登陆注册
5590600000019

第19章 ACT IV(2)

LEBEDIEFF.[Losing his temper]Bah!You all,every one of you,do all you can to make me cut my throat or kill somebody.One of you screeches and fusses all day and counts every penny,and the other is so clever and humane and emancipated that she cannot understand her own father!I offend your ears,do I?Don't you realise that before I came here to offend your ears I was being torn to pieces over there,[He points to the door]literally drawn and quartered?So you cannot understand?You two have addled my brain till I am utterly at my wits'end;indeed I am!

[He goes toward the door,and stops]I don't like this business at all;I don't like any thing about you--SASHA.What is it,especially,that you don't like?

LEBEDIEFF.Everything,everything!

SASHA.What do you mean by everything?

LEBEDIEFF.Let me explain exactly what I mean.Everything displeases me.As for your marriage,I simply can't abide it.[He goes up to SASHA and speaks caressingly]Forgive me,little Sasha,this marriage may be a wise one;it may be honest and not misguided,nevertheless,there is something about the whole affair that is not right;no,not right!You are not marrying as other girls do;you are young and fresh and pure as a drop of water,and he is a widower,battered and worn.Heaven help him.Idon't understand him at all.[He kisses his daughter]Forgive me for saying so,Sasha,but I am sure there is something crooked about this affair;it is making a great deal of talk.It seems people are saying that first Sarah died,and then suddenly Ivanoff wanted to marry you.[Quickly]But,no,I am like an old woman;I am gossiping like a magpie.You must not listen to me or any one,only to your own heart.

SASHA.Papa,I feel myself that there is something wrong about my marriage.Something wrong,yes,wrong!Oh,if you only knew how heavy my heart is;this is unbearable!I am frightened and ashamed to confess this;Papa darling,you must help me,for heaven's sake.Oh,can't you tell me what I should do?

LEBEDIEFF.What is the matter,Sasha,what is it?

SASHA.I am so frightened,more frightened than I have ever been before.[She glances around her]I cannot understand him now,and I never shall.He has not smiled or looked straight into my eyes once since we have been engaged.He is forever complaining and apologising for something;hinting at some crime he is guilty of,and trembling.I am so tired!There are even moments when Ithink--I think--that I do not love him as I should,and when he comes to see us,or talks to me,I get so tired!What does it mean,dear father?I am afraid.

LEBEDIEFF.My darling,my only child,do as your old father advises you;give him up!

SASHA.[Frightened]Oh!How can you say that?

LEBEDIEFF.Yes,do it,little Sasha!It will make a scandal,all the tongues in the country will be wagging about it,but it is better to live down a scandal than to ruin one's life.

SASHA.Don't say that,father.Oh,don't.I refuse to listen!Imust crush such gloomy thoughts.He is good and unhappy and misunderstood.I shall love him and learn to understand him.Ishall set him on his feet again.I shall do my duty.That is settled.

LEBEDIEFF.This is not your duty,but a delusion--SASHA.We have said enough.I have confessed things to you that Ihave not dared to admit even to myself.Don't speak about this to any one.Let us forget it.

LEBEDIEFF.I am hopelessly puzzled,and either my mind is going from old age or else you have all grown very clever,but I'll be hanged if I understand this business at all.

Enter SHABELSKI.

SHABELSKI.Confound you all and myself,too!This is maddening!

LEBEDIEFF.What do you want?

SHABELSKI Seriously,I must really do something horrid and rascally,so that not only I but everybody else will be disgusted by it.I certainly shall find something to do,upon my word Ishall!I have already told Borkin to announce that I am to be married.[He laughs]Everybody is a scoundrel and I must be one too!

LEBEDIEFF.I am tired of you,Matthew.Look here,man you talk in such a way that,excuse my saying so,you will soon find yourself in a lunatic asylum!

SHABELSKI.Could a lunatic asylum possibly be worse than this house,or any othe r?Kindly take me there at once.Please do!

Everybody is wicked and futile and worthless and stupid;I am an object of disgust to myself,I don't believe a word I say--LEBEDIEFF.Let me give you a piece of advice,old man;fill your mouth full of tow,light it,and blow at everybody.Or,better still,take your hat and go home.This is a wedding,we all want to enjoy ourselves and you are croaking like a raven.Yes,really.

SHABELSKI leans on the piano and begins to sob.

LEBEDIEFF.Good gracious,Matthew,Count!What is it,dear Matthew,old friend?Have I offended you?There,forgive me;Ididn't mean to hurt you.Come,drink some water.

SHABELSKI.I don't want any water.[Raises his head.]

LEBEDIEFF.What are you crying about?

SHABELSKI.Nothing in particular;I was just crying.

LEBEDIEFF.Matthew,tell me the truth,what is it?What has happened?

SHABELSKI.I caught sight of that violoncello,and--and--Iremembered the Jewess.

LEBEDIEFF.What an unfortunate moment you have chosen to remember her.Peace be with her!But don't think of her now.

SHABELSKI.We used to play duets together.She was a beautiful,a glorious woman.

SASHA sobs.

