ivanoff-第1章

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Ivanoff

by　Anton　Checkov



A　PLAY

CHARACTERS

NICHOLAS　IVANOFF；　perpetual　member　of　the　Council　of　Peasant
Affairs

ANNA；　his　wife。　Nee　Sarah　Abramson

MATTHEW　SHABELSKI；　a　count；　uncle　of　Ivanoff

PAUL　LEBEDIEFF；　President　of　the　Board　of　the　Zemstvo

ZINAIDA；　his　wife

SASHA；　their　daughter；　twenty　years　old

LVOFF；　a　young　government　doctor

MARTHA　BABAKINA；　a　young　widow；　owner　of　an　estate　and　daughter
of　a　rich　merchant

KOSICH；　an　exciseman

MICHAEL　BORKIN；　a　distant　relative　of　Ivanoff；　and　manager　of　his
estate

AVDOTIA　NAZAROVNA；　an　old　woman

GEORGE；　lives　with　the　Lebedieffs

FIRST　GUEST

SECOND　GUEST

THIRD　GUEST

FOURTH　GUEST

PETER；　a　servant　of　Ivanoff

GABRIEL；　a　servant　of　Lebedieff

GUESTS　OF　BOTH　SEXES

The　play　takes　place　in　one　of　the　provinces　of　central　Russia

IVANOFF

ACT　I

The　garden　of　IVANOFF'S　country　place。　On　the　left　is　a　terrace
and　the　facade　of　the　house。　One　window　is　open。　Below　the
terrace　is　a　broad　semicircular　lawn；　from　which　paths　lead　to
right　and　left　into　a　garden。　On　the　right　are　several　garden
benches　and　tables。　A　lamp　is　burning　on　one　of　the　tables。　It　is
evening。　As　the　curtain　rises　sounds　of　the　piano　and　violoncello
are　heard。

IVANOFF　is　sitting　at　a　table　reading。

BORKIN；　in　top…boots　and　carrying　a　gun；　comes　in　from　the　rear
of　the　garden。　He　is　a　little　tipsy。　As　he　sees　IVANOFF　he　comes
toward　him　on　tiptoe；　and　when　he　comes　opposite　him　he　stops　and
points　the　gun　at　his　face。

IVANOFF。　＇Catches　sight　of　BORKIN。　Shudders　and　jumps　to　his
feet＇　Misha！　What　are　you　doing？　You　frightened　me！　I　can't　stand
your　stupid　jokes　when　I　am　so　nervous　as　this。　And　having
frightened　me；　you　laugh！　＇He　sits　down。＇

BORKIN。　＇Laughing　loudly＇　There；　I　am　sorry；　really。　I　won't　do
it　again。　Indeed　I　won't。　＇Take　off　his　cap＇　How　hot　it　is！　Just
think；　my　dear　boy；　I　have　covered　twelve　miles　in　the　last　three
hours。　I　am　worn　out。　Just　feel　how　my　heart　is　beating。


IVANOFF。　＇Goes　on　reading＇　Oh；　very　well。　I　shall　feel　it　later！

BORKIN。　No；　feel　it　now。　＇He　takes　IVANOFF'S　hand　and　presses　it
against　his　breast＇　Can　you　feel　it　thumping？　That　means　that　it
is　weak　and　that　I　may　die　suddenly　at　any　moment。　Would　you　be
sorry　if　I　died？

IVANOFF。　I　am　reading　now。　I　shall　attend　to　you　later。

BORKIN。　No；　seriously；　would　you　be　sorry　if　I　died？　Nicholas；
would　you　be　sorry　if　I　died？

IVANOFF。　Leave　me　alone！

BORKIN。　Come；　tell　me　if　you　would　be　sorry　or　not。

IVANOFF。　I　am　sorry　that　you　smell　so　of　vodka；　Misha；　it　is
disgusting。

BORKIN。　Do　I　smell　of　vodka？　How　strange！　And　yet；　it　is　not　so
strange　after　all。　I　met　the　magistrate　on　the　road；　and　I　must
admit　that　we　did　drink　about　eight　glasses　together。　Strictly
speaking；　of　course；　drinking　is　very　harmful。　Listen；　it　is
harmful；　isn't　it？　Is　it？　Is　it？

