SCENE V
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, ANNA IVÁNOVNA,
RAZLYULYÁYEV, MÍTYA, GÚSLIN, and two GUESTS (old women).
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [To the old women] We'll sit here. [Seats herself on the sofa, with the old women near her; ANNA IVÁNOVNA and GÚSLIN take chairs and talk quietly; MÍTYA stands near them; MÁSHA, LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, and LÍZA walk about the room with their arms round each other; RAZLYULYÁYEV follows them] We'll watch them while they play.
LÍZA. "Just imagine, mother!" I said, "he doesn't know how to talk properly, and he even uses such words that it's absolutely impolite."
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Do you mean me?
LÍZA. We aren't talking about you; it's no business of yours. [She continues] "But why, mother, must I love him?" [Speaks in a whisper.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, my friend, I love the good old ways. Yes, our good old Russian ways. But there! my husband doesn't care for them! What can you do about it? That's his character. But I love them, I'm naturally jolly; yes, I love to give a person a bite and to get them to sing songs to me! Yes, I take after my family. Our family are all jolly, and love singing.
FIRST GUEST. When I look round, my dear Pelagéya Egórovna, there isn't the gayety that there used to be when we were young.
SECOND GUEST. No, no.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. In my young days I was the merriest sort of girl—always singing and dancing—-indeed I was. Yes, what songs I knew! They don't sing such songs now.
FIRST GUEST. No, they don't sing them; new songs have come in now.
SECOND GUEST. Yes, yes, one remembers the old times.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yasha dear! Sing us some good old songs.
GÚSLIN takes the guitar.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. [To the girls] So it's no use for me to wait; evidently I shan't get any sense out of you.
LÍZA. What do you mean by sense? I don't understand.
MÁSHA. It's ridiculous to listen to you.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Yes, it's funny for you; but how is it for me? Really, why don't you love me?
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA. Let's sit down.
They sit down.
GÚSLIN. [Sings]
"Four huts beside the brook
That swift doth run.
There is a gossip
In every one.
Dear gossips all four,
My friends that be,
Be friendly and kindly
And nice to me.
When you're in the green garden,
Take me with you;
When you pluck flowers,
Pluck me a few.
When you weave garlands,
Weave me some too;
When you go to the river,
Take me with you.
When you throw in the garlands,
Throw also my wreath;
The others will float,
When mine sinks beneath.
All of the sweethearts,
They have come home;
Mine, and mine only,
He has not come."
ARÍNA. [Enters with bottles and glasses; and a servant-girl with relishes] Here, I've brought them!
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. [To the servant] Pass it to the young ladies. [The servant carries wine round to the girls, places the tray on the table and goes out] Arína! Bring us some wine. Yes, pour it out, pour out the Madeira, the Madeira; it will cheer us up. That's all right! Let's have a glass; they won't condemn us—we're old folks! [They drink] Annushka! Come along and drink some wine. Won't you have some?
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. Well, why shouldn't I drink some! They say, don't drink when there's no one round, but when there's company, it's all right.
Goes to PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA, drinks and talks in a whisper.
ARÍNA. Have you had a drop too much, my boys?
MÍTYA. I don't drink.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. With pleasure! [He comes up with GÚSLIN and drinks; then catches hold of ARÍNA] Now, then, let's start an old song. [Sings.
"Oh, I'll sing an old song,
Of Eréma, of Fomá—"
ARÍNA. Stop, saucy; you've crumpled me all up!
RAZLYULYÁYEV. [Sings]
"The reins were in Kalúga;
In Tarús' the hames were hid.
Grooved runners had the sleigh;
All by itself it slid."
The girls laugh.
ARÍNA. Let me go, I say! Now that's enough! [Goes out.
ANNA IVÁNOVNA. What are you teasing the old woman for? Come and dance with me.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Come on, then! Play for us, Yasha!
YÁSHA plays; they dance.
FIRST GUEST. That's a lively little woman.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, very lively, very lively.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. [Stamping his feet] That's the way we do it. [Stops dancing.
EGÓRUSHKA. [Enters] The girls have come.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Ask them in. [EGÓRUSHKA goes out; the girls come in.
ARÍNA brings in a dish and covers it] Sit down and sing the dish songs;
I'm so fond of them.
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA, MÁSHA, LÍZA, and ANNA IVÁNOVNA take off their rings and put them into the dish; the girls sing.
"Sow the wheat, my mother, and bake the cake for me.
Glory!
Many guests are coming, my lovers for to be. Glory!
Your guests will wear bast slippers, but mine have boots
of hide. Glory!
The girl of whom the song is sung, much good it doth betide.
Glory!
The girl whose ring is taken out, will find it so without a
doubt. Glory!"
RAZLYULYÁYEV rolls up his sleeves, takes out a ring and gives it to
LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. High time, high time!
GIRLS. [Sing]
"In Bélgorod a sparrow small, Glory!
In Bélgorod sits on a wall. Glory!
In a strange land he looks about. Glory!
Her ring and fortune will come out. Glory!"
ARÍNA. [Enters] The mummers have come; shall I let them in?
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Yes, let them in; let them have a dance. And you girls can sing afterwards.