different.
GOVERNOR. Yes, they say there are two kinds of fish there, the sea-eel
and the smelt, and before you start to eat them, the saliva flows in
your mouth.
ANNA. That's all he thinks about—fish. I shall insist upon our house
being the first in the capital and my room having so much amber in it
that when you come in you have to shut your eyes.
(She shuts her eyes
and sniffs.)
Oh, how good!
Scene II
The same and the Merchants.
GOVERNOR. Ah, how do you do, my fine fellows?
MERCHANTS
(bowing)
. We wish you health, father.
GOVERNOR. Well, my dearly beloved friends, how are you? How are your
goods selling? So you complained against me, did you, you tea tanks, you
scurvy hucksters? Complain, against me? You crooks, you pirates, you.
Did you gain a lot by it, eh? Aha, you thought you'd land me in prison?
May seven devils and one she-devil take you! Do you know that—
ANNA. Good heavens, Antosha, what words you use!
GOVERNOR
(irritated)
. Oh, it isn't a matter of words now. Do you know
that the very official to whom you complained is going to marry my
daughter? Well, what do you say to that? Now I'll make you smart. You
cheat the people, you make a contract with the government, and you
do the government out of a hundred thousand, supplying it with rotten
cloth; and when you give fifteen yards away gratis, you expect a reward
besides. If they knew, they would send you to—And you strut about
sticking out your paunches with a great air of importance: "I'm a
merchant, don't touch me." "We," you say, "are as good as the nobility."
Yes, the nobility, you monkey-faces. The nobleman is educated. If he
gets flogged in school, it is for a purpose, to learn something useful.
And you—start out in life learning trickery. Your master beats you for
not being able to cheat. When you are still little boys and don't know
the Lord's Prayer, you already give short measure and short weight. And
when your bellies swell and your pockets fill up, then you assume an air
of importance. Whew! What marvels! Because you guzzle sixteen samovars
full a day, that's why you put on an air of importance. I spit on your
heads and on your importance.
MERCHANTS
(bowing)
. We are guilty, Anton Antonovich.
GOVERNOR. Complaining, eh? And who helped you with that grafting when
you built a bridge and charged twenty thousand for wood when there
wasn't even a hundred rubles' worth used? I did. You goat beards. Have
you forgotten? If I had informed on you, I could have despatched you to
Siberia. What do you say to that?
A MERCHANT. I'm guilty before God, Anton Antonovich. The evil spirit
tempted me. We will never complain against you again. Ask whatever
satisfaction you want, only don't be angry.
GOVERNOR. Don't be angry! Now you are crawling at my feet. Why? Because
I am on top now. But if the balance dipped the least bit your way, then
you would trample me in the very dirt—you scoundrels! And you would
crush me under a beam besides.
MERCHANTS
(prostrating themselves)
. Don't ruin us, Anton Antonovich.
GOVERNOR. Don't ruin us! Now you say, don't ruin us! And what did you
say before? I could give you—
(shrugging his shoulders and throwing up
his hands.)
Well, God forgive you. Enough. I don't harbor malice for
long. Only look out now. Be on your guard. My daughter is going to
marry, not an ordinary nobleman. Let your congratulations be—you
understand? Don't try to get away with a dried sturgeon or a loaf of
sugar. Well, leave now, in God's name.
Merchants leave.
Scene III
The same, Ammos Fiodorovich, Artemy Filippovich, then Rastakovsky.
AMMOS
(in the doorway)
. Are we to believe the report, Anton Antonovich?
A most extraordinary piece of good fortune has befallen you, hasn't it?
ARTEMY. I have the honor to congratulate you on your unusual good
fortune. I was glad from the bottom of my heart when I heard it.
(Kisses
Anna's hand.)
Anna Andreyevna!
(Kissing Marya's hand.)
Marya Antonovna!
Rastakovsky enters.
