這首詩歌是情詩的典范之作。詩人沒有描繪凱恩外形的美麗,而是突出了她的美給詩人帶來的神奇的精神動力。詩人把一個女子的形象高度理想化了:“有如曇花一現(xiàn)的幻影,有如純潔之美的精靈。”她成了超塵絕世之美的化身,成了生命和靈感的源泉,使詩人悒郁、枯澀的心靈重新得到滋潤與蘇醒。這首詩后來由著名作曲家格林卡譜成歌曲,成為俄國最有名的一首歌。凱恩對他來說,是一個超凡脫俗的形象,她在詩人愛的世界里,像水晶般透明,像白雪般潔白。
《致凱恩》寫于1825年。1819年,普希金20歲時,第一次在彼得堡藝術(shù)學院院長奧列寧的家中見到凱恩,那時她才19歲,卻已成了一位52歲的將軍的妻子。希金在彼得堡和她相識。1824年8月,普希金在憲警的押送下被發(fā)配到原籍米哈伊洛夫斯克村,陪伴他的只有年老的奶娘。1825年夏天,凱恩湊巧在詩人家鄉(xiāng)與詩人見面,凱恩是來與米哈依洛夫斯克村毗鄰的三山村中一位親戚家做客的。普希金與凱恩一起散步、交談,度過了幾天美好的時光。凱恩離開三山村的這一天,普希金送了《葉甫蓋尼·奧涅金》的第二章給她,其中就夾了這首詩,署的日期是“一八二五年七月十九日”。 凱恩后來在回憶當時的情景時寫道:“他清早趕來,作為送別,他給我?guī)砹艘粌浴秺W涅金》的第1章,在沒裁開的詩頁間我發(fā)現(xiàn)了一張折成四層的信紙,上面寫有 ‘我記得那美妙的一瞬’等等,等等。當我準備把這個詩的禮物放進盒子里時,他久久地看著我,然后猛然把詩奪了過去,不想還給我。我苦苦哀求,才又得到它,當時他的腦子里想的是什么,我不知道。”詩人在意外的歡欣之中寫下了這首被譽為“愛情詩卓絕的典范”的作品。
I remembered that is wonderful as soon as flickers:
Appeared you in mine front,
Some like appears briefly fantasy,
Has like the chaste America’s angel.
In that hopeless sad suffering,
Makes noise in that in ostentatious life puzzle,
Nearby my ear for a long time is making a sound your gentlesound,
I also see your lovable beautiful figure in the sleep.
Many years have passed by, storm smile
Has scattered the former days dream,
Thereupon I have put behind your gentle sound,
Also has your that angel resembles the beautiful figure.
In the remote place, in the gloomy life which imprisons,
My day such calmly dissipates,
The insincere person, does not have the poem the inspiration,
Without the tear, does not have the life, also does not havethe love.
Now the mind starts to regain consciousness:
By now has reappeared in front of me you,
Has illusory image which like appears briefly,
Has like the chaste America’s angel.
My heart in is wild with joy jumps,
In heart all reregain consciousness,
Had the sincere person, had the poem inspiration,
Had the life, had the tear, also had the love.