登陆注册
5189600000059

第59章

In this village there was a Cossack named Korzh, who had a labourer whom people called Peter the Orphan--perhaps because no one remembered either his father or mother.The church elder, it is true, said that they had died of the pest in his second year; but my grandfather's aunt would not hear of that, and tried with all her might to furnish him with parents, although poor Peter needed them about as much as we need last year's snow.She said that his father had been in Zaporozhe, and had been taken prisoner by the Turks, amongst whom he underwent God only knows what tortures, until having, by some miracle, disguised himself as a eunuch, he made his escape.Little cared the black-browed youths and maidens about Peter's parents.They merely remarked, that if he only had a new coat, a red sash, a black lambskin cap with a smart blue crown on his head, a Turkish sabre by his side, a whip in one hand and a pipe with handsome mountings in the other, he would surpass all the young men.But the pity was, that the only thing poor Peter had was a grey gaberdine with more holes in it than there are gold pieces in a Jew's pocket.But that was not the worst of it.Korzh had a daughter, such a beauty as I think you can hardly have chanced to see.My grandfather's aunt used to say--and you know that it is easier for a woman to kiss the Evil One than to call any one else a beauty--that this Cossack maiden's cheeks were as plump and fresh as the pinkest poppy when, bathed in God's dew, it unfolds its petals, and coquets with the rising sun; that her brows were evenly arched over her bright eyes like black cords, such as our maidens buy nowadays, for their crosses and ducats, off the Moscow pedlars who visit the villages with their baskets; that her little mouth, at sight of which the youths smacked their lips, seemed made to warble the songs of nightingales; that her hair, black as the raven's wing, and soft as young flax, fell in curls over her shoulders, for our maidens did not then plait their hair in pigtails interwoven with pretty, bright-hued ribbons.Eh! may I never intone another alleluia in the choir, if I would not have kissed her, in spite of the grey which is making its way through the old wool which covers my pate, and of the old woman beside me, like a thorn in my side! Well, you know what happens when young men and maidens live side by side.In the twilight the heels of red boots were always visible in the place where Pidorka chatted with her Peter.But Korzh would never have suspected anything out of the way, only one day--it is evident that none but the Evil One could have inspired him--Peter took into his head to kiss the maiden's rosy lips with all his heart, without first looking well about him;and that same Evil One--may the son of a dog dream of the holy cross!--caused the old grey-beard, like a fool, to open the cottage door at that same moment.Korzh was petrified, dropped his jaw, and clutched at the door for support.Those unlucky kisses completely stunned him.

Recovering himself, he took his grandfather's hunting whip from the wall, and was about to belabour Peter's back with it, when Pidorka's little six-year-old brother Ivas rushed up from somewhere or other, and, grasping his father's legs with his little hands, screamed out, "Daddy, daddy! don't beat Peter!" What was to be done? A father's heart is not made of stone.Hanging the whip again on the wall, he led Peter quietly from the house."If you ever show yourself in my cottage again, or even under the windows, look out, Peter, for, by heaven, your black moustache will disappear; and your black locks, though wound twice about your ears, will take leave of your pate, or my name is not Terentiy Korzh." So saying, he gave him such a taste of his fist in the nape of his neck, that all grew dark before Peter, and he flew headlong out of the place.

So there was an end of their kissing.Sorrow fell upon our turtle doves; and a rumour grew rife in the village that a certain Pole, all embroidered with gold, with moustaches, sabre, spurs, and pockets jingling like the bells of the bag with which our sacristan Taras goes through the church every day, had begun to frequent Korzh's house.

Now, it is well known why a father has visitors when there is a black-browed daughter about.So, one day, Pidorka burst into tears, and caught the hand of her brother Ivas."Ivas, my dear! Ivas, my love! fly to Peter, my child of gold, like an arrow from a bow.Tell him all: I would have loved his brown eyes, I would have kissed his fair face, but my fate decrees otherwise.More than one handkerchief have I wet with burning tears.I am sad and heavy at heart.And my own father is my enemy.I will not marry the Pole, whom I do not love.

