The Queen of Spades and Selected Works by Alexander Pushkin

Author:Alexander Pushkin [Pushkin, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Anthologies, Classics, Short Stories, Poetry, Russian Literature
ISBN: 9781908968104
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Published: 1834-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

EXTRACT FROM THE

BLANK-VERSE TRAGEDY

BORIS GODUNOV (SCENE V)

Pimen’s Monologue

1603. A Cell in the Monastery of the Miracle. Night.

FATHER PIMEN, a monk, writing under a lamp.

PIMEN. One record more remains, the last of all,

And then this chronicle of mine is finished,

The duty is fulfilled which God has laid

On me, a sinner. Of these many years

The Lord has made me witness not in vain,

And taught me the intelligence of books.

In days to come some persevering monk

Will come across my patient, nameless work.

As I have done, so will he light his lamp

And shake the dust of ages from these words,

And then transcribe the veritable records.

Thus shall the future sons of Orthodoxy

Learn the old fortunes of their native land,

And call to mind their great tsars, well-remembered

For all their labours, glories and good works—

While for their sins and for their darkest deeds

Before the Saviour making supplication…

Now in old age I live my life anew,

As bygone years proceed before my eyes.

Are they so long departed, filled with action

And agitated like the ocean seas?

Now they remain unspeaking and at peace.

Few faces now my memory retains,

Few words survive to call upon my ear.

The rest has gone irrevocably by…

But day is near. My lamp is burning low.

One record more remains, the last of all.

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