Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Forhowcanamaneducatehischildrenwhohasnevereveneducatedhimself?Instructioncanbeimpartedtochildrenonlythroughthemediumofexample;andwouldalifelikeyoursfurnishthemwithaprofitableexample—alifewhichhasbeenspentinidlenessandtheplayingofcards?No,SemenSemenovitch.Youhadfarbetterhandyourchildrenovertome.Otherwisetheywillberuined.DonotthinkthatIamjesting.Idlenesshaswreckedyourlife,andyoumustfleefromit.Canamanlivewithnothingtokeephiminplace?Evenajourneymanlabourerwhoearnsthebarestpittancemaytakeaninterestinhisoccupation.”
“AthanasiVassilievitch,Ihavetriedtoovercomemyself,butwhatfurtherresourceliesopentome?CanIwhoamoldandincapablere-entertheCivilServiceandspendyearafteryearatadeskwithyouthswhoarejuststartingtheircareers?Moreover,Ihavelostthetrickoftakingbribes;Ishouldonlyhinderbothmyselfandothers;while,asyouknow,itisadepartmentwhichhasanestablishedcasteofitsown.Therefore,thoughIhaveconsidered,andevenattemptedtoobtain,everyconceivablepost,Ifindmyselfincompetentforthemall.OnlyinamonasteryshouldI—”
“Nay,nay.Monasteries,again,areonlyforthosewhohaveworked.Tothosewhohavespenttheiryouthindissipationsuchhavenssaywhattheantsaidtothedragonfly—namely,‘Goyouaway,andreturntoyourdancing.’Yes,eveninamonasterydofolktoilandtoil—theydonotsitplayingwhist.”MurazovlookedatKhlobuev,andadded:“SemenSemenovitch,youaredeceivingbothyourselfandme.