Tell him they are making ready for a wedding, but there will be no music at our wedding: priests will sing instead of pipes and viols.Ishall not dance with my bridegroom: they will carry me out.Dark, dark will be my dwelling of maple wood; and, instead of chimneys, a cross will stand upon the roof."Peter stood petrified, without moving from the spot, when the innocent child lisped out Pidorka's words to him."And I, wretched man, had thought to go to the Crimea and Turkey, to win gold and return to thee, my beauty! But it may not be.We have been overlooked by the evil eye.I too shall have a wedding, dear one; but no ecclesiastics will be present at that wedding.The black crow instead of the pope will caw over me; the bare plain will be my dwelling; the dark blue cloud my roof-tree.The eagle will claw out my brown eyes: the rain will wash my Cossack bones, and the whirlwinds dry them.But what am I? Of what should I complain? 'Tis clear God willed it so.If I am to be lost, then so be it!" and he went straight to the tavern.

My late grandfather's aunt was somewhat surprised at seeing Peter at the tavern, at an hour when good men go to morning mass; and stared at him as though in a dream when he called for a jug of brandy, about half a pailful.But the poor fellow tried in vain to drown his woe.

同类推荐
  • 唐三藏西游厄释传

    唐三藏西游厄释传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 忠介烬余集

    忠介烬余集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 妇人规

    妇人规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 药师仪轨一具

    药师仪轨一具

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 马培之医案

    马培之医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 江山谋:倾世狂后

    江山谋:倾世狂后

    “暖儿,拿好遗诏,保护好自己,快跑!”全家灭亡那天,我亲眼看着祖父死在我面前,看着亲娘和亲姐被士兵轮流蹂躏。我恨,我怨,我拎着长剑杀了出去,我发誓要杀尽那些畜生,直到他走到我面前:“这些不过是走狗。”“想真正报仇吗?”那时我仰头看着他脸上的竹面具,看着不远处还在被蹂躏的亲娘和亲姐,恨红了眼:“想!”江山若暖,许你情长。濮阳玉珏,我这一生很高兴遇见了你,可却也希望:来世,不再与你相约!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 小说艺术探胜

    小说艺术探胜

    雷达文学评论集,对驰名全国的佳作和活跃于文坛的许多优秀作家,做了颇有见解的评价和深入的品评与研究。对创作中的艺术问题,给予有益的研究和分析。
  • 我有超级召唤师系统

    我有超级召唤师系统

    主角意外穿越到了一个废柴皇子身上,同时得到了超级无敌的召唤师系统。所有召唤师和技能,任君挑选!“恭喜您获得了新手礼包!获得召唤师鲁班七号……”“恭喜您获得了升级礼包!获得蛮族之王泰达米尔终极技能,无尽怒火……”“恭喜您抽奖成功,获得三千名远程小兵……”
  • 总裁的闪婚小新娘

    总裁的闪婚小新娘

    当而立之年被母亲逼婚的他,碰到逃避从小订婚的她,一场契约闪婚由此拉开序幕。婚后的他,依旧是万千女人为之着迷,为之疯狂的对象。婚后的她,因为嫁了个不平凡的老公,从未以真面目示人。婚后的他们,和平相处得次数,屈指可数,寥寥无几。出身高贵家世优越得周文昊,从没想过有一天自己会对一个:又酸又涩整天气得他上瞪眼下跳脚的青苹果上了心。小康家庭乐观向上得夏雪茹,从没想过有一天自己会对一个:又冷又冰不说话迷死人一说话毒死人的臭大叔动了心。随着前女友的回国,未婚夫的来临,孩子的流产,彼此钟爱的两人,终因误会而分开。————————三年后————————机场,正要登机出差的他,目光无意中瞥到,一身前卫装扮,美男陪伴在侧的她,手里牵着粉雕玉琢和她十分相似的女娃娃。原本死灰冷却的心,瞬间复活过来,激动的上前拥着她,“雪儿”她毫不犹豫地推开他,俏脸淡然,“先生,我们认识吗?”继而转脸笑对身旁男子,“老公,我们快点回家吧!我和女儿都饿死了呢?”小女娃转着灵动的眸子,也在一旁帮腔,“是啊!爸爸!乐乐饿死了呢?”男人宠溺而笑,一手牵一个,“走吧!老婆,宝贝。”————————————————————乐乐小盆友心语:惹妈咪皱眉者踹,惹妈咪生气者踹,惹妈咪哭泣者同踹,僵尸叔叔这些你全都占了哇!所以你注定被妈咪踹。(*__*)
  • 家欢

