Мертві душі

           Consequentlyanyladwhohadonceattractedthemaster’sattentionwithamanifestationofintelligenceneededbuttoshuffleinhisplace,orunintentionallytotwitchaneyebrow,forthesaidmasteratoncetoburstintoarage,toturnthesupposedoffenderoutoftheroom,andtovisithimwithunmercifulpunishment.“Ah,myfinefellow,”hewouldsay,“I’LLcureyouofyourimpudenceandwantofrespect!Iknowyouthroughandthroughfarbetterthanyouknowyourself,andwilltakegoodcarethatyouhavetogodownuponyourkneesandcurbyourappetite.”Whereuponthewretchedladwould,fornocauseofwhichhewasaware,beforcedtowearouthisbreechesonthefloorandgohungryfordays.“Talentsandgifts,”theschoolmasterwoulddeclare,“aresomuchrubbish.Irespectonlygoodbehaviour,andshallawardfullmarkstothosewhoconductthemselvesproperly,eveniftheyfailtolearnasingleletteroftheiralphabet:whereastothoseinwhomImayperceiveatendencytojocularityIshallawardnothing,eventhoughtheyshouldoutdoSolonhimself.”ForthesamereasonhehadnogreatloveoftheauthorKrylov,inthatthelattersaysinoneofhisFables:“Inmyopinion,themoreonesings,thebetteroneworks;”andoftenthepedagoguewouldrelatehow,inaformerschoolofhis,thesilencehadbeensuchthataflycouldbeheardbuzzingonthewing,andforthespaceofawholeyearnotasinglepupilsneezedorcoughedinclass,andsocompletewastheabsenceofallsoundthatnoonecouldhavetoldthattherewasasoulintheplace.