_Katerína_: One minute he’s kind, one minute he’s angry, but he’s drinking all the while. He is loathsome to me, loathsome; his kindness is worse than his blows. _Borís_: You are wretched, Kátya? _Katerína_: So wretched, so wretched, that it were better to die! _Borís_: Who could have dreamed that we should have to suffer such anguish for our love! I’d better have run away then! _Katerína_: It was an evil day for me when I saw you. Joy I have known little of, but of sorrow, of sorrow, how much! And how much is still before me! But why think of what is to be! I am seeing you now, that much they cannot take away from me; and I care for nothing more. All I wanted was to see you. Now my heart is much easier; as though a load had been taken off me. I kept thinking you were angry with me, that you were cursing me.... _Borís_: How can you! How can you! _Katerína_: No, that is not what I mean; that is not what I wanted to say! I was sick with longing for you, that’s it; and now, I have seen you.... _Borís_: They must not come upon us here! _Katerína_: Stay a minute! Stay a minute! Something I meant to say to you! I’ve forgotten! Something I had to say! Everything is in confusion in my head, I can remember nothing. _Borís_: It’s time I went, Kátya! _Katerína_: Wait a minute, a minute! _Borís_: Come, what did you want to say? _Katerína_: I will tell you directly. (_Thinking a moment._) Yes! As you travel along the highroads, do not pass by one beggar, give to everyone, and bid them pray for my sinful soul. _Borís_: Ah, if these people knew what it is to me to part from you! My God! God grant they may one day know such bitterness as I know now. Farewell, Kátya! (_Embraces her and tries to go away._) Miscreants! monsters! Ah, if I were strong! _Katerína_: Stay, stay! Let me look at you for the last time (_gazes into his face_). Now all is over with me. The end is come for me. Now, God be with thee. Go, go quickly! _Borís_: (_Moves away a few steps and stands still._) Kátya, I feel a dread of something! You have something fearful in your mind? I shall be in torture as I go, thinking of you. _Katerína_: No, no! Go in God’s name! (_Borís is about to go up to her._) No, no, enough. _Borís_: (_Sobbing._) God be with thee! There’s only one thing to pray God for, that she may soon be dead, that she may not be tortured long! Farewell! _Katerína_: Farewell! (_Borís goes out. Katerína follows him with her eyes and stands for some time, lost in thought._) SCENE IV. KATERÍNA (_alone_).