Евгений Онегин

in my russian literature class, we're reading eugene onegin by alexander pushkin.

so far, i'm loving it.  for those of you who have read it, judge me if you will when i say, i feel some what connected to tatyana.  i get it. i understand how she feels, to an extent.

i just wanted to share a few stanzas that i especially love.

"you filled my dreams & sweetest trances;

as yet unseen, & yet so dear,

you stirred me with your wondrous glances,

your voice within my soul rang clear....

& then the dream came true for me!

when you came in, i seemed to waken,

i turned to flame, i felt all shaken,

& in my heart i cried: it's he!"

(pushkin 74)

"the less we love her when we woo her,

the more we draw a woman in,

& thus more surely we undo her

within the witching webs we spin.

time was, when cold debauch was lauded

as love's high art...& was applauded

for trummpeting its happy lot

in taking joy while loving not.

but that pretentious game is dated,

but fit for apes, who once held sway

amid our forbears' caunted day;

the fame of lovelaces has faded--

along with fashions long since dead:

majestic wigs & heels of red."

(pushkin 85)

"yet even in these same afflictions

she found a secret charm in part:

for nature--fond of contradictions--

has so designed the human heart.

the holy days are here. what gladness!...

bright youth divines, not knowing sadness,

with nothing that it must regret,

with all of life before it yet--

a distance luminous & boundless....

old age divines with glasses on

& sees the grave before it yawn,

all thoughts of time returning--groundless;

no matter: childish hope appears

to murmur lies in aged ears."

(pushkin 112)