Leo Tolstoy

“ Lisa is silent.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. I see! That's just what you want— I'm in your way.... I can't live so. I can't make you out at all! It's all so new-fangled— first you make up your mind to separate, then you suddenly send for a man who is in love with you ...
LISA. Nothing of the kind.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Karénin proposed to you ... and you send him to fetch your husband! Why? To arouse jealousy?
LISA. Mother, what you are saying is terrible! Leave me alone!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Very well! Turn your mother out of the house, and let in your rake of a husband!... Yes, I will not remain here! ”

“ PETUSHKÓV. Yes, I understand, I understand. It's ideal.
FÉDYA. I'll tell you something. I have had my passions, and once I was in love with a lady— very handsome— and I loved her nastily, like a dog. She gave me a rendezvous. And I did not go, because I thought it was treating the husband shabbily. And it is strange that, even now, when I remember it, I want to feel pleased and to approve of myself for having acted honourably, but I always repent as if I had committed a sin! But in the case of Másha, on the contrary, I am always pleased— pleased that I did not pollute that feeling of mine.... ”

“ PETUSHKÓV. Yes, your life is astonishing.
FÉDYA. No, it's most simple! You know, in the society in which I was born there are only three careers open to a man— only three. The first is to enter the civil or military service, to earn money and increase the abominations amid which we live. That was repulsive to me. Perhaps I had not the capacity for it; but above all it repelled me. Then the second is to destroy those abominations. To do that you must be a hero; and I am not a hero. And the third is to forget it all by going on the spree, drinking and singing. ”

“ FÉDYA [taking out a revolver and putting it on the table] Wait a bit!
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. What's that? Do you want to shoot yourself? You can if you like. I understand you! They wish to humiliate you, and you will show them the sort of man you are! You will kill yourself with a revolver, and them with magnanimity. I understand you. I understand everything, because I am a genius. ”

“ KARÉNIN. This is a case where the proverb applies: “Measure ten times before you cut once.” ... It is very painful to cut into the quick.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Of course it is; but then their marriage has long had a rift in it, so that the tearing asunder was easier than one would have thought. He himself sees that, after what has occurred, it is impossible for him to return.
KARÉNIN. Why so?
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. How can you expect it, after all his horrid goings-on— after he swore it should not happen again, and that if it did he would renounce all rights as a husband and set her perfectly free? ”

“ Victor Karénin is her old friend and mine too. He loves her, and she him.
SÁSHA. No!
FÉDYA. She does— as an honest, moral woman can, who does not allow herself to love anyone but her husband. But she loves, and will love him when this obstacle [points to himself] is removed; and I will remove it, and they shall be happy! [His voice trembles] .
SÁSHA. Fédya, don't talk like that!
FÉDYA. Why, you know very well that it's true! And I shall be glad of their happiness, and it's the best I can do. I shall not return, but shall give them their freedom.... Tell them so.... ”

“ PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I don't understand you! You, a capable, intelligent man, so sensitive to what is good— how can you let yourself be so carried away— so forget what you expect of yourself? How have you ruined your life and come to this?
FÉDYA [forcing back tears of emotion] I have led this disorderly life for ten years, and this is the first time a man like you has pitied me! I have been pitied by my boon-companions, by rakes and by women; but a reasonable, good man like you ... ”

“ ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. The one thing I can't understand is how you reconcile your desire to marry Mrs. Protásova, who has a husband living, with your religious conviction that divorce is contrary to Christianity.
VICTOR. Mother, this is cruel of you! Are we really so immaculate that we must always be perfectly consistent when life is so complex? Mother, why are you so cruel to me?
ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. I love you. I desire your happiness.
VICTOR [to Prince Abrézkov] Prince!
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Of course you desire his happiness. But it is not easy for you and me, with our grey hairs, to understand the young ”

“ FÉDYA. Nastásia Ivánovna, you suspect me falsely. Your daughter is like a sister to me. I care for her honour. You must think no evil ... but I love her! What is one to do?
IVÁN. But you didn't love her when you had money! If you'd then subscribed ten thousand roubles or so to the choir, you might have had her honourably. ”

