing how familiar he is with military concepts. He was undoubtedly an educated man and did not belong to the toiling class. In his political views, however, he clearly gave his sympathies to the working population of Russia, and had none for the class interests of the feudal elite. That is why he uses elements of folk poetry so freely. He wrote The Lay soon after Igor’s campaign of 1185. It is not a historical tale about the remote past, it is a response to a recent happening that still hurts. He speaks of things that are very well known to him. It is a fresh impression of something that his readers, his contemporaries, still vividly remember, and therefore the poem is full of hints, reminders, and muted indications. There is no doubt that in the 16^th century The Lay was copied out in Pskov or else in Novgorod.

 

Упр. 4. Письменно ответьте на вопросы:

1. When was "The Lay of the Warfare waged by Igor" written? 2. When was it first published? 3. Was the manusript of the Lay preserved? 4. Did everybody at that time believe that the poem was genuine? 5. What proves that it was genuine? 6. What can be said about the development of literature in the 12^th century?

 

Контрольная работа № 3

Вариант № 1

Упр. 1. Заполните таблицу, поставив предложения в соответствую-щие времена пассивного залога:

Время	Предложение	Обстоятельство	Перевод
Present Simple	A dictation is written	twice a week.
Past Simple		an hour ago.
Future Simple		in the morning.
Present Continuous		now.
Past Continuous		when I came into the classroom.
Present Perfect		just.
Past Perfect		before they bell rang.
Future Perfect		by 12 o’clock.

 

Упр. 2. Распределите предложения на 2 группы:

1) предложения в Active Voice;

2) предложения в Passive Voice;

Определите время каждого предложения. Предложения переведите:

1. We have read the book. 2. The book has been already read. 3. Water surrounds an island. 4. Bob mailed the package. 5. He was invited to the party. 6. I’ll ask you to do this work. 7. I’ll be asked to help him. 8. The meeting was canceled by the president. 9. I was given the money. 10. They were brought the telegram. 11. They brought me the telegram.

 

Упр. 3. Вставьте can, may или must в нужной форме:

1. I … go and see him in a day or two. 2. … you drive? 3. It … rain tonight. 4. You … use all my books. 5. May I take your pencil? – Yes, you …. 6. John … be at the station by now. 7. … you give me this magazine? 8. At 2 o’clock they … go to the dining-room for dinner. 9. … I read the letter? 10. You … not smoke so much.

 

Упр. 4. Сделайте предложения отрицательными и вопросительными:

1. I can see him there. 2. We must go there at once. 3. He may come tomorrow. 4. You may take this magazine. 5. I can imagine how angry he is. 6. You must talk to your daughter about her future.

 

Упр. 5. Подчеркните модальные глаголы и их эквиваленты. Предложения переведите:

1. You ought to have another opinion. 2. The little boy could not open the heavy door, so a passer-by had to do it for him. 3. It cannot be true. 4. I had to do it yesterday. 5. You should do it now. 6. We were to meet at the entrance of the theatre at a quarter to eight. 7. I shall have to take the pupils into the hills, as usual. 8. Did you have to walk all the way home? 9. You should be more careful. 10. It may snow soon. 11. Why couldn’t you do it yourself? 12. Can I have my photo taken?

 

Упр. 6. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to be. Глагол to be подчеркните:

1. How are they to know that you are here? 2. In silence the soup was finished – excellent, if a little thick, and fish was brought. In silence it was handed. 3. I am leaving tonight. 4. The house was too big. 5. It will be much cooler there. 6. They were to go to Spain for the honeymoon. 7. They were thus introduced by Holly. 8. When I returned to town the school was still being built. 9. I never talk while I am working. 10. She is to say nothing of this to anybody.

 

Упр. 7. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to have:

1. As I was to be there at 5 o’clock, I had to take a taxi. 2. I did not have to walk, I took a tram. 3. I am a little frightened for I have lost my way. 4. Have you ever translated technical articles? 5. I am tired. I shall go and have a nap before dinner. 6. I’d like to have a look at that part of the world. 7. She wants to have her hair cut. 8. You will have many new friends.

Вариант № 2

Упр. 1. Заполните таблицу, поставив предложения в соответствую-щие времена пассивного залога:

Время	Предложение	Обстоятельство	Перевод
Present Simple	A text is dis-cussed	twice a week.
Past Simple		an hour ago.
Future Simple		in the morning.
Present Continuous		now.
Past Continuous		when I came into the classroom.
Present Perfect		just.
Past Perfect		before they bell rang.
Future Perfect		by 12 o’clock.

Упр. 2. Распределите предложения на 2 группы:

3) предложения в Active Voice;

4) предложения в Passive Voice;

Определите время каждого предложения. Предложения переведите:

1. She was offered a new job. 2. You will teach English next year. 3. You will be taught English next year. 4. She has been always admired. 5. I am being waited for. 6. They helped me a lot. 7. She is laughed at. 8. They were helped a lot. 9. The documents haven’t been typed yet. 10. I interviewed some people to the job. 11. Ann is often spoken about.

