A BITTER FATE.docx

8/14/2019 A BITTER FATE.docx

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A BITTER FATE

A Drama in Four Acts

By

Alexey Feofilaktovich Pisemsky

(1859)

Translated by Alice KaganAnd George Rapall Noyes


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CHARACTERS.

CHEGLV-SOKVIN, A young landownerSERGY VASLYICH ZOLOTLOV, his brother-in-law, a middle-aged landowner and districtmarshall of the nobility.

KALISTRT GRIGRYICH, bailiff of CHEGLOV-SOKOVINANNY YKOVLICH,peasant-tenant of SOKOVIN, trading in St. PetersburgLIZAVTA, his wifeMATRNA, her motherANNA SPIRIDNYEVNA, an old neighbor of MATRENAUNCLE NKON, an old peasant-laborerSPHRINGEL, an official of the provincial government, on special serviceDISTRICT CHIEF OF POLICEA LAWYER

A HIRED WOMANPEASANTS: MIKHYLO FDOROV, their deputy; DAVID IVNOV; FDORPETROVICH;a young boy; a lame peasant; a pock-marked peasant; witnesses; women

The action takes place in the village of Sokovina.


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ACT I.

A comfortable peasant cottage. In the front corner is a table covered with a white cloth. On the

table are bread, salt, and a small iron.

SCENE I.

OLD MATRENA is sitting on one bench and old SPIRIDONYEVNA on another.

SPIRIDONYEVNA. [Looking out of the window.] Theyre not in sight yet, my dear; not yet.MATRENA. What can you expect, my dear? The roads drifted and the horse has to struggle allthe time. They have to go at a walk, I suppose.SPIRIDONYEVNA. Who went to meet him, my dear?MATRENA. Who went to meet him? We hired a horse and wagon, my dear; Uncle Nikon, bless

his soul, was glad to go for twenty-five kopeks and a drink of beer. I dont know what Id havedone without him. My own scamp of a laborer went to the mill week before last and aint comeback yet.SPIRIDONYEVNA. How about Lizaveta, my dear? Did she go too?MATRENA. Yes. Shes his wife it was her duty to go: what else could she do but go and meethim O Lord, O Lord! What sinners we are! What a world this is!SPIRIDONYEVNA. [grinning.] She must be awfully afraid of him, my dear?MATRENA. Of course shes afraid of him! Hes such a proud man and hes always had his ownway You know as well as I that he wouldnt mind even his own father. He left a rich and

comfortable home, and came to live with us poor folks so that no one could boss him, and now

that hes got a start on his own account, I suppose he thinks more of himself than ever.SPIRIDONYEVNA. And why shouldnt he? Perhaps he thinks hes higher up in the world than

a merchant. Some of the peasants were telling me how he lived in Peter: among his own sort hereally cant find any one good enough for him When he comes to the tavern for tea, he wont

even notice a peasant of his own class if he looks a little shabby. Pride, my dear, is our worstenemy Who can tell? Maybe thats why Gods punishing him now. How can we ever tell him

such a terrible thing!MATRENA. Yes, such a terrible thing He may not even spare her life. Ive cried and cried

over the hussy, until my eyes almost went dry Suppose, says I to her, Anany Yakovlich all

of a sudden comes from Peter, how can we ever tell him of your doings, you wretch? Well,says she, mother dear, you neednt worry about it. Its my sin and Ill take what comes to me.SPIRIDONYEVNA. And what about the child, my dear? He seems to have dropped through thefloor.MATRENA. She took him to a room outside. She and the hired woman were heating the placeall day yesterday; she never said a word to me about it. I guess she did it so the baby wouldnt

stare Anany Yakovlich in the face.


