Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 33

And you'll get plenty of money with her, which is fine for a penniless fellow like you--without a rag to your back!

MiTYA. It is so insulting for me to hear this from you, that I have no words. Better keep silent. [_Walks away_] If you please, Lyubov Gordeyevna, you speak.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA. Father, I have never gone against your will! If you wish for my happiness, then give me to Mitya.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Why, why, really, Gordey Karpych, why do you keep changing your mind so? Why do you? I was beginning to feel happy; my heart was just beginning to feel easy, and now you begin again. Do stick to something; otherwise what does all this mean? Really! First you say to one man, and then to the other! Was she born your daughter just to be a martyr?

LYUBiM KaRPYCH. [_From the crowd_] Brother, give Lyubov to Mitya!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. You here again! Do you understand what you've done to me to-day? You've put me to shame before the whole town! If you felt this you wouldn't dare to show yourself in my sight--and then you slink in and give me advice! If it were only a man talking and not you.

LYUBiM KaRPYCH. You'd better bow down to Lyubim Tortsov's feet, just because he has put you to shame.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. That's it, dear Lyubim! We ought to bow down to your feet; that's just it! You have taken a great sin from our souls; all our prayers could never have freed us from this sin.

GORDeY KaRPYCH. What, am I a monster to my own family?

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. You're no monster, but you would have ruined your daughter through your own folly; I tell you this straight out! They marry girls to old men who are a lot better than Afrikan Savvich, and even so they live miserable lives.

LYUBiM KaRPYCH. Permit me! [_Sings_] Tum-ty-tum, tum-ty-tum! [_Dances_]

Look at me, here's an example for you! Lyubim Karpych stands before you large as life! He went along that road, he knows what it is! And I was rich and respected, I drove about in coaches, I played such pranks as would never come into your head; and then head over heels down. Just see what a dandy I am!

GORDeY KaRPYCH. No matter what you say to me, I don't want to listen; you are my enemy for the rest of my life.

LYUBiM KaRPYCH. Are you a man, or a wild beast? Have pity on Lyubim Tortsov! [_Kneels down_] Brother, give Lyubov to Mitya--he will give me a corner. I was chilled and hungry. I was growing old, and it was hard for me to play the fool in the cold for a piece of bread; at least in one's old age one wants to live decently. You see I've been cheating people, I've been begging alms, and have spent it in drink. They'll give me work, and then I'll have my kettle of soup. Then I'll thank G.o.d, brother; even my tears will reach to heaven. What if he is poor, eh? If I had been poor, I should have been a man. Poverty is no crime.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Gordey Karpych, haven't you any feelings?

GORDeY KaRPYCH. [_Wiping away a tear_] And you really thought that I hadn't? [_Lifts up his brother_] Well, brother, thank you for bringing me back to reason; I almost went out of my mind completely. I don't know how such a rotten notion got into my head. [_Embraces_ MiTYA _and_ LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA] Now, children, say thank you to your Uncle Lyubim Karpych, and live in happiness.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA _embraces the children._

GuSLIN. Uncle, may I speak now?

GORDeY KaRPYCH. You may, you may! Ask for whatever you want, every one of you! Now I have become another man.

GuSLIN. Well, Annushka, it's our turn now!

ANNA IVaNOVNA. Well, now, we'll have a dance; only hold your hat on!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Yes, let's dance, let's dance!

RAZLYULYaYEV. [_Goes to_ MiTYA _and slaps him on the shoulder_] Mitya! 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_ MiTYA] He told the truth then; drunkenness is no crime--well, I mean--poverty is no crime. I always make slips!

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA. Oh, yes, here they all are! [_To the girls_] Now, then, girls, a jolly song! Yes, a jolly one! Now we'll celebrate the wedding with all our hearts! With all our hearts! [_The girls begin to sing._

LYUBiM KaRPYCH. s.h.!.+ Obey orders! _He sings; the girls join in._ "We have done the business; All the trade is driven.

The betrothal we will plight, And upon the wedding night A fine feast shall be given."

SIN AND SORROW ARE COMMON TO ALL

A DRAMA IN FOUR ACTS

CHARACTERS

VALENTiN PaVLYCH BABaYEV[1], _a young landowner_

[Footnote 1: womanish]

LEV RODIoNYCH KRASNoV, _a shopkeeper, about thirty years of age_

TATYaNA DANiLOVNA (_called_ TaNYA), _his wife_

LUKeRYA DANiLOVNA ZHMIGuLIN (_called,_ LuSHA), _her sister, an old maid and daughter of a government clerk now dead._

ARKHiP, _blind old man, grandfather of_ KRASNoV

AFoNYA (AFANaSY), _invalid boy about eighteen years of age, brother of_ KRASNoV

MANuYLO KALiNYCH KuRITSYN, _flour dealer about forty-five years of age_

ULYaNA RODIoNOVNA KuRITSYNA, _his wife, sister of_ KRASNoV

s.h.i.+SHGaLEV, _government clerk_

ZaYCHIKHA (_called PROKoFYEVNA_), _landlady of the lodgings taken by_ BABaYEV

KARP, BABaYEV'_s attendant

The action takes place in a district town_.

SIN AND SORROW ARE COMMON TO ALL

ACT I

TABLEAU I

_A room, cheaply papered, shabbily furnished; in the rear two doors, one opening on the street, the other leading into an adjoining room; the windows are hung with chintz curtains._