The Essential Russian Plays & Short Stories. Максим Горький
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cities, the old literature, the old art. Do you know what art is?
LIPA
Yes, of course I know—pictures, statues. I went to the Tretyakov art gallery.
SAVVA
That's it—the Tretyakov, and other galleries that are bigger still. There are some good things in them, but it will be still better to have the old stuff out of the way. All the old dress must go. Man must be stripped bare and left naked on a naked earth! Then he will build up a new life. The earth must be denuded, Lipa; it must be stripped of its hideous old rags. It deserves to be arrayed in a king's mantle; but what have they done with it? They have dressed it in coarse fustian, in convict clothes. They've built cities, the idiots!
LIPA
But who will do it? Who's going to destroy everything?
SAVVA
I.
LIPA
You?
SAVVA
Yes, I. I'll begin, and then, when people get to understand what I am after, others will join in. The work will proceed merrily, Lipa. The sky will be hot. Yes. The only thing not worth destroying is science. That would be useless. Science is unchangeable, and if, you destroyed it to-day, it would rise up again the same as before.
LIPA
How much blood will have to be shed? Why, it's horrible!
SAVVA
No more than has been shed already—and there'll be rhyme and reason to it, at least. (Pause; the hens cluck in the yard; from the same direction comes Tony's sleepy voice: "Polya, father wants you. Where did you put his cap?")
LIPA
What a scheme! Are you not joking, Savva?
SAVVA
You make me sick with your "you are joking, you are joking."
LIPA
I am afraid of you, Savva. You are so serious about it.
SAVVA
Yes, there are many people who are afraid of me.
LIPA
If you would only smile a little.
SAVVA (looking at her with wide-open eyes and a frank face, and breaking abruptly into a clear, ringing laugh) Oh, you funny girl, what should I be smiling for? I'd rather laugh. (Both laugh) Are you afraid of tickling?
LIPA
Stop it! What a boy you are still!
SAVVA
All right. And Kondraty, isn't here yet. I wonder why. Do you think the devil has taken him? The devil is fond of monks, you know.
LIPA
What strange fancies you have. Why, now you are joking—
SAVVA (somewhat surprised)
They are not fancies.
LIPA
My fancies are different. You are a dear now, because you talk to me. In the evening I'll tell you all about myself. We'll take a walk together, and I'll tell you everything.
SAVVA
Very well, I'll listen. Why shouldn't I?
LIPA
Tell me, Savva, if I may ask—are you in love with a woman?
SAVVA
Ah, switched around to the subject of love after all—just like a woman! I hardly know what to say. I did love a girl, in a way, but she didn't stick it out.
LIPA
Stick out what?
SAVVA
My love, or perhaps myself. All I know is that one fine day she went away and left me.
LIPA (laughing)
And you?
SAVVA
Nothing. I remained alone.
LIPA
Have you any friends, comrades?
SAVVA
No.
LIPA
Any enemies? I mean is there anyone whom you particularly dislike, whom you hate?
SAVVA
Yes—God.
LIPA (incredulously)
What?
SAVVA
God, I say—the one whom you call your Saviour.
LIPA (shouting)
Don't dare speak that way! You've gone out of your mind!
SAVVA
Ah! I touched your sensitive spot, did I?
LIPA
Don't you dare!
SAVVA
I thought you were a gentle dove, but you have a tongue like a snake's. (He imitates the movements of a snake's tongue with his finger)
LIPA
Good Lord! How dare you, how can you speak like that of the Saviour?
Why, one dares not look at him. Why have you come here?
[Kondraty appears at the door of the tavern, looks around, and enters quietly.
KONDRATY
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!
SAVVA
Amen! You're very late, my gracious lord!
KONDRATY
I did the will of him who sent me. I was picking young little cucumbers for the Father Superior. He has them made into a dainty dish which he loves dearly for an appetizer. My, what infernal heat! I was in pools of perspiration before I got through.
SAVVA (to Lipa)
You see, here is a monk. He likes a drink. His cussing vocabulary isn't bad. He is no fool, and as to women—
KONDRATY
Don't embarrass the young lady, Mr. Tropinin. In the presence of a lady—
SAVVA
And furthermore, he doesn't believe in God.
KONDRATY
He is joking.
LIPA
I don't like such jokes. What have you come here for?
KONDRATY
I am here by invitation.
SAVVA
I have some business with him.
LIPA (without looking at Savva)
What have you come here for?
SAVVA
For nothing that concerns you. You had better have a talk with him. He is a chap that possesses a great deal of curiosity. He's not a fool, either, but knows what's what.
LIPA (looking searchingly at Savva)
I know him well, I know him very well.
KONDRATY
To my regret I must admit it's true. I have the unenviable fortune of being known as a man who does not observe the outer forms of conduct. It is on account of that characteristic I was fired from my position as government clerk, and it's on that account I am now frequently condemned to live for weeks on nothing but bread and water. I cannot act in secret. I am open and above-board. In