KRASINSKI, Zygmunt, COUNT, Polish poet: b. Paris, 19 Feb. 1812; d. there, 23 Feb. 1859. Son of a general, he was educated at the paternal home, which was a rendezvous for Polish authors and poets, under the tuition of Korzeniovski, an author. In his 14th year he wrote several historical romances in Sir Walter Scott's style. He en tered the Warsaw Lyceum (1826), then studied law at the university (1828) but left Poland (1829) on account of the animosities against his father and which he inherited. He traveled through Italy and Switzerland and became acquainted (1830) with Mickiewicz (q.v.) who led him into writing poetry. Along with Mickiewicz and Slowacki he was one of the most notable poets of recent Polish literature. His poems were published under the noms-de plume Konst, Gaszynski, Spiridion Prawdzicki, Ligenza and Mielikowski. First appeared the poetic stories (Agay Han' (Breslau 1833) ; then came dramatic poems Komedya> (Paris 1834) ; the (Undivine Comedy,' in which the writer attempts to solve the greatest prob lems in the political and social spheres. His
chief work, 'Irydion' (Paris 1836), is an epic, semi-dramatic poem showing the contrast be tween the spoiled Rome of the Caesars and the vengeance planned by enslaved Hellas, described in most glowing colors, allegorical of the suf fering Poland. In his (Dawn' (1843), he praises the moral elements entering into the history of Poland and makes the renaissance of his fatherland depend on morality. His 'Psalmv the 'Psalms of the Future> (1845-48), glorifies the heroism of martyrdom and brought forth hot opposition, some terming the work ((lyric cowardice," and by it he lost the friendship of Slowacki. His works have all been translated into the German and a selection, in three volumes, appeared (Leipzig 1863), the most comprehensive, in four volumes (Lemberg 1880-88). Consult Tarnowski, Krasinski' (Cracow 1892) ; Endler, Anna, (Sigismondo Krasinski> (in Nuova Antologia, 5th series, Rome 1913). His letters were pub lished (Lemberg 1882-90) in four volumes.
See IRIDTON.