The Light Shines in Darkness

Act II

In the same country-house, a week later. The scene represents a large dining-hall. The table is laid for tea and coffee, with a samov r. A grand piano and a music-stand are by the wall. Mary Iv novna, the Princess and Peter Semy novich are seated at the table.

PETER SEMY NOVICH. Ah, Princess, it does not seem so long ago since you were singing Rosina's part, and I though nowadays I am not fit even for a Don Basilio.

PETER SEMY NOVICH. Yes, these are matter-of-fact times But your daughter plays really seriously and well. Where are the young folk? Not asleep still, surely?

MARY IV NOVNA. Yes, they went out riding by moonlight last night, and returned very late. I was nursing baby and heard them.

PETER SEMY NOVICH.Oh, pour ceci, ce n'est pas a qui nous manque. (Note: Oh, as far as that goes, we are not lacking.) [Takes out a cigar] But I will go and have a smoke and take a stroll through the park with the dogs till the young people are up. [Exit].

PRINCESS. I don't know, dear Mary Iv novna, whether I am right, but it seems to me that you take it all too much to heart. I understand him. He is in a very exalted state of mind. Well, even supposing he does give to the poor? Don't we anyway think too much about ourselves?

MARY IV NOVNA. Yes, if that were all, but you don't know him; nor all he is after. It is not simply helping the poor, but a complete revolution, the destruction of everything.

PRINCESS. I should advise you to put your demands to him openly and frankly, and to come to an agreement as to the limits

MARY IV NOVNA [excitedly] There are no limits! He wants to give away everything. He wishes me now, at my age, to become a cook and a washerwoman.

MARY IV NOVNA [takes a letter out of her pocket] We are by ourselves and I am glad to tell you all about it. He wrote me this letter yesterday. I will read it to you.

MARY IV NOVNA. No, I understand him there. He gets so excited when he speaks. I have for some time past felt anxious about his health.

MARY IV NOVNA. This [reading] "You reproach me for upsetting our former way of life, and for not giving you anything new in exchange, and not saying how I should like to arrange our family affairs. When we begin to discuss it we both get excited, and that's why I am writing to you. I have often told you already why I cannot continue to live as we have been doing; and I cannot, in a letter, show you why that is so, nor why we must live in accord to Christ's teaching. You can do one of two things: either believe in the truth and voluntarily go with me, or believe in me and trusting yourself entirely to me-follow me." [Stops reading] I can do neither the one nor the other. I do not consider it necessary to live as he wishes us to. I have to consider the children, and I cannot rely on him. [Reads] "My plan is this: We shall give our land to the peasants, retaining only 135 acres besides the orchards and kitchen-garden and the meadow by the river. We will try to work ourselves, but will not force one another, nor the children. What we keep should still bring us in about 50 a year."

MARY IV NOVNA. Well, here follows his whole plan: to give up the house and have it turned into a school, and ourselves to live in the gardener's two-roomed cottage.

MARY IV NOVNA. I told him I couldn't; that were I alone I would follow him anywhere, but I have the children. Only think! I am still nursing little Nicholas. I tell him we can't break up everything like that. After all, was that what I agreed to when I married? And now I am no longer young or strong. Think what it has meant to bear and nurse nine children.

MARY IV NOVNA. That is how things are and I don't know what will happen. Yesterday he excused the Dm trovka peasants their rent; and he wants to give the land to them altogether.

PRINCESS. I do not think you should allow it. It is your duty to protect your children. If he cannot deal with the estate, let him hand it over to you.

MARY IV NOVNA. My sister Alex ndra told him so; but he says he has no right to do it; and that the land belongs to those who work it, and that it is his duty to give it to the peasants.

MARY IV NOVNA. That's why my sister has gone to Moscow. She wanted to talk things over with a lawyer, but chiefly she went to fetch Father Ger sim that he may bring his influence to bear.

