The Power of Darkness

tell you straight, I’m not going to do a man’s work! I’ll go and lie on the top of the oven same as you, and let everything go to pot! You may do what you like. Peter To Akoulína. Go and see about the feeding, will you? it’s time. Akoulína The feeding? All right. Puts on a coat and takes a rope. Anísya I’m not going to work for you. You go and work yourself. I’ve had enough of it, so there! Peter That’ll do. What are you raving about? Like a sheep with the staggers! Anísya You’re a crazy cur, you are! One gets neither work nor pleasure from you. Eating your fill, that’s all you do, you palsied cur, you! Peter Spits and puts on coat. Faugh! The Lord have mercy! I’d better go myself and see what’s up. Exit. Anísya After him. Scurvy long-nosed devil! Akoulína What are you swearing at dad for? Anísya Hold your noise, you idiot! Akoulína Going to the door. I know why you’re swearing at him. You’re an idiot yourself, you bitch. I’m not afraid of you. Anísya What do you mean? Jumps up and looks round for something to hit her with. Mind, or I’ll give you one with the poker. Akoulína Opening the door. Bitch! devil! that’s what you are! Devil! bitch! bitch! devil! Runs off. Anísya Ponders. “Come and dance at my wedding!” What new plan is this? Marry? Mind, Nikíta, if that’s your intention, I’ll go and⁠ ⁠… No, I can’t live without him. I won’t let him go. Nikíta Enters, looks round, and seeing Anísya alone approaches quickly. In a low tone. Here’s a go; I’m in a regular fix! That governor of mine wants to take me away⁠—tells me I’m to come home. Says quite straight I’m to marry and live at home. Anísya Well, go and marry! What’s that to me? Nikíta Is that it? Why, here am I reckoning how best to consider matters, and just hear her! She tells me to go and marry. Why’s that? Winking. Has she forgotten? Anísya Yes, go and marry! What do I care? Nikíta What are you spitting for? Just see, she won’t even let me stroke her.⁠ ⁠… What’s the matter? Anísya This! That you want to play me false.⁠ ⁠… If you do⁠—why, I don’t want you either. So now you know! Nikíta That’ll do, Anísya. Do you think I’ll forget you? Never while I live! I’ll not play you false, that’s flat. I’ve been thinking that supposing they do go and make me marry, I’d still come back to you. If only he don’t make me live at home. Anísya Much need I’ll have of you, once you’re married. Nikíta There’s a go now. How is it possible to go against one’s father’s will? Anísya Yes, I daresay, shove it all on your father. You know it’s your own doing. You’ve long been plotting with that slut of yours, Marína. It’s she has put you up to it. She didn’t come here for nothing t’other day. Nikíta Marína? What’s she to me? Much I care about her!⁠ ⁠… Plenty of them buzzing around. Anísya Then what has made your father come here? It’s you have told him to. You’ve gone and deceived me. Cries. Nikíta Anísya, do you believe in a God or not? I never so much as dreamt of it. I know nothing at all about it. I never even dreamt of it⁠—that’s flat! My old dad has got it all out of his own pate. Anísya If you don’t wish it yourself who can force you? He can’t drive you like an ass. Nikíta Well, I reckon it’s not possible to go against one’s parent. But it’s not by my wish. Anísya Don’t you budge, that’s all about it! Nikíta There was a fellow wouldn’t budge, and the village elder gave him such a hiding.⁠ ⁠… That’s what it might come to! I’ve no great wish for that sort of thing. They say it touches one up.⁠ ⁠… Anísya Shut up with your nonsense. Nikíta, listen to me: if you marry that Marína I don’t know what I won’t do to myself.⁠ ⁠… I shall lay hands on myself! I have sinned, I have gone against the law, but I can’t go back now. If you go away I’ll⁠ ⁠… Nikíta Why should I go? Had I wanted to go⁠—I should have gone long ago. There was Iván Semyónitch t’other day⁠—offered me a place as his coachman.⁠ ⁠… Only fancy what a life that would have been! But I did not go. Because, I reckon, I am good enough for anyone. Now if you did not love me it would be a different matter. Anísya Yes, and that’s what you should remember. My old man will die one of these fine days, I’m thinking; then we could cover our sin, make it all right and lawful, and then you’ll be master here. Nikíta Where’s the good of making plans? What do I care? I work as hard as if I were doing it for myself. My master loves me, and his missus loves me. And if the wenches run after me, it’s not my fault, that’s flat. Anísya And you’ll love me? Nikíta Embracing her. There, as you have ever been in my heart⁠ ⁠… Matryóna Enters, and crosses herself a long time before the icon. Nikíta and Anísya step apart. What I saw I didn’t perceive, what I heard I didn’t hearken to. Playing with the lass, eh? Well⁠—even a calf will play. Why shouldn’t one have some fun when one’s young? But your master is out in the yard a-calling you, sonnie. Nikíta I only came to get the axe. Matryóna I know, sonnie, I know; them sort of axes are mostly to be found where the women are. Nikíta Stooping to pick up axe. I say, mother, is it true you want me to marry? As I reckon, that’s quite unnecessary. Besides, I’ve got no wish that way. Matryóna Eh, honey! why should you marry? Go on as you are. It’s all the old man. You’d better go, sonnie,