KOCHANOWSKI,
Jan, Polish poet: b. Sycyna, 1530; d. Lublin, 22 Aug. 1584. He was educated at the High School, Cracow; studied at Padua (1552), and traveled in Italy. He then went to Paris (1555) and was inspired by Ronsard to write poetry. Re turning to his native country he was appointed secretary to King Sigismund Augustu. He was granted two benefices (1565 and 1566), but re turned to live on his family estate, Czarnlyas (1568), where he devoted his time to the Muses. In 1575 lie resigned from the duties of his religious offices and was invited to reside at the court by the newly-crowned king, Stephan Bathory, but refused the honor, as also the office of Kastellan, tendered him by Chan cellor Zamojski. Next to MicIdewicz, he was the most important poet of Poland. His
known poems of his are 'Proporzec albo hold pruski' ((The Banner or Homage to Prus sia') ; the satiric poem
goda>
ap peared in 1564;
was published in 1584 and is in the gayest strain, re minding of the
His transla tions of the
is considered to be the best in existence. He wrote also, in Latin, such works as