Мертві душі

           Indeed,Chichikov’sverystoutnessandplenitudeofyearsmayhavemilitatedagainsthim,forneverisaheropardonedfortheformer,andthemajorityofladieswill,insuchcase,turnaway,andmuttertothemselves:“Phew!Whatabeast!”Yes,theauthoriswellawareofthis.Yet,thoughhecouldnot,tosavehislife,takeapersonofvirtueforhisprincipalcharacter,itmaybethatthisstorycontainsthemesneverbeforeselected,andthatinitthereprojectsthewholeboundlesswealthofRussianpsychology;thatitportrays,aswellasChichikov,thepeasantwhoisgiftedwiththevirtueswhichGodhassenthim,andthemarvellousmaidenofRussiawhohasnotherlikeinalltheworldforherbeautifulfemininespirituality,therootsofwhichlieburiedinnobleaspirationsandboundlessself-denial.Infact,comparedwiththesetypes,thevirtuousofotherracesseemlifeless,asdoesaninanimatevolumewhencomparedwiththelivingword.Yes,eachtimethattherearisesinRussiaamovementofthought,itbecomesclearthatthemovementsinksdeepintotheSlavonicnaturewhereitwouldbuthaveskimmedthesurfaceofothernations.—ButwhyamItalkinglikethis?WhitheramItending?Itisindeedshamefulthatanauthorwholongagoreachedman’sestate,andwasbroughtuptoacourseofsevereintrospectionandsober,solitaryself-enlightenment,shouldgivewaytosuchjejunewanderingfromthepoint.Toeverythingitspropertimeandplaceandturn.AsIwassaying,itdoesnotlieinmetotakeavirtuouscharacterformyhero:andIwilltellyouwhy.