Мертві душі

           Whatisitthatyourboundlessexpansespresage?Dotheynotpresagethatonedaytherewillariseinyouideasasboundlessasyourself?Dotheynotpresagethatonedayyoutoowillknownolimits?Dotheynotpresagethatoneday,whenagainyoushallhaveroomfortheirexploits,therewillspringtolifetheheroesofold?Howthepowerofyourimmensityenfoldsme,andreverberatesthroughallmybeingwithawild,strangespell,andflashesinmyeyeswithanalmostsupernaturalradiance!Yes,astrange,brilliant,unearthlyvistaindeeddoyoudisclose,ORussia,countryofmine!

           “Stop,stop,youfool!”shoutedChichikovtoSelifan;andevenashespokeatroika,boundonGovernmentbusiness,camechatteringby,anddisappearedinacloudofdust.ToChichikov’scursesatSelifanfornothavingdrawnoutofthewaywithmorealacrityaruralconstablewithmoustachesofthelengthofanarshinaddedhisquota.

           Whatacuriousandattractive,yetalsowhatanunreal,fascinationtheterm“highway”connotes!Andhowinterestingforitsownsakeisahighway!Shouldthedaybeafineone(thoughchilly)inmellowingautumn,presscloseryourtravellingcloak,anddrawdownyourcapoveryourears,andsnugglecosily,comfortablyintoacornerofthebritchkabeforealastshivershallcoursethroughyourlimbs,andtheensuingwarmthshallputtoflighttheautumnalcoldanddamp.