RASTAKOVSKY. I congratulate you,
GOVERNOR. Yes, they say there are two kinds of fish there, the sea-eel
and the smelt, and before you start to eat them, the saliva flows in
your mouth.
ANNA. That's all he thinks about—fish. I shall insist upon our house
being the first in the capital and my room having so much amber in it
that when you come in you have to shut your eyes.
(She shuts her eyes
and sniffs.)
Oh, how good!
Scene II
The same and the Merchants.
GOVERNOR. Ah, how do you do, my fine fellows?
MERCHANTS
(bowing)
. We wish you health, father.
GOVERNOR. Well, my dearly beloved friends, how are you? How are your
goods selling? So you complained against me, did you, you tea tanks, you
scurvy hucksters? Complain, against me? You crooks, you pirates, you.
Did you gain a lot by it, eh? Aha, you thought you'd land me in prison?
May seven devils and one she-devil take you! Do you know that—
ANNA. Good heavens, Antosha, what words you use!
GOVERNOR
(irritated)
. Oh, it isn't a matter of words now. Do you know
that the very official to whom you complained is going to marry my
daughter? Well, what do you say to that? Now I'll make you smart. You
cheat the people, you make a contract with the government, and you
do the government out of a hundred thousand, supplying it with rotten
cloth; and when you give fifteen yards away gratis, you expect a reward
besides. If they knew, they would send you to—And you strut about
sticking out your paunches with a great air of importance: "I'm a
merchant, don't touch me." "We," you say, "are as good as the nobility."
Yes, the nobility, you monkey-faces. The nobleman is educated. If he
gets flogged in school, it is for a purpose, to learn something useful.
And you—start out in life learning trickery. Your master beats you for
not being able to cheat. When you are still little boys and don't know
the Lord's Prayer, you already give short measure and short weight. And
when your bellies swell and your pockets fill up, then you assume an air
of importance. Whew! What marvels! Because you guzzle sixteen samovars
full a day, that's why you put on an air of importance. I spit on your
heads and on your importance.
MERCHANTS
(bowing)
. We are guilty, Anton Antonovich.
GOVERNOR. Complaining, eh? And who helped you with that grafting when
you built a bridge and charged twenty thousand for wood when there
wasn't even a hundred rubles' worth used? I did. You goat beards. Have
you forgotten? If I had informed on you, I could have despatched you to
Siberia. What do you say to that?
A MERCHANT. I'm guilty before God, Anton Antonovich. The evil spirit
tempted me. We will never complain against you again. Ask whatever
satisfaction you want, only don't be angry.
GOVERNOR. Don't be angry! Now you are crawling at my feet. Why? Because
I am on top now. But if the balance dipped the least bit your way, then
you would trample me in the very dirt—you scoundrels! And you would
crush me under a beam besides.
MERCHANTS
(prostrating themselves)
. Don't ruin us, Anton Antonovich.
GOVERNOR. Don't ruin us! Now you say, don't ruin us! And what did you
say before? I could give you—
(shrugging his shoulders and throwing up
his hands.)
Well, God forgive you. Enough. I don't harbor malice for
long. Only look out now. Be on your guard. My daughter is going to
marry, not an ordinary nobleman. Let your congratulations be—you
understand? Don't try to get away with a dried sturgeon or a loaf of
sugar. Well, leave now, in God's name.
Merchants leave.
Scene III
The same, Ammos Fiodorovich, Artemy Filippovich, then Rastakovsky.
AMMOS
(in the doorway)
. Are we to believe the report, Anton Antonovich?
A most extraordinary piece of good fortune has befallen you, hasn't it?
ARTEMY. I have the honor to congratulate you on your unusual good
fortune. I was glad from the bottom of my heart when I heard it.
(Kisses
Anna's hand.)
Anna Andreyevna!
(Kissing Marya's hand.)
Marya Antonovna!
Rastakovsky enters.
RASTAKOVSKY. I congratulate you,
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