MICHAEL [fills the cups with vódka, hands one to his mother and then one
to the Tramp] Drink, you too!
TRAMP [taking cup] I offer most heartfelt thanks. Your health. [Empties
the cup].
IGNÁT. Fine fellow, how he swills, damn him! I should think hunger makes
it run through all his veins. [Pours out some more].
TRAMP [drinks] I wish you success in all your undertakings.
AKULÍNA. Well, did you get a good price for the hay?
IGNÁT. Good or bad, we've drunk it all, damn you! Am I right, Michael?
MICHAEL. Why, of course. It's not made to be looked at! One must have
some fun once in a hundred years.
MARTHA. What are you swaggering for? There's not much good in that.
We've nothing to eat at home, and see what you're doing.
MICHAEL [threateningly] Martha!
MARTHA. Well, what of Martha? I know I'm Martha. Oh, it makes me sick to
look at you.
MICHAEL. Martha, look!
MARTHA. There's nothing to see. I don't want to look.
MICHAEL. Pour out the vódka and serve it round to our visitors.
MARTHA. Faugh, you bleary-eyed hound. I don't want to speak to you.
MICHAEL. You don't? Ah, you baggage, what did you say?
MARTHA [rocks cradle. Paráshka is frightened and comes to her] What I
said? I said I do not want to talk to you, that's all.
MICHAEL. Have you forgotten? [Jumps up from the table, strikes her on
the head and knocks off her kerchief] One!
MARTHA. Oh! Oh! Oh! [Runs crying to the door].
MICHAEL. You'll not get away, you jade! [Rushes at her].
TRAMP [jumps up from the table and seizes his arm] You have no kind of
complete right.
MICHAEL [stops and looks at Tramp with surprise] Is it long since you
had a thrashing?
TRAMP. You have no complete right to subject the female sex to insults.
MICHAEL. Oh, you son of a bitch! Do you see this? [Shows his fist].
TRAMP. I will not allow exploitations to be performed on the female sex.
MICHAEL. I'll give you such an extolpation that you'll not know which
end you stand on....
TRAMP. Go on, strike away! Why don't you? [Holds out his face].
MICHAEL [shrugs his shoulders and spreads out his arms] Suppose I really
go for you?
TRAMP. I tell you, strike!
MICHAEL. Well, you are a rum chap, now I come to look at you. [Drops his
arms and shakes his head].
IGNÁT [to Tramp] One sees at once that you're pretty sweet on the women,
damn you!
TRAMP. I stand up for their rights.
MICHAEL [to Martha as, breathing heavily, he steps to the table] Well
Martha, you must set a big candle before the saints for his sake. But
for him, I'd have beaten you to a jelly.
MARTHA. What else can one expect of you. One worries all one's life,
baking and cooking; and as soon as ...
MICHAEL. Now, have done, have done! [Offers vódka to the Tramp] Drink.
[To his wife] And what are you slobbering for? Mayn't a fellow have his
joke? There you are [gives her money], put it away. Here are two
three-rouble notes and two twenty-copeck pieces.
MARTHA. And the tea and sugar I wanted?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account