“Pan Tadeusz” by AdamMickiewicz is recognized asthe national epic of Poland. Itis compulsory reading inPolish schools. A film based onthe poem was made in 1999by Andrzej Wajda.

The story takes place over thecourse of five days in 1811and one day in 1812 at a pointin Polish history, when Poland-Lithuania had already beendivided between Russia,Prussia, and Austria (Partitionsof Poland) and disappearedfrom the political map ofEurope.

The place is situated withinthe Russian partition, in thevillage of Soplicowo. PanTadeusz recounts the story oftwo feuding noble families,and the love between TadeuszSoplica (the title character) ofone family, and Zosia of theother. Another subplotinvolves Poland's attempt tofree itself from Russian rule inNapoleonic times.

Publiczne Gimnazjum nr 7 im.ks. Stanisława Konarskiego w

Białymstoku

ul. Stołeczna 6

15-879 Białystok

http://pg7.bialystok.pl/

Comenius conference

in Poland

27-30.10.2009

Challenge

PAN

TADEUSZ CZYLI OSTATNI ZAJAZD NA LITWIE.

HISTORIA SZLACHECKA Z ROKU

1811 I 1812 WE DWUNASTU

KSIĘGACH WIERSZEM PISANA

MISTER THADDEUS

OR THE LAST FORAY IN LITHUANIA:

A HISTORY OF THE NOBILITY IN THE

YEARS 1811 AND 1812 IN TWELVE

BOOKS OF VERSE

Fragments

BreakfastThey served differentrefreshments to ladies and men:Here a whole coffee service ontrays was brought in,Trays enormous, each paintedwith exquisite flowers,And upon each a steaming tincoffeepot towers,And cups of gilded Dresden fineporcelain gleam,With each cup a small pitchercontaining the cream.

Such coffee as inPoland you'll notfind elsewhere:In a good house, inPoland, by oldcustom there,Making coffee's the task of onehousemaid alone(As the coffee-maid known), whoimports from the town,The best beans, or from tradingbarge buys them, and whoHas her own secret ways ofpreparing the brew,Which as jet-black as coal is, andas amber limpid:Is as fragrant as mocca, and ashoney viscid.

The resemblance betweenMushroom-gathering and apromenade of Elysian shades

In a deep meditation, in ownthoughts engrossed.The Count perceived a tableau ofElysian ghosts,Which, though nor ills nor caresnow above their heads loom,Wander soundless, serene, yetsunk deep in their gloom

The varieties of mushrooms

There were mushrooms aplenty:the lads 'foxies' gather,In Lithuanian song praised morethan is any other,These are maidenhood's emblems,no worm will them blight,And more strange, on them will notan insect alight.After slender 'boletus' the youngladies throng,Which is famed as the colonel ofmushrooms in song.All look out for the 'milk-cup', he of

the slim waist:Though less featured in ballads, ithas the best taste,Fresh or salted, for autumn, orwinter use rather,Put away. But the Tribune, ofcourse, 'fly-bane' gathered.

The Polonaise

For the polonaise now-so theChamberlain leavesHis seat, tossing back lightly hiskontusz's sleeves,And, twirling his moustache, heto Zosia advanced;With a fine bow, invites her tolead off thedance.In theChamberlain'strain soon a chainof pairs gathers,The sign's givenfor dancing-heleads all theothers.