Толкует Сея и Бентама,
Но вообще их разговор
Несносный, хоть невинный вздор;
К тому ж они так непорочны,
Так величавы, так умны,
Так благочестия полны,
Так осмотрительны, так точны,
Так неприступны для мужчин,
Что вид их уж рождает сплин.
XXXVIII
A sickness of an unknown kind,
Which should be cleared long time ago
(It somehow English spleen reminds
And is khandra in Russian term),
Had seized him little at a time.
To shoot himself he did not try,
And thank you, God, for the assistance,
But he cooled off routine existence.
He showed himself in high society
Like Child Harold sullen, sad,
Nor boston, nor immodest chat,
Nor sigh or glance could now excite him,
No, nothing could awake his soul,
He was ignoring the whole world.
XXXIX. XL. XLI.
XLII
The female cranks of high society!
You were the first whom he ignored;
Since in that age (you cant deny it)
The high tone makes us pretty bored.
It happens, though, some noble ladies
Interpret Say and Bentham essays,
But on the whole, their naïve chat
Is insupportable, I bet.
Besides, they are so chaste and pure,
So strict in judgment and exact,
Full of devotion and respect
That make me feeling sick and poor.
In front of them I feel so mean,
Just viewing those produces spleen.
XLIII
И вы, красотки молодые,
Которых позднею порой
Уносят дрожки удалые
По петербургской мостовой,
И вас покинул мой Евгений.
Отступник бурных наслаждений,
Онегин дома заперся,
Зевая, за перо взялся,
Хотел писать – но труд упорный