Мертві душі
Chapter 4
AndthoughGodaloneknowswhethermyeffortswillbesuccessful,atalleventsIhopetobringaboutamitigationofyoursentence.Come,letmeembraceyou!Howyouhavefilledmyheartwithgladness!WithGod’shelp,IwillnowgotothePrince.”
AndthenextmomentChichikovfoundhimselfalone.Hiswholenaturefeltshakenandsoftened,evenas,whenthebellowshavefannedthefurnacetoasufficientheat,aplatecompoundedevenofthehardestandmostfire-resistingmetaldissolves,glows,andturnstotheliquefiedstate.
“Imyselfcanfeelbutlittle,”hereflected,“butIintendtousemyeveryfacultytohelpotherstofeel.Imyselfambutbadandworthless,butIintendtodomyutmosttosetothersontherightroad.ImyselfambutanindifferentChristian,butIintendtostrivenevertoyieldtotemptation,buttoworkhard,andtotillmylandwiththesweatofmybrow,andtoengageonlyinhonourablepursuits,andtoinfluencemyfellowsinthesamedirection.For,afterall,amIsoveryuseless?AtleastIcouldmaintainahousehold,forIamfrugalandactiveandintelligentandsteadfast.Theonlythingistomakeupmymindtoit.”
ThusChichikovpondered;andashedidsohishalf-awakenedenergiesofsoultoucheduponsomething.Thatistosay,dimlyhisinstinctdivinedthateverymanhasadutytoperform,andthatthatdutymaybeperformedhere,there,andeverywhere,andnomatterwhatthecircumstancesandtheemotionsandthedifficultieswhichcompassamanabout.
