Иван Тургенев
Крылов и его басни

Mr. Ralston’s translation leaves nothing to desire in the matter of accuracy or colouring, and the fables which he has added are not amongst the least welcome. The short preface and memoir prefixed to the volume, and the historical and literary notes on some of the fables, have been done conscientiously and con amore. It will not be his fault if Krilof does not prove to be thoroughly «naturalised» in England.

Personally, the present writer remembers to have seen Krilof once a short time before his death. He had a majestic head rather massive and heavy, fine white hair, pendent cheeks, the mouth large but well formed and earnest, the eye fixed and eyelid drooping, an expression of indolence and almost of apathy on the whole face, but with intelligence and humour, as it were, showing through. He scarcely ever spoke, but listened – brilliantly, if I may say so, since his silence was accompanied by an internal sort of smile, as if he were imparting to himself a number of lively observations never destined to be given to the world.

One anecdote of Krilof has been communicated to us by the person who witnessed the incident, which throws additional light on his indolent and original character. A large and heavy picture, which hung just above the place where Krilof generally sat, had slipped from one of the nails which supported it and threatened to fall on the head of the thoughtless fabulist. His attention was called to the danger, and he replied quietly: «Oh! I have studied the situation, and I calculate that if the picture falls, it will take a diagonal line, just clear of my head». And so, for a long time, the picture continued to hang askew and Krilof to sit under it.

I. Tourguéneff