Мертві душі

           Similarlydoestheentrytoeverytown—theentryeventotheCapitalitself—conveytothetravellersuchanimpressionofvaguenessthatatfirsteverythinglooksgreyandmonotonous,andthelinesofsmokyfactoriesandworkshopsseemnevertobecomingtoanend;butintimetherewillbeginalsotostandouttheoutlinesofsix-storiedmansions,andofshopsandbalconies,andwideperspectivesofstreets,andamedleyofsteeples,columns,statues,andturrets—thewholeframedinrattleandroarandtheinfinitewonderswhichthehandandthebrainofmenhaveconceived.OfthemannerinwhichChichikov’sfirstpurchasesweremadethereaderisaware.Subsequentlyhewillseealsohowtheaffairprogressed,andwithwhatsuccessorfailureourheromet,andhowChichikovwascalledupontodecideandtoovercomeevenmoredifficultproblemsthantheforegoing,andbywhatcolossalforcestheleversofhisfar-flungtalearemoved,andhoweventuallythehorizonwillbecomeextendeduntileverythingassumesagrandioseandalyricaltendency.Yes,manyaverstofroadremainstobetravelledbyapartymadeupofanelderlygentleman,abritchkaofthekindaffectedbybachelors,avaletnamedPetrushka,acoachmannamedSelifan,andthreehorseswhich,fromtheAssessortotheskewbald,areknowntousindividuallybyname.Again,althoughIhavegivenafulldescriptionofourhero’sexterior(suchasitis),Imayyetbeaskedforaninclusivedefinitionalsoofhismoralpersonality.Thatheisnoherocompoundedofvirtuesandperfectionsmustbealreadyclear.