MARY IV NOVNA. But he will not believe even Father Ger sim. He is so firm; and when he talks, you know, I can't answer him. That's what is so terrible, that it seems to me he is right.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Quite simply! He cut it down, and they informed the Justice of Peace, and he has sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. His wife has come about it.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Not now. The only way is not to possess any forest. And I will not possess any. What is one to do? I shall, however, go and see whether what we have done can be remedied. [Goes out on to the verandah and meets Bor s and Ly ba].

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I have just returned from the village and am going back again. They are just dragging a hungry man to prison because he

BOR S. I don't understand. One can serve the people without ruining one's own life. That is the way I want to arrange my life. If only you

WOMAN. I'll give it you. [She sees the land-owner, N. I. Sar ntsov] Good-day, sir. Children are a trouble! I'm quite done up, everything on my shoulders, and now they're taking our only worker to prison, and this lout is sprawling about here.

WOMAN. He's ill, and what about me? Am I not ill? When it's work, he's ill; but to merry-make or pull my hair out, he's not too ill. Let him die like a hound! What do I care?

WOMAN. I know it's a sin; but I can't subdue my heart. I'm expecting another child, and I have to work for two. Other people have their harvest in already, and we have not mowed a quarter of our oats yet. I ought to finish binding the sheaves, but can't. I had to come and see what the children were about.

WOMAN. Oh, binding's nothing. I can do that myself, if it's only mown down quick. What d'you think, Nicholas Iv novich, will he die? He is very ill!

WOMAN. Oh God! [Begins to cry] Don't take him away, let him die here. (Note: The woman, for all her roughness, is sorry to part from her husband.) [To her husband, who utters something] What's the matter?

WOMAN. What? Why, potatoes and bread, and not enough of that. [Enters hut. A pig squeals, and children are crying inside].

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Here no one can be of use to another. The evil is too deeply rooted. Here we can only be of use to ourselves, by seeing on what we build our happiness. Here is a family: five children, the wife pregnant, the husband ill, nothing but potatoes to eat, and at this moment the question is being decided whether they are to have enough to eat next year or not. Help is not possible. How can one help? Suppose I hire a labourer; who will he be? Just such another man: one who has given up his farming, from drink or from want.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I am learning my own position. Finding out who weeds our gardens, builds our houses, makes our garments, and feeds and clothes us. [Peasants with scythes and women with rakes pass by and bow. Nicholas Iv novich, stopping one of the Peasants] Erm l, won't you take on the job of carting for these people?

ERM L [shakes his head] I would with all my heart, but I can't possibly do it. I haven't carted my own yet. We are off now to do some carting. But is Iv n dying?

SEBASTIAN. Take the job on yourself. At this time of year one day's work brings a year's food. [The Peasants pass on].

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. They are all half-starved; they have only bread and water, they are ill, and many of them are old. That old man, for instance, is ruptured and is suffering, and yet he works from four in the morning to ten at night, though he is only half alive. And we? Is it possible, realising all this, to live quietly and consider oneself a Christian? Or let alone a Christian-simply not a beast?

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Not take part in this evil. Not own the land, nor devour the fruits of their labour. How this can be arranged, I don't yet know. The fact of the matter is-at any rate it was so with me-I lived and did not realise how I was living. I did not realise that I am a son of God and that we are all sons of God-and all brothers. But as soon as I realised it-realised that we have all an equal right to live-my whole life was turned upside down. But I cannot explain it to you now. I will only tell you this: I was blind, just as my people at home are, but now my eyes are opened and I cannot help seeing; and seeing it all, I can't continue to live in such a way. However, that will keep till later. Now we must see what can be done.

PETER [falls at Nicholas Iv novich's feet] Forgive me, for the Lord's sake, or I'm ruined. How can the woman get in the harvest? If at least I might be bailed out.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH [to Peter] Well then go, and I'll do what I can. This is evidently my doing. How can one go on living like this? [Exit].

In the same country-house. It is raining outside. A drawing-room with a grand piano. T nya has just finished playing a sonata of Schumann's and is sitting at the piano. Sty pa is standing by the piano. Bor s is sitting. Ly ba, Lisa, Mitrof n Erm lych and the young Priest are all stirred by the music.

