Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“Anagriculturistofthatkinddoesnotliketohavetolookupontheresultsofsuchfecklessmanagementasmine.Wouldyoubelieveit,PaulIvanovitch,butthisyearIhavebeenunabletosowanywheat!AmInotafinehusbandman?Therewasnoseedforthepurpose,noryetanythingwithwhichtopreparetheground.No,IamnotlikeConstantineThedorovitch,who,Ihear,isaperfectNapoleoninhisparticularline.Againandagainthethoughtoccurstome,‘Whyhassomuchintellectbeenputintothathead,andonlyadroportwointomyowndullpate?’Takecareofthatpuddle,gentlemen.Ihavetoldmypeasantstolaydownplanksforthespring,buttheyhavenotdoneso.Neverthelessmyheartachesforthepoorfellows,fortheyneedagoodexample,andwhatsortofanexampleamI?HowamItogivethemorders?Praytakethemunderyourcharge,PaulIvanovitch,forIcannotteachthemorderlinessandmethodwhenImyselflackboth.Asamatteroffact,Ishouldhavegiventhemtheirfreedomlongago,hadtherebeenanyuseinmydoingso;forevenIcanseethatpeasantsmustfirstbeaffordedthemeansofearningalivelihoodbeforetheycanlive.Whattheyneedisastern,yetjust,masterwhoshalllivewiththem,dayin,dayout,andsetthemanexampleoftirelessenergy.Thepresent-dayRussian—Iknowofitmyself—ishelplesswithoutadriver.Withoutonehefallsasleep,andthemouldgrowsoverhim.”
“YetIcannotunderstandWHYheshouldfallasleepandgrowmouldyinthatfashion,”saidPlaton.
