Anathema: A Tragedy in Seven ScenesAndreyev, Leonid
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Anathema: A Tragedy in Seven Scenes
Andreyev, Leonid
Andreyev, Leonid, 1871-1919 -- Translations into English; Russian drama -- Translations into English; Tragedies (Drama)
Calm yourself, madam Leizer, he will come back. It is always thus at
first. I have wandered a great deal over the world and I know it. The
blood rushes to the head, the feet begin to quiver, and man curses.
That's nonsense!
ROSA.
What a crooked mirror, mother!
NAUM.
_Cries._
Mamma, where is father going? I want to live.
ANATHEMA.
Throw away that piece of glass, Rosa. Mankind will reflect your beauty,
the world will reflect your beauty--you will see yourself in the
world.... Ah, you are still here, musician. Play something for us,
please. Such a holiday must not pass without music!
ORGAN-GRINDER.
Shall I play the same?
ANATHEMA.
The same.
_The organ wails and wheezes. Anathema whistles
furiously, waving his hands, as though blessing
everybody with the music and the whistling._
CURTAIN.
ACT TWO.
_David Leizer lives richly. At the urgent request of his wife and his
children he has hired a rich villa, by the sea-shore, engaged numerous
servants, bought horses and carriages. Anathema, under the pretext that
he had grown tired of his law practice, remained with David as his
private secretary. Rosa is taking lessons in languages and deportment.
Naum, who has grown very sick, near to death, is learning how to dance.
The money has not yet arrived from America, but to David Leizer, the
millionaire, a large credit has been extended._
_The stage represents a rich parlor, white marble here and there, with
large Italian windows and a door leading to a veranda. It is midday.
Beyond the open windows, semi-tropical plants are visible, and the deep
blue sea in the distance; through one of the windows, a view of the
city is seen._
_David Leizer is seated by the table, greatly depressed. A short
distance away, on a divan, Sarah is seated, dressed richly, but without
taste; she watches Naum learning how to dance. Naum is very pale, he
coughs and almost falls from weakness, especially when, according to
the rules of the dance, he must stand on one foot; but he is studying
diligently! He is dressed rather richly, but his bright-colored vest
and necktie spoil the elegance of his appearance. Near Naum, the
dancing-master, with a fiddle and how, is hustling about, balancing
himself, rising up and down. He is a man of unusual refinement and
grace; he wears a white vest, patent-leather slippers, and a smoking
jacket. And Anathema, standing at the veranda door, looks upon all this
with an air of sadness and reproach._
DANCING-MASTER.
One--two--three; one--two--three.
SARAH.
Look, David, see how successful our Naum is in his dancing. I could not
hop like that for anything? poor boy!
DAVID.
I see.
DANCING-MASTER.
Monsieur Naum is very talented. Please, one-two--three;
one--two--three. Pardon me, pardon me, this isn't exactly right. You
must make the step more precise, neatly rounding the motion of the
right foot. This way--this way.
_Shows him how to do it._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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