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SPIRIDONYEVNA. I guess he knows about it already He mustve heard it in Peter: goodnews travels slowly, but bad news spreads like wildfire.MATRENA. Not much, my dear, not much! Whenever any of our people went to town, Ibegged them on my knees not to even mention it. Its dangerous, you know. Hes still young, andif such bad news had come to him in Peter he might have lost his mind. Wretch that she is, shedidnt spare my old age or his young life.SPIRIDONYEVNA. Well, my dear, you can wash your hands clean of it. Shes a young womanstill. If shed been naked and starving she might have been after money: but she had everything a

heart desires and plenty of it.MATRENA. What have we come to? People are awfully wicked nowadays, both men andwomen. When I was young, I was all alone here without Ivan Petrovich. He used to stay awayfor seven years at a time in Peter All those years I lived almost as poor as a beggar. In the

summer I worked hard and in the winter I looked after the cattle and the spinning; and when I laydown at night I was so tired I couldnt feel my own bones how could I think of such evil

doings!SPIRIDONYEVNA. Thats what it is my dear. If you dont sin against God, you arent guiltybefore the tsar. I too was a sinner when I was a young girl I committed a crime, but that wasdifferent: it was just with my own kind, but shes carried on with the squire. (How could she

have the nerve!) To my mind its a sin even to talk to them!MATRENA. [waving her hand.] I dont even know which of them said the first word Andnow Ive grown old and stupidThat sickness I had in the fall has made me very forgetful; but Ido remember how he came to our hut for the first time I was lying down on the oven benchjust then; I jumped up. Good day, master! says I. Lizaveta was working about the stove all the

while. Good day, old woman, says he. Then he went straight over to her. With hands like

yours, Lizaveta, says he, you ought to embroider with gold thread and not meddle with a fire-rake. How charming you are! says he. She, the wretch, just stood there and grinned at him

And I, old fool that I was, made him a bow too. We thank you, dear master, for your kind

words, says I The devil knows; maybe it all started then!SPRIDONYEVNA. Dont fool yourself, my dear, they found many a place outside your hut. Do

you remember last harvest we went to help the master; and he used to be all day long on the plotof land where Lizaveta worked and he talked to her all the time?MATRENA. [waving her hands in despair.] Just so.SPIRIDONYEVNA. [continuing.] Then the people began to just fool around and drink a bit.The girls and young married womenhussies that they arehad plenty of work to do, but thatwasnt enough for them they began to sing and play tag. What do you suppose? The master

began to play with them. He jumped around like a goat and he always chose Lizaveta for hispartner and took good care that the master so sweet on Matrenas Lizaveta? Thats what wesaid.MATRENA. My dear, I never knew a word about this. Mothers, I suppose, are just blind to theevil in their own children. If shed lived with a cross mother-in-law instead of her own mother,


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she wouldnt have dared to do such a thing. Perhaps its not all her fault, either; maybe some one

else just led her on to it.SPIRIDONYEVNA. Theres one man, my dear, our baliff, the villain that he is, Kalistrat

Grigoryich: the whole village is talking about it and you cant stop their mouths, either. Whoelsecould have set the squire on a married woman? And now for his favors and kindness hes got

such power over the squire that its amazing: the manor servants say that on holidays he comes

in drunk and filthy from some place or other and instead of keeping out of sight of the gentlefolk,he yells at the top of his voice: I dont care, says he, the masters like a younger brother to

me. Hell do whatever I want him to. Its just as if hed cast a spell on him, my dear honest itis.MATRENA. Well, my dear, thats a queer kind of spell! Hes a clever man: rich and cunning.When this awful thing happened to that daughter of mine, he came to me and says Matrena,

says he, your daughter is with child and her husband has been away all this time; you look outthat she does nothing rash to herself or to the childyoull have to answer for it. And I just

groaned, in surprise, my dear; I never dreamed of such an awful thing. Just then the wretch camein. I began to scold her and was ready to tear her to p ieces, but he began to yell at me. Donttouch her, says he, the master himself knows about it and hes excused her.SPIRIDONYEVNA. [looking out of the window.] Theyre coming, my dear, theyre coming.MATRENA. Oh, praised be the Heavenly Queen! Shall we stand up? We had better meet themwith bread and salt.[She takes the bread from the table and stands in front of the door.]SPIRIDONYEVNA. [coming to look out of the window.] Anany Yakovlich is sitting besideLizaveta, my dear. Just look, he is helping her out of the cart so gently: bless his soul, I dontthink he knows it yet.

***

SCENE II.

