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

Tranquil he lay, and strange to view
The peace which on his forehead beamed,
His breast was riddled through and through,
The blood gushed from the wound and steamed
Ere this but one brief moment beat
That heart with inspiration sweet
And enmity and hope and love—
The blood boiled and the passions strove.

Now, as in a deserted house,

All dark and silent hath become;
The inmate is for ever dumb,
The windows whitened, shutters close—
Whither departed is the host?
God knows! The very trace is lost.

XXXI

'Tis sweet the foe to aggravate
With epigrams impertinent,
Sweet to behold him obstinate,
His butting horns in anger bent,
The glass unwittingly inspect
And blush to own himself reflect.

Sweeter it is, my friends, if he

Howl like a dolt: 'tis meant for me!

But sweeter still it is to arrange

For him an honourable grave,
At his pale brow a shot to have,
Placed at the customary range;
But home his body to despatch
Can scarce in sweetness be a match.

XXXII

Well, if your pistol ball by chance 
The comrade of your youth should strike, 
Who by a haughty word or glance 
Or any trifle else ye like 
You o'er your wine insulted hath— 
Or even overcome by wrath 
Scornfully challenged you afield— 
Tell me, of sentiments concealed 
Which in your spirit dominates, 
When motionless your gaze beneath 
He lies, upon his forehead death, 
And slowly life coagulates— 
When deaf and silent he doth lie 
Heedless of your despairing cry?

XXXIII

Eugene, his pistol yet in hand 
And with remorseful anguish filled, 
Gazing on Lenski's corse did stand— 
Zaretski shouted: "Why, he's killed!"—

Killed! at this dreadful exclamation 

Oneguine went with trepidation 
And the attendants called in haste. 
Most carefully Zaretski placed 
Within his sledge the stiffened corse, 
And hurried home his awful freight. 
Conscious of death approximate, 
Loud paws the earth each panting horse, 
His bit with foam besprinkled o'er, 
And homeward like an arrow tore.

XXXIV

My friends, the poet ye regret!
When hope's delightful flower but bloomed
In bud of promise incomplete,
The manly toga scarce assumed,
He perished. Where his troubled dreams,
And where the admirable streams
Of youthful impulse, reverie,
Tender and elevated, free?

And where tempestuous love's desires,

The thirst of knowledge and of fame,
Horror of sinfulness and shame,
Imagination's sacred fires,
Ye shadows of a life more high,
Ye dreams of heavenly poesy?

XXXV