IVANOFF。　This　is　unendurable！　Let　me　warn　you；　Misha；　that　you
are　going　too　far。

BORKIN。　Well；　well；　excuse　me。　Sit　here　by　yourself　then；　for
heaven's　sake；　if　it　amuses　you。　＇Gets　up　and　goes　away＇　What
extraordinary　people　one　meets　in　the　world。　They　won't　even
allow　themselves　to　be　spoken　to。　＇He　comes　back＇　Oh；　yes；　I
nearly　forgot。　Please　let　me　have　eighty…two　roubles。

IVANOFF。　Why　do　you　want　eighty…two　roubles？

BORKIN。　To　pay　the　workmen　to…morrow。

IVANOFF。　I　haven't　the　money。

BORKIN。　Many　thanks。　＇Angrily＇　So　you　haven't　the　money！　And　yet
the　workmen　must　be　paid；　mustn't　they？

IVANOFF。　I　don't　know。　Wait　till　my　salary　comes　in　on　the　first
of　the　month。

BORKIN。　How　is　it　possible　to　discuss　anything　with　a　man　like
you？　Can't　you　understand　that　the　workmen　are　coming　to…morrow
morning　and　not　on　the　first　of　the　month？

IVANOFF。　How　can　I　help　it？　I'll　be　hanged　if　I　can　do　anything
about　it　now。　And　what　do　you　mean　by　this　irritating　way　you
have　of　pestering　me　whenever　I　am　trying　to　read　or　write　or…

BORKIN。　Must　the　workmen　be　paid　or　not；　I　ask　you？　But；　good
gracious！　What　is　the　use　of　talking　to　you！　＇Waves　his　hand＇　Do
you　think　because　you　own　an　estate　you　can　command　the　whole
world？　With　your　two　thousand　acres　and　your　empty　pockets　you
are　like　a　man　who　has　a　cellar　full　of　wine　and　no　corkscrew。　I
have　sold　the　oats　as　they　stand　in　the　field。　Yes；　sir！　And
to…morrow　I　shall　sell　the　rye　and　the　carriage　horses。　＇He
stamps　up　and　down＇　Do　you　think　I　am　going　to　stand　upon
ceremony　with　you？　Certainly　not！　I　am　not　that　kind　of　a　man！

ANNA　appears　at　the　open　window。

ANNA。　Whose　voice　did　I　hear　just　now？　Was　it　yours；　Misha？　Why
are　you　stamping　up　and　down？

BORKIN。　Anybody　who　had　anything　to　do　with　your　Nicholas　would
stamp　up　and　down。

ANNA。　Listen；　Misha！　Please　have　some　hay　carried　onto　the
croquet　lawn。

BORKIN。　＇Waves　his　hand＇　Leave　me　alone；　please！

ANNA。　Oh；　what　manners！　They　are　not　becoming　to　you　at　all。　If
you　want　to　be　liked　by　women　you　must　never　let　them　see　you
when　you　are　angry　or　obstinate。　＇To　her　husband＇　Nicholas；　let
us　go　and　play　on　the　lawn　in　the　hay！

IVANOFF。　Don't　you　know　it　is　bad　for　you　to　stand　at　the　open
window；　Annie？　＇Calls＇　Shut　the　window；　Uncle！

＇The　window　is　shut　from　the　inside。＇

BORKIN。　Don't　forget　that　the　interest　on　the　money　you　owe
Lebedieff　must　be　paid　in　two　days。

IVANOFF。　I　haven't　forgotten　it。　I　am　going　over　to　see　Lebedieff
today　and　shall　ask　him　to　wait

