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The older these men are the worse.
Where are those fathers of the nation,
Good models for our generation,
The ones that roll in looted money
With influential friends and relatives on hand?
The ones that feast away their lives of honey
And dwell in houses magnificent and grand?
The houses in which the foul features of the past
Will never be revived by all this foreign caste.
The Moscow they will keep your mouth shut
By sending you a dinner party invitation card.
Or, maybe,
It is the man to whom you used to take me
For a bow when I was a baby?
The leader of outstanding rascals, he
Had a team of loyal servants
That during fight-and-drinking rounds
Had saved his life and honour, but then once
He suddenly exchanged them for three hounds.
And then there is the man, as good as all the others,
He gathered children for his ballet muse
By tearing them away from their mothers.
He set his mind on Zephyrs and Amours
And let the whole of Moscow admire their beauty,
And when it came to setting his accounts
He didn't bother about credits. "Out of sense of duty"
All his Amours and Zephyrs he sold out.
Those are the men that now have grown old and grey,
The men enjoying high respect and estimation.
"They are indeed our fair judges" — you will say.
And if there is a man among the younger generation
That never strives for vacancy nor seeks an occupation
Who sets his mind on science and shows a thirst for knowledge
Or good himself fills him with inspiration
To creativity in art,
They scream: "Disaster! Fire!" and acknowledge
The man to be a dreamer and dangerous at that.
The coat! The coat! They wear it still,
So beautifully made, it used to hide
Their timidness and their flippant mind.
And that's the road that we should take at will.
The wives and daughters, too, affect the coat
And so did I until a while ago.
I'm not an infant now, you know,
On things like that I shall no longer dote.
When some Guard's officers one day
Were on a short time visit here
The women shouted: "Hurrah!"
And threw their bonnets into the air.
F a m u s o v (to himself)
He'll let me down, I'm sure.
(in a loud voice)
Sergey Sergeyich, I shall go,
There in my room for you I'll wait.
(goes out)
Scene 6
Chatsky, Skalozub.
S k a l o z u b
I really appreciate
The way you touched upon
The fact that Muscovites are fond
Of our Guards and Guardsmen, our perfect pets,
Their gold embroidery, the cut of coats and shirts.
Our First Army has never lagged behind;
The waists are narrow. The style is fine,
Our officers are spick and span,
They can speak French . . . Some of them can.
Scene 7
Chatsky, Skalozub, Sofia, Lizzie.
S o f i a (runs to the window)
My God! He's fallen down ! He's dead !
(faints)
C h a t s k y
Who's that ?
S k a l o z u b
Who is in trouble ?
C h a t s k y
She so scared !
S k a l o z u b
Who on earth is it?
C h a t s k y
He's hurt. Is he in good shape ?
S k a l o z u b
Is it our old boy who's got into a scrape ?
L i z i e (trying to help the lady)
"No flying from fate" — the saying goes.
As our Molchalin was mounting the horse
It reared suddenly as if it were scared,
And he fell down bump on his head.
S k a l o z u b
Poor rider! Must have pulled the reins too tight.
Did he fall down on his breast or on his side ?
( goes out)
Scene 8
The same people except Skalozub.
C h a t s k y
How can we help her? Tell me, Liz.
L i z i e
There's water over there . . .
(Chatsky runs to bring water. All speak in a low voice until Sofia regains consciousness)
Pour out a glass!
C h a t s k y
Well, there it is,
Let loose the lacing, give her air,
Now rub the temples with the vinegar,
Now sprinkle water. See? It really
Helps. She's breathing freely.
Have you a fan?
L i z i e
Yes, here you are.
C h a t s k y
Look out!
Molchalin has come round !
L i z i e
It's idleness that torments her.
Well, isn't it a pity, sir ?
She cannot bear to see a man
Dash to the ground, like we can.
C h a t s k y
Go on with sprinkling.
There !
S o f i a ( with a deep sigh)
Who's speaking ?
It's like a dream.
(speaks fast in a loud voice now)
Where is he? What has happened to him ?
C h a t s k y
Whatever happened, never mind !
He nearly killed you. It serves him right.
S o f i a
You're killing me with coolness, you !
I cannot bear the sight of you !
C h a t s k y
Do you expect me to shed tears ?
S o f i a
Go there and help him, if you please.
C h a t s k y
To leave you on your own here ?
