Jan Achacy Kmita

Jan Achacy Kmita (died 1624) was a Polish poet and translator from Bochnia. He translated Virgil's Aeneid and Eclogues (Kraków, 1591, 1588) and was particularly well known for his funerary poetry,^[1] including Treny na Śmierć Katarzyny Barnickiey Starościny Niepołomickiey (Cracow, 1588) and Łów Dyjanny (Cracow, 1588). His other writings included Żywoty Królów polskich (1591); Spitamegeranomachia (Cracow, 1595), a mock-heroic work about the wars of Stefan Batory; and a prefatory poem in Simon Syrenius's Zielnik (1613).

Kmita was a member of the Babin Republic.^[2]

In addition to his literary activities, Kmita served as podżupnik (administrator) of the Bochnia Salt Mine.^[3]

Selected works

• O Eneaszu Trojańskim (1591)
• Zywoty Krolow Polskich (Cracow: W Drukarni M. Scharffenbergera, 1591)
• Spitamegeranomachia (1595)
• Penelopea, abo niewinność cudowney niewiasty (1610)
• Proces sprawy Bocheńskiey (1610)
• Ierycho Nowe (1615)
• Symaryjusz przypowieści Salomonowych skomplikowany (Cracow, 1622)
• O Confederaciey Lwowskiey w Roku 1622 Uczynioney Nauka za Pozwoleniem Urzędowym Wydana: Mutlis Simul Criminibus Obruitur qui Contra Patriam Peccat: Impietate, Ingratudine, Ciuium Perturbatione, Ac Matricidi (first ed. after 1622; repr. 1858)
• Peszach Hoc est Pascha Siue Transitus a Vitiis Ad Summos Apices Virtutem et Religionem (1623)

References

1. Teter, Magda. Sinners on Trial: Jews and Sacrilege after the Reformation. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2011.
2. M. Cytowska and Z. Wojas "Kmita, Jan Achacy," in Polski Słownik Biograficzny, vol. 13 (Wrocław, 1967), 94.
3. M. Cytowska and Z. Wojas "Kmita, Jan Achacy," in Polski Słownik Biograficzny, vol. 13 (Wrocław, 1967), 93.