Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“Whyshouldheneedcontinualsurveillancetokeephimfromdegeneratingintoadrunkardandagood-for-nothing?”
“Thecauseislackofenlightenment,”saidChichikov.
“Possibly—onlyGodknows.Yetenlightenmenthasreachedusrightenough.Dowenotattenduniversitylecturesandeverythingelsethatisbefitting?Takemyowneducation.Ilearntnotonlytheusualthings,butalsotheartofspendingmoneyuponthelatestrefinement,thelatestamenity—theartoffamiliarisingoneselfwithwhatsoevermoneycanbuy.How,then,canitbesaidthatIwaseducatedfoolishly?Andmycomrades’educationwasthesame.Afewofthemsucceededinannexingthecreamofthings,forthereasonthattheyhadthewittodoso,andtherestspenttheirtimeindoingtheirbesttoruintheirhealthandsquandertheirmoney.OftenIthinkthereisnohopeforthepresent-dayRussian.Whiledesiringtodoeverything,heaccomplishesnothing.Onedayhewillschemetobeginanewmodeofexistence,anewdietary;yetbeforeeveninghewillhavesoover-eatenhimselfastobeunabletospeakordoaughtbutsitstaringlikeanowl.Thesamewitheveryone.”
“Quiteso,”agreedChichikovwithasmile.“‘Tiseverywherethesamestory.”
“Totellthetruth,wearenotborntocommonsense.IdoubtwhetherRussiahaseverproducedareallysensibleman.Formyownpart,ifIseemyneighbourlivingaregularlife,andmakingmoney,andsavingit,Ibegintodistrusthim,andtofeelcertainthatinoldage,ifnotbefore,hetoowillbeledastraybythedevil—ledastrayinamoment.
