Chapter Three
XL
They sing; and carelessly attending to their ringing voice,
Tatiana with impatience waits 4 for the heart's tremor to subside in her, for her cheeks to cease flaming; but in her breasts there's the same trepidation, nor ceases the glow of her cheeks: 8 yet brighter, brighter do they burn. Thus a poor butterfly both flashes and beats an iridescent wing, captured by a school prankster; thus 12 a small hare trembles in the winter corn upon suddenly seeing from afar the shotman in the bushes crouch.
XLI
But finally she sighed and from her bench arose; started to go; but hardly had she turned 4 into the avenue when straight before her, eyes blazing, Eugene stood, similar to some grim shade, and as one seared by fire 8 she stopped. But to detail the consequences of this unlooked-for meeting I, dear friends, have not the strength today; i 2 after this long discourse I need a little jaunt, a little rest; some other time I'll tell the rest. i77
CHAPTER FOUR
La morale est dans la nature des choses. Necker I6i
Chapter Four
Eugene Onegin
II
i
4
8
12
III
1
4
8
12
182
Chapter Four
IV
i
4 8
12
V 1
4 8
i83 Eugene Onegin
VII
The less we love a woman the easier 'tis to be liked by her, and thus more surely we undo her 4 among bewitching toils. Time was when cool debauch was lauded as the art of love, trumpeting everywhere about itself, 8 taking its pleasure without loving. But that grand game is worthy of old sapajous of our forefathers' vaunted times5 12 the fame of Lovelaces has faded with the fame of red heels and of majestic periwigs.
184
Chapter Four
VIII
Who does not find it tedious to dissemble 5 diversely to repeat the same; try gravely to convince one 4 of what all have been long convinced; to hear the same objections, annihilate the prejudices which never had and hasn't 8 a little girl of thirteen years! Who will not grow weary of threats, entreaties, vows, feigned fear, notes running to six pages, 12 betrayals, gossiping, rings, tears, surveillances of aunts, of mothers, and the onerous friendship of husbands!
IX
Exactly thus my Eugene thought. In his first youth he had been victim of tempestuous errings 4 and of unbridled passions. Spoiled by a habitude of life, with one thing for a while enchanted, disenchanted with another, 8 irked slowly by desire, irked, too, by volatile success, hearkening in the hubbub and the hush to the eternal mutter of his soul, 12 smothering yawns with laughter: this was the way he killed eight years, having lost life's best bloom. i85 Eugene Onegin
X
With belles no longer did he fall in love, but dangled after them just anyhow$ when they refused, he solaced in a twinkle5 4 when they betrayed, was glad to rest. He sought them without rapture, while he left them without regret, hardly remembering their love and spite. 8 Exactly thus does an indifferent guest drive up for evening whist: sits down 5 then, when the game is over, he drives off from the place, 12 at home falls peacefully asleep, and in the morning does not know himself where he will drive to in the evening.
XI
But on receiving Tanya's missive, Onegin was profoundly touched: the language of a maiden's daydreams 4 stirred up in him a swarm of thoughts; and he recalled winsome Tatiana's pale color, mournful air; and in a sweet and sinless dream 8 his soul became absorbed. Perhaps an ancient glow of feelings possessed him for a minute 5 but he did not wish to deceive 12 an innocent soul's trustfulness. Now we'll flit over to the garden where Tatiana encountered him.
186
Chapter Four
XII
For a few seconds they were silent5 Onegin then went up to her and quoth: "You wrote to me. 4 Do not deny it. I have read a trustful soul's avowals, an innocent love's outpourings5 your candidness appeals to me, 8 in me it has excited emotions long grown silent. But I don't want to praise you- I will repay you for it 12 with an avowal likewise void of art; hear my confession5 unto your judgment I submit.
XIII
" If I by the domestic circle had wanted to bound life 5 if to be father, husband, 4 a pleasant lot had ordered me5 if with the familistic picture I were but for one moment captivated; then, doubtlessly, save you alone 8 no other bride I'd seek. I'll say without madrigal spangles: my past ideal having found,
I'd doubtlessly have chosen you alone 12 for mate of my sad days, in gage of all that's beautiful, and would have been happy-in so far as I could!
187
Eugene Onegin
XIV
"But I'm not made for bliss$ my soul is strange to it; in vain are your perfections: 4 I'm not at all worthy of them. Believe me (conscience is thereof the pledge), wedlock to us would be a torment. However much I loved you, 8 having grown used, I'd cease to love at once; you would begin to weep5 your tears would fail to touch my heart- they merely would exasperate it. 12 Judge, then, what roses Hymen would lay in store for us- and, possibly, for many days!
XV
"What in the world can be worse than a family where the poor wife frets over an undeserving husband 4 and day and evening is alone; where the dull husband, knowing her worth (yet cursing fate), is always sullen, silent, cross, 8 and coldly jealous? Thus I. And is it this you sought with pure flaming soul when with such simplicity, 12 with such intelligence, to me you wrote? Can it be true that such a portion is by stern fate assigned to you?
188
Chapter Four
XVI
"For dreams and years there's no return; I shall not renovate my soul.
I love you with a brother's love 4 and maybe still more tenderly. So listen to me without wrath: a youthful maid will more than once for dreams exchange light dreams 5 8 a sapling thus its leaves changes with every spring. By heaven thus 'tis evidently destined.
Again you will love; but 12 learn to control yourself; not everyone as I will understand you; to trouble inexperience leads."
XVII
Thus Eugene preached. Nought seeing through her tears, scarce breathing, without protests, 4 Tatiana listened to him. His arm to her he offered. Sadly (as it is said: "mechanically"), Tatiana leaned on it in silence, 8 bending her languid little head; homeward [they] went around the kitchen gartogether they arrived, and none [den; dreamt of reproving them for this: 12 its happy rights has country freedom as well as haughty Moscow has.