Душой исполненный полет?
Иль взор унылый не найдет
Знакомых лиц на сцене скучной,
И, устремив на чуждый свет
Разочарованный лорнет,
Веселья зритель равнодушный,
Безмолвно буду я зевать
И о былом воспоминать?
XVIII
A magic land! There in old years
The freedom potentate Fonvisin[8 - Initiator of Russian Comedy.]
His satire plays with triumph staged,
And Knyazhnin made the public dizzy.
There, Ozerov shared presentations
Of public’s tears and clapping splashes
With young Semenova; just there
Appeared Katenin and did dare
Revive Corneille’s dramatic story,
And always biting Shakhovskoy
Became the comedy le roi;
That’s where Didlo[9 - Didelot – famous ballet dancer and ballet-master.] was crowned with glory.
There, in the shadow of the wings
Flied by my youthful day extremes.
XIX
My goddesses! How are you doing?
Please, heed my voice and sad request:
Are you the same? Or other huris
Have occupied on stage your place?
Could I again hear your great chorus,
Could I see Russian Terpsichore’s
By soul performed exalted flight?
Or dismal glance will fail to find
On the dull stage the well-known faces,
And watching through lorgnette the world
I’ll be bystander sad and cold,
Indifferent to the new graces,
And yawning calmly and speechless
Will be remembering the past?
XX
Театр уж полон; ложи блещут;
Партер и кресла, все кипит;
В райке нетерпеливо плещут,
И, взвившись, занавес шумит.
Блистательна, полувоздушна,
Смычку волшебному послушна,
Толпою нимф окружена,
Стоит Истомина; она,
Одной ногой касаясь пола,
Другою медленно кружит,
И вдруг прыжок, и вдруг летит,