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

And long her eyes as through a haze 
After the wedded couple strain; 
Alas! the friend of childish days 
Away, Tattiana, hath been ta'en.

Thy dove, thy darling little pet 

On whom a sister's heart was set 
Afar is borne by cruel fate, 
For evermore is separate.

She wanders aimless as a sprite, 

Into the tangled garden goes 
But nowhere can she find repose, 
Nor even tears afford respite, 
Of consolation all bereft— 
Well nigh her heart in twain was cleft.

XII

In cruel solitude each day 
With flame more ardent passion burns, 
And to Oneguine far away 
Her heart importunately turns.

She never more his face may view, 

For was it not her duty to 
Detest him for a brother slain? 
The poet fell; already men 
No more remembered him; unto 
Another his betrothed was given; 
The memory of the bard was driven 
Like smoke athwart the heaven blue; 
Two hearts perchance were desolate 
And mourned him still. Why mourn his fate?

XIII

'Twas eve. 'Twas dusk. The river speeds 
In tranquil flow. The beetle hums. 
Already dance to song proceeds; 
The fisher's fire afar illumes 
The river's bank. Tattiana lone 
Beneath the silver of the moon 
Long time in meditation deep 
Her path across the plain doth keep—

Proceeds, until she from a hill 

Sees where a noble mansion stood, 
A village and beneath, a wood, 
A garden by a shining rill.

She gazed thereon, and instant beat 

Her heart more loudly and more fleet.

XIV

She hesitates, in doubt is thrown— 
"Shall I proceed, or homeward flee? 
He is not there: I am not known: 
The house and garden I would see."

Tattiana from the hill descends 

With bated breath, around she bends 
A countenance perplexed and scared. 
She enters a deserted yard— 
Yelping, a pack of dogs rush out, 
But at her shriek ran forth with noise 
The household troop of little boys, 
Who with a scuffle and a shout 
The curs away to kennel chase, 
The damsel under escort place.

XV

"Can I inspect the mansion, please?" 
Tattiana asks, and hurriedly 
Unto Anicia for the keys 
The family of children hie.

Anicia soon appears, the door 

Opens unto her visitor. 
Into the lonely house she went, 
Wherein a space Oneguine spent.

She gazed—a cue, forgotten long, 

Doth on the billiard table rest, 
Upon the tumbled sofa placed, 
A riding whip. She strolls along.

The beldam saith: "The hearth, by it 

The master always used to sit.

XVI