Here the lad was compelled to learn Russian, and the first use he made of it was to write caustic epigrams.

At the school examination in 1815, the aged poet Derzhavin was among the visitors; and when he heard the boy read his "Memories of Tzarskoe Selo," he at once predicted his coming greatness.
As is natural at his age, there was not much originality of idea in the poem; but it was amazing for its facility and mastery of poetic forms.
Karamzin and Zhukovsky were not long in adding their testimony to the lad's genius, and the latter even acquired the habit of submitting his own poems to the young poet's judgment.
Pushkin was an omnivorous reader, but his parents had never been pleased with his progress in his studies, or regarded him as clever.

The praise of competent judges now opened their eyes; but he had a good deal to endure from his father, later on, in spite of this.

At this period, Pushkin imitated the most varied poetical forms with wonderful delicacy, and yielded to the most diverse poetical moods.

But even then he was entering on a new path, whose influence on later Russian literature was destined to be incalculably great.