CZECH or BOHEMIAN LITERATURE. Among the Slavic literatures the Czech is in ferior to the Russian or the Polish (qq.v.), al though chronologically it precedes them both.
First Period (to 1110).—The earliest literature of the Czech language came into existence with the introduction of Christianity in Bohemia, in 865, by Cyril and Methodius, the apostles of the Slays. The earliest extant monument is the Ky rie Eleisou pomil j ny (Lord, have mercy upon us). Greek Christianity. and the Cyrillic alphabet (see KIRILLITSA), however, gave way to Latin Catholicism and Roman script. The famous Grtlneherg manuscript (eighth or ninth century), the Judgment of Libusha,and the Kinfiginhof manuscript (thirteenth or fourteenth century), discovered by Hanka in 1817, arc the only remains in the native tongue which belong to this period, and their authenticity is somewhat doubtful. The influence of the Teu tonic knights was growing rapidly among the natives, and the result was that until about the fourteenth century vernacular literature was entirely superseded by Latin. At the end of the thirteenth century a Czech translation of the Latin Alexandreis of Gualterus de Insulis (Phil ip Gaultier de Chatillon) was made, and to the early years of the following century belong Czech versions of two episodes from the Ar thurian legend— Tristram, according to Eilhart of Oberge and Gottfried of Strassbnrg, and Tau daria.i and Floribella, after Pleier. Original works in Czech are the famous Rhymed Chron icle of Bohemia, by Dalimil, of 1314, and the ro mantic story Tkadleeelo (The Weaver), written in strikingly beautiful prose about the end of the fourteenth century. Other works that contrib uted to the development of the literature were translations of the travels of Marco Polo and Sir John Mandeville. The original writers of the period are: Thomas Stit0 (1325-1410). one of the first alumni of the University of Prague, which was founded in I34S: Andrew of Duba, and the poet Fialka. Stith exercised a great influence over religion and literature in Bohemia, and, properly speaking, paved the way for the later Hussite movement. Andrew of Duba is the reputed minim. of The Book of the Old Lord Rosenberg and The Exposit ion of the Lou' of the Bohemian Land. Sail Flaaa, Lord of Par dubitz, composed didactic and satirical poems— Mt flier's Advice to II is Son: Contest water and Trine: Dispute Bet wren Body and Non? err ; and The tlroom and the Scholar. They abound in local allusions, and arc a rich mine of information for the culture history of the country.
SCC011d Period (1410-1620).—The Golden Age of Czech literature.
The reformer Jan lhiss, who, by the religious movement which he inaugurated, contributed so powerfully toward the assertion of nationality by the Czechs, gave an immense impulse to the development of Czech literature. and 1410—the year of his open breach with Rome—is commonly considered the beginning of a new era. Though a master of the Latin tongue, Huss preferred Czech for works which were designed for the people as a whole, and the language received at his hands a perfection which it had never before attained. Since his time the Czech has undergone tively little change from a linguistic point of view. Buss adopted as the basis the speech in actual use around Prague. He contributed, over, to the development of the language 'linden] works like his Czech Orthography (pub. lisped in 1857 by Sembera). After the death of Huss the Moravian Brethren assiduously vated the spirit of nationalism, and directed their energies to developing their native idiom. Among these champions of the people, the lowing names are the most noteworthy: Petr (1390-1460), a pupil of Huss, was the theoretic-al expounder of his master's doctrines. In his works, such as The :Vet of Faith and Book of Expositions of Sunday Lessons, various gious and political questions are treated in a surprisingly liberal manner. Other writers of
distinction of this period are Victoria Cornelius Webrd (1460-1520), the author of Nine Books of Laws . . . is Bohemia, and Ctibor Cim burg (1437-94), who wrote the famous Toraeov Book—only two out of a long line of famous jurists, who devoted their time and labors to the scientific exposition and systematization of Bohemian law. Their works are written in nms terly style, and contributed much to the progress of the Czech juridical language. These two, with several others, constituted the Hussite minority among, the humanists who made their appearance in Bohemia with the Renaissance. The other, more numerous faction of the humanists, was, strange as it may seem, solidly opposed to the -doctrines of Huss. Among these were Bohuslav of Lobkovic (1462-1510) and Reho• FfrubS' of Jelent (14501514). Lobkovic collected the most remarkable library of his time, wherein he was greatly helped by the introduction of printing in Bohemia in 1468, when the Trojan Chronicle, the first book to be printed in the Czech language, -appeared at Pilsen. Lobkovic and his contem poraries laid all subsequent Bohemian literature under deep obligations. They translated Greek and Latin classics, as Cicero, Seneca, Isocrates; wrote Latin poems; compiled lexicographical works, like the Lexicon Symphonum, of the Czech, Greek, Latin, and German languages, by Sieg mund (1497-1554), son of Rehol. Grammatical studies of the Czech language were embodied in Jan Blahoslav's (1523-71) Czech Orammar (1571). It contains disquisitions on time subjeet of how to translate idiomatically va rious words, phrases, constructions. etc. Literary and scientific activity was at its height. and men of science, like Tycho de Brake and Kepler, made Bohemia their home. The Bohemian historians of this period combined with their patriotic zeal a scientific preparation and seriousness of purpose which made their work especially valu able and reliable. They found their prototype in the anonymous Old Bohemian Annals, embrac ing the period of 137S-1527. Adam Veleslavin (1545-99), whose Historical Calendar is his best known work, represents the highest type among these historians. Vaelav Hajek ( ?-1553) is the author of a Chronicle more interesting than accurate. Jan Blahoslav, who has been men tioned above, wrote an excellent history of the _Moravian Brethren, of whom he was a bishop. He is also famous for his supervision of the Czech translation of the Bible from the original tongues, which is for the Czech what the King James Version of the Bible is for the English. Blahoslav did not live to see his work printed; it was published in six volumes in l570-93, at the expense of Jan of Zerotin, a _Moravian patron of letters, and is known as 'the Kralitz Bible. The unusual vigor displayed in the do main of prose and the widening of the intel lectual horizon were naturally communicated to the field of poetry. Prince Ilynek Podebrad (1452-92) wrote his Nay Dream and other poems which won favor. Niebolas Daicky (1555-1626) composed a satirical poem. Prosto prarda, and many works of an historical char acter. Among the religious poets Jan ( 1500-72), a :Moravian bishop, deserves special mention. Tlw greatest poet of the latter part of this period, which is known as the 'Golden Age,' was Simon LomnickS (1552- after 1622). His works include didactic and satirical poems and sacred dramas. Chief among them are the satire C'upid's Arrow, for which the King, Rudolph 11.. ennobled him and granted him an annuity; and the didactic Short Precept for a Young Householder, which is full of valuable allusions to the manners and customs of the time.