Aleksandr Pushkin - Eugene Oneguine [Onegin]. A Romance of Russian Life in Verse

End of Canto The Eighth

The End

Ruslan and Liudmila , the title of Pushkin's first important work, written 1817-20. It is a tale relating the adventures of the knight-errant Ruslan in search of his fair lady Liudmila, who has been carried off by a kaldoon , or magician.

Written in Bessarabia.

In Russia foreign tutors and governesses are commonly styled "monsieur" or "madame."

Referring to Tomi, the reputed place of exile of Ovid.

Pushkin, then residing in Bessarabia, was in the same predicament as his predecessor in song, though he certainly did not plead guilty to the fact, since he remarks in his ode to Ovid:

Ovid thus enumerates the causes which brought about his banishment:

Ovidii Nasonis Tristium , lib. ii. 207.

Les Aventures du Chevalier de Faublas , a romance of a loose character by Jean Baptiste Louvet de Couvray, b. 1760, d. 1797, famous for his bold oration denouncing Robespierre, Marat and Danton.

A la "Bolivar," from the founder of Bolivian independence.

M. Breguet, a celebrated Parisian watchmaker—hence a slang term for a watch.

Talon, a famous St. Petersburg restaurateur.

Paul Petrovitch Kaverine, a friend for whom Pushkin in his youth appears to have entertained great respect and admiration. He was an officer in the Hussars of the Guard, and a noted "dandy" and man about town. The poet on one occasion addressed the following impromptu to his friend's portrait:

Denis Von Wisine (1741-92), a favourite Russian dramatist. His first comedy "The Brigadier," procured him the favour of the second Catherine. His best, however, is the "Minor" (Niedorosl). Prince Potemkin, after witnessing it, summoned the author, and greeted him with the exclamation, "Die now, Denis!" In fact, his subsequent performances were not of equal merit.

Jacob Borissovitch Kniajnine (1742-91), a clever adapter of French tragedy.

Simeonova , a celebrated tragic actress, who retired from the stage in early life and married a Prince Gagarine.

Ozeroff , one of the best-known Russian dramatists of the period; he possessed more originality than Kniajnine. "Oedipus in Athens," "Fingal," "Demetrius Donskoi," and "Polyxena," are the best known of his tragedies.

Katenine translated Corneille's tragedies into Russian.

Didelot , sometime Director of the ballet at the Opera at St. Petersburg.

Istomina—A celebrated Circassian dancer of the day, with whom the poet in his extreme youth imagined himself in love.

In Russia large fires are lighted in winter time in front of the theatres for the benefit of the menials, who, considering the state of the thermometer, cannot be said to have a jovial time of it. But in this, as in other cases, "habit" alleviates their lot, and they bear the cold with a wonderful equanimity.

"Tout le monde sut qu'il (Grimm) mettait du blanc; et moi, qui n'en croyait rien, je commencai de le croire, non seulement par l'embellissement de son teint, et pour avoir trouve des tasses de blanc sur la toilette, mais sur ce qu'entrant un matin dans sa chambre, je le trouvais brossant ses ongles avec une petite vergette faite expres, ouvrage qu'il continua fierement devant moi. Je jugeai qu'un homme qui passe deux heures tous les matins a brosser ses ongles peut bien passer quelques instants a remplir de blanc les creux de sa peau." Confessions de J. J. Rousseau

Refers to Dictionary of the Academy, compiled during the reign of Catherine II under the supervision of Lomonossoff.