SCENE VI
The same and mummers; an OLD MAN with a balalaika or guitar, a TRAINER with a bear and goat, EGÓRUSHKA with molasses.
OLD MAN. [Bowing] To all this honest company, greeting!
TRAINER. Make a bow, Mishka! [The bear bows.
OLD MAN. Do you wish me to sing and dance and amuse you, and to limber up my old bones?
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. That's all right; yes, dance! Give them some wine,
Arinushka.
ARÍNA serves the wine; some of them drink.
OLD MAN. Thank you humbly for your kind words, and for the entertainment. [Sings.
"Our lads, though stripped unto the buff,
Even so are bold enough.
Their twelve hands go weaving on;
Now the web of cloth is done.
They made kaftans for us here;
Kaftans do not cost you dear
When you've grist within your hopper.
In our purses silver bright
Will not let us sleep at night.
And the jingling coins of copper
For the tavern raise the call.
Tapster Andrew, quick undo
The inn-door. We've a kaftan new
Here to put in pawn with you;
We won't take it home at all."
[Goes to one side.
EGÓRUSHKA. [Dances with the molasses]
"Molasses! Molasses!
It simmers so sweet.
Oh, winter is bitter,
The frost and the sleet.
Stormy and snowy, oh, ways choked with snow,
Unto my darling there's no way to go.
Molasses! Molasses!
It simmers so sweet.
Like a little quail my wife
Sits on her seat.
And I love her for this, and her praises I tell,
For she jaunts on so prettily, proudly and well."
[Bows.
FIRST GUEST. Oh, what a fine boy! Ah!
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Why, yes, my friend, he's still a child; but he does the best he can. He's young yet. Come here, Egórushka. [EGÓRUSHKA comes] Here's some gingerbread for you. [Gives it to him; EGÓRUSHKA bows and goes out] Yes, he's still a child; you can't expect much from him!
The TRAINEE leads the bear; the goat dances.
OLD MAN. [Sings]
"We had a little billy-goat,
And he was clever, too;
He carried in the water,
And set the mush to brew.
He fed Grandpa and Grandma;
But when he went one day
To the dark forest seven wolves
In waiting for him lay.
And one of them was hungry,
And many and many a year
Had he roamed, forever asking
For goat's meat far and near."
TRAINER. [To the bear] Ask for wine, in honor of the goat. [Bear bows.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Arinushka, bring some refreshments for the mummers.
ARÍNA brings them something to drink; they drink and bow.
TRAINER. Now, then, amuse the honorable company. Show how the fair young darlings, the fair young girls, pale and rosy ones, glance at the young men, and watch their suitors. [Bear shows off] And how the old woman goes to work, bending, shrivelled; old age has overcome her, the years have broken her down. [Bear shows off] Well, now bow to the honorable company.[1]
[Footnote 1: Ostróvsky is of course reproducing actual Christmas customs. Count Ilya Tolstoy, in his Reminiscences of Tolstoy, tells how his father played the part of the bear at the family Christmas party.]
They go out; the OLD MAN plays the guitar; the other mummers dance; all watch them. GÚSLIN and MÍTYA stand near LYUBÓV GORDÉYEVNA; MÍTYA whispers something to her, and kisses her. RAZLYULYÁYEV comes up.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. What are you doing?
MÍTYA. What's that to you?
RAZLYULYÁYEV. I'll tell Pelagéya Egórovna; just see if I don't!
MÍTYA. You just dare to tell!
GÚSLIN. [Approaching him] Look out for me! You see we'll go away from here together; it'll be dark and the alley is lonely—just remember that!
RAZLYULYÁYEV. What are you meddling with me for? What's the use? I want to marry her, and I'm going to make proposals. What are you up to! Yes, I mean to marry her!
MÍTYA. We'll see about that.
RAZLYULYÁYEV. Do you think they'll marry her to you? Not much! Not if I know it—I've got lots of money!
ARÍNA. What a racket! Stop! Some one seems to be knocking. [All listen]
That's true! They are knocking.
PELAGÉYA EGÓROVNA. Go and open the door.
ARÍNA. [Goes out, then returns] He's come back himself! All rise.