Alexander Pushkin | Vi ho amata / I Loved You / Я вас любил, 1829

Io vi ho amato: l'amore ancora, forse,

nella mia anima non si è del tutto spento;

Ma non lasciare che vi disturbi più;

Non voglio rattristarvi con niente.

Io vi ho amato silenziosamente, senza speranza,

ora con timidezza, ora con gelosia.

Vi ho amato così sinceramente, così teneramente,

Come che v'ami un altro il ciel vi dia.

Woldemar Hau (1816-1895) | Portrait of Natalia Nikolayevna Pushkina-Lanskaya (Wife of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin), 1849

I Loved You

"I Loved You" (Russian: Я вас любил - Ya vas lyubíl) is a poem by Alexander Pushkin written in 1829 and published in 1830.

It has been described as "the quintessential statement of the theme of lost love" in Russian poetry, and an example of Pushkin's respectful attitude towards women.

I loved you; even now I may confess,

Some embers of my love their fire retain;

But do not let it cause you more distress,

I do not want to sadden you again.

Hopeless and tongue-tied, yet I loved you dearly

With pangs the jealous and the timid know;

So tenderly I loved you, so sincerely,

I pray God grant another love you so.

Я вас любил..

Я вас любил: любовь ещё, быть может,

В душе моей угасла не совсем;

Но пусть она вас больше не тревожит;

Я не хочу печалить вас ничем.

Я вас любил безмолвно, безнадежно,

То робостью, то ревностью томим;

Я вас любил так искренно, так нежно,

Как дай вам Бог любимой быть другим.

Valentin Serov | Alexander Pushkin on a Park Bench