“Tatyana’s answer to Onegin” by Alexander Pushkin (excerpt from “Eugene Onegin”) - love poetry

“Tatyana’s answer to Onegin” is an excerpt from the last chapter of Aleksander Pushkin’s novel in verse “Eugene Onegin.” After Onegin rejected Tatyana’s naive love, he meets her again years later. This time, he is smitten, and now it’s his turn to write love letters which get no response. Finally, he decides to visit her and finds her in tears over one of his letters. Tatyana, now married, rejects his advances. Full text below.
The video is a re-upload with an updated sound. The original: • “Tatyana’s answer to O...
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Alexander Pushkin (June 6, 1799 - February 10, 1837) was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. His maternal great-grandfather was African-born general Abram Petrovich Gannibal, adopted by Russian Tsar Peter the Great as his godson.
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Translated by Charles H. Johnston
Enough, stand up. It's now for me
to give you honest explanation.
Onegin, d'you recall the day
when in the park, in the allée
where fate had fixed our confrontation,
humbly I heard your lesson out?
Today it's turn and turn about.
For then, Onegin, I was younger,
and also prettier, I'll be bound,
what's more, I loved you; but my hunger,
what was it in your heart it found
that could sustain it? Only grimness;
for you, I think, the humble dimness
of lovelorn girls was nothing new?
But now - oh God! - the thought of you,
your icy look, your stern dissuasion,
freezes my blood... Yet all the same,
nothing you did gave cause for blame:
you acted well, that dread occasion,
you took an honourable part -
I'm grateful now with all my heart.
Then, in the backwoods, far from rumour
and empty gossip, you'll allow,
I'd nothing to attract your humour...
Why then do you pursue me now?
What cause has won me your attention?
Could it not be that by convention
I move in the grand monde? that rank,
and riches, and the wish to thank
my husband for his wounds in battle
earn us the favour of the Court?
that, for all this, my shame's report
would cause widespread remark and tattle,
and so in the salons could make
a tempting plume for you to take?
I weep... In case there still should linger
your Tanya's image in your mind,
then know that your reproving finger,
your cold discourse, were less unkind -
if I had power to choose your fashion -
than this humiliating passion
and than these letters, and these tears.
At least you then showed for my years
respect, and mercy for my dreaming.
But now! what brings you to my feet?
What trifling could be more complete?
What power enslaves you, with your seeming
advantages of heart and brain,
to all that's trivial and inane?
To me, Onegin, all this glory
is tinsel on a life I hate;
this modish whirl, this social story,
my house, my evenings, all that state -
what's in them? All this loud parading,
and all this flashy masquerading,
the glare, the fumes in which I live,
this very day I'd gladly give,
give for a bookshelf, a neglected
garden, a modest home, the place
of our first meeting face to face,
and the churchyard where, new-erected,
a humble cross, in woodland gloom,
stands over my poor nurse's tomb.
Bliss was so near, so altogether
attainable!... But now my lot
is firmly cast. I don't know whether
I acted thoughtlessly or not:
you see, with tears and incantation
mother implored me; my sad station
made all fates look the same... and so
I married. I beseech you, go;
I know your heart: it has a feeling
for honour, a straightforward pride.
I love you (what's the use to hide
behind deceit or double-dealing?)
but I've become another's wife -
and I'll be true to him, for life.
(1823 - 1837)
The poem in the original Russian language: • Александр Пушкин “Отве...
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“Eugene Onegin” in English on Amazon: amzn.to/3aEP57d
Music and icons from Storyblocks: bit.ly/2DEq11L

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