＇He　looks　at　his　watch。＇

BORKIN。　When　are　you　going？

IVANOFF。　At　once。

BORKIN。　Wait！　Wait！　Isn't　this　Sasha's　birthday？　So　it　is！　The
idea　of　my　forgetting　it。　What　a　memory　I　have。　＇Jumps　about＇　I
shall　go　with　you！　＇Sings＇　I　shall　go；　I　shall　go！　Nicholas；　old
man；　you　are　the　joy　of　my　life。　If　you　were　not　always　so
nervous　and　cross　and　gloomy；　you　and　I　could　do　great　things
together。　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　Shall　I　marry　Martha
Babakina　and　give　you　half　her　fortune？　That　is；　not　half；
either；　but　alltake　it　all！

IVANOFF。　Enough　of　this　nonsense！

BORKIN。　No；　seriously；　shan't　I　marry　Martha　and　halve　the　money
with　you？　But　no；　why　should　I　propose　it？　How　can　you
understand？　＇Angrily＇　You　say　to　me：　〃Stop　talking　nonsense！〃　You
are　a　good　man　and　a　clever　one；　but　you　haven't　any　red　blood　in
your　veins　or　anywell；　enthusiasm。　Why；　if　you　wanted　to；　you
and　I　could　cut　a　dash　together　that　would　shame　the　devil
himself。　If　you　were　a　normal　man　instead　of　a　morbid
hypochondriac　we　would　have　a　million　in　a　year。　For　instance；　if
I　had　twenty…three　hundred　roubles　now　I　could　make　twenty
thousand　in　two　weeks。　You　don't　believe　me？　You　think　it　is　all
nonsense？　No；　it　isn't　nonsense。　Give　me　twenty…three　hundred
roubles　and　let　me　try。　Ofsianoff　is　selling　a　strip　of　land
across　the　river　for　that　price。　If　we　buy　this；　both　banks　will
be　ours；　and　we　shall　have　the　right　to　build　a　dam　across　the
river。　Isn't　that　so？　We　can　say　that　we　intend　to　build　a　mill；
and　when　the　people　on　the　river　below　us　hear　that　we　mean　to
dam　the　river　they　will；　of　course；　object　violently　and　we　shall
say：　If　you　don't　want　a　dam　here　you　will　have　to　pay　to　get　us
away。　Do　you　see　the　result？　The　factory　would　give　us　five
thousand　roubles；　Korolkoff　three　thousand；　the　monastery　five
thousand　more

IVANOFF。　All　that　is　simply　idiotic；　Misha。　If　you　don't　want　me
to　lose　my　temper　you　must　keep　your　schemes　to　yourself。

BORKIN。　＇Sits　down　at　the　table＇　Of　course！　I　knew　how　it　would
be！　You　never　will　act　for　yourself；　and　you　tie　my　hands　so　that
I　am　helpless。

Enter　SHABELSKI　and　LVOFF。

SHABELSKI。　The　only　difference　between　lawyers　and　doctors　is
that　lawyers　simply　rob　you；　whereas　doctors　both　rob　you　and
kill　you。　I　am　not　referring　to　any　one　present。　＇Sits　down　on
the　bench＇　They　are　all　frauds　and　swindlers。　Perhaps　in　Arcadia
you　might　find　an　exception　to　the　general　rule　and　yetI　have
treated　thousands　of　sick　people　myself　in　my　life；　and　I　have
never　met　a　doctor　who　did　not　seem　to　me　to　be　an　unmistakable
scoundrel。

BORKIN。　＇To　IVANOFF＇　Yes；　you　tie　my　hands　and　never　do　anything
for　yourself；　and　that　is　why　you　have　no　money。

SHABELSKI。　As　I　said　before；　I　am　not　referring　to　any　one　here
at　present；　there　may　be　exceptions　though；　after　all　＇He
yawns。＇

IVANOFF。　＇Shuts　his　book＇　What　have　you　to　tell　me；　doctor？

LVOFF。　＇Looks　toward　the　window＇　Exactly　what　I　said　this
morning：　she　must　go　to　the　Crimea　at　once。　＇Walks　up　and　down。＇

