Eugene Oneguine [Onegin]. A Romance of Russian Life in Verse

Handsome and rich, the neighbourhood Lenski as a good match received,— Such is the country custom good; All mothers their sweet girls believed Suitable for this semi-Russian. He enters: rapidly discussion Shifts, tacks about, until they prate The sorrows of a single state. Perchance where Dunia pours out tea The young proprietor we find; To Dunia then they whisper: Mind!And a guitar produced we see, And Heavens! warbled forth we hear: Come to my golden palace, dear![26]

XIII

But Lenski, having no desire Vows matrimonial to break, With our Oneguine doth aspire Acquaintance instantly to make.They met. Earth, water, prose and verse, Or ice and flame, are not diverse If they were similar in aught. At first such contradictions wrought Mutual repulsion and ennui, But grown familiar side by side On horseback every day they ride— Inseparable soon they be.Thus oft—this I myself confess— Men become friends from idleness.

XIV

But even thus not now-a-days! In spite of common sense we're wont As cyphers others to appraise, Ourselves as unities to count;And like Napoleons each of us A million bipeds reckons thus One instrument for his own use— Feeling is silly, dangerous.Eugene, more tolerant than this (Though certainly mankind he knew And usually despised it too), Exceptionless as no rule is, A few of different temper deemed, Feeling in others much esteemed.

XV

With smiling face he Lenski hears;The poet's fervid conversationAnd judgment which unsteady veersAnd eye which gleams with inspiration—All this was novel to Eugene.The cold reply with gloomy mienHe oft upon his lips would curb,Thinking: 'tis foolish to disturbThis evanescent boyish bliss.Time without me will lessons give,So meantime let him joyous liveAnd deem the world perfection is!Forgive the fever youth inspires,And youthful madness, youthful fires.

XVI

The gulf between them was so vast, Debate commanded ample food— The laws of generations past, The fruits of science, evil, good, The prejudices all men have, The fatal secrets of the grave, And life and fate in turn selected Were to analysis subjected.The fervid poet would recite, Carried away by ecstasy, Fragments of northern poetry, Whilst Eugene condescending quite, Though scarcely following what was said, Attentive listened to the lad.

XVII