Part 3 (1/2)

Sometimes, when still in bed he drowses, Notelets are brought to greet the day a What? Invitations? Yes, three houses Inviting him to a soiree: A ball here, there a children's evening, For which will my young scamp be leaving?

With which begin? It matters not: He'll be wherever on the dot.

Meanwhile, apparelled for the morning And, donning a broad bolivar,16 Onegin to the boulevard Drives out and strolls, at leisure swanning, Until Breguet17 with watchful chime Rings out that it is dinner time.

16.

It's dark: into a sleigh he settles.

The cry resounds: 'Away, away';18 Upon his beaver collar, petals Of frostdust form a silver spray.

Off to Talon's:19 he's sure that therein, Waiting for him, he'll find Kaverin.20 He enters: cork to ceiling goes And comet wine21 spurts forth and flows, b.l.o.o.d.y roast beef22 is there to savour, And truffles, young men's luxury, The bouquet of French cookery, And Strasbourg pie, that keeps for ever,23 Between a golden ananas24 And Limburg cheese's living ma.s.s.25

17.

Thirst still replenishes the beakers To down hot cutlets one by one, But Breguet tells the pleasure seekers Of a new ballet that's begun.

The theatre's heartless legislator, Fickle adorer and spectator Of actresses, who are the rage, An honoured citizen backstage, Onegin flies off to the theatre, Where liberty's admirers26 are Prepared to clap an entrechat, To hiss off Cleopatra, Phaedra, Call for Moena27 (in a word, Make sure their voices can be heard).

18.

Enchanting world! There shone Fonvizin,28 Bold king of the satiric scene, A friend of liberty and reason, And there shone copycat Knyazhnin.29 There, Ozerov30 shared the elation Of public tears and acclamation With young Semyonova; there our Katenin31 reproduced the power of Corneille's genius; there the scathing Prince Shakhovskoy32 delivered his Resounding swarm of comedies; There was Didelot,33 in glory bathing; There, in the wings that gave me shelter, My youthful days sped helter-skelter.

19.

My G.o.ddesses! Where now? Forsaken?

Oh hearken to my call, I rue: Are you the same? Have others taken Your place without replacing you?

When shall I listen to your chorus, Behold in soul-filled flight before us Russia's Terpsich.o.r.e34 again?

Or will my mournful gaze in vain Seek a known face on dreary stages, And, with my disabused lorgnette Upon an alien public set, Indifferent to its latest rages, Shall I in silence yawn and cast My mind back to a bygone past?

20.

The house is full; the boxes brilliant; Parterre and stalls a all seethe and roar; Up in the G.o.ds they clap, ebullient, And, with a swish, the curtains soar.

Semi-ethereal and radiant, To the enchanting bow obedient, Ringed round by nymphs, Istomina35 Stands still; one foot supporting her, She circles slowly with the other, And lo! a leap, and lo! she flies, Flies off like fluff across the skies, By Aeolus36 wafted hither thither; Her waist she twists, untwists; her feet Against each other swiftly beat.

21.

Applause all round. Onegin enters, Treading on toes at every stall, Askew, his double eyegla.s.s centres On ladies whom he can't recall; At boxes, at the tiers he gazes; With all the finery and faces He's dreadfully dissatisfied; Bows to the men on every side And, in profound abstraction pacing, Looks at the stage, then turns away a And yawns, exclaiming with dismay: 'The whole d.a.m.n lot there need replacing.

I've suffered ballets long enough, And even Didelot's boring stuff.'37