Thus to assassinate the eve?'—
'Not at all.'—'That I can't conceive!
'Tis something of this sort I deem.
In the first place, say, am I right?
A Russian household simple quite,
Who welcome guests with zeal extreme,
Preserves and an eternal prattle
About the rain and flax and cattle.'—
II
'No misery I see in that'—
'Boredom, my friend, behold the ill—'
'Your fashionable world I hate,
Domestic life attracts me still,
Where—'—'What! another eclogue spin?
For God's sake, Lenski, don't begin!
What! really going? 'Tis too bad!
But Lenski, I should be so glad
Would you to me this Phyllis show,
Fair source of every fine idea,
Verses and tears et cetera.
Present me.'—'You are joking.'—'No.'—
'Delighted.'—'When?'—'This very night.
They will receive us with delight.'
III
Whilst homeward by the nearest route
Our heroes at full gallop sped,
Can we not stealthily make out
What they in conversation said?—
'How now, Oneguine, yawning still?'—
''Tis habit, Lenski.'—'Is your ill
More troublesome than usual?'—'No!
How dark the night is getting though!
Hallo, Andriushka, onward race!
The drive becomes monotonous—
Well! Larina appears to us
An ancient lady full of grace.—
That bilberry wine, I'm sore afraid,
The deuce with my inside has played.'
IV
'Say, of the two which was Tattiana?'
'She who with melancholy face
And silent as the maid Svetlana(30)
Hard by the window took her place.'—
'The younger, you're in love with her!'
'Well!'—'I the elder should prefer,
Were I like you a bard by trade—
In Olga's face no life's displayed.
'Tis a Madonna of Vandyk,
An oval countenance and pink,
Yon silly moon upon the brink