S o f i a
I just don't need you. Do you hear ?
It's true: about others you are not worried.
If your own dad were killed, you wouldn't care.
(to Lizzie)
Let's go.
L i z i e (taking her a little aside)
No, wait. Just don't get flurried.
He's safe and sound. Look out there!
(Sofia looks out into the window)
C h a t s k y
The way she took it ! Fright. Confusion. Faint.
One only feels that way, I understand.
About the loss of a dearest friend.
S o f i a
They're coming here. He cannot raise his hand.
C h a t s k y
I wish I had got killed with him.
S o f i a
Just keep your wishes to yourself, if you have any.
Scene 9
Sofia, Lizzie, Chatsky, Skalozub, Molchalin (with his bad arm bandaged)
S k a l o z u b
He's alive again.
He got away with a little pain.
It was a false alarm, just a mistake.
M o l c h a l i n
I frightened you. Forgive me for God's sake.
S k a l o z u b
I didn't know you would be frightened.
As you dashed in we were startled,
You fainted suddenly. And now it's clear,
There was no reason to feel fear.
S o f i a (looking aside)
Although I know that all is safe
I'm still shaking in my shoes.
C h a t s k y (to himself)
It seems, Molchalin is excused.
S o f i a
I never fear for myself.
Say, when the coach gets overturned
I wait until they put it right,
Set it in order. And on I ride.
I fear for others, for myself I don't.
It doesn't care whom I fear for.
C h a t s k y (to himself)
She's making her apology
For having pitied somebody.
S k a l o z u b
Now let me tell you something about a dame,
A certain countess, Lasova by name.
She rides a horse. A widow, she prefers
To ride without her admirers.
She was so hardly hurt the other day,
The jockey must have turned his eyes away.
A clumsy woman, now she's lost a rib. So she's looking for a man. In short,
She needs a husband for support.
S o f i a
Andrey Andreyich, take my tip !
You're a generous man. When people are in need,
You're a friend indeed.
C h a t s k y
I've made my every effort now, and I've
Succeeded in bringing you back to life.
I don't know though
Whom I have done it for.
(takes his hat and leaves)
Scene 10
The same people except Chatsky.
S o f i a
We have a gathering tonight. Will you join us ?
S k a l o z u b What time ?
S o f i a
Come early, there'll be friends,
To piano music we shall dance.
We're in mourning. So for a ball there's no chance.
S k a l o z u b
I'm engaged. Yet I will come tonight.
I must be off.
S o f i a
Good bye.
S k a l o z u b ( shaking Molchalin's hands)
I'm your man.
(goes out)
Scene 11
Sofia, Lizzie, Molchalin.
S o f i a
Molchalin, I have almost lost my mind.
Don't risk your life. Be careful if you can.
You know how dear you are to me.
Now tell me, please, how is your arm ?
Shall I give you any kind of remedy ?
Or call a doctor? It will do no harm.
M o l c h a l i n
I've dressed it and it doesn't ache.
L i z i e
I bet, it's nonsense, just a fake;
For dressing there isn't any need,
And you will not avoid publicity
For Chatsky will make fun of it,
And Skalozub will spread it through the city.
He'll tell his story carrying it too far,
He's fond of making jokes. All people are.
S o f i a
Which of the two I care for ?
It's up to me — I can say "yes" or "no.
Molchalin, I restrained my feeling,
When I came in my mind was reeling,
I couldn't breathe when they were there,
To look at you I didn't dare.
M o l c h a l i n — No, Sofia Pavlovna, you're too blunt.
I wish I could be restraint, I can't.
I nearly jumped out of the window then,
And I don't care about any one of them,
Let people grin or scold me if they want.
M o l c h a l i n
Well, if you hold you tongue, they won't.
S o f i a
Will you be challenged to a duel? I hope not.
M o l c h a l i n
The vicious tongues, they are more frightful than a pistol shot.
L i z i e
They're sitting there, I presume.
You'd better rush into the room
With a cheerful look, a happy face,
Tell them the words they want to hear,
They will believe words of praise.
As to Alexander Andreyich he
Will be just happy to converse
With you about the bygone years.
Just give a smile and he will do
Anything under the sun for you.
M o l c h a l i n
I don't advise you anything.
(kisses her hand)
S o f i a
I'll do it against my will. Although
I cannot feign pretence, I think.
