“If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out!” said Ivanoff.
“Oh! please don’t talk nonsense, like Yourii Svarogitsch! God didn’t give us eyes that we might pluck out.”
Ivanoff smiled, and shrugged his shoulders.
“Look here, my boy,” said Sanine, steering towards the bank, “if the sight of girls bathing were to rouse in you no carnal desire, then you would have a right to be called chaste. Indeed, though I should be the last to imitate it, such chastity on your part would win my admiration. But, having these natural desires, if you attempt to suppress them, then I say that your so-called chastity is all humbug.”
“That’s right enough, but, if no check were placed upon desires, great harm might result.”
“What harm, pray? Sensuality, I grant you, sometimes has evil results, but it’s not the fault of sensuality.”
“Perhaps not, but….”
“Very well, then, are you coming?”
“Yes, but I’m—”
“A fool, that’s what you are! Gently! Don’t make such a noise,” said Sanine, as they crept along through the fragrant grass and rustling reeds.