C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
The Dregs of Humanity
By Maksim Gorky (1868–1936)
S
The Baron[nodding his head]—You’re getting at it … that’s prime … that’s the thing to warm one’s heart. I haven’t got that…. I don’t know how![Looks round—then softly, cautiously.]I, brother, I’m afraid … sometimes. D’you see? Get in a funk … because—what after?
Satine—Rubbish! There’s nothing that a man should fear?
The Baron—Yer know … from when first I can remember … there’s been inside my noddle a sort of fog. Never anything have I understood. I’m … in some way—I’m clumsy. It seems to me all my life I’ve done nothing but dress up … and why? Went to school—wore the uniform of the Institute for the Sons of the Nobility … but what did I learn? Don’t remember…. Married—in a frock-coat, and an overcoat … but I picked out the wrong wife and—why? Don’t understand…. Squandered all I had, wore some sort of a gray pea-jacket and red trousers … but where did it all get to? Never noticed…. Entered the Court of Exchequer … uniform, and a cap with a cockade … made away with some Government money—they put me into the convict’s gown … then—I got into this lot here…. And all … like in a dream … ah? That’s funny….
Satine—Not very…. I should say—stupid….
The Baron—Yes … and I think it’s stupid…. But I must have been born for some reason…. Eh?
Satine[smiling]—Probably…. Man is born for the better man![Shaking his head.]So … it’s all right!
The Baron—That … Nastya!… Where’s she run off to? I’ll go and see … where she is? For after all … she …
The Tartar—Why?
The Actor—Pray for me….
The Tartar[after a silence]—Pray yerself!
The Actor[gets quickly from the stove, goes to the table, pours himself some vodka with trembling hands, drinks, and almost runs into the passage]—I’m off!
Satine—Hi, you, off where?
Boobnoff—Chuck it! Yerself—yer a kind of a donkey.
Myedvyedyeff—A camel, it hasn’t got no ears at all … it—hears with its nostrils….
Boobnoff[to Satine]—Chum! I’ve been looking for yer in all the trakteers—all the stills! Take the bottle, all my ’ands is full!
Satine—You—put the cracknels on the table, then you’ll have one hand free….
Boobnoff—True! You’re right…. Jumble, look at it all! So there, eh?… Wire boy.
Myedvyedyeff—Sharpers … they’re all clever … I know! They ’ave got to be clever. A good man he—may be stupid and good, but a wrong ’un, ’e’s bound to ’ave wits. But, about the camel. Yer know … yer can get me up on ’im … ’e ’asn’t no ’orns, nor no teeth….
Boobnoff—Where’s everyone? Why’s there no one ’ere? ’Ere, get up … it’s my treat!
Satine—You’ll soon drink all you’ve got, blockhead.
Boobnoff—Soon, yer say? This time I’ve gathered some capital—a little pile…. When! Where’s When?
Klesshtsh[going to table]—Not here….
Boobnoff—Ooo-r-r! Yer peacock! Don’t bark, don’t growl! Drink, be jolly, don’t turn yer nose up…. I treats everybody! Why, mates, I loves to stand treat! If I was rich … I’d … I’d build a free trakteer! Yes, my God! With music, and a troupe of singers…. Come, drink, eat, listen to the singers … gladden yer ’earts. A man’s a sad creature … come along to me to my free trakteer! Satine! For you … you … ’ere, take ’alf of all my capital! This way!
Satine—Give it to me all in a lump!
Boobnoff—The ’ole capital? At once? Right! Then … here’s a rouble … and here’s a twenty kopyeks … a five kopyeks … a two kopyeks … all….
Satine—That’ll do! It’s safer with me. I’ll play cards with it!
Myedvyedyeff—I am—a witness … the money is placed in your keepin’ … ’ow much is it?
Boobnoff—You? You’re a camel … we want no witnesses….
Alyoshka[comes in barefooted]—Fellows! my feet are soaking.
