the forged coupon()-第12章
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with his overcoat。 He tied the straps with big knots and made them double；
in order that they might be strong enough to hold his weight。 During these
preparations he was free from tormenting visions。 When the straps were
ready he made a slip…knot out of them； and put it round his neck； stood up
in his bed； and hanged himself。 But at the very moment that his tongue
began to protrude the straps got loose； and he fell down。 The guard
rushed in at the noise。 The doctor was called in； Stepan was brought to the
infirmary。 The next day he recovered； and was removed from the infirmary；
no more to solitary confinement； but to share the common cell with other
prisoners。
In the common cell he lived in the company of twenty men； but felt as
if he were quite alone。 He did not notice the presence of the rest； did not
speak to anybody； and was tormented by the old agony。 He felt it most of
all when the men were sleeping and he alone could not get one moment of
sleep。 Continually he saw HER before his eyes； heard her voice； and
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then again the black devils with their horrible eyes came and tortured him
in the usual way。
He again tried to say his prayers； but； just as before； it did not help him。
One day when； after his prayers； she was again before his eyes； he began
to implore her dear soul to forgive him his sin； and release him。 Towards
morning； when he fell down quite exhausted on his crushed linen bag； he
fell asleep at once； and in his dream she came to him with her thin；
wrinkled； and severed neck。 〃Will you forgive me？〃 he asked。 She
looked at him with her mild eyes and did not answer。 〃Will you forgive
me？〃 And so he asked her three times。 But she did not say a word； and
he awoke。 From that time onwards he suffered less； and seemed to come
to his senses； looked around him； and began for the first time to talk to the
other men in the cell。
III
STEPAN'S cell was shared among others by the former yard…porter；
Vassily； who had been sentenced to deportation for robbery； and by
Chouev； sentenced also to deportation。 Vassily sang songs the whole day
long with his fine voice； or told his adventures to the other men in the cell。
Chouev was working at something all day； mending his clothes； or reading
the Gospel and the Psalter。
Stepan asked him why he was put into prison； and Chouev answered
that he was being persecuted because of his true Christian faith by the
priests； who were all of them hypocrites and hated those who followed the
law of Christ。 Stepan asked what that true law was； and Chouev made
clear to him that the true law consists in not worshipping gods made with
hands； but worshipping the spirit and the truth。 He told him how he had
learnt the truth from the lame tailor at the time when they were dividing
the land。
〃And what will become of those who have done evil？〃 asked Stepan。
〃 The Scriptures give an answer to that；〃 said Chouev； and read aloud
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to him Matthew xxv。 31：〃When the Son of Man shall come in His
glory； and all the holy angels with Him； then shall He sit upon the throne
of His glory： and before Him shall be gathered all nations： and He
shall separate them one from another； as a shepherd divideth His sheep
from the goats： and He shall set the sheep on His right hand； but the goats
on the left。 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand； Come；
ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world： for I was an hungred； and ye gave Me meat： I
was thirsty； and ye gave Me drink： I was a stranger； and ye took Me in：
naked； and ye clothed Me： I was sick； and ye visited Me： I was in prison；
and ye came unto Me。 Then shall the righteous answer Him； saying； Lord；
when saw we Thee an hungred； and fed Thee？ or thirsty； and gave Thee
drink？ When saw we Thee a stranger； and took Thee in？ or naked； and
clothed Thee？ Or when saw we Thee sick； or in prison； and came unto
Thee？ And the King shall answer and say unto them； Verily I say unto
you； inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My
brethren； ye have done it unto Me。 Then shall He say also unto them on
the left hand； Depart from Me； ye cursed； into everlasting fire； prepared
for the devil and his angels： for I was an hungred； and ye gave Me no
meat： I was thirsty； and ye gave Me no drink： I was a stranger and ye
took Me not in： naked； and ye clothed Me not； sick； and in prison； and
ye visited Me not。 Then shall they also answer Him； saying； Lord； when
saw we Thee an hungred； or athirst； or a stranger； or naked； or sick； or in