ANANY YAKOVLICH comes in. He is dressed in a short warm coat of good cloth; after him

come LIZAVETA and UNCLE NIKON, who carries a bag on his shoulder.

UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too!

[LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the samesure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!

UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Itsthe wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]

MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse isfine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its



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fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]

UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Itsthe wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-

law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.


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[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.

[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?

[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse isfine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me!

[He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its


[LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse isfine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!

UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]

MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Itsthe wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too!


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fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]

UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Itsthe wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. Here, my dear, Ive brought you a real merchant from Peter My horse is

fine; load her up with two tons and shell haul it just the same sure she will.[ANANY YAKOVLICH says a prayer before the ikon; makes three low bows to his mother-in-

law; then, after bending over the ikon, exchanges kisses with her.]MATRENA. Good day, my dear, my bright star!UNCLE NIKON. Make a low bow to me, too, my friend Anany Yakovlich: I want to have thehonor too.[He takes the bread and salt from MATRENA.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [with a slight smile.] It wont hurt me![He makes a half bow to UNCLE NIKON and then exchanges kisses with him.]UNCLE NIKON. Thats it, my boy, thats fine You must always respect us old folks Its

the wisdom of old age that the world rests on and not on seven whalesit sure does.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to his wife.] Come, you take some too![LIZAVETA, embarrassed, takes the bread and salt; ANANY YAKOVLICH makes her a low bowand kisses her.]MATRENA. [giving her daughter a nudge.] Why dont you make him a low bow, you fool?[LIZAVETA makes a bow; ANANY YAKOVLICH raises her and kisses her again.]UNCLE NIKON. [without paying attention to anyone.] I have a hut full of kids, thank God, andtheyre all my own, all Nikons, just exactly so they sure are! But a tradesman, maybe


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maybe the tradesman knows that good luck comes from the masters. He might even make someextra money that way.ANANY YAKOVLICH. What are you driving at? Youre saying something mighty queer.[LIZAVETA and MATRENA sit as if half-dead.]SPIRIDONYEVNA. Oh, what a tittle-tattle of a man you are! Youre sitting at the masters

table and eating his bread and drinking his vodkaand do nothing but fling insults at him, foolthat you are!UNCLE NIKON. Whatd you mean Im sitting? Ill get up.[He gets up from the table.] Why is he stirring up my temper? What kind of a man is he anyhow,if I can put him out of countenance with one word?ANANY YAKOVLICH. Whats the word that can put me out of countenance?UNCLE NIKON. What word, eh? What are you, a merchant or a general?... Youre the squires

kinsmanthats all you are Tell me whose baby have you! Tell me! Youre lucky onlybecause your mare was harnessed to the squires sleigh thats all, cursed devils that you are!

[Goes out.]

***

SCENE III.

As before, without UNCLE NIKON.

ANANY YAKOVLICH. [hastily rising from the table.] O Lord, thy will be done![To LIZAVETA.] Why did this man mock you and slander you with such words?

SPIRIDONYEVNA. [alarmed.] I think Id better be going now. Good day, Matrena, dear!...Good day, Lizaveta Ivanovna!... Good day, my dear Anany Yakovlich.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [hastily.] Good day![SPIRIDONYEVNA goes out.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [to MATRENA.] Mother dear, what did his words mean?MATRENA. [after a moment of silence.] Well, my dear, you heard for yourself.ANANY YAKOVLICH. Whose baby was he yarning about?MATRENA. Maybe he meant Lizavetas little one.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [turning pale.] What Lizavetaslittle one?MATRENA. She has a little boy. Hes about a month and a half nowANANY YAKOVLICH. Oh, thats what it is, eh? [To MATRENA.] Now, mother dear, please leave us alone for a while.MATRENA. Be merciful to her, my dear, just a little bit. Punish her as much as you want! Beather up so hard that shell be sore for a year or more, but dont kill her. Its not for her sake,

wretch that she is, but for your own, because youre so honest and clever.[She makes him a low bow.]


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. [raising her.] Dont, thats all right Only please, leave us alone.

***

SCENE IV.

ANANY YAKOVLICH and LIZAVETA.