SHABELSKI。　＇Bursts　out　laughing＇　To　the　Crimea！　Why　don't　you　and
I　set　up　as　doctors；　Misha？　Then；　if　some　Madame　Angot　or　Ophelia
finds　the　world　tiresome　and　begins　to　cough　and　be　consumptive；
all　we　shall　have　to　do　will　be　to　write　out　a　prescription
according　to　the　laws　of　medicine：　that　is；　first；　we　shall　order
her　a　young　doctor；　and　then　a　journey　to　the　Crimea。　There　some
fascinating　young　Tartar…

IVANOFF。　＇Interrupting＇　Oh；　don't　be　coarse！　＇To　LVOFF＇　It　takes
money　to　go　to　the　Crimea；　and　even　if　I　could　afford　it；　you
know　she　has　refused　to　go。

LVOFF。　Yes；　she　has。　＇A　pause。＇

BORKIN。　Look　here；　doctor；　is　Anna　really　so　ill　that　she
absolutely　must　go　to　the　Crimea？

LVOFF。　＇Looking　toward　the　window＇　Yes；　she　has　consumption。

BORKIN。　Whew！　How　sad！　I　have　seen　in　her　face　for　some　time　that
she　could　not　last　much　longer。

LVOFF。　Can't　you　speak　quietly？　She　can　hear　everything　you　say。
＇A　pause。＇

BORKIN。　＇Sighing＇　The　life　of　man　is　like　a　flower；　blooming　so
gaily　in　a　field。　Then；　along　comes　a　goat；　he　eats　it；　and　the
flower　is　gone！

SHABELSKI。　Oh；　nonsense；　nonsense。　＇Yawning＇　Everything　is　a
fraud　and　a　swindle。　＇A　pause。＇

BORKIN。　Gentlemen；　I　have　been　trying　to　tell　Nicholas　how　he　can
make　some　money；　and　have　submitted　a　brilliant　plan　to　him；　but
my　seed；　as　usual；　has　fallen　on　barren　soil。　Look　what　a　sight
he　is　now：　dull；　cross；　bored；　peevish…

SHABELSKI。　＇Gets　up　and　stretches　himself＇　You　are　always
inventing　schemes　for　everybody；　you　clever　fellow；　and　telling
them　how　to　live；　can't　you　tell　me　something？　Give　me　some　good
advice；　you　ingenious　young　man。　Show　me　a　good　move　to　make。

BORKIN。　＇Getting　up＇　I　am　going　to　have　a　swim。　Goodbye；
gentlemen。　＇To　Shabelski＇　There　are　at　least　twenty　good　moves
you　could　make。　If　I　were　you　I　should　have　twenty　thousand
roubles　in　a　week。

＇He　goes　out；　SHABELSKI　follows　him。＇

SHABELSKI。　How　would　you　do　it？　Come；　explain。

BORKIN。　There　is　nothing　to　explain；　it　is　so　simple。　＇Coming
back＇　Nicholas；　give　me　a　rouble。

IVANOFF　silently　hands　him　the　money

BORKIN。　Thanks。　Shabelski；　you　still　hold　some　trump　cards。

SHABELSKI　follows　him　out。

SHABELSKI。　Well；　what　are　they？

BORKIN。　If　I　were　you　I　should　have　thirty　thousand　roubles　and
more　in　a　week。　＇They　go　out　together。＇

IVANOFF。　＇After　a　pause＇　Useless　people；　useless　talk；　and　the
necessity　of　answering　stupid　questions；　have　wearied　me　so；
doctor；　that　I　am　ill。　I　have　become　so　irritable　and　bitter　that
I　don't　know　myself。　My　head　aches　for　days　at　a　time。　I　hear　a
ringing　in　my　ears；　I　can't　sleep；　and　yet　there　is　no　escape
from　it　all；　absolutely　none。

LVOFF。　Ivanoff；　I　have　so