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

'Twas she who first within his breast Poetic transport did infuse, And thoughts of Olga first impressed A mournful temper on his Muse.Farewell! thou golden days of love! 'Twas then he loved the tangled grove And solitude and calm delight, The moon, the stars, and shining night— The moon, the lamp of heaven above, To whom we used to consecrate A promenade in twilight late With tears which secret sufferers love— But now in her effulgence pale A substitute for lamps we hail!

XXIII

Obedient she had ever been And modest, cheerful as the morn, As a poetic life serene, Sweet as the kiss of lovers sworn.Her eyes were of cerulean blue, Her locks were of a golden hue, Her movements, voice and figure slight, All about Olga—to a light Romance of love I pray refer, You'll find her portrait there, I vouch; I formerly admired her much But finally grew bored by her.But with her elder sister I Must now my stanzas occupy.

XXIV

Tattiana was her appellation. We are the first who such a name In pages of a love narration With such a perversity proclaim.But wherefore not?—'Tis pleasant, nice, Euphonious, though I know a spice It carries of antiquity And of the attic. Honestly, We must admit but little taste Doth in us or our names appear[27] (I speak not of our poems here), And education runs to waste, Endowing us from out her store With affectation,—nothing more.

XXV

And so Tattiana was her name, Nor by her sister's brilliancy Nor by her beauty she became The cynosure of every eye.Shy, silent did the maid appear As in the timid forest deer, Even beneath her parents' roof Stood as estranged from all aloof, Nearest and dearest knew not how To fawn upon and love express; A child devoid of childishness To romp and play she ne'er would go: Oft staring through the window pane Would she in silence long remain.

XXVI

Contemplativeness, her delight, E'en from her cradle's earliest dream, Adorned with many a vision bright Of rural life the sluggish stream;Ne'er touched her fingers indolent The needle nor, o'er framework bent, Would she the canvas tight enrich With gay design and silken stitch.Desire to rule ye may observe When the obedient doll in sport An infant maiden doth exhort Polite demeanour to preserve, Gravely repeating to another Recent instructions of its mother.

XXVII