[Some time passes in silence; ANANY YAKOVLICH looks LIZAVETA in the face; she lowers hereyes to the floor.]

ANANY YAKOVLICH. What have you been up to, eh?[LIZAVETA is silent.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. Speak! Give me some sort of answer!

LIZAVETA. What can I say?... There is no reply I can make. You can do with me whatever youplease.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [laughing bitterly.] Hm I can do whatever I please.[Assuming an air of dignity.] Who was your lover, then?LIZAVETA. Nikon Semenyeh told you. Well, what he said was true.ANANY YAKOVLICH. I didnt understand his stupid words!

[Silence again.] he talked some stuff about the squire.LIZAVETA. Who did you think, then? It was the squire.ANANY YAKOVLICH. So thats what its come to, eh?... You got into high society, didnt

you?

LIZAVETA. I didnt want to do it: but then they gave me all sorts of orders and commands andI couldnt disobey.ANANY YAKOVLICH. What sort of orders and commands could they be? If what you say istrue and you were forced to do ithow about your mother? She wouldnt have agreed to such athing. You should have told her about it right away.LIZAVETA. Mother didnt know anything about it. I was ashamed to tell her. It would only

have made her angry. What help could she have given me?ANANY YAKOVLICH. Oh, you sly cat! If you thought your mother couldnt help you, whydidnt you write me about it? This affair is so near my heart and causes me so much pain, that I

might even have dropped everything in Peter and have come here as quick as lightening to savemy honor No matter how powerful the masters are nowadays, in that respect theyre not any

better than the rest of us. Theres some justice in our country. If he had become very hard on us I

might even have complained to the government. So why blame it on being afraid of the master,you cat? As if you didnt want to doit yourself, you shameless creature!ANANY YAKOVLICH. What have you been up to, eh?[LIZAVETA is silent.]


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. Speak! Give me some sort of answer!LIZAVETA. What can I say?... There is no reply I can make. You can do with me whatever youplease.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [laughing bitterly.] Hm I can do whatever I please.[Assuming an air of dignity.] Who was your lover, then?

LIZAVETA. Nikon Semenyeh told you. Well, what he said was true.ANANY YAKOVLICH. I didnt understand his stupid words![Silence again.] he talked some stuff about the squire.LIZAVETA. Who did you think, then? It was the squire.ANANY YAKOVLICH. So thats what its come to, eh?... You got into high society, didnt

you?LIZAVETA. I didnt want to do it: but then they gave me all sorts of orders and commands andI couldnt disobey.ANANY YAKOVLICH. What sort of orders and commands could they be? If what you say is

true and you were forced to do ithow about your mother? She wouldnt have agreed to such athing. You should have told her about it right away.LIZAVETA. Mother didnt know anything about it. I was ashamed to tell her. It would only

have made her angry. What help could she have given me?ANANY YAKOVLICH. Oh, you sly cat! If you thought your mother couldnt help you, whydidnt you write me about it? This affair is so near my heart and causes me so much pain, that I

might even have dropped everything in Peter and have come here as quick as lightening to savemy honor No matter how powerful the masters are nowadays, in that respect theyre not any

better than the rest of us. Theres some justice in our country. If he had become very hard on us I

might even have complained to the government. So why blame it on being afraid of the master,

you cat? As if you didnt want to do it yourself, you shameless creature!ANANY YAKOVLICH. What have you been up to, eh?[LIZAVETA is silent.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. Speak! Give me some sort of answer!LIZAVETA. What can I say?... There is no reply I can make. You can do with me whatever youplease.ANANY YAKOVLICH. [laughing bitterly.] Hm I can do whatever I please.[Assuming an air of dignity.] Who was your lover, then?LIZAVETA. Nikon Semenyeh told you. Well, what he said was true.ANANY YAKOVLICH. I didnt understand his stupid words![Silence again.] he talked some stuff about the squire.LIZAVETA. Who did you think, then? It was the squire.ANANY YAKOVLICH. So thats what its come to, eh?... You got into high society, didnt

you?LIZAVETA. I didnt want to do it: but then they gave me all sorts of orders and commands andI couldnt disobey.


