The Essential Russian Plays & Short Stories. Максим ГорькийЧитать онлайн книгу.
Why, indeed, should God not grant one's request when one asks Him for it so earnestly? I'll go and hunt a little to see if somebody hasn't dropped a purse or a diamond. (Exit)
SOMEONE IN GRAY
She knows not that her wish has already been fulfilled. She knows not that this morning two men in a rich house were bending eagerly over a sketch by Man and were delighted with it. They searched for Man the whole day; wealth was looking for him as he was looking for wealth. And to-morrow morning, after the neighbors have gone to work, an automobile will stop in front of this house, and two men bending low will enter the poor room and bring wealth and fame. But neither he nor she knows it. Thus fortune will come to Man, and thus also it will go.
[Enter Man and his Wife. He has, a beautiful proud head, bright eyes, a high forehead, dark eyebrows parting at the root of the nose like two bold wrings, and wavy black hair carelessly tossed back. A low, white, turndown collar reveals a well-formed neck and part of his chest. He is light and quick in his movements, like a young animal.
MAN
Nothing again. I'll lie down and remain in bed the whole day. Anyone wanting me will have to come here. I can't go to him. I'll stay in bed the whole of to-morrow too.
WIFE
Are you tired?
MAN
Yes, I'm tired and hungry. I could eat a whole ox, like the Homeric hero, but I shall have to content myself with a piece of hard bread. Don't you know that a man can't live all the time on bread alone? I want to tear, bite, chew!
WIFE
I'm sorry for you, dear.
MAN
I'm sorry for myself, but that doesn't satisfy my hunger. I stood a whole hour in front of a restaurant to-day, looking at the chickens, pastry, and sausages, as people look at works of art. And then the signs. They describe ham so well that you could eat sign and all.
WIFE
I like ham too.
MAN
Who doesn't like ham? How about lobster? Do you like lobster?
WIFE
Yes.
MAN
You should have seen the lobster I saw. It was a painted one, but it was even more beautiful than a live one. Red like a cardinal, majestic, stern. You could kneel down and do homage to it. I think I could eat two such cardinals and a priest of a carp besides.
WIFE (sadly)
You didn't see my flowers, did you?
MAN
Flowers? You can't eat flowers, can you?
WIFE
You don't love me.
MAN (kisses her)
Excuse me, but really I'm so hungry. Look, my hands are trembling and
I haven't even the strength to throw a stone at a dog.
WIFE (kisses his hand)
My poor husband!
MAN
Where do those leaves, on the floor come from? They smell so good. Is that your work too?
WIFE
No, the neighbors must have done it.
MAN
Fine people our neighbors are. It's strange, there are so many good people in the world, and yet a man can die of hunger. Why is it?
WIFE
You've turned so sad. Your face is growing pale. What is the matter?
Do you see anything?
MAN
Yes, as I was joking, the terrible image of poverty glided in front of me and stopped there, in the corner. Do you see it? Arms stretched out in complaint, a child abandoned in the woods, a praying voice, and the stillness of a human desert. Help! No one hears. Help, I'm dying! No one hears. Look, wife, look! See the dark, gloomy shadows there, quivering and rising like black smoke from a long, terrible chimney leading into hell. Look! And I'm in the midst of them!
WIFE
I'm afraid. I can't look in that dark corner. Did you see all that in the street?
MAN Yes, I saw it in the street, and soon it'll be that way with us.
WIFE
No, God will not permit it.
MAN
Then why does He permit it to happen to others?
WIFE
We're better than others. We are good people. We never offend Him.
MAN
You think so? I do a lot of swearing.
WIFE
You're not bad.
MAN
Yes, I am bad. When I walk along the street and see all the things that don't belong to us, I feel as if I had tusks like a boar. Oh, how much money I haven't got! Listen, my dear wife. I was walking in the park to-day, that lovely park, where the paths are straight as arrows and the beech-trees like kings wearing crowns—
WIFE
And I was walking in the city streets. Shops everywhere, such beautiful shops!
MAN
I saw men, beautifully dressed, carrying canes, and I thought: "I haven't anything like that."
WIFE
I saw elegantly dressed women, wearing dainty shoes that make your feet beautiful, and pretty hats from under which your eyes shine impenetrably, and silk skirts that make such a mysterious rustle; and I thought: "I haven't a good hat or a silk skirt."
MAN
A ruffian jostled me. I showed him my tusks, and he fled in disgrace to hide himself in the crowd.
WIFE
A well-dressed lady jostled me, but I didn't even look at her, I felt so embarrassed.
MAN
Men rode by on proud, fiery horses. And I have nothing like that.
WIFE
She had diamonds in her ears. You felt like kissing them.
MAN