LEBEDIEFF.[Losing his temper]Bah!You all,every one of you,do all you can to make me cut my throat or kill somebody.One of you screeches and fusses all day and counts every penny,and the other is so clever and humane and emancipated that she cannot understand her own father!I offend your ears,do I?Don't you realise that before I came here to offend your ears I was being torn to pieces over there,[He points to the door]literally drawn and quartered?So you cannot understand?You two have addled my brain till I am utterly at my wits'end;indeed I am!
[He goes toward the door,and stops]I don't like this business at all;I don't like any thing about you--SASHA.What is it,especially,that you don't like?
LEBEDIEFF.Everything,everything!
SASHA.What do you mean by everything?
LEBEDIEFF.Let me explain exactly what I mean.Everything displeases me.As for your marriage,I simply can't abide it.[He goes up to SASHA and speaks caressingly]Forgive me,little Sasha,this marriage may be a wise one;it may be honest and not misguided,nevertheless,there is something about the whole affair that is not right;no,not right!You are not marrying as other girls do;you are young and fresh and pure as a drop of water,and he is a widower,battered and worn.Heaven help him.Idon't understand him at all.[He kisses his daughter]Forgive me for saying so,Sasha,but I am sure there is something crooked about this affair;it is ****** a great deal of talk.It seems people are saying that first Sarah died,and then suddenly Ivanoff wanted to marry you.[Quickly]But,no,I am like an old woman;I am gossiping like a magpie.You must not listen to me or any one,only to your own heart.
SASHA.Papa,I feel myself that there is something wrong about my marriage.Something wrong,yes,wrong!Oh,if you only knew how heavy my heart is;this is unbearable!I am frightened and ashamed to confess this;Papa darling,you must help me,for heaven's sake.Oh,can't you tell me what I should do?
LEBEDIEFF.What is the matter,Sasha,what is it?
SASHA.I am so frightened,more frightened than I have ever been before.[She glances around her]I cannot understand him now,and I never shall.He has not smiled or looked straight into my eyes once since we have been engaged.He is forever complaining and apologising for something;hinting at some crime he is guilty of,and trembling.I am so tired!There are even moments when Ithink--I think--that I do not love him as I should,and when he comes to see us,or talks to me,I get so tired!What does it mean,dear father?I am afraid.
LEBEDIEFF.My darling,my only child,do as your old father advises you;give him up!
SASHA.[Frightened]Oh!How can you say that?
LEBEDIEFF.Yes,do it,little Sasha!It will make a scandal,all the tongues in the country will be wagging about it,but it is better to live down a scandal than to ruin one's life.
SASHA.Don't say that,father.Oh,don't.I refuse to listen!Imust crush such gloomy thoughts.He is good and unhappy and misunderstood.I shall love him and learn to understand him.Ishall set him on his feet again.I shall do my duty.That is settled.
LEBEDIEFF.This is not your duty,but a delusion--SASHA.We have said enough.I have confessed things to you that Ihave not dared to admit even to myself.Don't speak about this to any one.Let us forget it.
LEBEDIEFF.I am hopelessly puzzled,and either my mind is going from old age or else you have all grown very clever,but I'll be hanged if I understand this business at all.
Enter SHABELSKI.
SHABELSKI.Confound you all and myself,too!This is maddening!
LEBEDIEFF.What do you want?
SHABELSKI Seriously,I must really do something horrid and rascally,so that not only I but everybody else will be disgusted by it.I certainly shall find something to do,upon my word Ishall!I have already told Borkin to announce that I am to be married.[He laughs]Everybody is a scoundrel and I must be one too!
LEBEDIEFF.I am tired of you,Matthew.Look here,man you talk in such a way that,excuse my saying so,you will soon find yourself in a lunatic asylum!
SHABELSKI.Could a lunatic asylum possibly be worse than this house,or any othe r?Kindly take me there at once.Please do!
Everybody is wicked and futile and worthless and stupid;I am an object of disgust to myself,I don't believe a word I say--LEBEDIEFF.Let me give you a piece of advice,old man;fill your mouth full of tow,light it,and blow at everybody.Or,better still,take your hat and go home.This is a wedding,we all want to enjoy ourselves and you are croaking like a raven.Yes,really.
SHABELSKI leans on the piano and begins to sob.
LEBEDIEFF.Good gracious,Matthew,Count!What is it,dear Matthew,old friend?Have I offended you?There,forgive me;Ididn't mean to hurt you.Come,drink some water.
SHABELSKI.I don't want any water.[Raises his head.]
LEBEDIEFF.What are you crying about?
SHABELSKI.Nothing in particular;I was just crying.
LEBEDIEFF.Matthew,tell me the truth,what is it?What has happened?
SHABELSKI.I caught sight of that violoncello,and--and--Iremembered the Jewess.
LEBEDIEFF.What an unfortunate moment you have chosen to remember her.Peace be with her!But don't think of her now.
SHABELSKI.We used to play duets together.She was a beautiful,a glorious woman.
SASHA sobs.
LEBEDIEFF.What,are you crying too?Stop,Sasha!Dear me,they are both howling now,and I--and I--Do go away;the guests will see you!
SHABELSKI.Paul,when the sun is shining,it is gay even in a cemetery.One can be cheerful even in old age if it is lighted by hope;but I have nothing to hope for--not a thing!
LEBEDIEFF.Yes,it is rather sad for you.You have no children,no money,no occupation.Well,but what is there to be done about it?[To SASHA]What is the matter with you,Sasha?