STY PA. But I had no idea you were such an artist. It is real masterly play. Evidently the difficulties no longer exist for you, and you think only of the feeling, and express it with wonderful delicacy.

LY BA. No, not that one. That is very fine, but so hackneyed. Do play this one. [T nya plays what she can of it, and then breaks off].

LY BA. That is why music is so precious. I understand Saul. Though I'm not tormented by devils, I still understand him. No other art can make one so forget everything else as music does. [Approaches the window. To Peasants] Whom do you want?

BOR S [absently] Music? Oh no. I like music, or rather I don't dislike it. Only I prefer something simpler-I like songs.

BOR S. The chief thing is, that it is not important; and it rather hurts me, when I think of the lives men live, that so much importance is attached to music.

LY BA. Music is precious because it seizes us, takes possession of us, and carries us away from reality. Everything seemed gloomy till you suddenly began to play, and really it has made everything brighter.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH [greets the Man-servant, and shakes hands with him (Note: People shake hands much more often in Russia than in England, but it is quite unusual to shake hands with a servant, and Nicholas Iv****** does it in consequence of his belief that all men are brothers.)] Good-day. [Servant becomes confused. Exit Servant. Nicholas Iv novich also goes off].

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I was going back to my room without having told you what I feel. [To T nya] If what I say should offend you-who are our guest-forgive me, but I cannot help saying it. You, Lisa, say that T nya plays well. All you here, seven or eight healthy young men and women, have slept till ten o'clock, have eaten and drunk and are still eating; and you play and discuss music: while there, where I have just been, they were all up at three in the morning, and those who pastured the horses at night have not slept at all; and old and young, the sick and the weak, children and nursing-mothers and pregnant women are working to the utmost limits of their strength, so that we here may consume the fruits of their labour. Nor is that all. At this very moment, one of them, the only breadwinner of a family, is being dragged to prison because he has cut down one of a hundred thousand pine-trees that grow in the forest that is called mine. And we here, washed and clothed, having left the slops in our bedrooms to be cleaned up by slaves, eat and drink and discuss Schumann and Chopin and which of them moves us most or best cures our ennui? That is what I was thinking when I passed you, so I have spoken. Consider, is it possible to go on living in this way? [Stands greatly agitated].

STY PA. Why? I don't see why the fact that people are poor should prevent one talking about Schumann. The one does not exclude the other. If one

T NYA. It is a terrible problem; it is the problem of our day; and we should not be afraid of it, but look it straight in the face, in order to solve it.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. We cannot wait for the problem to be solved by public measures. Every one of us must die-if not to-day, then to-morrow. How can I live without suffering from this internal discord?

BOR S. That is why he says that the first step is to possess no property; to change our whole way of life and live so as not to be served by others but to serve others.

BOR S. Yes, I now understand it for the first time-after what I saw in the village. You need only take off the spectacles through which we are accustomed to look at the life of the people, to realise at once the connection between their sufferings and our pleasures-that is enough!

STY PA. It is surprising how Mitrof n Erm lych and I, though we usually stand poles asunder, come to the same conclusion: those are my very words, "not ruin one's own life."

BOR S. Naturally! You both of you wish to lead a pleasant life, and therefore want life arranged so as to ensure that pleasant life for you. [To Sty pa] You wish to maintain the present system, while Mitrof n Erm lych wants to establish a new one.

ALEX NDRA IV NOVNA. I have done exactly what I said I would do. I found Father Ger sim, and you see I have persuaded him to come-he was on his way to Koursk-so I have done my part; and here is the Notary. He has got the deed ready; it only needs signing.

FATHER GER SIM. What else could I do-though it was out of my way-yet as a Christian I considered it my duty to visit him.

Alex ndra Iv novna whispers to the young people. They consult together and go out on to the verandah, all except Bor s. The young Priest also wants to go.

