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Poems

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EPIGRAM ON A. A. DAVYDOVA[1]

One had Aglaya by attraction
Of raven curls and martial stance,
One for his money (no objection),
A third because he was from France,
Cleon [2] by dint of being clever,
Damis* for tender songs galore;
By, my Aglaya, say, whatever
Did your own husband have you for?

~ ALEKSÁNDR SERGÉYEVICH PÚSHKIN

1822

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FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Aglaya Davydova, nee Duchesse de Grammont, (the promiscuous wife of General Alexander Davydov, the southern Decembrist's brother), whose favors Pushkin also enjoyed briefly.] Back to text

[Footnote 2: Cleon and Damis are shepherds' names in 17th and 18th century pastoral poetry. They probably stand for Davydova's lovers without any personal reference.] Back to text