Her movements were unhurried, slow. Nor cool, nor talkative is, though
She doesn’t glare at the rest, And doesn’t claim to have success;
At people looks she, never smirking, Without imitating tricks…
She’s still and simple at a glimpse. She seemed to be a certain copy,
Do comme il faut… (Shishkov, forgive; {35} can’t some good translation give).
XV
The ladies tried to her to near; The old women smiled on her;
The men all bowed her more eager And tried to catch the eyes of her.
The maidens tried to pass by quiet In front of tier through hall; and higher
His nose, shoulders could raise The general, by her amazed.
They didn’t use the word a beauty To call her, but from head to foot
In her could never find a hook To use the word on fashion’s duty,
Which they in world of London grant To speak like vulgar, (but I can’t...
XVI
I very much this word am liking, But cannot I this word translate,
In life with us like new it’s hiking, And hardly will it have good fate.
In epigrams it. would be fitting...). But let’s return to lady sitting.
With charms untroubled she is sweet; For long at table does she sit
With brilliant Voronskaya Nina, Of Nova Cleopatra this.
Perhaps, you would agree, that is By marble charms unable Nina
She-neighbour her to outshine, Herself is though dazzling, fine.
XVII
‘Indeed? - my Eugene’s now thinking, - But is it true?..
Exactly...
Not...
Why! out of the country thickets...’
Lornette his captious he has got,
Directs it constantly, each minute At her, who by her own image
Forgotten features can remind.
‘You tell me, prince, if don’t mind,
Who’s there, crimson beret wears, With Spanish diplomat she speaks?’,
The prince as if anew him sees:
‘I see, in world you’ve been too rare...
Well, to present you I shall try’
‘But who is she?’ She is my wife,
XVIII
‘What, you are married! didn’t know!
And how long?’ ‘Two will he fast...’
‘And whom?’ - She’s Larin’s. -
‘Tanya though!’ ‘D’you know her?-
‘I’m neighbour just’.
‘Well, let us go…’ Prince then nears His own wife (and she them hears),
Presents his friend and distant kin.
Princess is staring at him...
Despite her soul, such embarrassed, Despite her passions being raised,
Astonished being and amazed, - As if by nothing she was harassed:
She kept her manners quite the same, Was quiet bow her again.
XIX
Good heavens! Never did she shudder! Nor sudden paleness, redness has...
And no brow moved she rasher; She didn’t even lips her press.