Мертвые души

           Or,shouldyoufeelayearningtoleavebehindyouposterity,takeinmarriageagoodwomanwhoshallbringyou,notmoney,butanaptitudeforsimple,modestdomesticlife.Butthislife—thelifeofturmoil,withitslongingsanditstemptations—forget,andletitforgetYOU;forthereisnopeaceinit.Seeforyourselfhow,ateverystep,itbringsonebuthatredandtreacheryanddeceit.”

           “Indeed,yes!”agreedtherepentantChichikov.“GladlywillIdoasyouwish,sinceformanyadaypasthaveIbeenlongingtoamendmylife,andtoengageinhusbandry,andtoreordermyaffairs.Ademon,thetempterSatanhimself,hasbeguiledmeandledmefromtherightpath.”

           SuddenlytherehadrecurredtoChichikovlong-unknown,long-unfamiliarfeelings.Somethingseemedtobestrivingtocometolifeagaininhim—somethingdimandremote,somethingwhichhadbeencrushedoutofhisboyhoodbythedreary,deadeningeducationofhisyouthfuldays,byhisdesolatehome,byhissubsequentlackoffamilyties,bythepovertyandniggardlinessofhisearlyimpressions,bythegrimeyeoffate—aneyewhichhadalwaysseemedtoberegardinghimasthroughamisty,mournful,frost-encrustedwindow-pane,andtobemockingathisstrugglesforfreedom.Andasthesefeelingscamebacktothepenitentagroanburstfromhislips,and,coveringhisfacewithhishands,hemoaned:“Itisalltrue,itisalltrue!”

           “Oflittleavailareknowledgeoftheworldandexperienceofmenunlessbaseduponasecurefoundation,”observedMurazov.