The Power of Darkness

all, lad, don’t show it; don’t lose courage, else they’ll find out all the more! Nikíta Oh dear! You have snared me into a trap! Matryóna That’ll do, I tell you; come along! Come in and give your blessing, as is right and honourable;⁠—and there’s an end of the matter! Nikíta Lies face down. I can’t! Matryóna Aside. What has come over him? He seemed all right, and suddenly this comes over him! It seems he’s bewitched! Get up, Nikíta! See! There’s Anísya coming; she’s left her guests! Anísya enters, dressed up, red and tipsy. Anísya Oh, how nice it is, mother! So nice, so respectable! And how the people are pleased.⁠ ⁠… But where is he? Matryóna Here, honey, he’s here; he’s laid down on the straw and there he lies! He won’t come! Nikíta Looking at his wife. Just see, she’s tipsy too! When I look at her my heart seems to turn! How can one live with her? Turns on his face. I’ll kill her some day! It’ll be worse then! Anísya Only look, how he’s got all among the straw! Is it the drink? Laughs. I’d not mind lying down there with you, but I’ve no time! Come, I’ll lead you! It is so nice in the house! It’s a treat to look on! A concertina! And the women singing so well! All tipsy! Everything so respectable, so nice! Nikíta What’s nice? Anísya The wedding⁠—such a jolly wedding! They all say it’s quite an uncommon fine wedding! All so respectable, so nice! Come along! We’ll go together! I have had a drop, but I can give you a hand yet! Takes his hand. Nikíta Pulls it back with disgust. Go alone! I’ll come! Anísya What are you humbugging for? We’ve got rid of all the bother, we’ve got rid of her as came between us; now we have nothing to do but to live and be merry! And all so respectable, and quite legal! I’m so pleased! I have no words for it! It’s just as if I were going to marry you over again! And oh, the people, they are pleased! They’re all thanking us! And the guests are all of the best: Iván Moséitch is there, and the Police Officer; they’ve also been singing songs of praise! Nikíta Then you should have stayed with them! What have you come for? Anísya True enough, I must go back! Else what does it look like! The hosts both go and leave the visitors! And the guests are all of the best! Nikíta Gets up and brushes the straw off himself. Go, and I’ll come at once! Matryóna Just see! He listens to the young bird, but wouldn’t listen to the old one! He would not hear me, but he follows his wife at once! Matryóna and Anísya turn to go. Well, are you coming? Nikíta I’ll come directly! You go and I’ll follow! I’ll come and give my blessing! The women stop. Go on! I’ll follow! Now then, go! Exit women. Sits down and takes his boots off. Yes, I’m going! A likely thing! No, you’d better look at the rafter for me! I’ll fix the noose and jump with it from the rafter, then you can look for me! And the rope is here just handy. Ponders. I’d have got over it, over any sorrow⁠—I’d have got over that. But this now⁠—here it is, deep in my heart, and I can’t get over it! Looks towards the yard. Surely she’s not coming back? Imitates Anísya. “So nice, so nice. I’d lie down here with you.” Oh, the baggage! Well then, here I am! Come and cuddle when they’ve taken me down from the rafter! There’s only one way! Takes the rope and pulls it. Mítritch, who is tipsy, sits up and won’t let go of the rope. Mítritch Shan’t give it up! Shan’t give it to no one! I’ll bring it myself! I said I’d bring the straw⁠—and so I will! Nikíta, is that you? Laughs. Oh, the devil! Have you come to get the straw? Nikíta Give me the rope! Mítritch No, you wait a bit! The peasants sent me! I’ll bring it⁠ ⁠… Rises to his feet and begins getting the straw together, but reels for a time, then falls. It has beaten me. It’s stronger⁠ ⁠… Nikíta Give me the rope! Mítritch Didn’t I say I won’t! Oh, Nikíta, you’re as stupid as a hog! Laughs. I love you, but you’re a fool! You see that I’m drunk⁠ ⁠… devil take you! You think I need you?⁠ ⁠… You just look at me; I’m a Non⁠ ⁠… fool, can’t say it⁠—Noncommissioned Officer of Her Majesty’s very First Regiment of Grenadier Guards! I’ve served Tsar and country, loyal and true! But who am I? You think I’m a warrior? No, I’m not a warrior; I’m the very least of men, a poor lost orphan! I swore not to drink, and now I had a smoke, and⁠ ⁠… Well then, do you think I’m afraid of you? No fear; I’m afraid of no man! I’ve taken to drink, and I’ll drink! Now I’ll go it for a fortnight; I’ll go it hard! I’ll drink my last shirt; I’ll drink my cap; I’ll pawn my passport; and I’m afraid of no one! They flogged me in the army to stop me drinking! They switched and switched! “Well,” they say, “will you leave off?” “No,” says I! Why should I be afraid of them? Here I am! Such as I am, God made me! I swore off drinking, and didn’t drink. Now I’ve took to drink, and I’ll drink! And I fear no man! ’Cos I don’t lie; but just as⁠ ⁠… Why should one mind them⁠—such muck as they are! “Here you are,” I say; that’s me. A priest told me, the devil’s the biggest bragger! “As soon,” says he, “as you begin to brag, you get frightened; and as soon as you fear men, then the hoofed one just collars you