Eugene Onegin ( without commentary )

2)6
Chapter Six
IV

Forward, forward, my story! A new persona claims us. Five versts from Krasnogorie, 4 Lenski's estate, there lives and thrives up to the present time in philosophical reclusion Zaretski, formerly a brawler, 8 the hetman of a gaming gang, chieftain of rakehells, pothouse tribune, but now a kind and simple bachelor paterfamilias, 12 a steadfast friend, a peaceable landowner, and even an honorable man: thus does our age correct itself! v Time was, the monde\ obsequious voice used to extol his wicked pluck: he, it is true, could from a pistol 4 at twelve yards hit an ace, and, furthermore, in battle too once, in real rapture, he distinguished himself by toppling from his Kalmuk steed 8 boldly into the mud, swine drunk, and to the French fell prisoner (prized hostage!)- a modern Regulus, the god of honor, 12 ready to yield anew to bonds so as to drain on credit at Very's37 two or three bottles every morning.