But my God, what a bore it is to amuse the half-dead. My uncle has the most honest rules
Pe€tri de vanite€ il avait encore plus de cette espe`ce d'orgueil qui fait avouer avec la me^me indiffe€rence les bonnes comme les mauvaises actions, suite d'un sentiment de supe€riorite€, peut-e ^tre imagine.
Tire€ d'une lettre particulie`re
Not thinking of amusing the proud world,
Loving the attention of friendship,
I'd like to introduce you
The pledge is more worthy than you,
More worthy than a beautiful soul,
Saint of a dream come true,
Poetry alive and clear,
High thoughts and simplicity;
But so be it - with a biased hand
Accept the collection of motley heads,
Half funny, half sad,
Common people, ideal,
The careless fruit of my amusements,
Insomnia, light inspirations,
Immature and withered years,
Crazy cold observations
And hearts of sorrowful notes.
Chapter first
And he’s in a hurry to live, and he’s in a hurry to feel.
Prince Vyazemsky
I
“My uncle has the most honest rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!
What low deceit
To amuse the half-dead,
Adjust his pillows
It's sad to bring medicine,
Sigh and think to yourself:
When will the devil take you!”
II
So thought the young rake,
Flying in the dust on postage,
By the Almighty will of Zeus
Heir to all his relatives. -
Friends of Lyudmila and Ruslan!
With the hero of my novel
Without preamble, right now
Let me introduce you:
Onegin, my good friend,
Born on the banks of the Neva,
Where might you have been born?
Or shone, my reader;
I once walked there too:
But the north is bad for me.
III
Having served excellently and nobly,
His father lived in debt
Gave three balls annually
And finally squandered it.
Eugene's fate kept:
First Madame I followed him
After Monsieur replaced her;
The child was harsh, but sweet.
Monsieur l'Abbe€, poor Frenchman
So that the child does not get tired,
I taught him everything jokingly,
I didn’t bother you with strict morals,
Lightly scolded for pranks
And he took me for a walk in the Summer Garden.
IV
When will the rebellious youth
The time has come for Evgeniy
It's time for hope and tender sadness,
Monsieur kicked out of the yard.
Here is my Onegin free;
Haircut in the latest fashion;
How dandy London dressed -
And finally saw the light.
He's completely French
He could express himself and wrote;
I danced the mazurka easily
And he bowed casually;
What do you want more? The light has decided
That he is smart and very nice.
V
We all learned a little bit
Something and somehow
So upbringing, thank God,
It's no wonder for us to shine.
Onegin was, according to many
(decisive and strict judges),
A small scientist, but a pedant.
He had a lucky talent
No coercion in conversation
Touch everything lightly
With the learned air of a connoisseur
Remain silent in an important dispute
And make the ladies smile
Fire of unexpected epigrams.
VI
Latin is now out of fashion:
So, if I tell you the truth,
He knew quite a bit of Latin,
To understand the epigraphs,
Talk about Juvenal,
At the end of the letter put vale,
Yes, I remembered, although not without sin,
Two verses from the Aeneid.
He had no desire to rummage
In chronological dust
History of the earth;
But the jokes of days gone by
From Romulus to the present day,
He kept it in his memory.
VII
Having no high passion
No mercy for the sounds of life,
He could not iambic from trochee,
No matter how hard we fought, we could tell the difference.
Scolded Homer, Theocritus;
But I read Adam Smith
And there was a deep economy,
That is, he knew how to judge
How does the state get rich?
And how does he live, and why?
He doesn't need gold
When simple product It has.
His father couldn't understand him
And he gave the lands as collateral.
VIII
Everything that Evgeniy still knew,
Tell me about your lack of time;
But what was his true genius?
What he knew more firmly than all sciences,
What happened to him from childhood
And labor, and torment, and joy,
What took the whole day
His melancholy laziness, -
There was a science of tender passion,
Which Nazon sang,
Why did he end up a sufferer?
Its age is brilliant and rebellious
In Moldova, in the wilderness of the steppes,
Far away from Italy.
IX
……………………………………
……………………………………
……………………………………
X
How early could he be a hypocrite?
To harbor hope, to be jealous,
To dissuade, to make believe,
Seem gloomy, languish,
Be proud and obedient
Attentive or indifferent!
How languidly silent he was,
How fieryly eloquent
How careless in heartfelt letters!
Breathing alone, loving alone,
How he knew how to forget himself!
How quick and gentle his gaze was,
Shy and impudent, and sometimes
Shined with an obedient tear!
XI
How he knew how to seem new,
Jokingly amaze innocence,
To frighten with despair,
To amuse with pleasant flattery,
Catch a moment of tenderness,
Innocent years of prejudice
Win with intelligence and passion,
Expect involuntary affection
Beg and demand recognition
Listen to the first sound of the heart,
Pursue love and suddenly
Achieve a secret date...
