SEBASTIAN. Take the job on yourself. At this time of year one day's work

brings a year's food. [The Peasants pass on].

NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. They are all half-starved; they have only bread and

water, they are ill, and many of them are old. That old man, for

instance, is ruptured and is suffering, and yet he works from four in

the morning to ten at night, though he is only half alive. And we? Is it

possible, realising all this, to live quietly and consider oneself a

Christian? Or let alone a Christian--simply not a beast?

BORÍS. But what can one do?

NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Not take part in this evil. Not own the land, nor

devour the fruits of their labour. How this can be arranged, I don't yet

know. The fact of the matter is--at any rate it was so with me--I lived

and did not realise how I was living. I did not realise that I am a son

of God and that we are all sons of God--and all brothers. But as soon as

I realised it--realised that we have all an equal right to live--my

whole life was turned upside down. But I cannot explain it to you now. I

will only tell you this: I was blind, just as my people at home are, but

now my eyes are opened and I cannot help seeing; and seeing it all, I

can't continue to live in such a way. However, that will keep till

later. Now we must see what can be done.

Enter Policeman, Peter, his wife, and boy.

The Light Shines in Darkness