“ PETUSHKÓV. And what about family life? I should be happy if I had a wife. My wife ruined me.
FÉDYA. Family life? Yes, my wife was an ideal woman. She is still living. But how shall I tell you? There was no yeast in it— you know, the yeast that makes the beer froth! Well, there was nothing of that in our life: it was flat, and I wanted something to help me to forget— and one can't forget when there's no sparkle in life. Then I began to do all sorts of nasty things. And you know, we love people for the good we do them, and dislike them for the harm we do them ”

“ And happiness makes one selfish. It's your fault!
LISA. Do you think it's you only? I too— I feel full of happiness, bathed in bliss! I have everything— Mísha has recovered, your mother likes me, and you— and above all, I, I love!
KARÉNIN. Yes? And no repenting? No turning back?
LISA. Since that day everything has changed in me.
KARÉNIN. And will not change again?
LISA. Never! I only wish you to have done with it all as completely as I have.
Enter nurse, with baby. Lisa takes the baby on her lap.
KARÉNIN. What wretched people we are!
LISA [kissing baby] Why? ”

“ You say it's horrid when one has no money? There's nothing more horrid. But you, in your position, should always have money. Aren't you a corpse? Well then ...
FÉDYA. Excuse me! I did not speak to you and don't want your advice.
ARTÉMYEV. But I want to give it! You are a corpse; but suppose you come to life again? Then they, your wife and that gentleman, who are so happy— they would be bigamists, and at best would be sent to the less distant parts of Siberia. So why should you lack money?
FÉDYA. I beg you to leave me alone.
ARTÉMYEV. Simply write a letter. ”

“ FÉDYA. Directly! [Takes out revolver and shoots himself in the heart. Falls. All rush on him] All right, I think it is done.... Lisa!...
The audience, judges, accused, and witnesses rush out from all the doors.
In front of all is Lisa. Behind her Másha, Karénin, Iván Petróvich and Prince Abrézkov.
LISA. Fédya, what have you done! Why?
FÉDYA. Forgive me that I could not ... free you any other way.... It's not for you ... it's best for me. I have long ... been ready ...
LISA. You will live!
A Doctor bends over Fédya and listens.
FÉDYA. I need no doctor to tell me ... Good-bye, Victor ... ”

“ Lisa is looking for you.
NURSE. I'm coming, I'm coming. [Exit] .
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Nurse says she keeps on crying. Why can't she control herself?
SÁSHA. Well really, mother, you are amazing!... A woman has left her husband, her child's father, and you expect her to be calm!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Well, not calm ... But what's done is done! If I, her mother, not only allowed my daughter to leave her husband, but am even glad she has done it, that shows he deserved it. One ought to rejoice, not to grieve, at the chance of freeing oneself from such a bad man! ”

“ LISA. How can he ...
KARÉNIN [continues reading] “But to business! This very feeling of discord within me forces me to fulfil your desire not in the way you wish. Lying, acting so disgusting a comedy, bribing the Consistorium, and all those horrors, are intolerably repulsive to me. Vile as I may be, I am vile in a different way, and cannot take part in those abominations— simply cannot! The solution at which I have arrived is the simplest: to be happy, you must marry. I am in the way; consequently I must destroy myself....” ”

“ If you were really in love, you'd have got a divorce long ago. They themselves asked you to. You say you don't love her, but all the same you keep to her! I see you don't wish ...
FÉDYA. But you know why I don't wish!
MÁSHA. That's all rubbish. People say quite truly that you're an empty fellow. ”

“ You have spoken with Victor?
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. I have: and I think he loves her. He has grown used to loving her; and love has got a great hold on him. He is a man who takes things slowly but firmly. What has once entered his heart will never leave it again; and he will never love anyone but her; and he can never be happy without her, or with anyone else.
ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. And how willingly Várya Kazántseva would have married him! What a girl she is, and how she loves him!
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV [smiling] . C'est compter sans son hôte! ”

“ LISA [seizes Victor's hand] Victor!
KARÉNIN [reads] “... must destroy myself. And I will do it. When you get this letter, I shall be no more.
“P.S. What a pity you sent me money to pay for the divorce proceedings! It is unpleasant, and unlike you! But it can't be helped. I have so often made mistakes, why shouldn't you make one? I return the money. My way of escape is shorter, cheaper, and surer. All I ask is, don't be angry with me, and think kindly of me. And, one thing more— there is a clockmaker, Evgényev, here. Can't you help him, and set him on his feet? ”

“ EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. Yes, you did not see well, in consequence of a very natural excitement. And now may I ask why you have sent a monthly remittance to Sarátov, the very town where your first husband was living?
LISA. My husband sent that money, and I cannot say what it was for, as that is not my secret. But it was not sent to Theodore Vasílyevich, for we were firmly convinced of his death. That I can say for certain. [26]
EXAMINING MAGISTRATE. Very well. Only allow me to remark, madam, that the fact of our being servants of the law does not prevent our being men ”

“ PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. Yes, but we ...
FÉDYA [interrupting] And don't suppose that I feel the least bit jealous. If I said that Victor is dull, I withdraw the remark. He is an excellent, honourable, moral man: almost the direct opposite of myself. And he has loved her from childhood. Perhaps she too may have loved him when she married me— that happens sometimes! The very best love is unconscious love. I believe she always did love him; but as an honest woman she did not confess it even to herself. But ... a shadow of some kind always lay across our family life— but why am I confessing to you? ”

“ OFFICER. It's better than any novel. Only I don't understand how she could love him so. Dreadful object!
The other door opens. The accused come out: first Lisa, then Karénin. They pass along the corridor. Fédya follows alone.
LADY. Hush— here he is! Look how excited he seems!
Lady and Officer pass on.
FÉDYA [approaches Iván Petróvich] Have you brought it?
IVÁN PETRÓVICH. Here it is. [Hands Fédya something] .
FÉDYA [Hides it in his pocket, and wishes to pass out, but sees Petushkóv] Stupid! Vile! Dreary, dreary! Senseless. [Wishes to pass] .
Enter Counsel Petrúshin; stout, red, and animated. ”

“ To forgive, “As we forgive them that trespass against us.” Mais, c'est plus fort que moi! [17]
PRINCE ABRÉZKOV. How could she live with such a man? If she had not loved anyone else she would have had to leave him. She would have had to, for her child's sake. The husband himself— an intelligent kind-hearted man when he is in his senses— advises her to do it....
Enter Victor, who kisses his mother's hand and greets Prince Abrézkov.
VICTOR. Mother, I have come to say this: Elisabeth Andréyevna will be here in a minute, and I beg, I implore you— if you still refuse your consent to my marriage ... ”

“ Our relations to one another are complex— a spiritual struggle such as you know nothing of, a struggle between good and evil goes on. That struggle ends in a manner which sets them free. They were all at peace. ”

“ FÉDYA. You scoundrel!
ARTÉMYEV. Am I a scoundrel? Eh, police! I'll give him in charge!
Fédya rises to go, but Artémyev holds him. Enter policeman.
Curtain.
Scene 2 The ivy-covered verandah of a bungalow in the country. Anna Dmítrievna Karénina. Lisa (pregnant) , nurse, and boy.
LISA. Now he's on his way from the station.
BOY. Who is?
LISA. Papa.
BOY. Papa's coming from the station?
LISA. C'est étonnant comme il l'aime, tout-à-fait comme son père. [23]
ANNA DMÍTRIEVNA. Tant mieux! Se souvient-il de son père véritable? [24]
LISA [sighs] I never speak to him about it. ”

“ They fell in love with one another, and meanwhile I went altogether to the bad, and abandoned my wife of my own accord. And besides, there was Másha. I myself advised them to marry. They did not want to, but I became more and more impossible, and it ended in ...
PETUSHKÓV. The usual thing?
FÉDYA. No. I am sure; I know for certain that they remained pure. He is a religious man, and considers marriage without the Church's blessing a sin. So they began asking me to agree to a divorce. I should have had to take the blame on myself. ”

“ AFRÉMOV'S FOOTMAN.
KARÉNIN'S FOOTMAN.
ACT I Scene 1 Protásov's [1] flat in Moscow. The scene represents a small dining-room.
Anna Pávlovna, a stout grey-haired lady, tightly laced, is sitting alone at the tea-table on which is a samovár. Enter nurse, carrying a teapot.
NURSE. May I have a little hot water, ma'am?
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes. How's Baby?
NURSE. He's restless.... There's nothing worse than for a lady to nurse her baby herself! She has her troubles, and the child must suffer. What can her milk be like, when she lies awake crying all night? ”