LEBEDIEFF.What,are you crying too?Stop,Sasha!Dear me,they are both howling now,and I--and I--Do go away;the guests will see you!

SHABELSKI.Paul,when the sun is shining,it is gay even in a cemetery.One can be cheerful even in old age if it is lighted by hope;but I have nothing to hope for--not a thing!

LEBEDIEFF.Yes,it is rather sad for you.You have no children,no money,no occupation.Well,but what is there to be done about it?[To SASHA]What is the matter with you,Sasha?

同类推荐
  • THE COMMUNIST LEAGUE

    THE COMMUNIST LEAGUE

    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。
  • 牧民赘语

    牧民赘语

    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。
  • 巵林

    巵林

    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。
  • 思辨录辑要

    思辨录辑要

    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。
  • 木天禁语

    木天禁语

    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
  • 闪婚契约:酷少请止步

    闪婚契约:酷少请止步

    她是医大一院的实习主任,因为年纪轻而不被认可,又被男朋友劈腿,一气之下报了军医。他在军区服兵役,因为在作战中受伤,回到谢家疗养。他在军区遇见了她,托人把她召回,安置到自己身边。她与他并肩作战,本是契约成婚,却暗生情愫。“你是欠扁吗?”她问。“以你的体格数据分析,落拳力度估计还不如按摩的力道。”他答。
  • 疑案倒推法训练(青少年提高逻辑思维能力训练集)

    疑案倒推法训练(青少年提高逻辑思维能力训练集)

    当今时代是一个知识爆炸的时代,也是一个头脑竞争的时代;在竞争日益激烈的环境下,一个人想要很好地生存,不仅需要付出勤奋,而且还必须具有智慧。随着人才竞争的日趋激烈和高智能化,越来越多的人认识到只拥有知识是远远不够的。因为知识本身并不能告诉我们如何去运用知识,如何去解决问题,如何去创新,而这一切都要靠人的智慧,也就是大脑思维来解决。认真观察周围的人我们也会发现,那些在社会上有所成就的人无不是具有卓越思维能力的人。
  • 神医毒后

    神医毒后

    她本21世纪的绝命毒医,叱诧黑白两道,醒来却成了镇国公府上的傻小姐?王者归来,一秒钟变凶残,卑鄙无耻不忍直视!圣旨逼婚,她嫁!大婚当晚,婚房打的热火朝天,众人直呼口味太重,只是可怜了高风亮节的世子爷……
  • 恶魔少爷别惹我

    恶魔少爷别惹我

    “韩炎圣,你是不是皮痒了?干嘛对外说我是你的女人!”一觉醒来,她被自己救了的恶魔少爷绑架。“小村姑,能做本少爷的女人是你的荣幸。”他嘴上老是嫌弃她是土包子,但无论谁欺负了她,他统统都十倍百倍地帮她还回来。到最后,被称为大圣的恶魔少爷终于被一个土包子压在了“五指山下”调教成暖男。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 杀手娇妻:兜兜转转还是你

    杀手娇妻:兜兜转转还是你

    三年前,她父母因为一场车祸下落不明。她心灰意冷,了解了事情的真相。可肚子里还怀着一个小宝宝。她誓要为父母报仇。她与未婚夫的感情也破裂。三年后,她变成了一个冷酷无情的职业杀手。可对儿子却是百般温柔。而他,等了她三年…真相越来越接近。他与她的关系也越来越微妙。男人把她抵在墙角“看来我需要提醒一下你的身份了,宫太太。”
  • 最初不相遇

    最初不相遇

    曾经以为此生不遇的人站在你面前是什么感觉?白屿夏认为,那要看对象是谁,如果是她的老友,一定要欢天喜地带她去搓一顿,但如果是傅璟,那就是,哔了狗了这孽缘。初中,不欢而散。高中,不辞而别。大学......悄无声息。白屿夏以为,这辈子她跟傅璟都不会再见面了。也好,各自相安。但是当项目合作负责人出现时,白屿夏想起了那句至理名言——人生何处不相逢。挣到了小钱准备给自己换个更加温暖更加安全的小家,搬家第一天发现对面邻居是孽缘对象,白屿夏觉得,生活如此多娇,为什么不能放过她?
  • A House-Boat on the Styx

    A House-Boat on the Styx

    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。
  • The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

    The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

    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。
  • 分分合合的朝代更替(下)

    分分合合的朝代更替(下)

    拥有五千年灿烂文明史的泱泱中华,在历史长河中,曾创造了无数的文明奇迹。历朝历代,能人辈出。但应证了三国演义中一句话:“论天下大势,分久必合,合久必分”。本书为您讲述分分合合的朝代更替。
  • 天生宠儿:神兽来开路

    天生宠儿:神兽来开路

    她本就是天之骄子,即使落入凡间也能混得风生水起。炼丹,阵法是她的看家本领,但她被祝福着,他却被诅咒着。她,是万物的宠儿,人见人爱,花见花开,兽见兽喜欢;他,彼岸花开,妖艳美丽却痛彻心扉,依然心甘情愿许她永生永世。