by Leo Tolstoy
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, if that were all, but you don't know him; nor all he is after. It is not simply helping the poor, but a complete revolution, the destruction of everything.
PRINCESS. I do not wish to intrude into your family life, but if you will allow me ...
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Not at all--I look upon you as one of the family--especially now.
PRINCESS. I should advise you to put your demands to him openly and frankly, and to come to an agreement as to the limits ...
MARY IVÁNOVNA [excitedly] There are no limits! He wants to give away everything. He wishes me now, at my age, to become a cook and a washerwoman.
PRINCESS. No, is it possible! That is extraordinary.
MARY IVÁNOVNA [takes a letter out of her pocket] We are by ourselves and I am glad to tell you all about it. He wrote me this letter yesterday. I will read it to you.
PRINCESS. What? He lives in the same house with you, and writes you letters? How strange!
MARY IVÁNOVNA. No, I understand him there. He gets so excited when he speaks. I have for some time past felt anxious about his health.
PRINCESS. What did he write?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. This [reading] "You reproach me for upsetting our former way of life, and for not giving you anything new in exchange, and not saying how I should like to arrange our family affairs. When we begin to discuss it we both get excited, and that's why I am writing to you. I have often told you already why I cannot continue to live as we have been doing; and I cannot, in a letter, show you why that is so, nor why we must live in accord to Christ's teaching. You can do one of two things: either believe in the truth and voluntarily go with me, or believe in me and trusting yourself entirely to me--follow me." [Stops reading] I can do neither the one nor the other. I do not consider it necessary to live as he wishes us to. I have to consider the children, and I cannot rely on him. [Reads] "My plan is this: We shall give our land to the peasants, retaining only 135 acres besides the orchards and kitchen-garden and the meadow by the river. We will try to work ourselves, but will not force one another, nor the children. What we keep should still bring us in about £50 a year."
PRINCESS. Live on £50 a year--with seven children! Is it possible!
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Well, here follows his whole plan: to give up the house and have it turned into a school, and ourselves to live in the gardener's two-roomed cottage.
PRINCESS. Yes, now I begin to see that there is something abnormal about it. What did you answer?
MARY IVÁNOVNA. I told him I couldn't; that were I alone I would follow him anywhere, but I have the children.... Only think! I am still nursing little Nicholas. I tell him we can't break up everything like that. After all, was that what I agreed to when I married? And now I am no longer young or strong. Think what it has meant to bear and nurse nine children.
PRINCESS. I never dreamed that things had gone so far.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. That is how things are and I don't know what will happen. Yesterday he excused the Dmítrovka peasants their rent; and he wants to give the land to them altogether.
PRINCESS. I do not think you should allow it. It is your duty to protect your children. If he cannot deal with the estate, let him hand it over to you.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. But I don't want that.
PRINCESS. You ought to take it for the children's sake. Let him transfer the property to you.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. My sister Alexándra told him so; but he says he has no right to do it; and that the land belongs to those who work it, and that it is his duty to give it to the peasants.
PRINCESS. Yes, now I see that the matter is far more serious than I thought.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. And the Priest! The Priest takes his side, too.
PRINCESS. Yes, I noticed that yesterday.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. That's why my sister has gone to Moscow. She wanted to talk things over with a lawyer, but chiefly she went to fetch Father Gerásim that he may bring his influence to bear.
PRINCESS. Yes, I do not think that Christianity calls upon us to ruin our families.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. But he will not believe even Father Gerásim. He is so firm; and when he talks, you know, I can't answer him. That's what is so terrible, that it seems to me he is right.
PRINCESS. That is because you love him.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. I don't know, but it's terrible, and everything remains unsettled--and that is Christianity!
Enter Nurse.
NURSE. Will you please come. Little Nicholas has woke up and is crying for you.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Directly! When I am excited he gets stomach ache. Coming, coming!
Nicholas Ivánovich enters by another door, with a paper in his hand.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. No, this is impossible!
MARY IVÁNOVNA. What has happened?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Why, Peter is to be imprisoned on account of some wretched pine-trees of ours.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. How's that?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Quite simply! He cut it down, and they informed the Justice of Peace, and he has sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. His wife has come about it.
MARY IVÁNOVNA. Well, and can't anything be done?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Not now. The only way is not to possess any forest. And I will not possess any. What is one to do? I shall, however, go and see whether what we have done can be remedied. [Goes out on to the verandah and meets Borís and Lyúba].
LYÚBA. Good morning, papa [kisses him], where are you going?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I have just returned from the village and am going back again. They are just dragging a hungry man to prison because he ...
