Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Youwillknowhowtoarrangeit,foracleverergentlemanthanyouisnowheretobefound.Themisfortuneofusmuzhiksisthatwecannotprotectourselvesproperly.Thetavern-keeperssellussuchliquorthat,beforeamanknowswhereheis,aglassfulofithaseatenaholethroughhisstomach,andmadehimfeelasthoughhecoulddrinkapailofwater.Yes,itknocksamanoverbeforehecanlookaround.Everywheretemptationliesinwaitforthepeasant,andheneedstobecunningifheistogetthroughtheworldatall.Infact,thingsseemtobecontrivedfornothingbuttomakeuspeasantsloseourwits,eventothetobaccowhichtheysellus.Whatarefolklikeourselvestodo,ConstantineThedorovitch?Itellyouitisterriblydifficultforamuzhiktolookafterhimself.”
“Listentome.Thisishowthingsaredonehere.WhenItakeonaserf,Ifithimoutwithacowandahorse.Ontheotherhand,Idemandofhimthereaftermorethanisdemandedofapeasantanywhereelse.Thatistosay,firstandforemostImakehimwork.Whetherapeasantbeworkingforhimselforforme,neverdoIlethimwastetime.Imyselftoillikeabullock,andIforcemypeasantstodothesame,forexperiencehastaughtmethatthatistheonlywaytogetthroughlife.Allthemischiefintheworldcomesthroughlackofemployment.Now,doyougoandconsiderthematter,andtalkitoverwithyourmir48.”
“Wehavedonethatalready,ConstantineThedorovitch,andourelders’opinionis:‘Thereisnoneedforfurthertalk.
