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

"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 gladWould 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, Oneguine, 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[32] 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 Oneguine's apparitionAt Larina's abode producedQuite a sensation; the positionTo all good neighbours' sport conduced.Endless conjectures all propoundAnd secretly their views expound.What jokes and guesses now abound,A beau is for Tattiana found!In fact, some people were assuredThe wedding-day had been arranged,But the date subsequently changedTill proper rings could be procured.On Lenski's matrimonial fateThey 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