absorbed by Lethe’s stream.
Then it may be, O flattering tale,
Some future ignoramus shall
My famous portrait indicate
And cry: he was a poet great!
My gratitude do not disdain,
Admirer of the peaceful Muse,
Whose memory doth not refuse
My light productions to retain,
Whose hands indulgently caress
The bays of age and helplessness.
Canto the Third
‘Elle était fille, elle était amoureuse’
I
“Whither away? Deuce take the bard!” —
“Good-bye, Onegin, I must go.” —
“I won’t detain you; but ’tis hard
To guess how you the eve pull through.” —
“At Larina’s.” – “Hem, that is queer!
Pray is it not a tough affair
Thus to assassinate the eve?” —
“Not at all.” – “That I can’t conceive!
‘Tis something of this sort I deem.
In the first place, say, am I right?
A Russian household simple quite,
Who welcome guests with zeal extreme,
Preserves and an eternal prattle
About the rain and flax and cattle.” —
II
“No misery I see in that” —
“Boredom, my friend, behold the ill – ”
“Your fashionable world I hate,
Domestic life attracts me still,
Where – “ – “What! another eclogue spin?
For God’s sake, Lenski, don’t begin!
What! really going? ’Tis too bad!
But Lenski, I should be so glad
Would you to me this Phyllis show,
Fair source of every fine idea,
Verses and tears et cetera.
Present me.” – “You are joking.” – “No.” —
“Delighted.” – “When?” – “This very night.
They will receive us with delight.”
III
Whilst homeward by the nearest route
Our heroes at full gallop sped,
Can we not stealthily make out
What they in conversation said? —
“How now, Onegin, yawning still?” —
“‘Tis habit, Lenski.” – “Is your ill
More troublesome than usual?” – “No!
How dark the night is getting though!
Hallo, Andriushka, onward race!
The drive becomes monotonous —
Well! Larina appears to us
An ancient lady full of grace. —
That bilberry wine, I’m sore afraid,
The deuce with my inside has played.”
IV
“Say, of the two which was Tattiana?”
“She who with melancholy face
And silent as the maid Svetlana[27]
Hard by the window took her place.” —
“The younger, you’re in love with her!”
“Well!” – “I the elder should prefer,
Were I like you a bard by trade —
In Olga’s face no life’s displayed.
‘Tis a Madonna of Vandyk,
An oval countenance and pink,
Yon silly moon upon the brink
Of the horizon she is like!” —
Vladimir something curtly said
Nor further comment that night made.
V
Meantime Onegin’s apparition
At Larina’s abode produced
Quite a sensation; the position
To all good neighbours’ sport conduced.
Endless conjectures all propound
And secretly their views expound.
What jokes and guesses now abound,
A beau is for Tattiana found!
In fact, some people were assured
The wedding-day had been arranged,
But the date subsequently changed
Till proper rings could be procured.
On Lenski’s matrimonial fate
They long ago had held debate.
VI
Of course Tattiana was annoyed
By such allusions scandalous,
Yet was her inmost soul o’erjoyed
With satisfaction marvellous,
As in her heart the thought sank home,
I am in love, my hour hath come!
Thus in the earth the seed expands
Obedient to warm Spring’s commands.
Long time her young imagination
By indolence and languor fired
The fated nutriment desired;
And long internal agitation
Had filled her youthful breast with gloom,
She waited for – I don’t know whom!
VII
The fatal hour had come at last —
She oped her eyes and cried: ’tis he!
Alas! for now before her passed
The same warm vision constantly;
Now all things round about repeat
Ceaselessly to the maiden sweet
His name: the tenderness of home
Tiresome unto her hath become
And the kind-hearted servitors:
Immersed in melancholy thought,
She hears of conversation nought
And hated casual visitors,
Their coming which no man expects,
And stay whose length none recollects.
VIII
Now with what eager interest
She the delicious novel reads,
With what avidity and zest
She