Мертвые души

           Selifanalsorousedhimself,andapportionedtotheskewbaldafewcutsacrossthebackofakindwhichatleasthadtheeffectofincitingthatanimaltotrot;andwhen,presently,theothertwohorsesfollowedtheircompanion’sexample,thelightbritchkamovedforwardslikeapieceofthistledown.Selifanflourishedhiswhipandshouted,“Hi,hi!”astheinequalitiesoftheroadjerkedhimverticallyonhisseat;andmeanwhile,recliningagainsttheleathercushionsofthevehicle’sinterior,Chichikovsmiledwithgratificationatthesensationofdrivingfast.ForwhatRussiandoesnotlovetodrivefast?Whichofusdoesnotattimesyearntogivehishorsestheirhead,andtoletthemgo,andtocry,“Tothedevilwiththeworld!”?Atsuchmomentsagreatforceseemstoupliftoneasonwings;andoneflies,andeverythingelseflies,butcontrariwise—boththeverststones,andtradersridingontheshaftsoftheirwaggons,andtheforestwithdarklinesofspruceandfiramidwhichmaybeheardtheaxeofthewoodcutterandthecroakingoftheraven.Yes,outofadim,remotedistancetheroadcomestowardsone,andwhilenothingsavetheskyandthelightcloudsthroughwhichthemooniscleavingherwayseemhalted,thebriefglimpseswhereinonecandiscernnothingclearlyhaveinthemapervadingtouchofmystery.Ah,troika,troika,swiftasabird,whowasitfirstinventedyou?Onlyamongahardyraceoffolkcanyouhavecometobirth—onlyinalandwhich,thoughpoorandrough,liesspreadoverhalftheworld,andspansverststhecountingwhereofwouldleaveonewithachingeyes.