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. What sort of orders and commands could they be? If what you say istrue and you were forced to do ithow about your mother? She wouldnt have agreed to such athing. You should have told her about it right away.LIZAVETA. Mother didnt know anything about it. I was ashamed to tell her. It would only

have made her angry. What help could she have given me?

ANANY YAKOVLICH. Oh, you sly cat! If you thought your mother couldnt help you, whydidnt you write me about it? This affair is so near my heart and causes me so much pain, that I

might even have dropped everything in Peter and have come here as quick as lightening to savemy honorNo matter how powerful the masters are nowadays, in that respect theyre not anybetter than the rest of us. Theres some justice in our country. If he had become very hard on us I

might even have complained to the government. So why blame it on being afraid of the master,you cat? As if you didnt want to do it yourself, you shameless creature![Silence.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. [rising.] Just to avoid the disgrace Ill take it all on myself; well

make believe at least before strangers that nothing has happened; the child is mine then and youare my faithful wife so far! But if by any chance you repeat any such actions with that squire ofyours, then itd be better do you hear me? my breath fails me at the thought!... Itd be

better, Lizaveta, that youd never been born at all! You should know best of all by this time whatsort of man I am. Then I wont spare either you or myself or that dirty brat of yours: be sure of

that!... Thats my last, solemn word to you!

***

SCENE V.

The same, and a HIRED WOMAN.

HIRED WOMAN. [opens the door and looks into the hut] Lizaveta Ivanovna, come and nurseyour baby: he wont take the bottle. Ive tried and tried to stick it into his mouth he nearly

choked with crying.[ANANY YAKOVLICH jumps up; LIZAVETA does not move from her seat.]ANANY YAKOVLICH. Well, what are you sitting there for? Arent you satisfied, you good-for-nothing trash that you are? Ive told you my decision get out![LIZAVETA goes out silently.]

***

SCENE VI.


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ANANY YAKOVLICH. [strikes himself on the chest.] The Heavenly Father alone knows howmy heart is bleeding black blood.

***

END OF ACT I.

***


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ACT II.

The Squires Study.

SCENE I.

CHEGLOV-SOKOVIN, a lean and weary-looking young man dressed in a heavy baize frock coat

is sitting on the sofa, his head drooping. ZOLOTILOV is lounging in an armchair: he is a strong

and healthy man; he has several ribbons in his buttonhole and a number of charms hanging from

his watch chain.

ZOLOTILOV. Say what you like, my dear man,but you cant convince me that a man can getupset on account of a mere peasant woman.CHEGLOV. [with a bitter grin.] Why cant you understand it?

ZOLOTILOV. Because such feelings can be aroused only by women of our own class; bywomen who look at things and judge them as we do; by women, who, if you please, canunderstand what we say. But these? How could a peasant wench ever captivate your heart?...All those creatures ever say is, Oh, my dear! Oh my darling! Our grandfathers used to

squander their substance on gypsies; they at least were women of fire and passion, but ourpeasant womenthey are like blocks of wood: no matter what passion you display to them theylie there placidly and pick the moss from the cracks in the wall and wonder whether youre goingto give them a new dress Is it possible to fall in love with such an animal?CHEGLOV. [annoyed.] Why do you throw this love in my teeth all the time? No matter whatmy infatuation was like in the beginning, I have now become attached to her. After all, I am an

honest man. God only knows how sorry I am for her when I see that the situation is becomingabsolutely awful, absolutely terrible.ZOLOTILOV. I dont see anything in this situation that is so terrible or awful.CHEGLOV. Her husband hasjust come back. Isnt that bad enough?ZOLOTILOV. What of that?CHEGLOV. What of that! Will you proceed to deny all feelings and reason to these people?Isnt he sure to find out?ZOLOTILOV. Yes, hell find it out and he may even be very glad that hiswife has been pettedby the squire.CHEGLOV. [making an impatient gesture.] Its your kind who are glad when your superiorssteal your wives, but not the peasants.ZOLOTILOV. Oh well, I dont know about that. At any rate, if your rival does get a bit angry,hell just beat her up once or twice and that will be the end of it.CHEGLOV. For Gods sake, Sergey Vasilyich, dont talk that way! You mustnt touch fresh

wounds so roughly. Please understand that there is a child of my own flesh and blood.Understand at least that much and be merciful to me from that side of the question!


