Palace Embankment

The Palace Embankment is one of the main places of interest in the city as it offers a wonderful view of the Neva, the Peter and Paul Fortress and Vasilievsky Island.

The night grew still... with silence falling; Only the sound of sentries calling, Or suddenly from Million Street Some distant droshky's rumbling beat; Or floating on a drowsy river, A lonely boat would sail along, While far away some rousing song Or plaintive horn would make us shiver.

[5] For the first edition of this chapter, the poet commissioned an illustration depicting him and Onegin walking together along the quay.

Upon receiving the illustration, which represented him leaning on a parapet with his back turned towards the Peter and Paul Fortress, he was exceedingly displeased with the result (which had little in common with his own preliminary sketch, illustrated to the right) and scribbled the following epigram underneath (here in translation by Vladimir Nabokov): Here, after crossing Bridge Kokushkin, With bottom on the granite propped, Stands Aleksandr Sergeich Pushkin; Near M'sieur Onegin he has stopped.

Ignoring with a look superior The fateful Power's citadel, On it he turns a proud posterior: My dear chap, poison not the well!