Мертвые души

           Butsuddenlytheciphersonaverststoneleaptotheeye!Morningisrising,andonthechill,graduallypalinglineofthehorizonyoucanseegleamingafaintgoldstreak.Thewindfreshensandgrowskeener,andyousnugglecloserinyourcloak;yethowgloriousisthatfreshness,andhowmarvellousthesleepinwhichonceagainyoubecomeenfolded!Ajolt!—andforthelasttimeyoureturntoconsciousness.Bynowthesunishighintheheavens,andyouhearavoicecry“gently,gently!”asafarmwaggonissuesfromaby-road.Below,enclosedwithinanampledike,stretchesasheetofwaterwhichglistenslikecopperinthesunlight.Beyond,onthesideofaslope,liesomescatteredpeasants’huts,amanorhouse,and,flankingthelatter,avillagechurchwithitscrossflashinglikeastar.Therealsocomeswaftedtoyourearthesoundofpeasants’laughter,whileinyourinnermanyouarebecomingconsciousofanappetitewhichisnottobewithstood.

           Ohlong-drawnhighway,howexcellentyouare!HowoftenhaveIinwearinessanddespondencysetforthuponyourlength,andfoundinyousalvationandrest!Howoften,asIfollowedyourleading,haveIbeenvisitedwithwonderfulthoughtsandpoeticdreamsandcurious,wildimpressions!

           AtthismomentourfriendChichikovalsowasexperiencingvisionsofanotwhollyprosaicnature.Letuspeepintohissoulandsharethem.