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[Walks across the room and drinks some vodka.]ZOLOTILOV. What if there is a child? Even then I cannot see anything that need upset you soterribly. You can bring him to your house, give him a good education and a good bringing up,and enter him as a burgher or a merchant and thats all there is to it.CHEGLOV. Thats just it, my dear sir this woman is not what you think they all are. When

she was still with child, I told her, in order to save her from disgrace, that she should expose thechild at the door of the baliff, and she answered me right then and there: No, she said, master,I have sinned and I will take the punishment for it, but I wont give away my own child to be

abused by strangersmy heart wont let me. Those were her very words.ZOLOTILOV. These words are plain enough. If you should take the child away from her, yourrelations with her could come to an end at any time. Now, however, it is different. If her husbandgives her a scolding or a beating, she can still claim a right to you for all your life. I know thesepeople exceedingly well, my friend; you can believe me. They are stupid only in doing themasters business, but are very sly and farsighted where it concerns their own interests.

CHEGLOV. [clutching his head.] Do you realize, Sergey Vasilyich, what horrible words youare uttering, and in what a disgusting tone, like Taras Skotinin?ZOLOTILOV. I know very well, my dear fellow, that my tone is not very appealingbut whatcan I do? I have a certain amount of right to use such a tone, because I am your sisters husband

and she has asked me to come here and open your eyes.CHEGLOV. To what do you and my sister want to open my eyes?ZOLOTILOV. To the fact that you are suffering, God knows why. Just look at yourself and seehow you have changed. You are worn out: you are coughing, and coughing like a sick man. Andlast, but not least, my friendas the saying goes, you cant hide an awl in a sack rumors cometo us all from all quarters that you are drinking. I called on you about eleven oclock and you

already had vodka on your table; this is the third glass you have drunk since Ive been here, andthis makes us very unhappy. I am also convinced that this woman encourages you in thisunfortunate weakness, because it is easier to fish in troubled waters.ZOLOTILOV. Oh well, I dont know about that. At any rate, if your rival does get a bit angry,hell just beat her up once or twice and that will be the end of it.CHEGLOV. For Gods sake, Sergey Vasilyich, dont talk that way! You mustnt touch fresh

wounds so roughly. Please understand that there is a child of my own flesh and blood.Understand at least that much and be merciful to me from that side of the question![Walks across the room and drinks some vodka.]ZOLOTILOV. What if there is a child? Even then I cannot see anything that need upset you soterribly. You can bring him to your house, give him a good education and a good bringing up,and enter him as a burgher or a merchant and thats all there is to it.CHEGLOV. Thats just it, my dear sir this woman is not what you think they all are. Whenshe was still with child, I told her, in order to save her from disgrace, that she should expose thechild at the door of the baliff, and she answered me right then and there: No, she said, master,


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I have sinned and I will take the punishment for it, but I wont give away my own child to beabused by strangersmy heart wont let me. Those were her very words.ZOLOTILOV. These words are plain enough. If you should take the child away from her, yourrelations with her could come to an end at any time. Now, however, it is different. If her husbandgives her a scolding or a beating, she can still claim a right to you for all your life. I know these

people exceedingly well, my friend; you can believe me. They are stupid only in doing themasters business, but are very sly and farsighted where it concerns their own interests.CHEGLOV. [clutching his head.] Do you realize, Sergey Vasilyich, what horrible words youare uttering, and in what a disgusting tone, like Taras Skotinin?ZOLOTILOV. I know very well, my dear fellow, that my tone is not very appealingbut whatcan I do? I have a certain amount of right to use such a tone, because I am your sisters husband

and she has asked me to come here and open your eyes.CHEGLOV. To what do you and my sister want to open my eyes?ZOLOTILOV. To the fact that you are suffering, God knows why. Just look at yourself and see