    家欢

    守着一家小小包子铺的顾家生活拮据,一个铜钱恨不得掰成两个花。女主重生成为顾家的小孙女儿,遭遇了算计多多的后祖母,从此踏上了一发不可收拾,斗智斗勇的道路……幸而身边有恩爱父母疼惜,有热血哥哥护航,有明理姐弟相伴,小日子照样欢欢喜喜!一句话简介,市井小人物的奋斗史,温馨种田流。已有五本完结作品,坑品有保证,请跳坑~O(∩_∩)O~
  • 萌到深处自然嗨:神医宠妃

    萌到深处自然嗨:神医宠妃

    秋璃月,21世纪圣手神医,在医术界遭人嫉恨,被人谋杀,意外穿越到一个不知名的朝代。好吧,穿越了就穿越了,但素爹不疼娘不爱是怎么回事?爹不疼娘不爱也算了,被各位兄弟姐妹欺负又是怎么回事?算了吧,秋璃月已经认命了,既然已经认命了,但素这个种马未婚夫又是怎么回事?谁能够告诉她啊?好吧好吧!大不了就离家出走吧!大不了一封休书就休了这个种马吧!自己医术超群,还怕在这个时代活不了吗?就在秋璃月满天大嚎的时候,某男突然就抱住了她,邪邪一笑:“小月儿,你是本王的,不许想其他人!”“才不是!我是我自己的!”某女的否定最后换来了却是某男的一吻:“有了这个,你就是本王的了!”秋璃月:“……”变态!
  • 灼灼如镜花

    灼灼如镜花

    【1V1独宠治愈】开始,木槿以为是自己撞鬼了,后来发现这些都是误会,人家不是鬼,是自己的第二人格?就在木槿与这位超级学神修大人共同携手征霸高考的时候,阴翳的毒牙开始朝他们张开血盆大口......修也发现,眼前这位学渣小迷糊似乎不是看到那般简单可爱。
  • 龙迹

    龙迹

    一枚“恐龙蛋”引发的探险悬疑故事。三个孩子为了找到小怪兽奇奇的自然家园,护送它来到中原古镇。却先后遭遇文物贩子、破产奸商和黑蛇妖的围追堵截。奇奇究竟是一条恐龙,还是传说中神奇的黄金龙?三个孩子和黄金龙之间有着什么神秘的联系?他们将和黑巫龙之间展开怎样惊天动地的搏杀?最后他们能取得胜利、拯救龙眼镇和整个人类吗?
  • 下乡养儿

    下乡养儿

    这是一本我们从来没见过也无法归类的亲子书。在此之前,我们看到的个案都以成功者的面目出现。书里的孩子都是成功的,都上了哈佛耶鲁或北大清华;家长在书里也是成功的,拥有强大的内心、生活的智慧。然而,《下乡养儿》里的角色却是软弱无力的。一对有社交障碍的夫妻,带着一个有心理问题的孩子。孩子连续换了几个小学都无法适应,结果辍学在家一年,最后变得连睡觉都害怕,因为总是噩梦连连,一家人晨昏颠倒,以至于很久都没见过太阳。书中的父母看上去懦弱无能,没有单位,从事的工作是出版业的兼职校对……
  • 佛说最胜妙吉祥根本智最上秘密一切名义三摩地分

    佛说最胜妙吉祥根本智最上秘密一切名义三摩地分

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。