XXI
The argument grows louder, louder: Eugene suddenly snatches a long knife, and Lenski forthwith is felled; the shadows awesomely 4 have thickened; an excruciating cry resounds... the cabin lurches... and Tanya wakes in terror.... She looks — 'tis light already in the room; 8 dawn's crimson ray plays in the window through the frozen pane; the door opens. Olga flits in to her rosier than Northern Aurora12 and lighter than a swallow. “Well,” she says, “do tell me, whom did you see in dream?”
XXII
But she, not noticing her sister, lies with a book in bed, page after page 4 keeps turning over, and says nothing. Although that book displayed neither the sweet inventions of a poet, nor sapient truths, nor pictures, 8 yet neither Virgil, nor Racine, nor Scott, nor Byron, nor Seneca, nor even the Magazine of Ladies' Fashions ever engrossed anybody so much:12 it was, friends, Martin Zadeck,33 head of Chaldean sages, divinistre, interpreter of dreams.
XXIII
This profound work a roving trader had one day peddled into their solitude, 4 and for Tatiana finally with a broken set of
Malvina had ceded for three rubles fifty, moreover taking for them a collection 8 of vulgar fables, a grammar, two “Petriads,” plus Marmontel, tome three. Later with Tanya Martin Zadeck12 became a favorite. He gives her joyance in all her sorrows and beside her, never absenting himself, sleeps.
XXIV
The dream disturbs her. Not knowing what to make of it, the import of the dread chimera 4 Tatiana wishes to discover. Tatiana finds in the brief index, in alphabetic order, the words: bear, blizzard, bridge, 8 dark, fir, fir forest, hedgehog, raven, storm, and so forth. Martin Zadeck will not resolve her doubts, but the ominous dream portends12 to her a lot of sad adventures. For several days thereafter she kept worrying about it.
XXV
But lo, with crimson hand34 Aurora from the morning dales leads forth, with the sun, after her 4 the merry name-day festival. Since morn Dame Larin's house is full of guests; in entire families the neighbors have converged, in sledded coaches, 8 kibitkas, britskas, sleighs. There's in the vestibule jostling, commotion; there's in the drawing room the meeting of new people, the bark of pugs, girls' smacking kisses,12 noise, laughter, a crush at the threshold, the bows, the scraping of the guests, wet nurses' shouts, and children's cry.
XXVI
With his well-nourished spouse there came fat Pustyakóv; Gvozdín, an admirable landlord, 4 owner of destitute muzhiks; a gray-haired couple, the Skotínins, with children of all ages, counting from thirty years to two; 8 the district fopling, Petushkóv; Buyánov, my first cousin, covered with fluff, in a peaked cap35 (as he, of course, is known to you);12 and the retired counselor Flyánov, a heavy scandalmonger, an old rogue, glutton, bribetaker, and buffoon.
XXVII
With the family of Panfíl Harlikóv there also came Monsieur Triquét, a wit, late from Tambóv, 4 bespectacled and russet-wigged. As a true Frenchman, in his pocket Triquet has brought a stanza for Tatiana fitting an air to children known: 8 “Réveillez-vous, belle endormie.” Among an almanac's decrepit songs this stanza had been printed; Triquet — resourceful poet —12 out of the dust brought it to light and boldly in the place of “belle Niná” put “belle Tatianá.”
XXVIII
And now from the near borough, the idol of ripe misses, the joy of district mothers, 4 a Company Commander has arrived; he enters.... Ah, news — and what news! there will be regimental music: “the Colonel's sending it himself.” 8 What fun! There is to be a ball! The young things skip beforehand.36 But dinner's served. In pairs, they go to table, arm in arm.12 The misses cluster near Tatiana, the men are opposite; and the crowd buzzes as all, crossing themselves, sit down to table.
XXIX
Talks for a moment have subsided; mouths chew. On all sides plates and covers clatter, and the jingle 4 of rummers sounds. But soon the guests raise by degrees a general hullabaloo. None listens; they shout, laugh, 8 dispute, and squeal. All of a sudden — the door leaves are flung open: Lenski comes in, and with him [comes] Onegin. “Oh, my Maker!” cries out the lady of the house. “At last!”12 The guests make room, each moves aside covers, chairs quick; they call, they seat the pair of friends
XXX
— seat them directly facing Tanya, and paler than the morning moon, and more tremulous than the hunted doe, 4 her darkening eyes she does not raise. In her stormily pulses a passionate glow; she suffocates, feels faint; the two friends' greetings 8 she hears not; the tears from her eyes are on the point of trickling; the poor thing is on the point of swooning; but will and reason's power12 prevailed. A word or two she uttered through her teeth in a low voice and managed to remain at table.
XXXI
Tragiconervous scenes, the fainting fits of maidens, tears, long since Eugene could not abide: 4 enough of them he had endured. Finding himself at a huge feast, the odd chap was already cross. But noting the languid maid's tremulous impulse, 8 out of vexation lowering his gaze, he went into a huff and, fuming, swore he would madden Lenski, and thoroughly, in fact, avenge himself.12 Now, in advance exulting, he inwardly began to sketch caricatures of all the guests.
XXXII
Of course, not only Eugene might have seen Tanya's confusion; but the target of looks and comments at the time 4 was a rich pie (unfortunately, oversalted); and here, in bottle sealed with pitch, between the meat course and the blancmangér, 8 Tsimlyanski wine is brought already, followed by an array of narrow, long wineglasses, similar to your waist, Zizí, crystal of my soul, object12 of my innocent verse, love's luring vial, you, of whom drunken I used to be!
XXXIII
Ridding itself of its damp cork, the bottle pops; the wine fizzes; and now with solemn mien, 4 long tortured by his stanza, Triquet stands up; before him the assembly maintains deep silence. Tatiana's scarce alive; Triquet, 8 addressing her, a slip of paper in his hand, proceeds to sing, off key. Claps, acclamations, salute him. She must drop the bard a curtsy;12 whereat the poet, modest although great, is first to drink her health and hands to her the stanza.
XXXIV
Now greetings come, congratulations; Tatiana thanks them all. Then, when the turn of Eugene 4 arrived, the maiden's languid air, her discomposure, lassitude, engendered pity in his soul: he bowed to her in silence, 8 but somehow the look of his eyes was wondrous tender. Whether because he verily was touched or he, coquetting, jested,12 whether unwillfully or by free will, but tenderness this look expressed: it revived Tanya's heart.
XXXV