In the 17th and 18th centuries Rumanian literature has more national features, but judg ing by its content it is the spontaneous con tinuation of the church literature of the 16th century. In this epoch were published prayer books, psalms and sermons. Among the church authors of that time was the Wallachian metropolitan, Varlaam, who (hated idleness and loved work.) He founded in Bucharest a printing press and invited there men of ex perience who understood their business. The first book published in this printing-house was (The Key of Understanding" (Cheaia ;nick salmi, Bucurest ani dom 1678) written by the rector of the Theological Academy of Kiev, and prefaced by Varlaam himself. Later on were published several books of the Metropolitan Dositheiu, of which the most significant is the Vieitile Sfinhilor ((Lives of the Saints)) 2 vols., Jassy 1683). To this kind of literature belongs the Mdntuirea pacatosilor, or of Sin nets," translated from the Greek by a certain Cozma in 1682, which may be regarded as a storehouse of mediaeval exempla; and the (Mir ror of Kings,) ascribed to Prince Neagoe Bas saraba, written originally in Slavonic and trans lated into Rumanian about 1650. Joan of Vinji compiled Sicriu de aid.((The Golden Treasury," Sasz-Shebesh 1688), from some Hungarian Calvinistic collections of obituary sermons. The brothers Radu and §erban Greceanu translated Morgaritare Pearls') an anthology made from the Greek homilies of Saint Chrysostom, Epiphanius, Anastasius and Sinaita.
Of greater interest in Rumanian literature are historical productions. They are short an nals, written originally in Slavonic by monks in the monasteries of Moldavia and Wallachia. Some of these annals were written in the 16th century, but most of them have not been pre served. The annalists of the later period were usually the sons of the boyars from Moldavia, educated in Polish and Russian universities, such as Gregorie Ureche (1590-1646), who wrote (Doininii tarii Moldovei viata lor,) and his contemporary Miron Costin whose writings rank as classical. Costin's best works are pentru descalecatul de'entiiu a tarii Moldovii,) and tarii MoldoveL) in cluding the events from 1594 to 1662. The son of the latter, Nicolae 'Costin (1660-1712), con tinued the work of his father, and Jon Necuice (167Z-1743) wrote the history of Moldavia from 1662 to 1743, a history in which he was participant himself as an eye-witness. In Wallachia the earlier history was written by Radu Logofatul Greceanul (17th century) and Pitarul Hristache, who wrote, about the end of the 18th century, a chronicle in verses: fartelor lui Mavroghene Voda.) A Russian his torian, Nikolai Statariya, called in Rumania Nicolae Milescu, or the Rumanian Marco Polo, wrote interesting historical sketches describing his travelings in China, where he was Am bassador of Russia, and where he died in 1714.
The Transylvanian author, George§incai (1753-1816) founder of the Latinist school in Rumanian literature, spent several years in Roma and published a monumental work Cronica Rommilor aitor neumuri invecissate (Jassy 1853). Magyar censors burned and for bade this work in Transylvania because of its patriotic tendency. Another Transylvanian, Petru Maior (1755-1821) wrote books on his torical, ecclesiastical and linguistic subjects. Two of his most important works are Istoria barericei Rominilor, and especially Istoria pentru inceindul Rominilor.
The beginning of the 19th century was an era of preparation. Two foreign influences manifested themselves, French and Greek, or rather Greek-Phanariote. The national lan guage was ignored and Greek was regarded as classical. Into it were translated the lyric and dramatic poems. Among the higher aristocratic classes Greek and French were exclusively used, especially in the boyar families. Every writer of better standing was supposed to be familiar with these languages and their literatures. A third influence came to be added toward 1816 20, that of Transylvania, which brought an ex alted and intolerant patriotism, born of contact with Hungary, and animated by the Rumanian cult and the hatred of Hellenism. The role of the Transylvanian agents consisted in founding schools and newspapers, while the practical sciences, philosophic conceptions and foreign literatures were subjected to vulgarization. The first men in Rumania who proved that scienti fic works could be written not only in Slavonic and Greek but in Rumanian as well, were George Lazar (died, 1823) and his disciple loan Elude. Radnlescu 72). They were fol lowed by Budal-Deleanu, author of ,many his torical and poetical works who wrote the famous comic epic, Andrei Muresianu was celebrated for some of his patriotic poems and especially the (Desteapta-te, Romine) Rumans"), which became the national anthem of Rumania. Among the writers of this time was also D. Bolintineanu 1819-72) who made his mark with 'The Dying Virgin,) his (Legendele nationale' and F rile Bosforului) of the Bos which latter work described the beauties of Constantinople in very melodious language. He wrote tales which were excel lently styled, but later on his art began to de teriorate, till the Reverie signaled the decline of his inspiration. Grigorie Alecsandrescu (1812-85), another author of the time, wrote with less facility than Bolintineanu, but with more sincerity. His erotic lyrics are now out of fashion, as are all the lyrics of that day. But his patriotic odes have a grandeur that is remarkable, and his satires a great variety of attractions.