Eugene Onegin, some famous quotations

Eugene Onegin (Russian: Евге́ний Оне́гин, BGN/PCGN: Yevgeniy Onegin) is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.

It is a classic of Russian literature written by Pushkin, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of Russian literary heroes (so-called superfluous men). It was published in serial form between 1825 and 1832. The first complete edition was published in 1833, and the currently accepted version is based on the 1837 publication.

Almost the entire work is made up of 389 stanzas of iambic tetrameter with the unusual rhyme scheme "AbAbCCddEffEgg", where the uppercase letters represent feminine rhymes while the lowercase letters represent masculine rhymes. This form has come to be known as the "Onegin stanza" or the "Pushkin sonnet."

The rhythm, innovative rhyme scheme, the natural tone and diction, and the economical transparency of presentation all demonstrate the virtuosity which has been instrumental in proclaiming Pushkin as the undisputed master of Russian poetry.

The story is told by a narrator (a lightly fictionalized version of Pushkin's public image), whose tone is educated, worldly, and intimate. The narrator digresses at times, usually to expand on aspects of this social and intellectual world. This allows for a development of the characters and emphasises the drama of the plot despite its relative simplicity.

The book is admired for the artfulness of its verse narrative as well as for its exploration of life, death, love, ennui, convention and passion.

text and translation source

Чем меньше женщину мы любим, 
Тем легче нравимся мы ей, 
И тем ее вернее губим 
Средь обольстительных сетей. 

The less we show our love to a woman,
Or please her less, and neglect our duty,
The more we trap and ruin her surely
In the flattering toils of philandery.

***

Учитесь властвовать собою; 
Не всякий вас, как я, поймет; 
К беде неопытность ведет". 

Learn self control, and do not forget,
Not all will understand you as I, or read you,
Inexperience to calamity can often lead you.

***

Уж небо осенью дышало, 
Уж реже солнышко блистало, 
Короче становился день, 
Лесов таинственная сень 
С печальным шумом обнажалась, 
Ложился на поля туман, 
Гусей крикливых караван 
Тянулся к югу: приближалась 
Довольно скучная пора; 
Стоял ноябрь уж у двора. 

Though we do not admit it in our hearts.
The sky already breathed autumn's breath,
Already the sun shone infrequently,
The day became shorter noticeably,
The mysteries of the woodland shade
With melancholy leaf-rustle were laid bare,
On the fields the mist lay everywhere.
Of geese a cackling caravan
Stretched far to the south: and then came near
That boring time that we all remember,
Already at the gateway stood - November!

***

И вот уже трещат морозы 
И серебрятся средь полей... 
(Читатель ждет уж рифмы розы; 
На, вот возьми ее скорей!) 
Опрятней модного паркета
Блистает речка, льдом одета. 
Мальчишек радостный народ 
Коньками звучно режет лед; 
На красных лапках гусь тяжелый, 
Задумав плыть по лону вод, 
Ступает бережно на лед, 
Скользит и падает; веселый 
Мелькает, вьется первый снег, 
Звездами падая на брег. 

Already the frosts and frozen noses
Bite hard, and the fields are silvery…
(The reader now expects the rhyme 'roses')
Well, here it is then, seize it avidly!)
Finer than modish parquet flooring
The river gleams, all clothed in ice.
A crowd of boys, their spirits soaring,
Noisily cut it with their skates.
On its red webbed feet a heavy goose
Thinking to sail on the water's breast
Steps carefully upon the ice,
And slithers, and falls. Then comes to rest,
Glittering and twisting, winter's first snow,
Falling like stars on the shores below.

Pushkin Selfportrait with Onegin (wiki)