Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky

“ MÍTYA. Well, go on a spree as much as you like.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. And after the holidays I shall marry!—Upon my word I shall marry! I'll get a rich girl.
GÚSLIN. Now, then, listen; how does this sound?
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Sing it, sing it! I'll listen.
GÚSLIN. [Sings]
"Is naught so hard and evil
As to be fatherless;
Than slavery more grievous
And sharper than distress.
All in the world make holiday,
But lonely you must pine.
Your mind is wild and drunken,
But it came not from the wine.
Youth shall not do your pleasure,
Beauty no healing bear. ”

“ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. To whom, Gordéy Kárpych, did you say?
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. To Mítya—Yes! What airs he put on! As if I were worse than he! "You'll come and bow down!" He lies! I won't go and bow down! Just to spite him I'll marry her to Dmitry. [All are astonished. MÍTYA. [Takes LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA by the hand and goes to GORDÉY KÁRPYCH] Why out of spite, Gordéy Kárpych? One does not do such things out of spite. I don't want you to do it out of spite. I'd rather suffer torment all my life. If you are kind enough, then give us your blessing as is proper, in a fatherly fashion, with love. ”

“ LÍPOCHKA. Fomínishna, you were born a peasant, and you'll turn up your toes a peasant. What's your merchant to me? What use would he be? Has he any ambition to rise in the world? What do I want of his mop?
FOMÍNISHNA. Not a mop, but the hair that God gave him, miss, that's it.
AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. See what a rough old codger your dad is; he doesn't trim his beard; yet, somehow, you manage to kiss him.
LÍPOCHKA. Dad is one thing, but my husband is another. But why do you insist, mamma? I have already said that I won't marry a merchant, and I won't! I'd rather die first ”

“ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Arinushka, did you send for the girls?
ARÍNA. I did, my dear.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. That's right. Let them have a song with our folks, and cheer up Lyubóv and the guests. This is the time for them to enjoy themselves—while they're young. You know what a girl's life is—behind bolts and bars, never seeing the world! Now's their holiday!—Yes, let 'em have a good time!
ARÍNA. Yes, to be sure, to be sure! Why shouldn't they?
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Bring in some Madeira, Arinushka, the oldest we have; and gingerbread for the young people, and sweets—whatever you choose! ”

“ GÚSLIN. It's really true.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Well, then, all right; keep quiet! [They talk in a whisper.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. You, Mítya, will you come to us later on in the evening?
MÍTYA. I will.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. And I'm coming; I'm good at dancing. [Stands with arms akimbo] Girls! do fall in love with me, one of you!
MÁSHA. You ought to be ashamed of yourself! What's that you're saying?
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Why such airs! I say, fall in love with me, somebody—yes—for my simplicity.
LÍZA. People don't talk like that to girls. You ought to wait till they do fall in love with you. ”

“ Seeing all this, my dear, you try to act like a born lady yourself. Your very manners change, and you try to have a way of talking of your own.
LÍZA. But why should we try to be fine ladies? Much good it does!
NÁDYA. Much good, you say? Well, you see the ladies promised to marry me off, so I am trying to educate myself, so that no one'll be ashamed to take me. You know what sort of wives our officials have; well, what a lot they are! And I understand life and society ten times better than they do. Now I have just one hope: to marry a good man, so I may be the mistress of my own household. ”

“ USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. And you say, my jewel, two thousand rubles and a sable cloak?
PODKHALYÚZIN. Exactly so, ma'am. Be at rest on that score!—And you'll put on that sable cloak, Ustinya Naúmovna, and you'll go out walking—why, anybody will think you're a general's wife.
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Do you think so? Well, now, indeed! When I put on that sable cloak, I'll look my perkiest, with my hands by my sides; then your bearded friends will stare with their mouths wide open. They'll get to sighing so that you couldn't stop them with a fire engine; the women will all turn up their noses from jealousy. ”

“ RAZLYULYÁYEV. [Goes to MÍTYA and slaps him on the shoulder] Mítya! For a friend I give up everything! I loved her myself, but for you—I give her up. Give me your hand. [Clasps his hand] That's all—take her; I give her up to you! For a friend I don't regret anything! That's the way we do it when it comes to the point! [Wipes away his tears with the lappet of his coat and kisses MÍTYA] He told the truth then; drunkenness is no crime—well, I mean—poverty is no crime. I always make slips!
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Oh, yes, here they all are! [To the girls] Now, then, girls, a jolly song! ”

