| Друзья Людмилы и Руслана! |
| Somehow, Without prefaces, just now, For hero of my book Let me attract attentive look: | С героем моего романа Без предисловий, сей же час Позвольте познакомить вас: |
| Onegin, friend of mine for years, Was born on Neva-river's banks. | Онегин, добрый мой приятель, Родился на брегах Невы, |
| May be, you rose from the clans In those places, or have dears, | Г де, может быть, родились вы Или блистали, мой читатель; |
| Somewhere you could look at me, But harmful is the North for me, {1} | Там некогда гулял и я: Но вреден север для меня1. |
| III | III |
| His father served for many years, And fell in debt, such big and vast, | Служив отлично благородно, Долгами жил его отец, |
| That, giving balls three times a year, He squandered all he had at last. | Давал три бала ежегодно И промотался наконец. |
| But Eugene's fate for him was fair: At first by Madame he was cared, | Судьба Евгения хранила: Сперва Madame за ним ходила, |
| But then a frenchman took her place. | Потом Monsieur ее сменил. |
| The boy was frisky but with grace. | Ребенок был резов, но мил. |
| Monsieur l'Abbe, a Frenchman mere, To give the boy some chance to rest, | Monsieur l'Abb?, француз убогой, Чтоб не измучилось дитя, |
| Was teaching him with ready jest, With morals never was severe, | Учил его всему шутя, Не докучал моралью строгой, |
| For pranks reproved with gentle talks, To Summer Garden took for walks. | Слегка за шалости бранил И в Летний сад гулять водил. |
| IV | IV |
| Insurgent youth is not yet endless. When Eugene was to change his sort | Когда же юности мятежной Пришла Евгению пора, |
| In times of hopes, tender sadness, Monsieur was driven from the court. | Пора надежд и грусти нежной, Monsieur прогнали со двора. |
| Onegin's now free from care. In fashion has he cut his hair, | Вот мой Онегин на свободе; Острижен по последней моде, |
| Like London dandy, well arrayed, First coming to the world he made. | Как dandy2 лондонский одет - И наконец увидел свет. |
| His French was so perfect now, That he could chat, as well as write, | Он по-французски совершенно Мог изъясняться и писал; |
| He was in dances quick and light, Without tension he could bow: | Легко мазурку танцевал И кланялся непринужденно; |
| What more you want? | Чего ж вам больше? |
| The world said: why, He is a clever, pretty guy. | Свет решил, Что он умен и очень мил. |
| V | V |
| We all to learn had little go And anyhow something got, | Мы все учились понемногу Чему-нибудь и как-нибудь, |
| With education, as you know, We all can shine, and bless it God! | Так воспитаньем, слава богу, У нас немудрено блеснуть. |
