The Power of Darkness

right in the corner; the earth is soft there, and you’ll smooth it over. Mother earth will not blab to anyone; she’ll keep it close. Go then; go, dear. Nikíta You’ll get me into a mess, bother you! I’ll go away! You do it alone as best you can! Anísya Through the doorway. Well? Has he dug it? Matryóna Why have you come away? What have you done with it? Anísya I’ve covered it with rags. No one can hear it. Well, has he dug it? Matryóna He doesn’t want to! Anísya Springs out enraged. Doesn’t want to! How will he like feeding vermin in prison! I’ll go straight away and tell everything to the police! It’s all the same if one must perish. I’ll go straight and tell! Nikíta Taken aback. What will you tell? Anísya What? Everything! Who took the money? You! Nikíta is silent. And who gave the poison? I did! But you knew! You knew! You knew! We were in agreement! Matryóna That’s enough now. Nikíta dear, why are you obstinate? What’s to be done now? One must take some trouble. Go, honey. Anísya See the fine gentleman! He doesn’t like it! You’ve put upon me long enough! You’ve trampled me under foot! Now it’s my turn! Go, I tell you, or else I’ll do what I said.⁠ ⁠… There, take the spade; there, now go! Nikíta Drat you! Can’t you leave a fellow alone! Takes the spade, but shrinks. If I don’t choose to, I’ll not go! Anísya Not go? Begins to shout. Neighbours! Heh! heh! Matryóna Closes her mouth. What are you about? You’re mad! He’ll go.⁠ ⁠… Go, sonnie; go, my own. Anísya I’ll cry murder! Nikíta Now stop! Oh what people! You’d better be quick.⁠ ⁠… As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb! Goes towards the cellar. Matryóna Yes, that’s just it, honey. If you know how to amuse yourself, you must know how to hide the consequences. Anísya Still excited. He’s trampled on me⁠ ⁠… he and his slut! But it’s enough! I’m not going to be the only one! Let him also be a murderer! Then he’ll know how it feels! Matryóna There, there! How she flares up! Don’t you be cross, lass, but do things quietly little by little, as it’s best. You go to the girl, and he’ll do the work. Follows Nikíta to the cellar with a lantern. He descends into the cellar. Anísya And I’ll make him strangle his dirty brat! Still excited. I’ve worried myself to death all alone, with Peter’s bones weighing on my mind! Let him feel it too! I’ll not spare myself; I’ve said I’ll not spare myself! Nikíta From the cellar. Show a light! Matryóna Holds up the lantern to him. To Anísya. He’s digging. Go and bring it. Anísya You stay with him, or he’ll go away, the wretch! And I’ll go and bring it. Matryóna Mind, don’t forget to baptize it, or I will if you like. Have you a cross? Anísya I’ll find one. I know how to do it. Exit.

See at end of Act, Variation, which may be used instead of the following.

Matryóna	How the woman bristled up! But one must allow she’s been put upon. Well, but with the Lord’s help, when we’ve covered this business, there’ll be an end of it. We’ll shove the girl off without any trouble. My son will live in comfort. The house, thank God, is as full as an egg. They’ll not forget me either. Where would they have been without Matryóna? They’d not have known how to contrive things. Peering into the cellar. Is it ready, sonnie?
Nikíta	Puts out his head. What are you about there? Bring it quick! What are you dawdling for? If it is to be done, let it be done.
Matryóna	Goes towards door of the hut and meets Anísya. Anísya comes out with a baby wrapped in rags. Well, have you baptized it?
Anísya	Why, of course! It was all I could do to take it away⁠—she wouldn’t give it up! Comes forward and hands it to Nikíta.
Nikíta	Does not take it. You bring it yourself!
Anísya	Take it, I tell you! Throws the baby to him.
Nikíta	Catches it. It’s alive! Gracious me, it’s moving! It’s alive! What am I to⁠ ⁠…
Anísya	Snatches the baby from him and throws it into the cellar. Be quick and smother it, and then it won’t be alive! Pushes Nikíta down. It’s your doing, and you must finish it.
Matryóna	Sits on the doorstep of the hut. He’s tenderhearted. It’s hard on him, poor dear. Well, what of that? Isn’t it also his sin?
	Anísya stands by the cellar.
Matryóna	Sits looking at her and discourses. Oh, oh, oh! How frightened he was: well, but what of that? If it is hard, it’s the only thing to be done. Where was one to put it? And just think, how often it happens that people pray to God to have children! But no, God gives them none; or they are all stillborn. Look at our priest’s wife now.⁠ ⁠… And here, where it’s not wanted, here it lives. Looks towards the cellar. I suppose he’s finished. To Anísya. Well?
Anísya	Looking into the cellar. He’s put a board on it and is sitting on it. It must be finished!
Matryóna	Oh, oh! One would be glad not to sin, but what’s one to do?
	Re-enter Nikíta from cellar, trembling all over.
Nikíta	It’s still alive! I can’t! It’s alive!
Anísya	If it’s alive, where are you off to? Tries to stop him.
Nikíta	Rushes at her. Go away! I’ll kill you! Catches hold of her arms; she escapes, he runs after her with the spade. Matryóna runs towards him and stops him. Anísya runs into the porch. Matryóna tries to wrench the spade from him. To his mother. I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! Go away! Matryóna runs