FATHER GER SIM. (Note: Father Ger*** is modelled on the lines of the celebrated Father John of Cronstadt.) No. You as a pastor and spiritual father must remain here! You may benefit by it yourself, and may be of use to others. Stay here, if Mary Iv novna has no objection.

MARY IV NOVNA. No, I am as fond of Father Vas ly as if he were one of the family. I have even consulted him; but being so young he has not much authority.

ALEX NDRA IV NOVNA [approaching] Well, you see now, Father Ger sim, that you are the only person who can help and can bring him to reason. He is a clever, well-read man, but learning, you know, can only do harm. He is suffering from some sort of delusion. He maintains that the Christian law forbids a man to own any property; but how is that possible?

FATHER GER SIM. Temptation, spiritual pride, self-will! The Fathers of the Church have answered the question satisfactorily. But how did this befall him?

MARY IV NOVNA. Well, to tell you everything when we married he was quite indifferent to religion, and we lived so, and lived happily, during our best years-the first twenty years. Then he began to reflect. Perhaps he was influenced by his sister, or by what he read. Anyhow, he began thinking and reading the Gospels, and then suddenly he grew extremely religious, began going to church and visiting the monks. Then all at once he gave all this up and changed his way of life completely. He began doing manual labour, would not let the servants wait on him, and above all he is now giving away his property. He yesterday gave away a forest-both the trees and land. It frightens me, for I have seven children. Do talk to him. I'll go and ask him whether he will see you. [Exit].

FATHER GER SIM. There are many who turn aside in that way. In Odessa there was a lady who was carried away by Spiritualism and began to do much harm. But all the same, God enabled us to lead her back to the Church.

PRINCESS. The chief thing, please understand, is that my son is about to marry his daughter. I have given my consent, but the girl is used to luxury and should therefore be provided for, and not have to depend entirely on my son. Though I admit he is a hard-working and an exceptional young man.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. How d'you do, Princess? How d'you do? [To Father Ger sim] I beg your pardon. I don't know your name. (Note: He knows that the priest is Father Ger***, but wishes to address him not as a priest, but by his Christian name and patronymic, as one gentleman would usually address another.)

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I suppose you came, at Alex ndra Iv novna's invitation, to divert me from my errors and direct me in the path of truth. If that is so, don't let us beat about the bush, but let us get to business at once. I do not deny that I disagree with the teaching of the Church. I used to agree with it, and then left off doing so. But with my whole heart I wish to be in the truth and will at once accept it if you show it to me.

FATHER GER SIM. How is it you say you don't believe the teaching of the Church? What is there to believe in, if not the Church?

FATHER GER SIM. The Church cannot teach the contrary, because it was established by the Lord himself. It is written, "I give you power," and, "Upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. That was not said in this connection at all, and proves nothing. But even if we were to admit that Christ established the Church, how do I know that it was your Church?

FATHER GER SIM. Because it is said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

FATHER GER SIM. It can make no mistakes, for it alone has the truth. Those who leave it go astray, but the Church is sacred.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I have already told you that I do not accept that. I do not accept it because, as is said in the Gospels, "By their deeds shall ye know them, by their fruit shall ye know them." I have found out that the Church blesses oaths, murders and executions.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I know that the Gospels say, not only "Do not kill," but "Do not be angry," yet the Church blesses the army. The Gospel says, "Swear not at all," yet the Church administers oaths. The Gospel says

FATHER GER SIM. Excuse me. When Pilate (Note: Father Ger*** attributes to Pilate what was said by Caiaphas the high priest.) said, "I adjure thee by the living God," Christ accepted his oath by replying "I am."

FATHER GER SIM. That is why the Church does not permit everyone to interpret the Gospel, lest he should go astray, but like a mother caring for her child gives him an interpretation suitable to his strength. No, let me finish! The Church does not lay on its children burdens too heavy for them to bear, but demands that they should keep the Commandments: love, do no murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Yes! Do not kill me, do not steal from me my stolen goods. We have all robbed the people, we have stolen their land and have then made a law forbidding them to steal it back; and the Church sanctions all these things.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. It is not pride. I am only asking you what should I do according to Christ's law, when I have become conscious of the sin of robbing the people and enslaving them by means of the land. How am I to act? Continue to own land and to profit by the labour of starving men: putting them to this kind of work [points to Servant who is bringing in the lunch and some wine], or am I to return the land to those from whom my ancestors stole it?

