Dmítriev was born in the Government of Simbírsk, where his friend and colleague Karamzín was also born. He entered the army in 1775 as a common soldier, and did not advance to the grade of commissioned officer until 1787. During his military service he privately studied foreign languages and wrote poetry. His first collection of poems, containing Ermák, What Others Say and The Little Dove, appeared in 1795. These are the best of his productions. He also wrote a number of fables that do not suffer by comparison with those of Krylóv. His shorter songs, like The Little Dove, have become very popular, and are part of every song-book, together with Neledínski’s “To the streamlet I’ll repair” and other similar songs. Dmítriev did for poetry what Karamzín was doing for prose,—he purified Russian from the dross of the Church-Slavic language, an inheritance from the days of Lomonósov, and he popularised the Romantic spirit in Russian literature. He also encouraged younger men of talent, such as Krylóv. Dmítriev rapidly rose in honours, until he was made Minister of Justice in 1810. He retired a few years later to his estates near Moscow, where he passed his days surrounded by a coterie of literary men.
The following English versions of his poems have appeared: During a Thunder-Storm, The Tsar and the Two Shepherds, The Broken Fiddle, Over the Grave of Bogdanóvich, Love and Friendship, in Sir John Bowring’s Specimens of the Russian Poets, Part I.; Yermak, Moskva Rescued, To the Volga, Enjoyment, “O had I but known before,” The Little Dove, To Chloe, ib., Part II.; Counsel, The Little Dove, in W. D. Lewis’s The Bakchesarian Fountain; Yermak, The Siskin and the Chaffinch, The Doctor, Sympathy, in C. T. Wilson’s Russian Lyrics; The Moon, in Fraser’s Magazine, 1842 (article, Russian Fabulists).
THE LITTLE DOVE
The little dove, with heart of sadness,
In silent pain sighs night and day;
What now can wake that heart to gladness?
His mate beloved is far away.
He coos no more with soft caresses,
No more is millet sought by him,
The dove his lonesome state distresses,