這首詩是獻(xiàn)給安娜·阿列克謝耶夫娜·奧列尼娜(1808-1888)的。奧列尼娜生活在著名學(xué)者家中，受到文學(xué)藝術(shù)的熏陶，文化素質(zhì)較高，同時(shí)又頗多魅力，相當(dāng)活潑，惹人喜愛。奧列尼娜和普希金接觸之后，她曾表白說：普希金是“當(dāng)時(shí)她所見到的最有趣的人”，普希金對她也充滿了情意。他們一起在沙龍見面，在郊外同游，在彼得堡夏園幽會(huì)。
1828年夏天，普希金很想和奧列尼娜結(jié)為夫妻，但卻遭到了她的父親的拒絕。普希金遭到拒絕后，很快就離開了彼得堡。后來，普希金與奧列尼娜一家關(guān)系大大疏遠(yuǎn)了，其中很重要的原因是她的父親越來越靠近沙皇，而且這位要人對社會(huì)上流傳的普希金的諷刺短詩極為不滿。
First version:
I loved you
I loved you; and perhaps I love you still,
The flame, perhaps, is not extinguished; yet
It burns so quietly within my soul,
No longer should you feel distressed by it.
Silently and hopelessly I loved you,
At times too jealous and at times too shy.
God grant you find another who will love you
As tenderly and truthfully as I.
Second version :
I loved you
I loved you, and I probably still do,
And for a while the feeling may remain...
But let my love no longer trouble you,
I do not wish to cause you any pain.
I loved you; and the hopelessness I knew,
The jealousy, the shyness - though in vain -
Made up a love so tender and so true
As may God grant you to be loved again.
