Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Why,then,didIgatherthosekopecks?IgatheredthemtotheendthatonedayImightbeabletoliveinplenty,andalsotohavesomethingtoleavetothewifeandchildrenwhom,forthebenefitandwelfareofmycountry,Ihopedeventuallytowinandmaintain.ThatwaswhyIgatheredthosekopecks.True,Iworkedbydeviousmethods—thatIfullyadmit;butwhatelsecouldIdo?AndevendeviousmethodsIemployedonlywhenIsawthatthestraightroadwouldnotservemypurposesowellasacrooked.Moreover,asItoiled,theappetiteforthosemethodsgrewuponme.YetwhatItookItookonlyfromtherich;whereasvillainsexistwho,whiledrawingthousandsayearfromtheTreasury,despoilthepoor,andtakefromthemanwithnothingeventhatwhichhehas.Isitnotthecrueltyoffate,therefore,that,justwhenIwasbeginningtoreaptheharvestofmytoil—totouchit,sotospeak,withthetipofonefinger—thereshouldhavearisenasuddenstormwhichhassentmybarquetopiecesonarock?Mycapitalhadnearlyreachedthesumofthreehundredthousandroubles,andathree-storiedhousewasasgoodasmine,andtwiceoverIcouldhaveboughtacountryestate.