And then she's alone
Give lessons in silence!
XII
How early could he have disturbed
Hearts of coquettes!
When did you want to destroy
He has his rivals,
How he sarcastically slandered!
What networks I prepared for them!
But you, blessed men,
You stayed with him as friends:
The wicked husband caressed him,
Foblas is a long-time student,
And the distrustful old man
And the majestic cuckold,
Always happy with yourself
With his lunch and his wife.
XIII. XIV
……………………………………
……………………………………
……………………………………
My uncle has the most honest rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!
What low deceit
To amuse the half-dead,
Adjust his pillows
It's sad to bring medicine,
Sigh and think to yourself:
When will the devil take you!
Analysis of “My uncle has the most honest rules” - the first stanza of Eugene Onegin
In the first lines of the novel, Pushkin describes Uncle Onegin. The phrase “the most honest rules” was taken by him from. Comparing his uncle with a character from a fable, the poet hints that his “honesty” was only a cover for cunning and resourcefulness. Uncle knew how to skillfully adapt to public opinion and, without arousing any suspicion, carry out his shady deeds. Thus he earned a good name and respect.
My uncle's serious illness became another reason to attract attention. The line “I couldn’t have come up with a better idea” reveals the idea that even from an illness that can cause death, Onegin’s uncle tries (and succeeds) to derive practical benefit. Those around him are sure that he fell ill due to a neglectful attitude towards his health for the benefit of his neighbors. This apparent selfless service to people becomes a reason for even greater respect. But he is unable to deceive his nephew, who knows all the ins and outs. Therefore, there is irony in Eugene Onegin’s words about illness.
In the line “science is his example to others,” Pushkin again uses irony. Representatives of high society in Russia have always made a sensation out of their illness. This was mainly due to issues of inheritance. A crowd of heirs gathered around the dying relatives. They tried in every possible way to gain the favor of the patient in the hope of reward. The dying man's merits and his supposed virtue were loudly proclaimed. This is the situation that the author uses as an example.
Onegin is the heir of his uncle. By right of close kinship, he is obliged to spend “day and night” at the patient’s bedside and provide him with any assistance. The young man understands that he must do this if he does not want to lose his inheritance. Do not forget that Onegin is just a “young rake.” In his sincere reflections, he expresses real feelings, which are aptly designated by the phrase “low deceit.” And he, and his uncle, and everyone around him understands why his nephew does not leave the dying man’s bed. But the real meaning is covered with a false veneer of virtue. Onegin is incredibly bored and disgusted. There is only one phrase constantly on his tongue: “When will the devil take you!”
The mention of the devil, and not God, further emphasizes the unnaturalness of Onegin’s experiences. In reality, the uncle’s “fair rules” do not deserve a heavenly life. Everyone around him, led by Onegin, is eagerly awaiting his death. Only by doing this will he render a real invaluable service to society.
A. E. IZMAILOV
<«Евгений Онегин», глава I>
We hasten, although we are a little late, to inform lovers of Russian poetry that A. S. Pushkin’s new poem, or, as stated in the title of the book, novel in verse, or the first chapter of the novel “Eugene Onegin” was printed and sold in the bookstore of I.V. Slenin, near the Kazansky Bridge, for 5 rubles, and with postage for 6 rubles.
It is impossible to judge the whole novel, especially its plan and the character of the persons depicted in it, from one chapter. So, let's just talk about the syllable. The story is excellent: ease, gaiety, feeling and pictorial poetry are visible everywhere * 1. The versification is excellent: young Pushkin has long occupied an honorable place among our best versifiers, the number of which, unfortunately and surprisingly, is still not so great.
Taking advantage with moderation right of a journalist-bibliographer 3, let us present here a small (however, not the best) sample of a syllable, or story, from “Eugene Onegin”.
Having served excellently, nobly,
His father lived in debt
Gave three balls annually
And finally squandered it.
Eugene's fate kept:
At first Madame followed him,
Then Monsieur replaced her,
The child was harsh, but sweet.
Monsieur l'Abbé, poor Frenchman,
So that the child does not get tired,
I taught him everything jokingly,
I didn’t bother you with strict morals,
Lightly scolded for pranks
And he took me for a walk in the Summer Garden.
When will the rebellious youth
The time has come for Evgeniy
It's time for hope and tender sadness,
Monsieur was driven out of the yard.
Here is my Onegin free;
Haircut in the latest fashion;
How a dandy Londoner is dressed;
And finally saw the light.
He's completely French
He could express himself and wrote;
I danced the mazurka easily
And he bowed casually;
What do you want more? The light has decided
That he is smart and very nice.
We all learned a little bit
Something and somehow
So upbringing, thank God,
It's no wonder for us to shine.
Onegin was, according to many
(decisive and strict judges),
A small scientist, but a pedant.
