Norwid on Epintenides and Byron

Abstract

Byron often appears in Norwid’s work both as a poet and as a man enjoying Norwid’s unquestionable acceptance. In view of Norwid’s antiromantic declarations and of the widely different experiences of the two writers, this is a remarkable paradox, one that prompts the question which Byron was of interest to the Polish poet.

The list of Norwid’s literary references to Byron’s works shows that Norwid’s interest concentrated on Byron’s autobiographical texts and texts devoted to Greece. Norwid’s reflection was more often concerned with Byron the historical figure and man of action than with Byron the poet. Norwid’s Byronian legend found its literary expression chiefly in three works: the long poem Epimenides, the poetic dialogue Rozmowa umarłych (Discourse of the Dead) and the lectures O Juliuszu Słowackim (On Juliusz Słowacki). The earliest version of the legend appears in Epimenides (1854). The main plot of the poem is an account of an archaeological expedition to Crete. The poem is not so much a satire against archaeology as an ironical text directed against the instrumental treatment of history and culture. The story of Amphipapyron’s expedition provides a foil to such attitudes towards the cultural heritage of the past as Norwid found close to his own. Such an attitude is represented by both Epimenides and Byron. The legendary Cretan philosopher has a prose introduction devoted to him. A comparison of this part of the text with the fullest and oldest existing account of Epimenides’ life found in Diogenes Laertius reveals a clear evangelical stylization of the title character in Norwid’s work. The Polish poet interprets the ancient sage’s attitude as a parabolic anticipation, a préfiguration of the Gospels and Christianity. The figure of Byron as created by Norwid is parallel to that of Epimenides. Norwid connects Byron’s activities in Greece with a revival of values that first took their shape in ancient culture; in his poem Norwid refers to them as Epos. The English poet becomes for him a modern incarnation of the ancient hero, but his deeds, rather than being a simple replica of the old pattern of courageous attitude towards history, enrich the pattern with Christian content. There is a parabolic connection between Epimenides and Byron. Norwid interprets the life of Epimenides as an anticipation of Christ in Greek culture and history, and the Greek chapter of Byron’s biography as a realization of the evangelic attitude in modern times.