The Storm

KULIGIN (_singing_). "Amidst the level dales, upon a sloping hillside,"... (_ceases singing_) Wonderful, one really must say it's wonderful! Kudriash! Do you know, I've looked u...

DIKOY. You'd find work to do if you wanted to. I've said it once, and I've said it twice, "don't dare to let me come across you"; you're incorrigible! Isn't there room enough fo...

BORIS. She quarrelled with my father you know because he married into a noble family. It was owing to that that my father and mother lived in Moscow. My mother used to tell me t...

BORIS (_alone_). I haven't the heart to disillusion him! What a good fellow! He dreams and is happy. But I, it seems, must waste my youth in this wretched hole. I was utterly cr...

MME. KABANOVA. I might believe you, my son, if I hadn't seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears how little reverence parents receive nowadays from children! They might...

KABANOV. She used to keep on at me, "You must get a wife, you must get a wife, I'm longing to see you a married man." And now she worries my life out, and gives me no peace--all...

KATERINA. What a pity people can't fly like birds. Do you know I sometimes fancy I'm a bird. When one stands on a high hill, one feels a longing to fly. One would take a little...

OLD LADY. Hey, my pretty charmers? What are you doing here? Waiting for young fellows, waiting for your beaus? Are your hearts merry? Merry are they? Are you pleased and proud o...

VARVARA. It was all rubbish. It's silly to listen to her raving. She foretells evil like that to everyone. She was a sinner all her life from her youth up. You should hear the s...

FEKLUSHA. Well now, my dear, if there's one thing I love, it's to hear a wail well done! (_Silence._) And mind you keep a sharp look out, my girl, on the beggar woman below, tha...

VARVARA (_to Glasha_). Carry the bundles down to the chaise, the horses are at the door. (_To Katerina_) You were married off young, and you never had any fun when you were a gi...

MME. KABANOVA. Why are you standing about? Don't you know the way to do things? Lay your commands upon your wife, exhort her how she is to live in your absence.

KABANOV. If you take everything to heart so, you'll soon fall into a decline. Why listen to her! You know she must talk! Well then, let her talk, and you let it go in at one ear...

MME. KABANOVA (_with a wave of her hand points him to the ground_). At my feet! At my feet! (_Kabanov bows down to her feet, then kisses his mother_.) Say good-bye to your wife.

MME. KABANOVA. The way young folks behave! It makes one laugh really to see them! If they weren't my own, I could laugh till I split. They don't know the way to do anything prop...

You make a boast of loving your husband so much; I see now how much your love's worth. Any other good wife, on seeing her husband off, would wail for a good hour and a half, lyi...

KATERINA (_alone, dreamily_). Well, now, peace reigns in our house! Ah, the dreariness. If only there were children! That's the saddest thing! I have no children; I should sit w...

VARVARA (_putting a kerchief on her head before the looking-glass_). I am just going out for a walk now; Glasha's putting our beds in the summer house now, mamma's consented to...

KATERINA (_alone, holding the key in her hand_). The things she thinks of doing! Ah, she's a mad girl, really mad! Here is ruin! Here it is! Fling it away, fling it far away, dr...

FEKLUSHA. The end of the world is at hand, ma'am, by every sign and token, Marfa Ignatievna, the end of the world is at hand. It's peace and paradise still here in your town, bu...

MME. KABANOVA. Now then, keep a little check on your tongue! You'd better look out for someone else to talk to! I won't let you off so easily as some do! Go your way wherever yo...

BORIS. They sent me from home to find out where he was. But since he's with you let him stop there; no one wants him. At home they're pleased and happy that he's out.

VARVARA. How stupid you are! Come; then you'll see what for. Well, you'd better make haste now, since that person's waiting for you. (_Boris goes_.) There, he didn't know me! We...

As the Don Cossack, the Cossack, leads his horse to drink, The brave young man, he stands at the gate, At the gate he stands, and ponders in his heart, In his heart he ponders,...

KUDRIASH. What for? I suppose because I want to be here, Boris Grigoritch, since I am here. I shouldn't have come if I hadn't wanted to. Where is fortune taking you?

BORIS. It's like a dream! This night, and singing and trysts! They're walking, their arms round each other. It is so new for me, so sweet! Here I am waiting for something. And w...

VARVARA. You might go and walk about a bit and let us rest. When it's time to go in, Vania will shout. (_Boris and Katerina go away, Kudriash and Varvara sit down on the stone_.)

In the foreground a narrow arcade running round an old building which has begun to fall into decay; bushes and grass about it; in the background the banks of the Volga and view...

KULIGIN. And on you, indeed, your worship, Saviol Prokofitch. To be set up, for instance, on the parade in the open space. And as for expense,--the expense would be trifling: a...

VARVARA. I believe it's he! (_Boris advances from the background of the scene_.) Sss-sss! (_Boris looks round_.) Come here. (_She beckons, Boris goes up to her_.) What are we to...

KABANOV. But what sins in special has she to frighten her, mamma? Her sins are no more than all of us have to repent; being afraid of storms is a matter of temperament.

MME. KABANOVA. Well, that's a pretty sermon he gave us! Something worth hearing, and no mistake! What have the times come to, when such as he turn teacher! If an old man talks s...

THE OLD LADY. Why hide your face? It's no use hiding! One can see you're afraid. You've no wish to die! She wants to live! To be sure she does!--look what a beauty! Ha, ha, ha!...

KABANOV. I went away to Moscow, you know. Mamma sent me off with a sermon, oh, such a sermon, but as soon as I was well away, I went in for enjoying myself. I was glad to have e...

KATERINA. No, no, nowhere! What is he doing, my poor boy, now? All I want is to say good-bye to him, and then ... and then death. Why did I lead him into trouble. It's made it n...

BORIS. I cannot, Katia. I am not going of my own free will; my uncle is sending me, he has the horses waiting for me already; I only begged for a minute, I wanted to take a last...

KATERINA (_alone_). Where am I going now? Home? No, home or the grave--it's the same. Yes, home or the grave! ... the grave! Better the grave.... A little grave under a tree ......

MME. KABANOVA. And you in such a fright already and crying over it! There's no need. She's not worth fretting about! Don't worry yourself, we shall have our hands full with her...

KABANOV. Merciful Heavens, it is she! _(tries to run off. Mme. Kabanova holds his arm)_ Mamma, let me go! I will save her! or I too ... What can I do without her!

KULIGIN. Here is your Katerina. You may do what you like with her. Her body is here, take it; but her soul is not yours now; she is before a Judge more merciful than you are, now!