He had a lucky talent
No coercion in conversation
Touch everything lightly
With the learned air of a connoisseur
Remain silent in an important dispute
And make the ladies smile
Fire of unexpected epigrams.
What is the portrait of a fashionable Russian nobleman? Almost every verse has a striking, characteristic feature. As mentioned here by the way Madame, Monsieur!.. A wretched- it could not have been more successful to tidy up the epithet for the important French mentor, who jokingly taught everything to the frisky darling little one, even in Summer Garden. - But alas! it's time And driven out of Monsieur l'Abbé's courtyard. O ingratitude! Wasn’t he the one who taught Evgeniy? everything, i.e. absolutely speak French and... write! - But Evgeny had another mentor, and it's true that he's French, who taught him to bow at ease and dance the mazurka easily, as easily and deftly as they dance it in Poland... What do you need more?? - Strict, decisive judges Evgeniy was recognized not only as a scientist, but even... pedant. Here's what it means:
No coercion in conversation
Touch everything slightly,
With the learned air of a connoisseur
Remain silent in an important dispute.
Enough picture descriptions in this book; but the most complete and most brilliant of them is, without a doubt, a description of the theater. It is also wonderful to praise beautiful women's legs. We do not agree, however, with the kind writer, as if it is hardly possible to find in Russia there are three pairs of slender female legs.
Well, how could he say that?
How slender the legs are, how small
At Euphrosyne, Miloliki,
At Lydia's, at Angelika's!
So I counted four pairs.
Or maybe all over Russia there is
At least five or six pars! 4
In the “Pre-Notice” to “Eugene Onegin” the following words are remarkable: “May we be allowed to draw the attention of readers to virtues rare in a satirical writer: the absence of an offensive personality and the observation of strict decency in a comic description of morals.” - In fact, these two virtues have always been rare in satirical writers, especially rare in modern times. “Pre-Notice” is followed by “Conversation between a Bookseller and a Poet.” It would be desirable for us to always speak as intelligently as here, not only booksellers, but also poets, even in their advanced years.
Footnotes
* “It’s my job to describe” 2, says the writer in 21 countries. And it’s true: he is a master, and a great master, of this matter. His paintings are distinguished not only by the delicacy of the brush and the freshness of the colors, but often by strong, bold, sharp and characteristic, so to speak, features, which shows an extraordinary talent, that is, a happy imagination and an observant spirit.
Notes
A. E. IZMAILOV
<« Евгений Онегин». Глава I>
Good. 1825. Part 29 No. 9 (published on March 5). pp. 323-328. From the “Book News” section. Signature: I.
1 Chapter I of “Eugene Onegin” was published on February 16, 1825. Izmailov wrote to P. L. Yakovlev on February 19: “These days a new poem by Pushkin, or a novel, or only the first chapter of the novel “Eugene Onegin” was published. There is no plan at all, but the story is delightful” (LN. T. 58. pp. 47-48).
2 Ch. I, stanza XXVI.
3 The section “News about new books”, in which this article is published, is of a critical and bibliographic nature.
4 Wed. also the poem “Angelike” signed Lardem, published in “Blagonamerenny” with the following note: “The author was inspired to write these poems by the wonderful appeal to the legs in Eugene Onegin” (1825. Part 29. No. 12. P. 479).
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
This is how the novel “Eugene Onegin”, written by Pushkin, begins. Pushkin borrowed the phrase for the first line from Krylov’s fable “The Donkey and the Peasant.” The fable was published in 1819, and was still popular among readers. The phrase “the fairest rules” was expressed with obvious subtext. My uncle served conscientiously, fulfilled his duties, but, hiding behind “honest rules” during his service, he did not forget about his beloved self. He knew how to steal unnoticed, and made a decent fortune, which he now received. This ability to make a fortune is another science.
Pushkin, through the mouth of Onegin, ironizes about his uncle and his life. What remains after it? What did he do for the fatherland? What mark did you leave with your deeds? He acquired a small estate and made others respect him. But this respect was not always sincere. In our blessed state, ranks and merits were not always earned through righteous labors. The ability to present oneself in a favorable light in front of superiors, the ability to make profitable acquaintances both then, in the time of Pushkin and now, in our days, work flawlessly.
Onegin goes to his uncle and imagines that he will now have to pretend to be a loving nephew in front of him, be a little hypocritical, and in his heart think about when the devil will take away the sick man.
But Onegin was incredibly lucky in this regard. When he entered the village, his uncle was already lying on the table, calm and tidied up.
When analyzing Pushkin's poems, literary critics still argue over the meaning of each line. Opinions are expressed that “he forced himself to be respected” means he died. This statement does not stand up to criticism, since, according to Onegin, his uncle is still alive. We must not forget that the letter from the manager was galloping on horses for more than one week. And the journey itself took Onegin no less time. And so it happened that Onegin ended up “from the ship to the funeral.”
My uncle has the most honest rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
