Nikolai Gogol

“ You may believe as much of that as you please! . . . One doesn't know how to begin with him. Still I've got to try—come of it what will, I must have a try somehow ! (Aloud.) H'm, if you really are in want of funds, or anything else, I am ready to oblige you at once. It is—ahem !—my duty to assist travellers.
KHLESTAKOV. Lend me then—lend me a trifle ! and then I'll settle up immediately with the landlord. I only want two hundred roubles, or even less.
GOVERNOR (getting out his pocket-book) . There's exactly two hundred roubles—don't trouble to count them ! ”

“ And if I have taken any bribes, they were very little ones—something for the table, or a coat or two. ... As for the sergeant's widow, who took to shop-keeping—whom they say I flogged [18] it's a slander, I swear, it's a slander. My enemies invented it—they're the kind of people who are ready to murder me in cold blood !
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, yes, but I've nothing to do with them. . . . (Reflects.) I don't see, though, why you should dilate about your enemies to me, or talk about sergeants' widows. ... A sergeant's wife would have been quite a different matter . . . ”

“ Then an old officer's wife will try and flirt with you, or a pretty chambermaid will give you such a look. Aha, you dog ! (Smirks and wags his head.) What doosid fine manners they have too ; you never hear any disrespeckful langwidge ; they always say you [5] to you ! If you're tired of walking, why you take a droshky, and sit there like a nob ; and if you don't want to pay, why you needn't ; every house has got a door open, and you can pop in, and the devil himself couldn't catch you. ”

“ Ah, if the governor only knew it ! he wouldn't stop to think that you're a chinovnik, but he'd lift up your little shirt-tail, and whip you so that you would feel sore for a week. [7] If you have dooties, you ought to attend to 'em. Here's the landlord now, says he won't let you have anything to eat unless you pay beforehand, and if we don't pay ? (Sighs.) Oh, good Lord ! for a little shchi! [8] I'll bet every one else has had a square meal. Hullo ! there's a knock ; he's coming ! ”

“ One must keep a sharp look-out with this gentleman ! (Aloud.) You have deigned, indeed, to engage on a pleasant enterprise ! It is quite true that journeys are disagreeable, as they say, on account of the delays in posting; but, on the other hand, they furnish an agreeable diversion for the mind. You are travelling for your own amusement, I suppose ?
KHLESTAKOV. No, my father wants me. The old man's angry because up till now I've made no advance in the service in Petersburg. ”

“ I'll go straight and make a complaint, and have him taken to the police-office, and then clapped into gaol."
KHLESTAKOV. Now, now, stop it, you fool. Do go and speak to him ! The ill-mannered brute !
OSIP. I'd better call the landlord here himself.
KHLESTAKOV. What do I want him for? You go and talk to him yourself.
OSIP. But reelly, sir—
KHLESTAKOV. Well, go to the devil, and call the landlord here. (OSIP goes out.)
Scene III KHLESTAKOV (alone) . How infernally hungry I am! I took a little walk, thinking my appetite would go, —d —n it, not a bit of it ! I'm as ravenous as ever. ”

“ I was going my rounds in the performance of my duty with Peter Ivanovich Dobchinski here—he's a landed proprietor of this place—and we came into the inn to ascertain whether travellers are being well entertained—because I am not like other governors, who never attend to their business ; no, out of pure Christian philanthropy, apart from my duty, I wish every mortal to be treated well—and lo! ”

“ Still, there's nothing like life in " Peter," that's a fack, and there's no denyin' of it. All you want is money, and then you live like a lord—theayters, dancing dogs, everythink. And everybody talks so perlite—it's reelly almost like bein' at Court ”

“ Another time he parts with everything to his last shirt, except p'raps an old coat or a worn-out cape, s'help me, it's the truth ! Selling such beautiful English cloth ! Every dress-suit costs him a hundred and fifty roubles, and he lets his uncle have it for twenty. I won't speak of his breeches ; they can't get a buyer. And what's it all for ? Why, because he's never at his business ; instead of attending to his dooties, he gallivants along the Proshpect, [6] and goes off card-playing. ”

“ Petersburg.↑ Literally, you would rub yourself for four days or so.↑ Cabbage-soup.↑ A town and government S. E. of Moscow, on the way to Saratov.↑ A Russian popular song, generally known under the name Krasni Sarafan (the Red Gown) . The first four lines commence thus : "Nye shei ti mnye, matushka, krasni sarafan ; Nye vkhodi rodimushka, po-pustu v izyan!" i.e., "Do not sew the red gown for me, mother ; spend not useless money, my own mother !" These words are supposed to be sung by a young girl, who does not wish to marry ; she is, however, persuaded by her mother. ”