Published: 20250321
In 2000, UNESCO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day. One of the most renowned Baroque-era poets of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was Motiejus Kazimieras Sarbievijus.
Writing in Latin, Sarbievijus published his poetry collection Three Books of Lyrics in 1625, exactly 400 years ago. This collection brought him fame across 17th-century Europe, with around 60 reprints in different countries. His poems were translated into English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Czech, and Lithuanian.
Sarbievijus was often called the Christian Horace, the Sarmatian Horace, and in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – the Lithuanian Horace. He served as the preacher to Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Władysław Vasa, accompanying the ruler on journeys and hunts. However, long days spent on royal hunts often bored him, and he passed the time by writing poetry.
Inspired by these travels, Sarbievijus wrote a lively work titled "Forest Games" (Silviludia) as a script for the royal court theater. The piece is rich in Lithuanian landscapes and cultural elements.
Professor Eugenija Ulčinaitė, a researcher of old Lithuanian literature and culture, explores the creative process behind "Forest Games" in her article Motiejus Kazimieras Sarbievijus: A Synthesis of Antiquity and Christianity.
On January 4, 1638, writing from Warsaw, Sarbievijus sent the only existing manuscript of "Silviludia" to Bishop S. Lubieński, modestly downplaying its worth: "I send you the only copy of ‘Silviludia.’ Apart from some wordplay, there is nothing here worthy of your attention—nothing more than mediocre. But just as Flemish tapestries depicting hunting scenes are woven almost entirely in shades of green, so too are these ‘Silviludia’ filled with the colors of spring. If, after reading them, you find them enjoyable, that will be the greatest reward. If they make you laugh, that alone will be enough."
Even after four centuries, Sarbievijus' poetry remains a vital part of Lithuanian literary heritage, celebrating both nature and artistic expression.