What did God bring this Chatsky here for ?
(goes out)
Scene 12
Lizzie, Molchalin.
M o l c h a l i n
You're such a happy creature, you !
L i z i e
Leave me alone. Without me you're two
M o l c h a l i n
You're such a beauty !
I love you so !
L i z i e
And Sofia, too ?
M o l c h a l i n
I love her out of duty,
I love you . . .
( wants to embrace her)
L i z i e
Out of boredom. Be off with you !
M o l c h a l i n
I have three things for you: here is
A toilet set, it's got two mirrors,
One outside and one inside. Nice work.
There's carving, gilt. Just have a look.
This little thing with a beads ornament. Not bad.
Nice little scissors an a needle pad.
There's pomade, and here is another set:
Two bottles of perfume: jasmine and mignonette.
L i z i e
You know in things I take no interest.
You'd better tell me why
You're so dissolute with me while with the mistress
You're always modest, shy ?
M o l c h a l i n
I'm not well. My arm is dressed, you see ?
At dinner time, when we're two,
I shall confine the truth to you.
(goes out through the side door)
Scene 13
Lizzie, Sofia.
S o f i a
There's no one in the father's room. Too bad !
I'll miss the dinner. I'm not well today.
Go to Molchalin, tell him that
I want to see him right away.
( goes to her room.)
Scene 14
Lizzie.
L i z i e
So strange these people seem to be !
She craves for him, he craves for me,
And I'm . . . the only one who's scared of love,
Barman Petrusha, my sweetest dove.
End of Act II
A C T III
Scene 1
Chatsky then Sofia.
C h a t s k y
I'll wait till she confides to me.
Whom does she care for ? Molchalin! Skalozub! Who is it ?
Molchalin used to be so stupid,
A miserable creature, it was plain to see.
He hasn't grown any wiser. And the other one
Is rough and hoarse, a husky man.
A constellation of mazurkas and manoeuvres. Love
Is doomed to play the blind man's bluff.
And I . . .
(enter Sofia)
Oh, are you here? I'm very glad.
I wished it so.
S o f i a (to herself)
It is too bad.
C h a t s k y
It isn't me you were looking for, is it ?
S o f i a
I didn't look for you.
C h a t s k y
Maybe, it isn't fit
That I should ask you. Tell me, be so kind,
Whom do you love ?
S o f i a
Good heavens! All mankind.
C h a t s k y
And whom do you prefer ?
S o f i a
Well, there are relatives . . .
C h a t s k y
You love me most of all!
S o f i a
Some of them, that is.
C h a t s k y
What do I hope for, when all is done ?
I'm prepared to kill myself while she's having fun.
S o f i a
Shall I be frank with you ?
It's not polite to laugh at everyone.
You always have a ready tongue
When people don't behave the way you do.
And you . . .
C h a t s k y
I'm a funny man, you mean to say ?
S o f i a
You're menacing. You look and talk that way.
You have a lot of other negatives like that,
Self criticism wouldn't do you bad.
C h a t s k y
I'm queer! All men are queer as rule.
He isn't queer who's like a fool.
Molchalin, for example . . .
S o f i a
Well, it isn't new to me;
You make no bones about pouring out your acidity.
I hate to bother you. I'll leave.
C h a t s k y (holding her back)
Don't go.
(To his side)
For once I'll make believe.
(in a loud voice)
Let's drop it. Arguments aside !
I'm sorry for Molchalin for I wasn't right;
He may be different from what he used to be,
Such changes do occur, I will agree,
Changes in minds and morals, governments and rules,
There are important people that were known to be fools,
I'm afraid to mention them but you'll agree:
Some weren't successful in the army, some in poetry
And others — everybody says -
Have grown much too clever in recent years.
Molchalin may be bright and bold, it's true,
But has he got emotions, passions
To think the world without you
To be just vanity and ashes ?
And is he sensitive enough
To have his heart-beat speeded up by love ?
So that whatever he might think and do
Would be entirely for you ?
That's what I feel, but words just fail me.
I'm overwhelmed, I'm in despair,
It's such a feeling that I couldn't wish an enemy.
And he? Just hangs his head and doesn't seem to care,
He's timid. All such men are quiet,
He has a mystery of some kind.
Good knows what is it you've inspired
In him. Something he never had in mind.
Of all the merits, quite a few
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