“ RISPOLÓZHENSKY. No fair, Ustinya Naúmovna! That ain't nice for a lady to do. Samsón Sílych, I can't, sir! Would I have refused it? He! he! he! What kind of a blockhead am I, that I should do anything so rude? I've seen high society, I know how to live. Now, I never refuse vodka; if you don't mind, I'll just take a thimbleful! But this I simply can't drink—it turns my stomach. Samsón Sílych, don't you allow all this disorderly conduct; it's easy to insult a man, but it ain't nice.
BOLSHÓV. Give it to him hot and heavy, Ustinya Naúmovna, hot and heavy! ”

“ I'm only an ordinary man.
LUKÉRYA. We are so naturally.
KRASNÓV. [To his wife] Then be kind enough not to be afraid of me in the future. That would trouble my conscience. Am I a bogie?
TATYÁNA. I'll not be afraid of you any more, Lev Rodionych; I'll love you.
LUKÉRYA. Other women would make you all sorts of promises that they didn't mean a bit, but my sister—she's different.
KRASNÓV. Now I can understand you. There were times when I didn't know just how to approach you—whether you'd be pleased or not!
TATYÁNA. You always please me.
AFÓNYA. Come, Grandfather Arkhíp, let's go out on the street! ”

“ LEONÍD. Oh, what a comical fellow! Don't be angry with me, mamma. When I found out that you wanted to marry NÁDYA to him, I felt sorry for her. And you're so good to everybody! [He kisses her hand] I didn't want you to do anything unjust.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. Such people fairly drive you into sin. [Kissing him] You have a beautiful soul, my dear! [To VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA] Indeed, I have always thought that God himself sometimes speaks with the lips of babes. Líza! Go tell Nadezhda not to cry, that I have turned out NEGLIGÉNTOV.
LÍZA. Yes, ma'am. ”

“ KÓRSHUNOV. Why should they appreciate you?
GORDÉY KÁRPYCH. No, tell me this: Isn't everything well done here? In other houses a young fellow waits at table in a Russian smock, or there's a peasant girl; but in my house there's a butler in cotton gloves. This butler is a trained man, from Moscow; he knows all the ways of society—where each man should be seated, and what's to be done. But how is it at other people's houses? They collect in one room, they sit down in a ring, and sing peasant songs. ”

“ TATYÁNA. Have you started the samovar?
LUKÉRYA. Long ago; it'll boil soon. Well, you see it's just as I told you; that kerchief is much more becoming to you. But why did you stick the pin through it? [Adjusting it] There, that's much better.
AFÓNYA. Where are you dressing up to go to? Why are you prinking so at that mirror?
TATYÁNA. Nowhere; we're going to stay at home.
LUKÉRYA. What business is it of yours? Do you think we ought to be as slovenly as yourself?
AFÓNYA. But who are you fixing up for? For your husband? He loves you more than you deserve even without the fine clothes. ”

“ VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. And you, dear soul, are a benefactress to all. To all alike, to all! You do favors to people who aren't even worth your looking at.
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. [Sits down] Never mind, my dear. One must do good to his neighbor.
VASILÍSA PEREGRÍNOVNA. But do they feel that good? Can they understand, heartless creatures, how great is your condescension to them?
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. It's all the same to me, my dear! One must do good for his own sake, for his own soul. Then I stopped in to see the chief of police, and asked him to make NEGLIGÉNTOV head-clerk. ”

“ BOLSHÓV. I know that you love me—you all love us; only one can't get anything decent out of you. Here I'm worrying, worrying with this business so that I'm worn out, if you believe me, with this one anxiety. If I could only get it over with, and out of my head.
RISPOLÓZHENSKY. Well, Samsón Sílych, you aren't the first, nor the last; aren't others doing it?
BOLSHÓV. How can they help it, brother? Others are doing it. But how do they do it; without shame, without conscience! They ride in carriages with easy springs; they live in three-storied houses. ”

“ NÁDYA. It's impossible to force the heart, sir.
LEONÍD. Why? Don't you like me?
NÁDYA. Well, how could I help liking you? But I'm not your equal! What sort of love is that? Clean ruin! Here comes Líza running after me, I suppose. Good-by. Good luck to you! [She goes away.
LÍZA comes in.
LÍZA. Master, if you please! Your mamma has come.
LEONÍD. Líza!
LÍZA. [Approaching] What is it, please?
LEONÍD. [He embraces LÍZA; she trembles with pleasure] Why won't Nádya love me?
LÍZA. [Affectedly] What are you talking about, master! Girls of our sort must look out for themselves! ”

