Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Presentlytheyreachedanelevationwhencethedistantflashingofariver,withitsfloodwatersandsubsidiarystreams,caughttheeye,while,furtheroff,aportionofGeneralBetristchev’shomesteadcouldbediscernedamongthetrees,and,overit,ablue,denselywoodedhillwhichChichikovguessedtobethespotwhereTientietnikov’smansionwassituated.
“ThisiswhereIshouldplanttimber,”saidChichikov.“And,regardedasasiteforamanorhouse,thesituationcouldscarcelybebeatenforbeautyofview.”
“Youseemtogetgreatstoreuponviewsandbeauty,”remarkedKostanzhoglowithreproofinhistone.“Shouldyoupaytoomuchattentiontothosethings,youmightfindyourselfwithoutcropsorview.Utilityshouldbeplacedfirst,notbeauty.Beautywillcomeofitself.Take,forexample,towns.Thefairestandmostbeautifultownsarethosewhichhavebuiltthemselves—thoseinwhicheachmanhasbuilttosuithisownexclusivecircumstancesandneeds;whereastownswhichmenhaveconstructedonregular,string-tautlinesarenobetterthancollectionsofbarracks.Putbeautyaside,andlookonlytowhatisNECESSARY.”
“Yes,buttomeitwouldalwaysbeirksometohavetowait.AllthetimethatIwasdoingsoIshouldbehungeringtoseeinfrontofmethesortofprospectwhichIprefer.”
“Come,come!Areyouamanoftwenty-five—youwhohaveservedasatchinovnikinSt.Petersburg?Havepatience,havepatience.Forsixyearswork,andworkhard.Plant,sow,anddigtheearthwithouttakingamoment’srest.