how you have changed. You are worn out: you are coughing, and coughing like a sick man. Andlast, but not least, my friendas the saying goes, you cant hide an awl in a sackrumors cometo us all from all quarters that you are drinking. I called on you about eleven oclock and you

already had vodka on your table; this is the third glass you have drunk since Ive been here, and

this makes us very unhappy. I am also convinced that this woman encourages you in thisunfortunate weakness, because it is easier to fish in troubled waters.CHEGLOV. [smiling bitterly.] But how differently? Thats what I dont understand.ZOLOTILOV. The same way that everybody looks at them. Just to pacify you, Ill cite my ownpersonal experience, although it wont be very edifying. [In an undertone.] Here am I, a marriedman and of middle age, and yet I am not without sin in this respect. However, the domestic

happiness of your sister and myself does not suffer from it, and I have not grown thin or taken todrink, thank God! And when a few days ago a woman of that sort had the impudence to hold herhead high in my wifes presence, I put her where she belonged immediately: Cricket, stick to

your hearth!CHEGLOV. Well, you can look at things and understand them as you please, but I look at themWait, I think there is some one outside. I am afraid of the least little sound thats mysituation Whos there?

***

SCENE II.

The same and the BAILIFF.

BAILIFF. [coming in.] Its me!CHEGLOV. [worried.] Oh, Kalistrat, how are you! What is it?


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BAILIFF. Oh, nothing much; I only came to say that Anany Yakovlich has come back fromPeter.CHEGLOV. I know it! Well, what of it?BAILIFF. [scratching his head.] Hes behaving awfully. His wife has come over here with me:she got away somehow.

CHEGLOV. Oh, well; call her in.[Clutches his head.] O my God!BAILIFF. [puts his head out of the door.] Come on in!... What? Oh, come on, stop that!CHEGLOV. Whats the matter with her?BAILIFF. Shes afraid to come in A strange gentleman here, she says.CHEGLOV. Thats all right, Liza, come in!... Its my brother; he knows everything.ZOLOTILOV. Dont be bashful, my dear; dont be bashful Im no stranger.[LIZAVETA comes in timidly.]CHEGLOV. [putting his hand on her shoulder.] Come, sit down!... What about your scamp of a

husband?LIZAVETA. [sits down with her arms drooping.] Oh, master, do you know what!CHEGLOV. Well, what is it?LIZAVETA. Hes going to torture me. Im lost, just clean ruined!CHEGLOV. Did you put the blame on mesay that it was all my fault?LIZAVETA. I told him I tried to lie to him the way you told me: but do you think he believes

it?ZOLOTILOV. [to LIZAVETA.] How does he mean to torture you?[To CEHGLOV.] Elle est trs jolie.LIZAVETA. I dont know, sir but I know its something terrible we havent slept for three

nights now. He just sits there like a wild beast and stares me straight in the face, as if he weretrying to kill me with his lookits something terrible!CHEGLOV. Thats awful, awful!BAILIFF. He cant do that! Dont he know that we send such fellows off to Siberia?LIZAVETA. What does he care?... If he was an easy-going man, hed get it off his chest andforget about it; but he, when he has any thing against you, his rage grows stronger and strongerwith every hour and day, like a garden nettle, and burns him more and more.ZOLOTILOV. Just think what a beast![CHEGLOV merely motions with his hands.]BAILIFF. Thats just it: hes just a snake!... Most of our peasants are rough and insolent, but

hes the worst of em all. When he was living in the village, for just about one year, I almost quit

my office: at the village meetings he never let me say a word; he just wanted to be the boss andhave em do as he liked.BAILIFF. Oh, nothing much; I only came to say that Anany Yakovlich has come back fromPeter.CHEGLOV. I know it! Well, what of it?


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BAILIFF. [scratching his head.] Hes behaving awfully. His wife has come over here with me:she got away somehow.CHEGLOV. Oh, well; call her in.[Clutches his head.] O my God!BAILIFF. [puts his head out of the door.] Come on in!... What? Oh, come on, stop that!CHEGLOV. Whats the matter with her?BAILIFF. Shes afraid to come in A strange gentleman here, she says.CHEGLOV. Thats all right, Liza, come in!... Its my brother; he knows everything.ZOLOTILOV. Dont be bashful, my dear; dont be bashful Im no stranger.[LIZAVETA comes in timidly.]CHEGLOV. [putting his hand on her shoulder.] Come, sit down!... What about your scamp of ahusband?LIZAVETA. [sits down with her arms drooping.] Oh, master, do you know what!CHEGLOV. Well, what is it?

