The Light Shines in Darkness Part 23

PRINCESS. Just this, that they are moving him to the Disciplinary Battalion; and it is you who are the cause of it.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Princess, if you want anything, tell me what it is; but if you have come here merely to abuse me, you only injure yourself.

You cannot offend me, for with my whole heart I sympathise with you and pity you!

PRINCESS. What charity! What exalted Christianity! No, Mr. Sarntsov, you cannot deceive me! We know you now. You have ruined my son, but you don't care; and you go giving b.a.l.l.s; and your daughter--my son's betrothed--is to be married and make a good match, that you approve of; while you pretend to lead a simple life, and go carpentering. How repulsive you are to me, with your new-fangled Pharisaism.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Don't excite yourself so, Princess. Tell me what you have come for--surely it was not simply to scold me?

PRINCESS. Yes, that too! I must find vent for all this acc.u.mulated pain. But what I want is this: He is being removed to the Disciplinary Battalion, and I cannot bear it. It is you who have done it. You! You!

You!

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Not I, but G.o.d. And G.o.d knows how sorry I am for you. Do not resist this will. He wants to test you. Bear the trial meekly.

PRINCESS. I cannot bear it meekly. My whole life was wrapped up in my son; and you have taken him from me and ruined him. I cannot be calm. I have come to you--it is my last attempt to tell you that you have ruined him and that it is for you to save him. Go and prevail on them to set him free. Go and see the Governor-General, the Emperor, or whom you please. It is your duty to do it. If you don't do it, I know what I shall do. You will have to answer to me for it!

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Teach me what to do. I am ready to do anything.

PRINCESS. I again repeat it--you must save him! If you do not--beware!

Good-bye. [Exit].

Nicholas Ivanovich (alone). Lies down on sofa. Silence. The door opens and the dance music sounds louder. Enter Styopa.

STYoPA. Papa is not here, come in!

Enter the adults and the children, dancing in couples.

LYuBA [noticing Nicholas Ivanovich] Ah, you _are_ here. Excuse us.

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH [rising] Never mind. [Exit dancing couples].

NICHOLAS IVaNOVICH. Vasily Nikonorovich has recanted. I have ruined Boris. Lyuba is getting married. Can it be that I have been mistaken?

Mistaken in believing in Thee? No! Father help me!

Curtain.

Tolstoy left the following notes for a fifth act which was never written.

ACT V

Disciplinary Battalion. A cell. Prisoners sitting and lying. Boris is reading the Gospel and explaining it. A man who has been flogged is brought in. "Ah, if there were but a Pugachev[41] to revenge us on such as you." The Princess bursts in, but is turned out. Conflict with an officer. Prisoners led to prayers. Boris sent to the Penitentiary Cell: "He shall be flogged!"

[41] Pugachev was the leader of a formidable rebellion in Russia in the eighteenth century.

Scene changes.

The Tsar's Cabinet. Cigarettes; jokes; caresses. The Princess is announced. "Let her wait." Enter pet.i.tioners, flattery, then the Princess. Her request is refused. Exit.

Scene changes.

Mary Ivanovna talks about illness with the doctor. "He has changed, has become more gentle, but is dispirited." Enter Nicholas Ivanovich and speaks to Doctor about the uselessness of treatment. But for his wife's sake he agrees to it. Enter Tonya with Styopa. Lyuba with Starkovsky.

Conversation about land. Nicholas Ivanovich tries not to offend them.

Exeunt all. Nicholas Ivanovich with Lisa. "I am always in doubt whether I have done right. I have accomplished nothing. Boris has perished, Vasily Nikonorovich has recanted. I set an example of weakness.

Evidently G.o.d does not wish me to be his servant. He has many other servants--and can accomplish his will without me, and he who realises this is at peace." Exit Lisa. He prays. The Princess rushes in and shoots him. Everybody comes running into the room. He says he did it himself by accident. He writes a pet.i.tion to the Emperor. Enter Vasily Nikonorovich with Doukhobors.[42] Dies rejoicing that the fraud of the Church is exposed, and that he has understood the meaning of his life.

[42] Tolstoy did not fully realise the facts (described in _A Peculiar People_) of the Doukhobors' submission to their leader, or of their belief in him as an incarnation of the Deity. In fact, when he wrote this play, Tolstoy regarded the Doukhobors as a type of what all Christians should be.

_This play was begun in the 'eighties, and continued in 1900 and 1902._

END OF "THE LIGHT s.h.i.+NES IN DARKNESS."