XXXIII + 

Tattiana’s letter I possess, + 

I guard it as a holy thing, + 

And though I read it with distress, + 

I’m o’er it ever pondering. + 

Inspired by whom this tenderness, + 

This gentle daring who could guess? + 

Who this soft nonsense could impart, + 

Imprudent prattle of the heart, + 

Attractive in its banefulness? + 

I cannot understand. But lo! + 

A feeble version read below, + 

A print without the picture’s grace, + 

Or, as it were, the Freischutz’ score + 

Strummed by a timid schoolgirl o’er. + 

Tattiana’s Letter to Onegin + 

I write to you! Is more required? + 

Can lower depths beyond remain? + 

’Tis in your power now, if desired, + 

To crush me with a just disdain. + 

But if my lot unfortunate + 

You in the least commiserate + 

You will not all abandon me. + 

At first, I clung to secrecy: + 

Believe me, of my present shame + 

You never would have heard the name, + 

If the fond hope I could have fanned + 

At times, if only once a week, + 

To see you by our fireside stand, + 

To listen to the words you speak, + 

Address to you one single phrase + 

And then to meditate for days + 

Of one thing till again we met. + 

’Tis said you are a misanthrope, + 

In country solitude you mope, + 

And we⁠—an unattractive set⁠— + 

Can hearty welcome give alone. + 

Why did you visit our poor place? + 

Forgotten in the village lone, + 

I never should have seen your face + 

And bitter torment never known. + 

The untutored spirit’s pangs calmed down + 

By time (who can anticipate?) + 

I had found my predestinate, + 

Become a faithful wife and e’en + 

A fond and careful mother been. + 

Another! to none other I + 

My heart’s allegiance can resign, + 

My doom has been pronounced on high, + 

’Tis Heaven’s will and I am thine. + 

The sum of my existence gone + 

But promise of our meeting gave, + 

I feel thou wast by God sent down + 

My guardian angel to the grave. + 

Thou didst to me in dreams appear, + 

Unseen thou wast already dear. + 

Thine eye subdued me with strange glance, + 

I heard thy voice’s resonance + 

Long ago. Dream it cannot be! + 

Scarce hadst thou entered thee I knew, + 

I flushed up, stupefied I grew, + 

And cried within myself: ’tis he! + 

Is it not truth? in tones suppressed + 

With thee I conversed when I bore + 

Comfort and succour to the poor, + 

And when I prayer to Heaven addressed + 

To ease the anguish of my breast. + 

Nay! even as this instant fled, + 

Was it not thou, O vision bright, + 

That glimmered through the radiant night + 

And gently hovered o’er my head? + 

Was it not thou who thus didst stoop + 

To whisper comfort, love and hope? + 

Who art thou? Guardian angel sent + 

Or torturer malevolent? + 

Doubt and uncertainty decide: + 

All this may be an empty dream, + 

Delusions of a mind untried, + 

Providence otherwise may deem⁠— + 

Then be it so! My destiny + 

From henceforth I confide to thee! + 

Lo! at thy feet my tears I pour + 

And thy protection I implore. + 

Imagine! Here alone am I! + 

No one my anguish comprehends, + 

At times my reason almost bends, + 

And silently I here must die⁠— + 

But I await thee: scarce alive + 

My heart with but one look revive; + 

Or to disturb my dreams approach + 

Alas! with merited reproach. + 

’Tis finished. Horrible to read! + 

With shame I shudder and with dread⁠— + 

But boldly I myself resign: + 

Thine honour is my countersign! + 