France Preseren - Slovenian poet

France Preseren was born 3 December 1800 in the Upper Carniolan village Vrba. Then it was part of Habsburg Monarchy, buto today is in Slovenia.

When he was eight, he went to elementary school in Grosuplje and later in Ribnica. In the year 1812, he moved to Ljubljana to attende State Gymnasium.

He learned Latin, Ancient Greek and German (language of education, administration and culture). His talent spotted the poet Valentin Vodnik and encouraged him to develop his writings in mother, Slovene language.

Later he became friend with Matija Cop, who had important influence on development of Preseren's writings. In the aeyr 1821 he continued his education at University in Vienna. Despite mothers wishes to become a priest, he studiet law.

In Vienna he read Homer, Goethe, Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio.

After finishing law degree in year 828, he came back to Ljubljana. He started as assistant in the firm of lawyer Leopold Baumgartner. He tried to become independent lawyer, but despite six applications he was not successful.

In the spring of 1833, he saw Julija Primiceva in the church of Trnovo. She was daughter of a rich merchant and she became the unfulfilled love of his life. After three years he realized that his love will never become mutual.

Later he met Ana Jelovsek and engaged with her in relationship. He never married, altough they had three children. Many times he travelled to Bled and to other parts of Carniolla, wher he drew inspiration for his songs.

In 1846 he opened his own law firm in Kranj. After only three years he died there on 8 February 1849.

Preseren's means very much in Slovenian culture. He is named as national biggest poet. In the central square in Ljubljana was in 1905 placed his monumentum. The place is now called Preseren Square.

After slovenia got independet in 1990, a part of his song Zdravljica, the seventh stanza was declared as the national anthem of Slovenia (previous was Naprej zastava slave). Two years later his portrait was stamped on Slovenian 1000 tolar bill and in 2007 his image is on Slovenian two-euro coin. Also the highest Slovenian prize for artistic achievements is named the Preseren Award.

The vintage, friends, is over,
And here sweet wine makes, once again,
Sad eyes and hearts recover,
Puts fire into every vein.
Drowns dull care
Everywhere
And summons hope out of despair.

To whom with acclamation
And song shall we our first toast give?
God save our land and nation
And all Slovenes where'er they live,
Who own the same
Blood and name,
And who one glorious Mother claim.

Let thunder out of heaven
Strike down and smite our wanton foe!
Now, as it once had thriven,
May our dear realm in freedom grow.
May fall the last
Chains of the past
Which bind us still and hold us fast!

Let peace, glad conciliation,
Come back to us throughout the land!
Towards their destination
Let Slavs henceforth go hand-in-hand!
Thus again
Will honour reign
To justice pledged in our domain.

To you, our pride past measure,
Our girls! Your beauty, charm and grace!
There surely is no treasure
To equal maidens of such race.
Sons you'll bear,
Who will dare
Defy our foe no matter where.

Our hope now, our to-morrow -
The youths - we toast and toast with joy.
No poisonous blight or sorrow
Your love of homeland shall destroy.
With us indeed
You're called to heed
Its summons in this hour of need.

God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be.

At last to our reunion -
To us the toast! Let it resound,
Since in this gay communion
By thoughts of brotherhood we're bound
May joyful cheer
Ne'er disappear
From all good hearts now gathered here.

One of his very important work is "Sonnets of Unhappiness" (Sonetje nesrece). They were firs published 1834. This is one of his most pessimistic poem. First sonnet is talking about regrets, of him left his home village and become very popular samo 15-20 years ago. Vlado Kreslin created one of the best rock songs with words from this sonnet. Other sonnets are not so popular, but it still, these sonnets are his best poems

O Vrba! srecna, draga vas domaca,
kjer hisa mojega stoji oceta;
de b' uka zeja me iz tvojga svéta
speljala ne bila, goljfiva kaca!

Ne vedel bi, kako se v strup prebraca
vse, kar srce si sladkega obeta;
mi ne bila bi vera v sebe vzeta,
ne bil viharjov nótranjih b' igraca!

Zvestó srce in delavno rocico
za doto, ki je nima miljonarka,
bi bil dobil z izvoljeno devico;

mi mirno plavala bi moja barka,
pred ognjam dom, pred toco mi psenico
bi bliznji sosed vároval - svet' Marka.

France Preseren was born on 3rd Vrba in December 1800 under the chair as the third child and first son Simen Preseren (1762-1837) and mother Mini (1774-1842), born Svetina. The house was at home said Pr 'Ribc'' where little France, together with sisters and brothers spent childhood.

Preseren birth house in Vrba is regulated in the style of poets life age. The lobby is located at least 200 years old mestinjak (mentrga), which was used to create bread. Above him is a genuine sklednik, in the lobby, however, the old Fishermen chest. Inside there is , come in black kitchen, which is completely such as the past. On the left side of the house is the main lounge.

Interior, which the visitor can see, is more than interesting. Acer table in the corner with chairs and bench is around 200 years old, also wheel, aerial clock on the wall is also jast as at poets birth. From the houseyou get at kamra, former bedroom of Preseren spouses and poets birth room. The most important exhibit in kamra is certainly poets cradle. At this time is on display in kamra, but once adorned Preseren a lawyer's office in Kranj, Slovenia.

Kam.si - Dr. France Preseren - najvecji slovenski pesnik

Izbrana poezija - dr. Franceta Preserna

Preseren.net - life and works

en.Wikipedia - free enciklopedia

Miran Hladnik - France Preseren and Slovenian identity

Britannica.com - France Preseren - Slovene poet

Slovenia.si - France Preseren - a poet of imperishable fame