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 God, 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.  Sh!  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