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

China and bronze the tables weight, 
Amber on pipes from Stamboul glows, 
And, joy of souls effeminate, 
Phials of crystal scents enclose.

Combs of all sizes, files of steel, 

Scissors both straight and curved as well, 
Of thirty different sorts, lo! brushes 
Both for the nails and for the tushes.

Rousseau, I would remark in passing,[13]

 Could not conceive how serious Grimm 
Dared calmly cleanse his nails 'fore him, 
Eloquent raver all-surpassing,— 
The friend of liberty and laws 
In this case quite mistaken was.

XXII

The most industrious man alive 
May yet be studious of his nails; 
What boots it with the age to strive? 
Custom the despot soon prevails.

A new Kaverine Eugene mine, 

Dreading the world's remarks malign, 
Was that which we are wont to call 
A fop, in dress pedantical.

Three mortal hours per diem he 

Would loiter by the looking-glass, 
And from his dressing-room would pass 
Like Venus when, capriciously, 
The goddess would a masquerade 
Attend in male attire arrayed.

XXIII

On this artistical retreat 
Having once fixed your interest, 
I might to connoisseurs repeat 
The style in which my hero dressed;

Though I confess I hardly dare 

Describe in detail the affair, 
Since words like pantaloons, vest, coat, 
To Russ indigenous are not;

And also that my feeble verse— 

Pardon I ask for such a sin— 
With words of foreign origin 
Too much I'm given to intersperse, 
Though to the Academy I come 
And oft its Dictionary thumb.[14]

XXIV

But such is not my project now, 
So let us to the ball-room haste, 
Whither at headlong speed doth go 
Eugene in hackney carriage placed.

Past darkened windows and long streets 

Of slumbering citizens he fleets, 
Till carriage lamps, a double row, 
Cast a gay lustre on the snow, 
Which shines with iridescent hues. 
He nears a spacious mansion's gate, 
By many a lamp illuminate, 
And through the lofty windows views 
Profiles of lovely dames he knows 
And also fashionable beaux.

XXV

Our hero stops and doth alight, 
Flies past the porter to the stair, 
But, ere he mounts the marble flight, 
With hurried hand smooths down his hair.

He enters: in the hall a crowd, 

No more the music thunders loud, 
Some a mazurka occupies, 
Crushing and a confusing noise;

Spurs of the Cavalier Guard clash, 

The feet of graceful ladies fly, 
And following them ye might espy 
Full many a glance like lightning flash, 
And by the fiddle's rushing sound 
The voice of jealousy is drowned.

XXVI