dead souls(死魂灵)-第54部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

pider　which　perceives　a　fly　to　be　caught　in　its　web。　〃Is　it　well　to　proclaim　this　to　the　world；　and　to　set　folk　talking　about　it？〃　they　will　cry。　〃What　you　have　described　touches　US；　is　OUR　affair。　Is　conduct　of　that　kind　right？　What　will　foreigners　say？　Does　any　one　care　calmly　to　sit　by　and　hear　himself　traduced？　Why　should　you　lead　foreigners　to　suppose　that　all　is　not　well　with　us；　and　that　we　are　not　patriotic？〃　Well；　to　these　sage　remarks　no　answer　can　really　be　returned；　especially　to　such　of　the　above　as　refer　to　foreign　opinion。　But　see　here。　There　once　lived　in　a　remote　corner　of　Russia　two　natives　of　the　region　indicated。　One　of　those　natives　was　a　good　man　named　Kifa　Mokievitch；　and　a　man　of　kindly　disposition；　a　man　who　went　through　life　in　a　dressing…gown；　and　paid　no　heed　to　his　household；　for　the　reason　that　his　whole　being　was　centred　upon　the　province　of　speculation；　and　that；　in　particular；　he　was　preoccupied　with　a　philosophical　problem　usually　stated　by　him　thus：　〃A　beast；〃　he　would　say；　〃is　born　naked。　Now；　why　should　that　be？　Why　should　not　a　beast　be　born　as　a　bird　is　bornthat　is　to　say；　through　the　process　of　being　hatched　from　an　egg？　Nature　is　beyond　the　understanding；　however　much　one　may　probe　her。〃　This　was　the　substance　of　Kifa　Mokievitch's　reflections。　But　herein　is　not　the　chief　point。　The　other　of　the　pair　was　a　fellow　named　Mofi　Kifovitch；　and　son　to　the　first　named。　He　was　what　we　Russians　call　a　〃hero；〃　and　while　his　father　was　pondering　the　parturition　of　beasts；　his；　the　son's；　lusty；　twenty…year…old　temperament　was　violently　struggling　for　development。　Yet　that　son　could　tackle　nothing　without　some　accident　occurring。　At　one　moment　would　he　crack　some　one's　fingers　in　half；　and　at　another　would　he　raise　a　bump　on　somebody's　nose；　so　that　both　at　home　and　abroad　every　one　and　everythingfrom　the　serving…maid　to　the　yard…dogfled　on　his　approach；　and　even　the　bed　in　his　bedroom　became　shattered　to　splinters。　Such　was　Mofi　Kifovitch；　and　with　it　all　he　had　a　kindly　soul。　But　herein　is　not　the　chief　point。　〃Good　sir；　good　Kifa　Mokievitch；〃　servants　and　neighbours　would　come　and　say　to　the　father；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do　about　your　Moki　Kifovitch？　We　get　no　rest　from　him；　he　is　so　above　himself。〃　〃That　is　only　his　play；　that　is　only　his　play；〃　the　father　would　reply。　〃What　else　can　you　expect？　It　is　too　late　now　to　start　a　quarrel　with　him；　and；　moreover；　every　one　would　accuse　me　of　harshness。　True；　he　is　a　little　conceited；　but；　were　I　to　reprove　him　in　public；　the　whole　thing　would　become　common　talk；　and　folk　would　begin　giving　him　a　dog's　name。　And　if　they　did　that；　would　not　their　opinion　touch　me　also；　seeing　that　I　am　his　father？　Also；　I　am　busy　with　philosophy；　and　have　no　time　for　such　things。　Lastly；　Moki　Kifovitch　is　my　son；　and　very　dear　to　my　heart。〃　And；　beating　his　breast；　Kifa　Mokievitch　again　asserted　that；　even　though　his　son　should　elect　to　continue　his　pranks；　it　would　not　be　for　HIM；　for　the　father；　to　proclaim　the　fact；　or　to　fall　out　with　his　offspring。　And；　this　expression　of　paternal　feeling　uttered；　Kifa　Mokievitch　left　Moki　Kifovitch　to　his　heroic　exploits；　and　himself　returned　to　his　beloved　subject　of　speculation；　which　now　included　also　the　problem；　〃Suppose　elephants　were　to　take　to　being　hatched　from　eggs；　would　not　the　shell　of　such　eggs　be　of　a　thickness　proof　against　cannonballs；　and　necessitate　the　invention　of　some　new　type　of　firearm？〃　Thus　at　the　end　of　this　little　story　we　have　these　two　denizens　of　a　peaceful　corner　of　Russia　looking　thence；　as　from　a　window；　in　less　terror　of　doing　what　was　scandalous　than　of　having　it　SAID　of　them　that　they　were　acting　scandalously。　Yes；　the　feeling　animating　our　so…called　〃patriots〃　is　not　true　patriotism　at　all。　Something　else　lies　beneath　it。　Who；　if　not　an　author；　is　to　speak　aloud　the　truth？　Men　like　you；　my　pseudo…patriots；　stand　in　dread　of　the　eye　which　is　able　to　discern；　yet　shrink　from　using　your　own；　and　prefer；　rather；　to　glance　at　everything　unheedingly。　Yes；　after　laughing　heartily　over　Chichikov's　misadventures；　and　perhaps　even　commending　the　author　for　his　dexterity　of　observation　and　pretty　turn　of　wit；　you　will　look　at　yourselves　with　redoubled　pride　and　a　self…satisfied　smile；　and　add：　〃Well；　we　agree　that　in　certain　parts　of　the　provinces　there　exists　strange　and　ridiculous　individuals；　as　well　as　unconscionable　rascals。〃

