The Light Shines in Darkness

Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy Leo, graf

The Light Shines in Darkness

ACT I

Scene 1

The scene represents the verandah of a fine country-house, in front of which a croquet-lawn and tennis-court are shown, also a flower-bed. The children are playing croquet with their governess. Mary IvГЎnovna SarГЅntsova, a handsome elegant woman of forty; her sister, AlexГЎndra IvГЎnovna KГіhovtseva, a stupid, determined woman of forty-five; and her husband, Peter SemyГіnovich , a fat flabby man, dressed in a summer suit, with a pince-nez, are sitting on the verandah at a table with a and coffee-pot. Mary IvГЎnovna SarГЅntsova, AlexГЎndra IvГЎnovna KГіhovtseva, and Peter SemyГіnovich KГіhovtsev are drinking coffee, and the latter is smoking.

ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. If you were not my sister, but a stranger, and Nicholas Ivánovich not your husband, but merely an acquaintance, I should think all this very original, and perhaps I might even encourage him, J'aurais trouvé tout ça très gentil;[1 - I should have considered it all very pretty.] but when I see that your husband is playing the fool – yes, simply playing the fool – then I can't help telling you what I think about it. And I shall tell your husband, Nicholas, too. Je lui dirai son fait, ma chère.[2 - I will tell him the plain fact, my dear.] I am not afraid of anyone.

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. I don't feel the least bit hurt; don't I see it all myself? but I don't think it so very important.

ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. No. You don't think so, but I tell you that, if you let it go on, you will be beggared. Du train que cela va …[3 - At the rate things are going.]

PETER SEMYГ“NOVICH. Come! Beggared indeed! Not with an income like theirs.

ALEXГЃNDRA IVГЃNOVNA. Yes, beggared! And please don't interrupt me, my dear! Anything a man does always seems right to you!

PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. Oh! I don't know. I was saying —

ALEXГЃNDRA IVГЃNOVNA. But you never do know what you are saying, because when you men begin playing the fool, il n'y a pas de raison que Г§a finisse.[4 - There is no reason for it to stop.] I am only saying that if I were in your place, I should not allow it. J'aurais mis bon ordre Г  toutes ces lubies.[5 - I should put an end to all these fads] What does it all mean? A husband, the head of a family, has no occupation, abandons everything, gives everything away, et fait le gГ©nГ©reux Г  droite et Г  gauche.[6 - And plays the bountiful left and right.] I know how it will end! Nous en savons quelque chose.[7 - We know something about it.]

PETER SEMYГ“NOVICH [to Mary IvГЎnovna]. But do explain to me, Mary, what is this new movement? Of course I understand Liberalism, County Councils, the Constitution, schools, reading-rooms, and tout ce qui s'en suit;[8 - All the rest of it.] as well as Socialism, strikes, and an eight-hour day; but what is this? Explain it to me.

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. But he told you about it yesterday.

PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. I confess I did not understand. The Gospels, the Sermon on the Mount – and that churches are unnecessary! But then how is one to pray, and all that?

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. Yes. That is the worst of it. He would destroy everything, and give us nothing in its place.

PETER SEMYГ“NOVICH. How did it begin?

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. It began last year, after his sister died. He was very fond of her, and her death had a very great effect on him. He became quite morose, and was always talking about death; and then, you know, he fell ill himself with typhus. When he recovered, he was quite a changed man.

ALEXГЃNDRA IVГЃNOVNA. But, all the same, he came in spring to see us again in Moscow, and was very nice, and played bridge. Il Г©tait trГЁs gentil et comme tout le monde.[9 - He was very nice, and like everybody else.]

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. But, all the same, he was then quite changed.

PETER SEMYГ“NOVICH. In what way?

MARY IVГЃNOVNA. He was completely indifferent to his family, and purely and simply had l'idГ©e fixe. He read the Gospels for days on end, and did not sleep. He us