Plays by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovsky Part 15

LEONiD. But why do you talk like this?

NaDYA. Because you're still a boy!... Leave me!

LEONiD. But, you see, he's such a drunken, vile fellow.

NaDYA. Oh, my G.o.d! It would be better for you to go off somewhere: out of my sight.

LEONiD. Yes, really, it would be better for me to spend a week with our neighbors.

NaDYA. For G.o.d's sake, do!

LEONiD. But Nadya, if it should be awfully hard for you to live with your husband, what then?

NaDYA. [_Weeping_] Oh, leave me alone! Be good enough to leave me alone!

[_Sobbing_] I beg only one thing of you: leave me, for G.o.d's sake! [_She sobs_.

GAVRiLOVNA _and_ LiZA. [_Motioning with their hands_] Go away! Go away!

LEONiD. Why do you drive me out? I guess I'm sorry enough for her! I keep thinking somehow or other, that it may still be possible to help her in some way.

NaDYA. [_With desperation_] I don't want any helpers or defenders! I don't want them! If my patience fails, that pond of ours isn't far off!

LEONiD. [_Timidly_] Well, I'll go away if you wish.... Only what is she saying? You folks, look after her, please! Good-by! [_He goes to the door_.

NaDYA. [_After him in a loud voice_] Good-by!

LEONiD _goes out_.

LiZA. And so the old proverb is true: What's fun for the cat is tears for the mouse.

POVERTY IS NO CRIME

A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS

CHARACTERS

GORDeY KaRPYCH TORTSoV, _a rich merchant_.

PELAGeYA EGoROVNA, _his wife_.

LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA, _his daughter_.

LYUBiM KaRPYCH TORTSoV, _his brother, a man who has squandered his property_.

AFRIKaN SaVVICH KoRSHUNOV[1], _a manufacturer_.

[Footnote 1: Vulture]

MiTYA, TORTSoV'S _clerk_.

YaSHA GuSLIN, _nephew of_ TORTSoV.

GRiSHA RAZLYULYaYEV, _a young merchant, the son of a rich father_.

ANNA IVaNOVNA, _a young widow_.

MaSHA } } _friends of_ LYUBoV TORTSoV.

LiZA }

EGoRUSHKA, _a boy, distant relative of_ TORTSoV.

ARiNA, _nurse of_ LYUBoV GORDeYEVNA.

GUESTS, SERVANTS, MUMMERS, AND OTHERS.

_The action takes place in a district town in the house of the merchant TORTSoV during the Christmas holidays_.

POVERTY IS NO CRIME

ACT I

_A small office room; in the rear wall a door; in the corner on the left a bed, on the right a cupboard. In the left wall a window, and beside the window a table. Near the table a chair; near the right wall a desk and a wooden stool. Beside the bed a guitar; on the table and desk are books and papers_.

SCENE I

MiTYA _is walking back and forth in the room_. EGoRUSHKA _is seated on the stool reading_ "Bova Korolevich."

EGoRUSHKA. [_Reads_] "My sovereign father, glorious and brave king, Kiribit Verzoulovich, I do not possess the courage to marry him now. Because when I was young I was wooed by King Gvidon."

MiTYA. Well, Egorushka, is any one at home?

EGoRUSHKA. [_Putting his finger on the place where he is reading in order not to make a mistake_] n.o.body; they've all gone driving. There's only Gordey Karpych at home. [_Reads_] "Whereupon Kiribit Verzoulovich said to his daughter"--[_Again marking the place_]--only he's in such a rage, it's awful! I cleared out--he keeps on cursing. [_Reads_] "Then the beautiful Militrisa Kirbityevna called her servant Licharda to her."

MiTYA. With whom was he angry?