Yet　which　of　you；　when　quiet；　and　alone；　and　engaged　in　solitary　self…communion；　would　not　do　well　to　probe　YOUR　OWN　souls；　and　to　put　to　YOURSELVES　the　solemn　question；　〃Is　there　not　in　ME　an　element　of　Chichikov？〃　For　how　should　there　not　be？　Which　of　you　is　not　liable　at　any　moment　to　be　passed　in　the　street　by　an　acquaintance　who；　nudging　his　neighbour；　may　say　of　you；　with　a　barely　suppressed　sneer：　〃Look！　there　goes　Chichikov！　That　is　Chichikov　who　has　just　gone　by！〃

But　here　are　we　talking　at　the　top　of　our　voices　whilst　all　the　time　our　hero　lies　slumbering　in　his　britchka！　Indeed；　his　name　has　been　repeated　so　often　during　the　recital　of　his　life's　history　that　he　must　almost　have　heard　us！　And　at　any　time　he　is　an　irritable；　irascible　fellow　when　spoken　of　with　disrespect。　True；　to　the　reader　Chichikov's　displeasure　cannot　matter　a　jot；　but　for　the　author　it　would　mean　ruin　to　quarrel　with　his　hero；　seeing　that；　arm　in　arm；　Chichikov　and　he　have　yet　far　to　go。