prison； and did not minister unto Thee？ Then shall He answer them；
saying； Verily I say unto you； Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least
of these； ye did it not to Me。 And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment： but the righteous into life eternal。〃
Vassily； who was sitting on the floor at Chouev's side； and was
listening to his reading the Gospel； nodded his handsome head in approval。
〃True；〃 he said in a resolute tone。 〃Go； you cursed villains； into everlasting
punishment； since you did not give food to the hungry； but swallowed it all
yourself。 Serves them right！ I have read the holy Nikodim's writings；〃 he
added； showing off his erudition。
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〃And will they never be pardoned？〃 asked Stepan； who had listened
silently； with his hairy head bent low down。
〃Wait a moment； and be silent；〃 said Chouev to Vassily； who went on
talking about the rich who had not given meat to the stranger； nor visited
him in the prison。
〃Wait； I say！〃 said Chouev； again turning over the leaves of the Gospel。
Having found what he was looking for； Chouev smoothed the page with
his large and strong hand； which had become exceedingly white in prison：
〃And there were also two other malefactors； led with Him〃 it means
with Christ〃to be put to death。 And when they were come to the place；
which is called Calvary； there they crucified Him； and the malefactors； one
on the right hand； and the other on the left。 Then said Jesus；'Father；
forgive them； for they know not what they do。' And the people stood
beholding。 And the rulers also with them derided Him； saying；'He saved
others； let Him save Himself if He be Christ； the chosen of God。' And the
soldiers also mocked Him； coming to Him； and offering Him vinegar； and
saying； 'If Thou be the King of the Jews save Thyself。' And a
superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek； and Latin；
and Hebrew； 'This is the King of the Jews。' And one of the malefactors
which were hanged railed on Him； saying； 'If thou be Christ； save Thyself
and us。' But the other answering rebuked Him； saying； 'Dost not thou fear
God； seeing thou art in the same condemnation？ And we indeed justly； for
we receive the due reward of our deeds： but this man hath done nothing
amiss。' And he said unto Jesus； 'Lord； remember me when Thou comest
into Thy kingdom。' And Jesus said unto him； 'Verily I say unto thee； to…day
shalt thou be with Me in paradise。'〃
Stepan did not say anything； and was sitting in thought； as if he were
listening。
Now he knew what the true faith was。 Those only will be saved who
have given food and drink to the poor and visited the prisoners； those who
have not done it； go to hell。 And yet the malefactor had repented on the
cross； and went nevertheless to paradise。 This did not strike him as being
inconsistent。 Quite the contrary。 The one confirmed the other： the fact
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that the merciful will go to Heaven； and the unmerciful to hell； meant that
everybody ought to be merciful； and the malefactor having been forgiven
by Christ meant that Christ was merciful。 This was all new to Stepan；
and he wondered why it had been hidden from him so long。
From that day onward he spent all his free time with Chouev； asking
him questions and listening to him。 He saw but a single truth at the
bottom of the teaching of Christ as revealed to him by Chouev： that all
men are brethren； and that they ought to love and pity one another in order
that all might be happy。 And when he listened to Chouev； everything that
was consistent with this fundamental truth came to him like a thing he had
known before and only forgotten since； while whatever he heard that
seemed to contradict it； he would take no notice of； as he thought that he
simply had not understood the real meaning。 And from that time Stepan
was a different man。
IV
STEPAN had been very submissive and meek ever since he came to
the prison； but now he made the prison authorities and all his fellow…
prisoners wonder at the change in him。 Without being ordered； and out of
his proper turn he would do all the very hardest work in prison； and the
dirtiest too。 But in spite of his humility； the other prisoners stood in awe of
him； and were afraid of him； as they knew he was a resolute man；
possessed of great physical strength。 Their respect for him increased after
the incident of the two tramps who fell upon him； he wrenched himself
loose from them and broke the arm of one of them in the fight。 These
tramps had gambled with a young prisoner of some means and deprived
him of all his money。 Stepan took his part； and deprived the tramps of
their winnings。 The tramps
