But up to that time, out of all the sorts of poetry existing in Russian literature, only the fable, thanks to Kryloff, had become, in full measure, the organ of nationality, both in spirit and in language; and these two qualities his fables possess in the most profound, national meaning of the term.

His language is peculiar to himself.

He was the first who dared to speak to Russian society, enervated by the harmonious, regular prose of Karamzin, in the rather rough vernacular of the masses, which was, nevertheless, energetic, powerful, and contained no foreign admixture, or any exclusively bookish elements.

One of the most popular of his fables, to which allusion is often made in Russian literature and conversation, is "Demyan's Fish-Soup." The manner in which the lines are rhymed in the original is indicated by corresponding figures.
DEMYAN'S FISH-SOUP "Neighbor, dear, my light! (1) Eat, I pray thee." (2) "Neighbor, dear, I'm full to the throat,"-- "No matter.

(1) Another little plateful; hearken: (2) This fish soup, I assure you, is gloriously cooked." (3) "Three platefuls have I eaten."-- "O, stop that, why keep count, (4) If only you feel like it, (4) Why, eat and health be yours: eat to the bottom! (3) What fish-soup! and how rich in fat (3) As though with amber covered.