〃Tut；　tut；　tut！〃　came　in　a　shout　from　Chichikov。　〃Hi；　Selifan！〃

〃What　is　it？〃　came　the　reply；　uttered　with　a　drawl。

〃What　is　it？　Why；　how　dare　you　drive　like　that？　Come！　Bestir　yourself　a　little！〃

And　indeed；　Selifan　had　long　been　sitting　with　half…closed　eyes；　and　hands　which　bestowed　no　encouragement　upon　his　somnolent　steeds　save　an　occasional　flicking　of　the　reins　against　their　flanks；　whilst　Petrushka　had　lost　his　cap；　and　was　leaning　backwards　until　his　head　had　come　to　rest　against　Chichikov's　kneesa　position　which　necessitated　his　being　awakened　with　a　cuff。　Selifan　also　roused　himself；　and　apportioned　to　the　skewbald　a　few　cuts　across　the　back　of　a　kind　which　at　least　had　the　effect　of　inciting　that　animal　to　trot；　and　when；　presently；　the　other　two　horses　followed　their　companion's　example；　the　light　britchka　moved　forwards　like　a　piece　of　thistledown。　Selifan　flourished　his　whip　and　shouted；　〃Hi；　hi！〃　as　the　inequalities　of　the　road　jerked　him　vertically　on　his　seat；　and　meanwhile；　reclining　against　the　leather　cushions　of　the　vehicle's　interior；　Chichikov　smiled　with　gratification　at　the　sensation　of　driving　fast。　For　what　Russian　does　not　love　to　drive　fast？　Which　of　us　does　not　at　times　yearn　to　give　his　horses　their　head；　and　to　let　them　go；　and　to　cry；　〃To　the　devil　with　the　world！〃？　At　such　moments　a　great　force　seems　to　uplift　one　as　on　wings；　and　one　flies；　and　everything　else　flies；　but　contrariwiseboth　the　verst　stones；　and　traders　riding　on　the　shafts　of　their　waggons；　and　the　forest　with　dark　lines　of　spruce　and　fir　amid　which　may　be　heard　the　axe　of　the　woodcutter　and　the　croaking　of　the　raven。　Yes；　out　of　a　dim；　remote　distance　the　road　comes　towards　one；　and　while　nothing　save　the　sky　and　the　light　clouds　through　which　the　moon　is　cleaving　her　way　seem　halted；　the　brief　glimpses　wherein　one　can　discern　nothing　clearly　have　in　them　a　pervading　touch　of　mystery。　Ah；　troika；　troika；　swift　as　a　bird；　who　was　it　first　invented　you？　Only　among　a　hardy　race　of　folk　can　you　have　come　to　birthonly　in　a　land　which；　though　poor　and　rough；　lies　spread　over　half　the　world；　and　spans　versts　the　counting　whereof　would　leave　one　with　aching　eyes。　Nor　are　you　a　modishly…fashioned　vehicle　of　the　roada　thing　of　clamps　and　iron。　Rather；　you　are　a　vehicle　but　shapen　and　fitted　with　the　axe　or　chisel　of　some　handy　peasant　of　Yaroslav。　Nor　are　you　driven　by　a　coachman　clothed　in　German　livery；　but　by　a　man　bearded　and　mittened。　See　him　as　he　mounts；　and　flourishes　his　whip；　and　breaks　into　a　long…drawn　song！　Away　like　the　wind　go　the　horses；　and　the　wheels；　with　their　spokes；　become　transparent　circles；　and　the　road　seems　to　quiver　beneath　them；　and　a　pedestrian；　with　a　cry　of　astonishment；　halts　to　watch　the　vehicle　as　it　flies；　flies；　flies　on　its　way　until　it　becomes　lost　on　the　ultimate　horizona　speck　amid　a　cloud　of　dust！

And　you；　Russia　of　mineare　not　you　also　speeding　like　a　troika　which　nought　can　overtake？　Is　not　the　road　smoking　beneath　your　wheels；　and　the　bridges　thundering　as　you　cross　them；　and　everything　being　left　in　the　rear；　and　the　spectators；　struck　with　the　portent；　halting　to　wonder　whether　you　be　not　a　thunderbolt　launched　from　heaven？　What　does　that　awe…inspiring　progress　of　yours　foretell？　What　is　the　unknown　force　which　lies　within　your　mysterious　steeds？　Surely　the　winds　themselves　must　abide　in　their　manes；　and　every　vein　in　their　bodies　be　an　ear　stretched　to　catch　the　celestial　message　which　bids　them；　with　iron…girded　breasts；　and　hooves　which　barely　touch　the　earth　as　they　gallop；　fly　forward　on　a　mission　of　God？　Whither；　then；　are　you　speeding；　O　Russia　of　mine？　Whither？　Answer　me！　But　no　answer　comesonly　the　weird　sound　of　your　collar…bells。　Rent　into　a　thousand　shreds；　the　air　roars　past　you；　for　you　are　overtaking　the　whole　world；　and　shall　one　day　force　all　natio