Part 16 (2/2)

With tranquil air Oneguine leads Tattiana to a corner, bids Her on a shaky bench sit down; His head sinks slowly, rests upon Her shoulder--Olga swiftly came-- And Lenski followed--a light broke-- His fist Oneguine fiercely shook And gazed around with eyes of flame; The unbidden guests he roughly chides-- Tattiana motionless abides.

XXI

The strife grew furious and Eugene Grasped a long knife and instantly Struck Lenski dead--across the scene Dark shadows thicken--a dread cry Was uttered, and the cabin shook-- Tattiana terrified awoke.

She gazed around her--it was day.

Lo! through the frozen windows play Aurora's ruddy rays of light-- The door flew open--Olga came, More blooming than the Boreal flame And swifter than the swallow's flight.

”Come,” she cried, ”sister, tell me e'en Whom you in slumber may have seen.”

XXII

But she, her sister never heeding, With book in hand reclined in bed, Page after page continued reading, But no reply unto her made.

Although her book did not contain The bard's enthusiastic strain, Nor precepts sage nor pictures e'en, Yet neither Virgil nor Racine Nor Byron, Walter Scott, nor Seneca, Nor the _Journal des Modes_, I vouch, Ever absorbed a maid so much: Its name, my friends, was Martin Zadeka, The chief of the Chaldean wise, Who dreams expound and prophecies.

XXIII

Brought by a pedlar vagabond Unto their solitude one day, This monument of thought profound Tattiana purchased with a stray Tome of ”Malvina,” and but three(56) And a half rubles down gave she; Also, to equalise the scales, She got a book of nursery tales, A grammar, likewise Petriads two, Marmontel also, tome the third; Tattiana every day conferred With Martin Zadeka. In woe She consolation thence obtained-- Inseparable they remained.

[Note 56: ”Malvina,” a romance by Madame Cottin.]

XXIV

The dream left terror in its train.

Not knowing its interpretation, Tania the meaning would obtain Of such a dread hallucination.

Tattiana to the index flies And alphabetically tries The words _bear, bridge, fir, darkness, bog, Raven, snowstorm, tempest, fog, Et cetera_; but nothing showed Her Martin Zadeka in aid, Though the foul vision promise made Of a most mournful episode, And many a day thereafter laid A load of care upon the maid.

XXV

”But lo! forth from the valleys dun With purple hand Aurora leads, Swift following in her wake, the sun,”(57) And a grand festival proceeds.

The Larinas were since sunrise O'erwhelmed with guests; by families The neighbours come, in sledge approach, Britzka, kibitka, or in coach.

Crush and confusion in the hall, Latest arrivals' salutations, Barking, young ladies' osculations, Shouts, laughter, jamming 'gainst the wall, Bows and the sc.r.a.pe of many feet, Nurses who scream and babes who bleat.

[Note 57: The above three lines are a parody on the turgid style of Lomonossoff, a literary man of the second Catherine's era.]

XXVI

Bringing his partner corpulent Fat Poustiakoff drove to the door; Gvozdine, a landlord excellent, Oppressor of the wretched poor; And the Skatenines, aged pair, With all their progeny were there, Who from two years to thirty tell; Petoushkoff, the provincial swell; Bouyanoff too, my cousin, wore(58) His wadded coat and cap with peak (Surely you know him as I speak); And Flianoff, pensioned councillor, Rogue and extortioner of yore, Now buffoon, glutton, and a bore.

[Note 58: Pushkin calls Bouyanoff his cousin because he is a character in the ”Dangerous Neighbour,” a poem by Va.s.sili Pushkin, the poet's uncle.]

XXVII

The family of Kharlikoff, Came with Monsieur Triquet, a prig, Who arrived lately from Tamboff, In spectacles and chestnut wig.

Like a true Frenchman, couplets wrought In Tania's praise in pouch he brought, Known unto children perfectly: _Reveillez-vouz, belle endormie_.

Among some ancient ballads thrust, He found them in an almanac, And the sagacious Triquet back To light had brought them from their dust, Whilst he ”belle Nina” had the face By ”belle Tattiana” to replace.

XXVIII

Lo! from the nearest barrack came, Of old maids the divinity, And comfort of each country dame, The captain of a company.

He enters. Ah! good news to-day!

The military band will play.

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