 

Упр. 3. Вставьте can, may или must в нужной форме:

1. A fool may ask more questions that a wise man … answer. 2. … you speak English? – Of course, I …. 3. … I write in pencil? – No, you … not. 4. Jack … run for two hours without a rest. 5. You … clean your teeth every day. 6. We … work at our English systematically. 7. Children … obey their parents. 8. … I smoke here? 9. You … call on me if you need my help. 10. … you draw?

Упр. 4. Сделайте предложения отрицательными и вопросительными:

1. He can translate the text. 2. She could walk very fast. 3. We must go now. 4. You must consult a doctor. 5. She may take my book. 6. You may come in.

 

Упр. 5. Подчеркните модальные глаголы и их эквиваленты. Предложения переведите:

1. We’ll have to wait for Ann. 2. I was to do this work. 3. May I use your phone? 4. You must not smoke so much. 5. She was and remains a riddle to me. She may not be a riddle to you. 6. He ought never to have married a woman 18 years younger than himself. 7. You should be more careful. 8. What am I to do? 9. Why should I do it? 10. It couldn’t be true. 11. You ought to say a word or two about yourself. 12. He may have been at home for about two hours.

Упр. 6. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to be. Глагол to be подчеркните:

1. Erik says that you may be coming to New York. 2. We are to go there tonight. 3. Where is he to be found? 4. What were you doing at that time? 5. I am fond of animals. 6. He was not answered. 7. He may be ill. 8. They are in the next room. 9. My sister says I am to leave you alone. 10. She was my friend.

Упр. 7. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to have:

1. He had his watch mended. 2. Let’s have a smoke in the corridor. 3. She has no time for me. 4. You have to go to the dentist. 5. Where have you been since last Thuesday? 6. I have known him for many years. 7. Those two had not spoken to each other for three days and were in a state of rage. 8. Did you have to walk all the way home?

Вариант № 3

Упр. 1. Заполните таблицу, поставив предложения в соответствую-щие времена пассивного залога:

Время	Предложение	Обстоятельство	Перевод
Present Simple	A new material is explained	twice a week.
Past Simple		an hour ago.
Future Simple		in the morning.
Present Continuous		now.
Past Continuous		when I came into the classroom.
Present Perfect		just.
Past Perfect		before they bell rang.
Future Perfect		by 12 o’clock.

Упр. 2. Распределите предложения на 2 группы:

5) предложения в Active Voice;

6) предложения в Passive Voice;

Определите время каждого предложения. Предложения переведите:

1. The reporter was given 20 minutes. 2. I am told nothing. 3. This little girl is taught music. 4. We have written the letter. 5. She told her nothing. 6. She has been sent 2 telegrams. 7. Teachers often ask questions. 8. They were helped a lot when they were children. 9. They haven’t yet sent for the assistant. 10. We shall be translating the article for the next 45 minutes. 11. We are translating the sentences now.

 

Упр. 3. Вставьте can, may или must в нужной форме:

1. … I sit down? 2. I … not answer this question. 3. … I speak to you? 4. You … be ready by 9 o’clock. 5. He … speak English fluently. 6. Jane … climb high mountains. 7. Pupils … obey their teachers. 8. If you want to know English, you … read much. 9. It … rain today. Take the umbrella. 9. … we take these books? 10. You … ring me up if you need my help.

Упр. 4. Сделайте предложения отрицательными и вопросительными:

1. Her name can be Doolittle. 2. He can do it for you. 3. You may come in. 4. He may be in the house now. 5. You must do that. 6. We must come tomorrow.

Упр. 5. Подчеркните модальные глаголы и их эквиваленты. Предложения переведите:

1. We worked that land for maybe a hundred years. 2. You should consult a doctor. 3. What a pity you have to go now. 4. Am I to come tomorrow? 5. I’m afraid I must be off. 6. I don’t see why we shouldn’t make friends. 7. You ought to help him; he is in trouble. 8. Why do I have to do everything? 9. He must have been writing a letter when I came. 10. Could I have a cup of tea, Mother? 11. At your age you ought to be earning your living. 12. Is he to arrive tomorrow?

Упр. 6. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to be. Глагол to be подчеркните:

1. We are to wait for them at the entrance. 2. What is to become of him? 3. I haven’t been given a chance to explain. 4. We were told some interesting news. 5. Peter is busy. 6. They are in the language laboratory. 7. What are you crying for? 8. You were to arrive yesterday. 9. I am telling you the truth. 10. You have been a good deal talked about.

Упр. 7. Переведите, обращая внимание на разные функции глагола to have:

1. Have you a letter for me, postman? 2. What have they done? 3. She was no fool. She had read much, in several languages, and she could talk of the books she had read with good sense. 4. She knows what she has to do. 5. They will have to come here again. 6. He had his leg broken. 7. I had breakfast at home. 8. She has not slept since that night.

ЧАСТЬ IV

LESSON 1