MÍTYA. [_Walking toward_ GÚSLIN] Nobody can help me--I am a lost man! I've fallen wildly in love with Lyubóv Gordéyevna. GÚSLIN. What's the matter with you, Mítya? Whatever do you mean? MÍTYA. Well, anyhow, it's a fact. GÚSLIN. You'd better put it out of your head, Mítya. Nothing can ever come of that, so there's no use thinking about it. MÍTYA. Though I know all this, one cannot control one's heart. "To love is most easy, one cannot forget." [_He speaks with violent gestures_] "I love the beautiful girl more than family, more than race; but evil people forbid me, and they bid me cease." GÚSLIN. Yes, indeed; but you must stop it! Now Anna Ivánovna is my equal; she has no money, and I haven't a kopek--and even so uncle forbids me to marry. It's no use for you to think of doing so. You'll get it into your head and then it'll be still harder for you. MÍTYA. [_Declaiming_] "What of all things is most cruel? The most cruel thing is love." [_Walking about the room_.] Yasha, have you read Koltsóv? GÚSLIN. Yes, why? MÍTYA. How he describes all these feelings! GÚSLIN. He does describe them exactly. MÍTYA. Exactly, to perfection. [_Walking about the room_] Yasha! GÚSLIN. What? MÍTYA. I myself have composed a song. GÚSLIN. You? MÍTYA. Yes. GÚSLIN. Let's make up a tune for it, and we'll sing it. MÍTYA. Good! Here, take this [_gives him a paper_] and I'll write a little--I have some work: most likely Gordéy Kárpych will be asking me about it. [_Sits and writes_. GÚSLIN _takes the guitar and begins to pick out a tune_. RAZLYULYÁYEV _comes in with an accordion_. SCENE VI _The same and_ RAZLYULYÁYEV RAZLYULYÁYEV. Hello, boys! [_Plays on the accordion and begins to dance_. GÚSLIN. What a fool! What did you buy that accordion for? RAZLYULYÁYEV. Why, I bought it to play on, of course--this way. [_Plays_. GÚSLIN. Well, that's fine music, I must say! Stop, I tell you! RAZLYULYÁYEV. What! Do you think I'll stop? I'll stop when I want to.--What airs! Haven't I got any money? [_Slapping his pocket_] It chinks! If we go on a spree--then it's some spree! "One mountain is high, And another is low; One darling is far, And another is near." Mítya! [_Strikes_ MÍTYA _on the shoulder_] Mítya, why are you sitting still? MÍTYA. I have some work to do. [_Continues to work_. RAZLYULYÁYEV. Mítya! Say, Mítya, I'm on a spree, my boy! Really, I am. Oh, come on! [_Sings, "One mountain is high," etc_.] Mítya! Say, Mítya, I'm going on a spree for the whole holiday season--then I'll set to work, upon my word I will! Haven't I got any money? There it is! And I'm not drunk.--Oh, no, such a spree!--so jolly! MÍTYA. Well, go on a spree as much as you like. RAZLYULYÁYEV. And after the holidays I shall marry!--Upon my word I shall marry! I'll get a rich girl. GÚSLIN. Now, then, listen; how does this sound? RAZLYULYÁYEV. Sing it, sing it! I'll listen. GÚSLIN. [_Sings_]