Ivanov

lot of work and a lot of thinking and never got tired; now I do nothing and think of nothing, and I am weary body and soul. My conscience aches night and day, I feel that I am terribly to blame, but exactly in what way I am to blame I don’t know. And then my wife’s illness, no money, the everlasting nagging and gossip, unnecessary talk, that fool Borkin.⁠ ⁠… My home has grown hateful to me, and living in it is worse than torture. I tell you openly, Sasha, even to be with my wife who loves me has become unbearable. You are my old friend, and won’t be angry with me for speaking the truth. I have come to you to distract my mind, but I am bored here too, and I am longing to get home again. Forgive me, I will just slip away. Sasha Nikolay Alexeyevitch, I understand you. Your misfortune is that you are all alone. You ought to have someone by you whom you love and who understands you. Nothing can renew you but love. Ivanov What next, Sasha! That would be the last straw for a wretched bedraggled old creature like me to start a new love affair! God preserve me from such a calamity! No, my wise little friend, it is not a case for love affairs. I tell you in all solemnity, I can put up with everything⁠—misery and neurasthenia and bankruptcy and the loss of my wife and my premature old age and my loneliness⁠—but I cannot endure my contempt for myself. I could die with shame at the thought that I, a strong healthy man, have turned into a sort of Hamlet or a Manfred or a superfluous man⁠ ⁠… the devil knows what. There are pitiful creatures who are flattered at being called Hamlets or superfluous men, but to me it is a disgrace! It wounds my pride, I am crushed by shame, and I am miserable.⁠ ⁠… Sasha Jestingly through tears. Nikolay Alexeyevitch, let us run off to America. Ivanov I am too lazy to move to this door, and you talk of America⁠ ⁠… They go to the door into the garden. Of course, Sasha, you don’t have an easy time of it here. When I look at the people that surround you, I feel horrified at the thought of whom you can marry. The only hope is that some lieutenant or student will pass this way and carry you off.⁠ ⁠… Zinaida Savishna comes in from door on left with a jar of jam. Ivanov Excuse me, Sasha, I will come after you.⁠ ⁠… Sasha goes out into the garden. Ivanov Zinaida Savishna, I’ve come to ask you a favour. Zinaida What is it, Nikolay Alexeyevitch? Ivanov Hesitates. Well, you see, the fact is that the day after tomorrow the interest on your loan is due. You would very greatly oblige me if you would give me a little longer, or would let me add the interest on to the principal. I have no money at all at the moment.⁠ ⁠… Zinaida Alarmed. Nikolay Alexeyevitch, how is that possible? That’s not the way to do things! No, don’t think of such a thing. For God’s sake don’t worry me, I have troubles enough.⁠ ⁠… Ivanov I am sorry, I am sorry⁠ ⁠… goes out into the garden. Zinaida Ough, he has upset me! I am all of a shake⁠ ⁠… all of a shake⁠ ⁠… goes out at door on right. Enter Kossih. Kossih Enters from left door and crosses the stage. I had the ace, king, queen, and eight more diamonds, the ace of spades and just one⁠ ⁠… one little heart, and she could not declare a little slam, the devil take her entirely.⁠ ⁠… goes out at door on right. Enter Avdotya Nazarovna and First Guest. Avdotya Coming from the garden with First Guest. I could tear her to pieces, I could tear her to pieces, the old skinflint! It’s no joke. I’ve been sitting here since five o’clock and she has not offered us as much as a stale herring!⁠ ⁠… It is a house!⁠ ⁠… It is a way to manage! First Guest I am so bored that I could run and bash my head against the wall! They are people, Lord have mercy upon us! One is so hungry and so bored; it’s enough to make one howl like a wolf and begin snapping at people. Avdotya Couldn’t I tear her to pieces, sinful woman that I am! First Guest I’ll have a drink, old lady, and get home! I don’t want your eligible young ladies. How the devil is one to think of love when one has not had one glass of wine since dinner? Avdotya Let’s go and look for something.⁠ ⁠… First Guest Sh‑sh! Quietly! I believe there is vodka in the sideboard in the dining-room. We’ll get hold of Yegorushka.⁠ ⁠… Sh‑sh! They go out by door on left. Anna Petrovna and Lvov come out of door on right. Anna Petrovna It’s all right, they will be pleased to see us. Nobody here. They must be in the garden. Lvov I wonder why you have brought me here into this nest of vultures? This is no place for you or me. Honest people ought to keep out of this atmosphere! Anna Petrovna Listen, Mr. Honest Man! It is not polite to take a lady out and to talk to her of nothing but your honesty all the way! It may be honest, but to say the least of it, it is wearisome. You should never talk to women about your virtues. Let them see those for themselves. When my Nikolay was your age he did nothing but sing songs and tell stories in the company of ladies, but they could all see what sort of man he was. Lvov Oh, don’t talk to me about your Nikolay. I understand him perfectly! Anna Petrovna You are a good man, but you don’t understand anything. Let us go into the garden. He never used such expressions as “I