| 118 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 |
| 1 | 38 | 77 | 115 | 153 |
|
LYÚBA [goes straight to Borís, takes his head in her hands and kisses
him] Poor Borís.
BORÍS. No, don't pity me. I feel so well, so joyful, so light. How d'you
do. [Kisses Nicholas Ivánovich].
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I have come to say chiefly one thing to you. First
of all, in such affairs it is worse to overdo it than not to do enough.
And in this matter you should do as is said in the Gospels, and not
think beforehand, "I shall say this, or do that": "When they deliver you
up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaketh in you." That is to
say, do not act because you have reasoned out beforehand that you should
do so and so, but act only when your whole being feels that you cannot
act otherwise.
BORÍS. I have done so. I did not think I should refuse to serve; but
when I saw all this fraud, those Mirrors of Justice, those Documents,
the Police and Officers smoking, I could not help saying what I did. I
was frightened, but only till I had begun, after that it was all so
simple and joyful.
Lyúba sits down and cries.
NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Above all, do nothing for the sake of being praised,
or to gain the approval of those whose opinion you value. For myself I
120
Page
Quick Jump
|