He was afraid of being answered
In form of merry, pretty jest With somewhat ruse, to have the breast
Of enemy from pistol parried.
But now doubts all are solved:
For mill they all have had resolved At dawn in time to come in carriage
With friend a pistol fight to launch, To aim at temple or at haunch.
XIII
As he to hate coquette decided Excited Lensky didn’t want
Before the fight to be invited... At watch, the sun he’s looking on...
At last he gave it up, and failing, Himself he found at her dwelling.
He thought she would be much confused, By his arrival much abused;
But riot at all: like long ago For poor bard is on the watch
His Olga’s jumping from the porch Like feather-brained and trail a hope:
She’s playful, careless and gay, Well, just the same as every day.
XIV
‘What for you early disappeared?’
Was asking Olya him at once
My Lensky’s feelings all were smeared, He was afraid at her to glance.
Annoyance, jealousy could vanish In front of eyes with clear relish,
In front of tenderness quite plain, In front of soul playful, frail...
He looks al her with tender ardour; He’s yet beloved with previous force,
He’s now languished by remorse, He’s being ready to beg pardon,
He’s trembling, loses fitting words, He’s happy, has improved his health,
XV, XVI, XVII
Again he, downcast and thoughtful, In front of dear Olga stands;
It seems to him like something awful To her remind all evening gaps.
He thinks of here:
‘I’ll be defender; I’ll not endure when offender
By fire of the praise and sighs To tempt the heart of girl yet tries:
Or when a worm disdained and deadly Is growing out lily’s stem
Of morning flower which then At halt of life must wither faintly’.
My Friends, you know, what it means: With friend of mine I’ve shooting things.
XVIII
Ah, if he knew, by what a cruel Offence. Tatyana’s heart was burnt!
It Tanya knew of near duel, At least the day before had heard
That Eugene and his friend Vladimir At dawn will argue their living
On earth, then might be by her love She’d joined the friends the day above!
But no man in all the district Could ever know of that fuss:
Onegin was as mute as dust, Tatyana pined for love in secret;
It could be known by the nurse But slow-witted all she was.
XIX
All evening Lensky was distracted, Was now silent, now gay;
The man, by muses once affected, As usual frowns alt the day.
At clavichords he had been sitting, But only for chords was fitting;
At Olga then he fixed his gaze And whispered: ‘I’ve my happy days...’
But it is late, it’s time to go...
His heart is pressed, fulfilled with bore,
At time of parting furthermore It beats like ready just to blow.
At him she stares all the way:
‘What’s happened?’- `Nothing’… - Gets away.