LIZAVETA. Hes going to torture me. Im lost, just clean ruined!CHEGLOV. Did you put the blame on mesay that it was all my fault?LIZAVETA. I told him I tried to lie to him the way you told me: but do you think he believes

it?ZOLOTILOV. [to LIZAVETA.] How does he mean to torture you?[To CEHGLOV.] Elle est trs jolie.LIZAVETA. I dont know, sir but I know its something terrible we havent slept for threenights now. He just sits there like a wild beast and stares me straight in the face, as if he weretrying to kill me with his lookits something terrible!CHEGLOV. Thats awful, awful!

BAILIFF. He cant do that! Dont he know that we send such fellows off to Siberia?LIZAVETA. What does he care?... If he was an easy-going man, hed get it off his chest andforget about it; but he, when he has any thing against you, his rage grows stronger and strongerwith every hour and day, like a garden nettle, and burns him more and more.ZOLOTILOV. Just think what a beast![CHEGLOV merely motions with his hands.]BAILIFF. Thats just it: hes just a snake!... Most of our peasants are rough and insolent, buthes the worst of em all. When he was living in the village, for just about one year, I almost quit

my office: at the village meetings he never let me say a word; he just wanted to be the boss andhave em do as he liked.

BAILIFF. Oh, nothing much; I only came to say that Anany Yakovlich has come back fromPeter.CHEGLOV. I know it! Well, what of it?BAILIFF. [scratching his head.] Hes behaving awfully. His wife has come over here with me:she got away somehow.CHEGLOV. Oh, well; call her in.


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[Clutches his head.] O my God!BAILIFF. [puts his head out of the door.] Come on in!... What? Oh, come on, stop that!CHEGLOV. Whats the matter with her?BAILIFF. Shes afraid to come in A strange gentleman here, she says.CHEGLOV. Thats all right, Liza, come in!... Its my brother; he knows everything.ZOLOTILOV. Dont be bashful, my dear; dont be bashful Im no stranger.[LIZAVETA comes in timidly.]CHEGLOV. [putting his hand on her shoulder.] Come, sit down!... What about your scamp of ahusband?LIZAVETA. [sits down with her arms drooping.] Oh, master, do you know what!CHEGLOV. Well, what is it?LIZAVETA. Hes going to torture me. Im lost, just clean ruined!CHEGLOV. Did you put the blame on mesay that it was all my fault?LIZAVETA. I told him I tried to lie to him the way you told me: but do you think he believes

it?ZOLOTILOV. [to LIZAVETA.] How does he mean to torture you?[To CEHGLOV.] Elle est trs jolie.LIZAVETA. I dont know, sir but I know its something terrible we havent slept for threenights now. He just sits there like a wild beast and stares me straight in the face, as if he weretrying to kill me with his lookits something terrible!CHEGLOV. Thats awful, awful!BAILIFF. He cant do that! Dont he know that we send such fellows off to Siberia?LIZAVETA. What does he care?... If he was an easy-going man, hed get it off his chest andforget about it; but he, when he has any thing against you, his rage grows stronger and stronger

with every hour and day, like a garden nettle, and burns him more and more.ZOLOTILOV. Just think what a beast![CHEGLOV merely motions with his hands.]BAILIFF. Thats just it: hes just a snake!... Most of our peasants are rough and insolent, buthes the worst of em all. When he was living in the village, for just about one year, I almost quit

my office: at the village meetings he never let me say a word; he just wanted to be the boss andhave em do as he liked.CHEGLOV. All right, Im willing to have a talk with him quite openly Bring him here

immediately. Kalistrat, go bring him here!BAILIFF. All right, sir: but we must get her out of here first of all.[To LIZAVETA.] (pg. 427)

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