Boobnoff—Go and soak yourself … only all over! I like you. You sing and you play … that’s very good! But, drinking—that’s a poor game! That does ’arm, brother; drinking does ’arm!
Alyoshka—Why, I look at yer! And it’s only when yer drunk yer anythin’ like a man…. Klesshtsh! My concertina—mended?[Dances and sings.]
Myedvyedyeff—Um…. If one was to ask: ’Oo is that gossip?
Boobnoff—Keep still. You’re no one now, brother…. You’re no “bobby” in these days…. You’re done with! No “bobby” nor no uncle….
Alyoshka—You’re just—auntie’s darling hubby!
Boobnoff—One of yer nieces is—in gaol, the other’s dyin’——
Myedvyedyeff[proudly]—Yer lie! She’s not dyin’: she’s disappeared without tellin’ no one!
Alyoshka—Your Excellency! The retired drum-major!
Boobnoff—Come ’ere! Sit down … let’s sing, mate! My beloved … eh?
The Tartar—In the night yer must sleep! Sing songs in the day!
Satine—That’s all right, Prince. You—come here!
The Tartar—How—all right? There’ll be a noise…. When there’s singing, it means a noise….
Boobnoff[going to him]—Prince! ’ow’s—yer ’and? ’Ave they cut it off?
When—Means the gutter for you, Hassan! Without a hand—what er yer good for? A man’s valued by ’is ’ands and ’is back…. No hand—no man! Go and drink! Nothing like it!
Myedvyedyeff—Me?
Kvashnya—Got on my jacket again … and it seems to me … a bit on, ah? What d’yer mean by it?
Myedvyedyeff—On account of the birthday … Boobnoff … and—the cold … the slush!
Kvashnya—Look at me … the slush! No foolery…. Come to bed….
Myedvyedyeff[going into the kitchen]—Sleep, yes … I will…. I want to … it’s time!
Kvashnya—It’s the only way, my friend. A man like ’im ’as got to be kept strict. We keep ’ouse together, now: I thought ’e would be a ’elp to me … seein’ as ’e’s ’ad discipline, but you—you’re a disorderly crew…. I’ve got my woman’s view … let ’im go gettin’ drunk. That don’t suit my book!
Satine—You’ve chosen your help wrong….
Kvashnya—No—better than you … you’d never live with me … a fellow like you! I’d see yer one week in twenty … you’d gamble away me and my very insides!
Satine[laughs]—That’s true, my girl! I would….
Kvashnya—So now! Alyoshka!
Alyoshka—Yes—here am I!
Kvashnya—What’s this you’ve been saying about me?
Alyoshka—I? No ’arm. I’ve said, there, I’ve said, there’s a woman! Wonderful woman! Flesh, fat bones—good forty stone, and brains—not a ha’porth!
Kvashnya—And there you’re wrong! I’ve got a deal of brains. No, and why did yer say that I beat my man?
Alyoshka—I thought that was beatin’ ’im when you seized ’old of ’s ’air….
Kvashnya[smiling]—Fool! Then just you don’t see! Why do you carry tales out of school? And yer ’urt ’is feelin’s too…. It’s cause of your talk ’e’s took to drinkin’.
Alyoshka—Then the sayin’s true, then, even a bear likes drink!
Alyoshka—I’m the very first superfine sort of man for any job! I just go where my eyes lead me!
Boobnoff[by the Tartar’s planks]—Come along! It’s no use … they’ll not let us sleep! Come and drink … the night through, When!
When—Drink? Why not?…
Alyoshka—And I’ll play to yer!
Satine—Let’s ’ear yer!
The Tartar—Well, Boobnoff, yer devil—fetch the wine! We’ll drink, we’ll rollick—death comes … we’ve got to die!
Boobnoff—Pour ’im out, Satine! When, squat! Ah, pals! Does a man want much? I’ve drunk a bit and—happy! When! Strike me … lad! I’ll sing…. I’ll pay!
When[sings]
Boobnoff[going on]