LYÚBA. I suppose it's Peter?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Yes, Peter. [Exit, followed by Mary Ivánovna].
LYÚBA [sits down in front of samovár] Will you have tea or coffee?
BORÍS. I don't mind.
LYÚBA. It's always the same, and I see no end to it!
BORÍS. I don't understand him. I know the people are poor and ignorant and must be helped, but not by encouraging thieves.
LYÚBA. But how?
BORÍS. By our whole activity. By using all our knowledge in their service, but not by sacrificing one's own life.
LYÚBA. And papa says, that that is just what is wanted.
BORÍS. I don't understand. One can serve the people without ruining one's own life. That is the way I want to arrange my life. If only you ...
LYÚBA. I want what you want, and am not afraid of anything.
BORÍS. How about those earrings--that dress ...
LYÚBA. The earrings can be sold and the dresses must be different, but one need not make oneself quite a guy.
BORÍS. I should like to have another talk with him. Do you think I should disturb him if I followed him to the village?
LYÚBA. Not at all. I see he has grown fond of you, and he addressed himself chiefly to you last night.
BORÍS [finishes his coffee] Well, I'll go then.
LYÚBA. Yes, do, and I'll go and wake Lisa and Tónya.
Curtain.
SCENE 2
Village street. Iván Zyábrev, covered with a sheepskin coat, is lying near a hut.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Maláshka!
A tiny girl comes out of the hut with a baby in her arms. The baby is crying.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Get me a drink of water.
Maláshka goes back into the hut, from where the baby can be heard screaming. She brings a bowl of water.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Why do you always beat the youngster and make him howl? I'll tell mother.
MALÁSHKA. Tell her then. It's hunger makes him howl!
IVÁN ZYÁBREV [drinks] You should go and ask the Démkins for some milk.
MALÁSHKA. I went, but there wasn't any. And there was no one at home.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Oh! if only I could die! Have they rung for dinner?
MALÁSHKA. They have. Here's the master coming.
Enter Nicholas Ivánovich.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Why have yo
u come out here?
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Too many flies in there, and it's too hot.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Then you're warm now?
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. Yes, now I'm burning all over.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. And where is Peter? Is he at home?
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. At home, at this time? Why, he's gone to the field to cart the corn.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. And I hear that they want to put him in prison.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. That's so, the Policeman has gone to the field for him.
Enter a pregnant Woman, carrying a sheaf of oats and a rake. She immediately hits Maláshka on the back of the head.
WOMAN. What d'you mean by leaving the baby? Don't you hear him howling! Running about the streets is all you know.
MALÁSHKA [howling] I've only just come out. Daddy wanted a drink.
WOMAN. I'll give it you. [She sees the land-owner, N. I. Sarýntsov] Good-day, sir. Children are a trouble! I'm quite done up, everything on my shoulders, and now they're taking our only worker to prison, and this lout is sprawling about here.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. What are you saying? He's quite ill!
WOMAN. He's ill, and what about me? Am I not ill? When it's work, he's ill; but to merry-make or pull my hair out, he's not too ill. Let him die like a hound! What do I care?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. How can you say such wicked things?
WOMAN. I know it's a sin; but I can't subdue my heart. I'm expecting another child, and I have to work for two. Other people have their harvest in already, and we have not mowed a quarter of our oats yet. I ought to finish binding the sheaves, but can't. I had to come and see what the children were about.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. The oats shall be cut--I'll hire someone, and to bind the sheaves too.
WOMAN. Oh, binding's nothing. I can do that myself, if it's only mown down quick. What d'you think, Nicholas Ivánovich, will he die? He is very ill!
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I don't know. But he really is very ill. I think we must send him to the hospital.
WOMAN. Oh God! [Begins to cry] Don't take him away, let him die here.[28] [To her husband, who utters something] What's the matter?
[28] The woman, for all her roughness, is sorry to part from her husband.
IVÁN ZYÁBREV. I want to go to the hospital. Here I'm treated worse than a dog.
WOMAN. Well, I don't know. I've lost my head. Maláshka, get dinner ready.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. What have you for dinner?
WOMAN. What? Why, potatoes and bread, and not enough of that. [Enters hut. A pig squeals, and children are crying inside].
IVÁN ZYÁBREV [groans] Oh Lord, if I could but die!
Enter Borís.
BORÍS. Can I be of any use?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Here no one can be of use to another. The evil is too deeply rooted. Here we can only be of use to ourselves, by seeing on what we build our happiness. Here is a family: five children, the wife pregnant, the husband ill, nothing but potatoes to eat, and at this moment the question is being decided whether they are to have enough to eat next year or not. Help is not possible. How can one help? Suppose I hire a labourer; who will he be? Just such another man: one who has given up his farming, from drink or from want.
