Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky - BestLightNovel.com
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LEONiD. But why do you talk like this?
NaDYA. Because you're still a boy!... Leave me!
LEONiD. But, you see, he's such a drunken, vile fellow.
NaDYA. Oh, my G.o.d! It would be better for you to go off somewhere: out of my sight.
LEONiD. Yes, really, it would be better for me to spend a week with our neighbors.
NaDYA. For G.o.d's sake, do!
LEONiD. But Nadya, if it should be awfully hard for you to live with your husband, what then?
NaDYA. [_Weeping_] Oh, leave me alone! Be good enough to leave me alone!
[_Sobbing_] I beg only one thing of you: leave me, for G.o.d's sake! [_She sobs_.
GAVRiLOVNA _and_ LiZA. [_Motioning with their hands_] Go away! Go away!
LEONiD. Why do you drive me out? I guess I'm sorry enough for her! I keep thinking somehow or other, that it may still be possible to help her in some way.
NaDYA. [_With desperation_] I don't want any helpers or defenders! I don't want them! If my patience fails, that pond of ours isn't far off!
LEONiD. [_Timidly_] Well, I'll go away if you wish.... Only what is she saying? You folks, look after her, please! Good-by! [_He goes to the door_.
NaDYA. [_After him in a loud voice_] Good-by!
LEONiD _goes out_.
LiZA. And so the old proverb is true: What's fun for the cat is tears for the mouse.
POVERTY IS NO CRIME
A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS
CHARACTERS
GORDeY KaRPYCH TORTSoV, _a rich merchant_.
PELAGeYA EGoROVNA, _his wife_.
LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA, _his daughter_.
LYUBiM KaRPYCH TORTSoV, _his brother, a man who has squandered his property_.
AFRIKaN SaVVICH KoRSHUNOV[1], _a manufacturer_.
[Footnote 1: Vulture]
MiTYA, TORTSoV'S _clerk_.
YaSHA GuSLIN, _nephew of_ TORTSoV.
GRiSHA RAZLYULYaYEV, _a young merchant, the son of a rich father_.
ANNA IVaNOVNA, _a young widow_.
MaSHA } } _friends of_ LYUBoV TORTSoV.
LiZA }
EGoRUSHKA, _a boy, distant relative of_ TORTSoV.
ARiNA, _nurse of_ LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA.
GUESTS, SERVANTS, MUMMERS, AND OTHERS.
_The action takes place in a district town in the house of the merchant TORTSoV during the Christmas holidays_.
POVERTY IS NO CRIME
ACT I
_A small office room; in the rear wall a door; in the corner on the left a bed, on the right a cupboard. In the left wall a window, and beside the window a table. Near the table a chair; near the right wall a desk and a wooden stool. Beside the bed a guitar; on the table and desk are books and papers_.
SCENE I
MiTYA _is walking back and forth in the room_. EGoRUSHKA _is seated on the stool reading_ "Bova Korolevich."
EGoRUSHKA. [_Reads_] "My sovereign father, glorious and brave king, Kiribit Verzoulovich, I do not possess the courage to marry him now. Because when I was young I was wooed by King Gvidon."
MiTYA. Well, Egorushka, is any one at home?
EGoRUSHKA. [_Putting his finger on the place where he is reading in order not to make a mistake_] n.o.body; they've all gone driving. There's only Gordey Karpych at home. [_Reads_] "Whereupon Kiribit Verzoulovich said to his daughter"--[_Again marking the place_]--only he's in such a rage, it's awful! I cleared out--he keeps on cursing. [_Reads_] "Then the beautiful Militrisa Kirbityevna called her servant Licharda to her."
MiTYA. With whom was he angry?