FATHER GER SIM. You must act as behoves a son of the Church. You have a family and children, and you must keep and educate them in a way suitable to their position.

FATHER GER SIM. Because God has placed you in that position. If you wish to be charitable, be charitable by giving away part of your property and by visiting the poor.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. But who is proud? I, who consider myself a man like the rest of mankind, and one who therefore must live like the rest by his own labour and as poorly as his brother men, or those who consider themselves to be specially selected sacred people, knowing the whole truth and incapable of error; and who interpret Christ's words their own way?

FATHER GER SIM [offended] Pardon me, Nicholas Iv novich, I did not come here to argue which of us is right, nor to receive an admonition, but I called, at Alex ndra Iv novna's request, to talk things over with you. But since you know everything better than I do, we had better end our conversation. Only, once again, I must entreat you in God's name to come to your senses. You have gone cruelly astray and are ruining yourself. [Rises].

PRINCESS. He was not allowed to speak, and he did not like having a kind of debate with everybody listening. It was his modesty that made him withdraw.

PRINCESS. Yes, with your usual instability I see that you are beginning to agree with Nicholas Iv novich about everything. If you believe such things you ought not to marry.

PRINCESS. Because you are poor, and have nothing to give away. However, all this is not our business. [Exit, followed by all except Nicholas Iv novich and Mary Iv novna].

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH [sits pondering, then smiles at his own thoughts] Mary! What is all this for? Why did you invite that wretched, erring man? Why do those noisy women and that priest come into our most intimate life? Can we not settle our own affairs?

MARY IV NOVNA. What am I to do, if you want to leave the children penniless? That is what I cannot quietly submit to. You know that I am not grasping, and that I want nothing for myself.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. I know, I know and believe it. But the misfortune is that you do not trust the truth. I know you see it, but you can't make up your mind to rely on it. You rely neither on the truth nor on me. Yet you trust the crowd-the Princess and the rest of them.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. That means that you do not rely on me. Do you think I have not struggled and have not feared! But afterwards I became convinced that this course is not only possible but obligatory, and that it is the one thing necessary and good for the children themselves. You always say that were it not for the children you would follow me, but I say that if we had no children we might live as we are doing; we should then only be injuring ourselves, but now we are injuring them too.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. And what am I to do? Don't I know why that wretched man-dressed up in his cassock and wearing that cross-was sent for, and why Alex ndra Iv novna brought the Notary? You want me to hand the estate over to you, but I can't. You know that I have loved you all the twenty years we have lived together. I love you and wish you well, and therefore cannot sign away the estate to you. If I sign it away at all, it can only be to give it back to those from whom it has been taken-the peasants. And I can't let things remain as they are, but must give it to them. I'm glad the Notary has come; and I will do it.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. You don't know what you are saying. If I give it to you, I cannot go on living with you; I shall have to go away. I cannot continue to live under these conditions. I shall not be able to look on while the life-blood is squeezed out of the peasants and they are imprisoned, in your name if not in mine. So choose!

MARY IV NOVNA. How cruel you are! Is this Christianity? It is harshness! I cannot, after all, live as you want me to. I cannot rob my own children and give everything away to other people; and that is why you want to desert me. Well-do so! I see you have ceased loving me, and I even know why.

NICHOLAS IV NOVICH. Very well then-I will sign; but, Mary, you demand the impossible of me. [Goes to writing-table and signs] You wished it, but I shall not be able to go on living like this.

In the 1600s, Balthasar Gracian, a jesuit priest wrote 300 aphorisms on living life called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom." Join our newsletter below and read them all, one at a time.