Part 10 (1/2)

'A habit, Lensky a all that chatter.'

'But you seem worse.' 'The same old thing.

But look, the light is vanis.h.i.+ng.

Faster, Andryushka, hasten, hasten!

What silly places all these are!

Oh, by the way, your Larina Is simple, but a dear old person; I fear the lingonberry juice May cause my stomach some abuse.

5.

'Please tell me which one was Tatiana.'

'Oh, she's the sister who appeared All sad and silent like Svetlana,4 And by the window sat and stared.'

'But surely you don't love the younger?'

'Why not?' 'Were I like you a singer, I'd choose the other for my wife.

In Olga's looks there's no more life Than Van Dyck has in his madonnas: Her countenance is round and fair Just like the daft moon s.h.i.+ning there Above the daft horizon on us.'

Vladimir answered icily And all the way sat silently.

6.

Meanwhile, Onegin's visitation Had made on all the Larin folk A most significant impression And given neighbours cause for talk.

Conjecture followed on conjecture, All started furtively to lecture, To joke, to judge, not without spite And view Tatiana as a bride; Some, going further still, a.s.serted That wedding plans had all been made And simply had to be delayed Till modish rings had been located.

And as for Lensky's wedding, they Had long ago arranged the day.

7.

Tatiana listened with vexation To gossip of this kind; but she, With inexplicable elation, Kept thinking of it secretly; And in her heart the thought was live; The time had come, she fell in love.

So will a seed that's fallen in The earth be quickened by the spring.

For long had her imagination, Consumed with pain and la.s.situde, Yearned to a.s.say the fatal food; For long a heartsick enervation Constrained her youthful breast; her soul Waited... for somebody to call,

8.

And was requited... Eyes asunder, She said: 'It's he! He's made his call.'

And now, alas, her hot, lone slumber, And every day and night were full Of him; by some enchanted force All objects seemed without a pause To speak of him; how tedious The kind entreaties and the fuss, The watchful looks of worried servants!

Enveloped in despondency, She paid no heed to company And cursed their leisurely observance Of custom and the sudden way They would arrive and overstay.

9.

Now with what eager concentration She reads delicious novels through, With what enlivened fascination She drinks deception's honeydew.