The Live Corpse
Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy Leo
The Live Corpse
ACT I
Scene 1
ProtГЎsov's[1 - ProtГЎsov is his family name, but the name by which he is usually addressed is FГ©dya, an abbreviation of his Christian name – Theodore. The ceremonious form of address would be Theodore VasГlyevich.] flat in Moscow. The scene represents a small dining-room.
Anna PГЎvlovna, a stout grey-haired lady, tightly laced, is sitting alone at the tea-table on which is a samovГЎr. Enter nurse, carrying a teapot.
NURSE. May I have a little hot water, ma'am?
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. Yes. How's Baby?
NURSE. He's restless… There's nothing worse than for a lady to nurse her baby herself! She has her troubles, and the child must suffer. What can her milk be like, when she lies awake crying all night?
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. But she seems quieter now.
NURSE. Quiet, indeed! It makes one ill to see her. She's been writing something, and crying.
Enter SГЎsha.
SГЃSHA [to Nurse] Lisa is looking for you.
NURSE. I'm coming, I'm coming. [Exit].
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Nurse says she keeps on crying… Why can't she control herself?
SГЃSHA. Well really, mother, you are amazing!.. A woman has left her husband, her child's father, and you expect her to be calm!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Well, not calm … But what's done is done! If I, her mother, not only allowed my daughter to leave her husband, but am even glad she has done it, that shows he deserved it. One ought to rejoice, not to grieve, at the chance of freeing oneself from such a bad man!
SÁSHA. Mother, why say such things? You know it's not true! He's not bad – but on the contrary, he's a wonderful man, in spite of his weaknesses.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes indeed, a “wonderful” man – as soon as he has money in his pocket – his own or other people's…
SГЃSHA. Mother! He has never taken other people's!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Yes he has – his wife's! Where's the difference?
SГЃSHA. But he gave all his property to his wife!
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. Of course, when he knew that otherwise he was sure to squander it all!
SГЃSHA. Squander or not, I only know that a wife must not separate from her husband, especially from such a one as FГ©dya.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. Then, in your opinion she ought to wait till he has squandered everything, and brought his gipsy mistresses into the house?
SГЃSHA. He has no mistresses!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. That's the misfortune – he seems to have bewitched you all! But not me – no! He won't come over me! I see through him, and he knows it. Had I been in Lisa's place I should have left him a year ago.
SГЃSHA. How lightly you say it!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Not lightly at all. It's not a light thing for me, as a mother, to see my daughter divorced. Believe me it's not! But yet it is better than ruining a young life… No, I'm thankful to God that she has at last made up her mind, and that it is all over.
SГЃSHA. Perhaps it's not all over!
ANNA PÁVLOVNA. Oh! If he only consents to a divorce…
SГЃSHA. What good will that do?
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. This good; that she is young, and may again be happy.
SГЃSHA. Oh mother! It's dreadful to hear you speak so! Lisa can't love another.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. Why not, when she's free? Many a man a thousand times better than your FГ©dya might turn up who would be only too happy to marry Lisa.
SÁSHA. Mother, it's not right! I know you're thinking of Victor Karénin…
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. And why shouldn't I? He has loved her these ten years, and she loves him.
SГЃSHA. Yes, but not as a husband! They have been friends from childhood.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. We know those friendships! If only the obstacles were out of the way!
Enter Maid.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. What is it?
MAID. The mistress has sent the porter with a note for Mr. KarГ©nin.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. What mistress?
MAID.Our mistress – Mrs. Protásova.
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. Well?
MAID. Mr. KarГ©nin has sent back word that he will come round at once.
ANNA PÁVLOVNA [surprised] We were just speaking of him! Only I can't think why … [to Sásha] Do you know?
SГЃSHA. Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't!
ANNA PГЃVLOVNA. You always have