A twinge at least of some bursitis?
I'm young and still robust, you see;
So what's ahead? Ennui, ennui! .. .
ONEGIN THEN VISITS TAURIS [THE CRIMEA]
* * *
A land by which the mind is fired:
Orestes with his friend here vied,*
And here great Mithridates* died,
And here Mickiwicz* sang inspired,
And, by these coastal cliffs enthralled,
His distant homeland he recalled.
* * *
O lovely land, you shores of Tauris,
From shipboard looming into sight,
As first I saw you rise before us,
Like Cypris* bathed in morning's light.
You came to me in nuptial splendour;
Against a sky all blue and tender
The masses of your mountains gleamed;
Your valleys, woods, and hamlets seemed
A patterned vision spread before me.
And there where Tartar tongues are spoke
What passions in my soul awoke!
What mad and magic yearnings tore me
And held my flaming bosom fast!
But now, #62038; Muse, forget the past!
* * *
Whatever feelings then lay hidden
Within me now they are no more:
They've passed away or changed unbidden ...
So peace to you, you woes of yore!
Back then it seemed that I required
Those desert wastes and waves inspired,
Those massive cliffs and pounding sea,
The vision too of 'maiden free,'
And nameless pangs and sweet perdition . . .
But other days bring other dreams;
You're now subdued, you vaulting schemes
Of youthful springtime's vast ambition,
And in this poet's cup of mine
I now mix water with my wine.
***
Of other scenes have I grown fonder:
I like a sandy slope of late,
A cottage with two rowans yonder,
A broken fence, a wicket gate,
Grey clouds against a sky that lowers,
Great heaps of straw from threshing mowers,
And 'neath the spreading willow tree