BORÍS. Excuse me, but if so, what are you doing here?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I am learning my own position. Finding out who weeds our gardens, builds our houses, makes our garments, and feeds and clothes us. [Peasants with scythes and women with rakes pass by and bow. Nicholas Ivánovich, stopping one of the Peasants] Ermíl, won't you take on the job of carting for these people?
ERMÍL [shakes his head] I would with all my heart, but I can't possibly do it. I haven't carted my own yet. We are off now to do some carting. But is Iván dying?
ANOTHER PEASANT. Here's Sebastian, he may take on the job. I say, Daddy Sebastian! They want a man to get the oats in.
SEBASTIAN. Take the job on yourself. At this time of year one day's work brings a year's food. [The Peasants pass on].
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. They are all half-starved; they have only bread and water, they are ill, and many of them are old. That old man, for instance, is ruptured and is suffering, and yet he works from four in the morning to ten at night, though he is only half alive. And we? Is it possible, realising all this, to live quietly and consider oneself a Christian? Or let alone a Christian--simply not a beast?
BORÍS. But what can one do?
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Not take part in this evil. Not own the land, nor devour the fruits of their labour. How this can be arranged, I don't yet know. The fact of the matter is--at any rate it was so with me--I lived and did not realise how I was living. I did not realise that I am a son of God and that we are all sons of God--and all brothers. But as soon as I realised it--realised that we have all an equal right to live--my whole life was turned upside down. But I cannot explain it to you now. I will only tell you this: I was blind, just as my people at home are, but now my eyes are opened and I cannot help seeing; and seeing it all, I can't continue to live in such a way. However, that will keep till later. Now we must see what can be done.
Enter Policeman, Peter, his wife, and boy.
PETER [falls at Nicholas Ivánovich's feet] Forgive me, for the Lord's sake, or I'm ruined. How can the woman get in the harvest? If at least I might be bailed out.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I will go and write a petition for you. [To Policeman] Can't you let him remain here for the present?
POLICEMAN. Our orders are to take him to the police-station now.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [to Peter] Well then go, and I'll do what I can. This is evidently my doing. How can one go on living like this? [Exit].
Curtain.
SCENE 3
In the same country-house. It is raining outside. A drawing-room with a grand piano. Tónya has just finished playing a sonata of Schumann's and is sitting at the piano. Styópa is standing by the piano. Borís is sitting. Lyúba, Lisa, Mitrofán Ermílych and the young Priest are all stirred by the music.
LYÚBA. That andante! Isn't it lovely!
STYÓPA. No, the scherzo. Though really the whole of it is beautiful.
LISA. Very fine.
STYÓPA. But I had no idea you were such an artist. It is real masterly play. Evidently the difficulties no longer exist for you, and you think only of the feeling, and express it with wonderful delicacy.
LYÚBA. Yes, and with dignity.
TÓNYA. While I felt that it was not at all what I meant it to be. A great deal remained unexpressed.
LISA. What could be better? It was wonderful.
LYÚBA. Schumann is good, but all the same Chopin takes a stronger hold of one's heart.
STYÓPA. He is more lyrical.
TÓNYA. There is no comparison.
LYÚBA. Do you remember his prelude?
TÓNYA. Oh, the one called the George Sand prelude? [Plays the commencement].
LYÚBA. No, not that one. That is very fine, but so hackneyed. Do play this one. [Tónya plays what she can of it, and then breaks off].
TÓNYA. Oh, that is a lovely thing. There is something elemental about it--older than creation.
STYÓPA [laughs] Yes, yes. Do play it. But no, you are too tired. As it is, we have had a delightful morning, thanks to you.
TÓNYA [rises and looks out of window] There are some more peasants waiting outside.
LYÚBA. That is why music is so precious. I understand Saul. Though I'm not tormented by devils, I still understand him. No other art can make one so forget everything else as music does. [Approaches the window. To Peasants] Whom do you want?
PEASANTS. We have been sent to speak to Nicholas Ivánovich.
LYÚBA. He is not in. You must wait.
TÓNYA. And yet you are marrying Borís who understands nothing about music.
LYÚBA. Oh, surely not.
BORÍS [absently] Music? Oh no. I like music, or rather I don't dislike it. Only I prefer something simpler--I like songs.
TÓNYA
. But is not this sonata lovely?
BORÍS. The chief thing is, that it is not important; and it rather hurts me, when I think of the lives men live, that so much importance is attached to music.
They all eat sweetmeats, which are standing on the table.
