We must all time all them caress, Respect and love at heart, not less;
And by the people’s usual custom On Christmas must we come to see;
To be the rest of year free Congratulations are accustomed;
We them remind about us...
And let them God long live for us!
XXI
But then, the love of tender beauties More trusty is than friendship, kin,
And you have right to it, not duties, Among rebellious storms, I mean,
It’s right, of course, but trends of fashion, But of the nature willful pressure,
Opinions of the worldly might...
And fair sex like down’s slight...
Besides, opinions of the husband By very good and virtuous wife
Most be respected for the life. And true girl-friend in love’s adjustment
Sometimes allured is for days: With love the Satan jokes makes.
XXII
But whom to love?
Whom you’d be trusting?
Who’s that, which never us betrays?
Who’s helpfully for us adjusting His own deeds and when he prays,
Who helps from slander not to perish?
Who carefully us can cherish?
To whom my vice is not a harm?
Who never bores us by his charm?
By those phantoms he, vain seeker, Should not in vain exhaust himself:
You first of alt must love yourself, My dear venerable reader!
Such subject’s worthy of your mind: More gentle never you will find.
XXIII
What was the sequence of the meeting?
Alas, it’s easy to divine!
Of love mad sufferings she’s feeling . Without ceasing for a while
In young sad soul’s aspirations; And yet much more with dismal passions
Tatyana poor is in heat; in bed she never falls asleep;
The health, the prime of life, its sweetness, The smile, the innocent calm ease,-
Ali that has gone like sound’s fizz, And dear Tanya’s youth all dwindles:
The shade of coming storm this way Is darkening all the breaking day.
XXIV
Alas, Tatyana’s daily fading: She’s paling, sinking and is mute,
She’s nothing ever entertaining, For life she wouldn’t give a hoot..
All heads are now grandly shaking The neighbours whisper (they are wailing):
It’s time, its time to marry her!
But it’s enough to speak of her:
I’d cheer up imagination By picture where love yet strives.
Unwittingly, you see, the lives Confuse yet me with incarnation;
Forgive me, but my love is deep To Tanya’s dear heart indeed.
XXV
Each minute more is captivated By Olga’s beauty so young,
By bondage Lensky’s fascinated, Gave up his soul to the fun.
With her he’s ever in her chamber Until the daylight turns more fainter;
Or in the garden hand in hand They walk at morning so grand;
And what?