I
The hamlet, where Eugene’s boring, Is nice and cosy a nook,
In it a friend of joys quite virgin Could bless the sky if cast a look.
His house stood in place selected, From winds by mountains protected,
On river’s batik; and far away In front of it, all looking gay,
Some meadows and fields extended; Somewhere villages were seen,
Some herds were walking in the scene, By garden canopies were ended,
It was neglected., large in gauge, Of dryads shelter for an age.
II
The honoured castle was erected Like all such castles: it was fine
And placid, solidly effected, In style of clever old time.
At any place there are some chambers, Of damask are in rooms wallpapers,
The portraits of the tsars on walls, And motley tiles on stoves.
All’s By now much dilapidated, Indeed, I don’t know why.
But anyway the friend of mine To be light-hearted had been fated,
As he indifferently could yawn Inside antique or modern hall.
III
Onegin had that room for living, In which his uncle lived on earth:
At window he flies was killing And daily house-keeper cursed.
It all was simple: floors of oak, Divan, the table, large wardrobe,
Of any ink not any spot, In room two cupboards they had got:
In one he saw of brandies order, In other found debit book,
A jug for apple juice he took, An old calendar in order:
The old man had no time To read the books of other kind.
IV
Among his properties alone, To pass away his lazy time,
He wanted to establish own, In orders newer fashioned line:
In country’s place the man of wisdom, He gave his serfs a piece of freedom:
The corvee yoke changed for rate, And serfs were blessing their fate.
For that a neighbour in his farming Was puffing up: to his big farm
He saw in it some dreadful harm; The other smiled, but smile was cunning;
And they expressed the common wish To call him dangerous queer fish.
V
At first they came to him for visit But as he usually was gone
(For him to hide was very easy By riding stallion from the Don,
When suddenly from village rear He could some droshky’s sounds hear),
Such acts insulted neighbours all, They stopped to come to him at all.
’He’s ignoramus’, said the neighbours, ’He is free-thinker, drinks red wine
From glass not stopping For a while’. He never kisses hands of ladies,
Says yes or no, never да-с Or нет-с’(the words, they all would pass).
VI
In own village to appear New landlord in a droshky came,
And to the same and strict revealer, To neighbourhood occasions gave.
By name he was Vladimir Lensky. With Gottingen in soul frankly,
He, dandy in his prime, approves All Kant’s ideas and his moves.
He brought from Germany his dear, As poet, of learning fruits,
Were full of liberty his views And soul. Ardent, somewhat queer
Was his emotional speech. Black curls his shoulders could reach.
VII
From cold world of dissipation To fade away not having time,