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

Tattiana moans and now she sighs And in her grasp the letter shakes, Even the rosy wafer dries Upon her tongue which fever bakes.Her head upon her breast declines And an enchanting shoulder shines From her half-open vest of night. But lo! already the moon's light Is waning. Yonder valley deep Looms gray behind the mist and morn Silvers the brook; the shepherd's horn Arouses rustics from their sleep.'Tis day, the family downstairs, But nought for this Tattiana cares.

XXXV

The break of day she doth not see, But sits in bed with air depressed, Nor on the letter yet hath she The image of her seal impressed.But gray Phillippevna the door Opened with care, and entering bore A cup of tea upon a tray. "'Tis time, my child, arise, I pray!My beauty, thou art ready too. My morning birdie, yesternight I was half silly with affright. But praised be God! in health art thou!The pains of night have wholly fled, Thy cheek is as a poppy red!"

XXXVI

"Ah! nurse, a favour do for me!" "Command me, darling, what you choose" "Do not—you might—suspicious be; But look you—ah! do not refuse.""I call to witness God on high—" "Then send your grandson quietly To take this letter to O— Well! Unto our neighbour. Mind you tell—Command him not to say a word— I mean my name not to repeat." "To whom is it to go, my sweet? Of late I have been quite absurd,—So many neighbours here exist— Am I to go through the whole list?"

XXXVII

"How dull you are this morning, nurse!" "My darling, growing old am I! In age the memory gets worse, But I was sharp in times gone by.In times gone by thy bare command—" "Oh! nurse, nurse, you don't understand! What is thy cleverness to me? The letter is the thing, you see,—Oneguine's letter!"—"Ah! the thing! Now don't be cross with me, my soul, You know that I am now a fool— But why are your cheeks whitening?""Nothing, good nurse, there's nothing wrong, But send your grandson before long."

XXXVIII

No answer all that day was borne. Another passed; 'twas just the same. Pale as a ghost and dressed since morn Tattiana waits. No answer came!Olga's admirer came that day: "Tell me, why doth your comrade stay?" The hostess doth interrogate: "He hath neglected us of late."—Tattiana blushed, her heart beat quick— "He promised here this day to ride," Lenski unto the dame replied, "The post hath kept him, it is like."Shamefaced, Tattiana downward looked As if he cruelly had joked!

XXXIX