Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“Seetowhatwretchednessthepeasanthasbecomereduced!Shouldcattlediseasecome,Khlobuevwillhavenothingtofallbackupon,butwillbeforcedtosellhisall—toleavethepeasantwithoutahorse,andthereforewithoutthemeanstolabour,eventhoughthelossofasingleday’sworkmaytakeyearsoflabourtorectify.Meanwhileitisplainthatthelocalpeasanthasbecomeameredissolute,lazydrunkard.Giveamuzhikenoughtoliveuponfortwelvemonthswithoutworking,andyouwillcorrupthimforever,soinuredtoragsandvagrancywillhegrow.Andwhatisthegoodofthatpieceofpasturethere—ofthatpieceonthefurthersideofthosehuts?Itisamerefloodedtract.Wereitmine,Ishouldputitunderflax,andclearfivethousandroubles,orelsesowitwithturnips,andclear,perhaps,fourthousand.Andseehowtheryeisdrooping,andnearlylaid.Asforwheat,Iamprettysurethathehasnotsownany.Look,too,atthoseravines!Weretheymine,theywouldbestandingundertimberwhichevenarookcouldnottop.Tothinkofwastingsuchquantitiesofland!Wherelandwouldn’tbearcorn,Ishoulddigitup,andplantitwithvegetables.WhatoughttobedoneisthatKhlobuevoughttotakeaspadeintohisownhands,andtosethiswifeandchildrenandservantstodothesame;andeveniftheydiedoftheexertion,theywouldatleastdiedoingtheirduty,andnotthroughguzzlingatthedinnertable.”
Thissaid,Kostanzhoglospat,andhisbrowflushedwithgrimindignation.