“ Brother, she's getting ready! She's leaving, brother!
KRASNÓV. [Pushing him aside] Stand aside! A woman leaves her husband only for the grave, for nowhere else! [Goes out. The cry of TATYÁNA is heard: "Let me go!" He comes back] Bind me! I've killed her.
AFÓNYA. Serves her right.
ULYÁNA. Ah, my dear! What will happen to you now?
ARKHÍP. Where is he? Where is he? [AFÓNYA leads him] What have you done? Who gave you the right? Is she guilty only towards you? First of all, she is guilty before God; and you, a proud and willful man, have taken it upon yourself to judge? ”

“ PODKHALYÚZIN. Daddy, please consider: to-day, without capital, sir, without capital you can't do much business.
OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. I lived with you until I was twenty years old, daddy, and was a regular stay-at-home. What, would you have me give back the money to you, and go about again in calico-print clothes?
BOLSHÓV. What are you saying? What are you saying? Recollect! You see I'm not asking any kindness of you, but my rights. Are you human beings?
OLIMPIÁDA SAMSÓNOVNA. Why, of course, daddy, we're human beings; we're not animals. ”

“ PODKHALYÚZIN. That's very fine, ma'am, But now I ask you, Ustinya Naúmovna, why do you come here to us so confoundedly often?
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. What's that to you? Why shouldn't I come? I'm no thief, no sheep without a name. What do you mean by that question?
PODKHALYÚZIN. But, really, aren't you wasting your time coming?
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Wasting my time? Where did you get that idea, my jewel? Just see here, what sort of a husband I've found: an aristocrat, has peasants, and a fine young man.
PODKHALYÚZIN. Why has the thing come to a halt, ma'am?
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. It hasn't come to a halt! ”

“ LÍZA. Even married life is sometimes no joy! You may get such a husband that ... God help you!
NÁDYA. What a joy it would be to me to marry a really fine man! I, thank God, am able to distinguish between people: who is good, who bad. That's easy to see at once from their manners and conversation. But the mistress is so unreasonable in holding us in so strictly, and in keeping everlasting watch over us! ”

“ AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. If anybody were actually coming, then you'd be talking sense; but you keep saying he's coming, he's coming, but God knows who it is that's coming. It's always like that.
LÍPOCHKA. Well, in that case I'll stay, mamma. [She goes to the mirror and looks at herself. Then to her father] Daddy!
BOLSHÓV. What do you want?
LÍPOCHKA. I'm ashamed to tell you, daddy!
AGRAFÉNA KONDRÁTYEVNA. Ashamed of what, you little fool? Speak out if you need anything.
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Shame isn't smoke—it won't eat out your eyes. ”

“ In what respect have I displeased you now, mistress, that you wish to marry me to a drunkard?
MADAM ULANBÉKOV. My dear, it's not for you to argue about that; you're just a girl. You ought to rely in all things upon me, your patroness. I brought you up, and I am even bound to establish you in life. And again, you ought not to forget this: that he is my godson. Rather, you ought to be thankful for the honor. And now I tell you once and for all: I do not like it when my girls argue, I simply do not like it, and that's all there is to it. That's a thing I cannot permit anybody. ”

“ FOMÍNISHNA. What's the use of talking, my dear; what's the use of talking!
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Sit down, Fomínishna; your legs are old and rickety.
FOMÍNISHNA. Eh! Haven't time, my dear! You see, it's just awful; because he doesn't come home we're all scared to death: he may come home drunk at any time. And then what a bad one, good Lord! Then what a row he'll kick up.
USTÍNYA NAÚMOVNA. Naturally; a rich peasant is worse than the devil to talk to. ”

“ PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Come in, sir. KÓRSHUNOV. [Entering] Ah, there she is, my bride! Where were you hiding yourself? He, he! I'll find you, I'll find you anywhere. If you please, Pelagéya Egórovna, permit me to talk confidentially with your daughter about our own affairs.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Certainly. [Goes out. KÓRSHUNOV. [Seats himself near LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA] What are you crying about, young lady? For shame, for shame! He, he, he! There! I'm older than you, and I don't cry. [Looks at her searchingly] Oh, well, I know what it's about! I suppose you want to marry a young fellow? ”