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

"Departed Lenski here to dine 
In winter time would often come. 
Please follow this way, lady mine, 
This is my master's sitting-room.

'Tis here he slept, his coffee took, 

Into accounts would sometimes look, 
A book at early morn perused. 
The room my former master used.

On Sundays by yon window he, 

Spectacles upon nose, all day 
Was wont with me at cards to play. 
God save his soul eternally 
And grant his weary bones their rest 
Deep in our mother Earth's chill breast!"

XVII

Tattiana's eyes with tender gleam 
On everything around her gaze, 
Of priceless value all things seem 
And in her languid bosom raise 
A pleasure though with sorrow knit: 
The table with its lamp unlit, 
The pile of books, with carpet spread 
Beneath the window-sill his bed, 
The landscape which the moonbeams fret, 
The twilight pale which softens all, 
Lord Byron's portrait on the wall 
And the cast-iron statuette 
With folded arms and eyes bent low, 
Cocked hat and melancholy brow.[72]

XVIII

Long in this fashionable cell 
Tattiana as enchanted stood; 
But it grew late; cold blew the gale; 
Dark was the valley and the wood 
slept o'er the river misty grown. 
Behind the mountain sank the moon.

Long, long the hour had past when home 

Our youthful wanderer should roam. 
She hid the trouble of her breast, 
Heaved an involuntary sigh 
And turned to leave immediately, 
But first permission did request 
Thither in future to proceed 
That certain volumes she might read.

XIX

Adieu she to the matron said 
At the front gates, but in brief space 
At early morn returns the maid 
To the abandoned dwelling-place.

When in the study's calm retreat, 

Wrapt in oblivion complete, 
She found herself alone at last, 
Longtime her tears flowed thick and fast;

But presently she tried to read; 

At first for books was disinclined, 
But soon their choice seemed to her mind 
Remarkable. She then indeed 
Devoured them with an eager zest. 
A new world was made manifest!

XX

Although we know that Eugene had 
Long ceased to be a reading man, 
Still certain authors, I may add, 
He had excepted from the ban:

The bard of Juan and the Giaour, 

With it may be a couple more; 
Romances three, in which ye scan 
Portrayed contemporary man 
As the reflection of his age, 
His immorality of mind 
To arid selfishness resigned, 
A visionary personage 
With his exasperated sense, 
His energy and impotence.

XXI