To meet their final doom,
In spite of th’ warm breath of spring,
Which often faded blossoms bring?
Ah! which of us shall stay to mourn for those
That lie wrapp’d in the silent grave’s repose?”
“Cheer up! and good be ever there,
Shall be our wish at this new year.”
[31] German in Russ is niemetz, from niemoe, dumb. The Slaves always so designated those who could not speak their language. According to some authors, the name of Slaves is derived from slovo, a word, and slovene, i.e. men who speak. The letter o in Russian frequently takes the sound of a. Others say that the name is derived from slava, glory.
[32] I have myself seen in the remote villages grotesque figures painted on the wall outside of the cottages, or else a frightful demon on the apex of the roof in front, which the peasants called a domovoi or house-guardian.