“If your little brother Ivan could see this—wouldn’t he be surprised! By
expressed it. Profound dejection clung about his soul like a heavy mist. A
Oh, of course, such an outpouring, such an avowal is only possible once in
drink, slept like the dead beside her husband.
remembered his humiliating fear that some one might come in and find him
to be always pestering me to bring him, you’d some object, I suppose.”
But as to the rest you talk nonsense, nonsense, nonsense. Let me tell you,
Katerina while there was still time to an establishment in the town kept
tear my amulet off my neck, on my way from Fenya’s to Perhotin. I hadn’t
“And behold, He deigned to appear for a moment to the people, to the
challenging note, but he did not take it up.
scoundrel.”
know that my days are numbered.”
position. Poor Fenya was not in a condition at that moment to observe
Russian boys do nothing but talk of the eternal questions! Isn’t it so?”
how many thousand years. Who is it laughing at man? Ivan! For the last
forward, gesticulating violently, beckoning to him, obviously afraid to
So they murmured to one another frantic words, almost meaningless, perhaps
saw her, his heart throbbed violently, and all was dark before his eyes.
be asked to sit down with any one, though, of course, not in a place of
pulls him through.”
Remember particularly that you cannot be a judge of any one. For no one
be true to him and the promise I gave him, in spite of his being untrue
Some of the ladies, especially those who came from a distance, made their
departure certainly was sudden. Though Ivan had said the day before (to
But Grushenka sent almost every day to inquire after him.
Rakitin, there is an idea in him. Ivan is a sphinx and is silent; he is
“Yes. That was my contention. There is no virtue if there is no
“Look at your hands, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. They’re all over blood!”
faro, too, he he!”
a greater reverence for Father Ferapont than for Father Zossima. He was
two boys. Seeing, at the first glance, that they were unwashed and in
no God.” Alyosha looked searchingly at his brother.
“Perhaps I haven’t forgiven him, though,” she said, with a sort of menace
Ivan restrained himself with painful effort.
in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to
story at people’s houses!”
The little girl sits up in the coffin and looks round, smiling with wide‐
of a shake—he was awfully crazy about her—and he leaned right out of the
at the time.”
happiness is the sweetest of all. They will become timid and will look to
a faint one, but then Dardanelov was such a paragon of purity and delicacy
is far more foolishness among us. That’s Rakitin’s idea—a remarkable idea.
hearing Alyosha’s exclamation. “I knew he had hanged himself.”
two extremes and both at once.
be a mouth to feed. Who would feed it and who would feed them all? Must I
Language: English
having failed, yet Lise saw perfectly well that he, too, looked away, and
remember that your little son is one of the angels of God, that he looks
her with all his strength.
the relics of the holy martyr, Saint Varvara, on his neck.... And to think
“Let me tell you,” she said, “that I am the first not to laugh at you, but
but, incredible as it seems, that’s just what the prisoner alleges. When
twelve and fifteen, and two of them came from our town. The boys played
And Mitya described how he took the pestle and ran.
Grigory Vassilyevitch, even if he were alive, would see nothing of it, as
reason why and give you that hint, though you don’t deserve it. I won’t
Don’t be angry, dear, at my joking,” she put in at once, with strong
written in their lives. Among us, Tyutchev, with absolute faith in the
blood? Have you had a fall? Look at yourself!”
something very familiar, and, would you believe it, I have heard that very
recover herself. She had come in, as appeared afterwards, accidentally,
it out of the envelope since it was not found when the police searched the
observing Mitya’s excitement, “did you notice when you ran away from the
till to‐morrow. Don’t condemn me, and don’t look on me as a villain,” he
“What Podvysotsky?”
found Smerdyakov still hanging. On the table lay a note: “I destroy my
declared that Smerdyakov had been lying all night the other side of the
sudden and irresistible prompting.
outside the tavern, ‘I’ll kill you! I’ll kill the lot of you!’ Why not,
“Well, no ... I haven’t read all of him, but ... I read the passage about
he’ll be tried, and made to serve as a common soldier in his old age,
of softening his fate a little. And now, again, she sacrificed herself;
beautifully, they have the whole of your disease at their finger‐tips, but
Ivan Fyodorovitch Karamazov set off for Moscow). There Kolya began by
Alyosha’s face again betrayed strong emotion. The corners of his mouth
nothing but an impudent satirical burlesque. I mention this incident
“It must be lovely, a duel,” Marya Kondratyevna observed suddenly.
at once and quarreled for three days. We quarreled because, when he told
made up his mind how to take it. There was, so to speak, a discordant note
perhaps, inflamed by wine, and he has only transmitted to me a propensity
so far as to speak somewhat contemptuously of Agrafena Alexandrovna as
they carried her away. When the scene was over, he came to himself again,
from newspapers and books, and I’ve already got a fine collection. The
In brief, Mitya was informed that he was, from that moment, a prisoner,
coldness. The boy disliked this, and the more demonstrations of feeling
“The rocket will go off and fizzle out, perhaps. The peasants are not very
then, ‘I am quits,’ but will say, ‘I am guilty in the sight of all men and
cornered me afterwards, for what proof could you have had? I could always
as before.... But wait: don’t let them forget dessert, sweets, pears,
You’re a quiet one, Alyosha, you’re a saint, I know, but the devil only
with Father Païssy. Alyosha could not resist asking:
but you will find your happiness in them, and will bless life and will
Maximov.
and looked as though he had been frightened by something great and awful
“I’ll obey you! I won’t think of it ... I worship you!” muttered Mitya.
Smerdyakov never hinted at their complicity, though the actual murderer
will perhaps really carry out our dream. We will buy a horse and cart, a
moans, snatching him up in both arms, squeezing him close till it hurt,
day begin life in sober earnest, we must look at ourselves as a society;
to intimidate me, but as soon as he saw the money he had begun embracing
amazement, looking at Alyosha; then, with a curse, he went out quickly to
hearts from this time forth!”
unshaken in expectation of its complete transformation from a society
born. But only one who can appease their conscience can take over their
wonder, for _soon all will be explained_.”
answered promptly. All the others stared at Alyosha.
d’une brosse frottait l’ombre d’une carrosse._’ How do you know there are
Nastasya, go to them’—that is to you. I have come; I was yesterday at the
He is a pig, a regular pig, but he’s very arch, the rascal! And he really
school any more. I heard that he was standing up against all the class
“Allow me to ask,” began the counsel for the defense, with the most
But the soldier is rejected with contempt, in two indecent lines, sung
of the case.
“lies upon lies.” There was, of course, much that was false in it, and
Gentlemen, forgive my anger, but I foresaw that this crafty old man would
he was not beside her in bed. She ran back to the bedstead and began
me at the time. I fancied that there was an artificial simplicity about
for?” she began again with nervous haste: “to embrace your feet, to press
study, as the prosecutor himself argues, an amazing piece of evidence in
time for it, but meantime, consider; we have perhaps a dozen witnesses
“At the first temptation—for instance, to entertain the woman with whom he
kissing his feet, flew into a fury again! Oh, I am unhappy! It’s my
“Do send for candles!” said Rakitin, with the free‐and‐easy air of a most
because she didn’t ask to be taken up at night (as though a child of five
a pistol four inches from the baby’s face. The baby laughs with glee,
warm and resentful voice:
might well have seen that the court would at once judge how far he was
could be seen that it would be so.
considerably swollen, and on the left side of his forehead there was a
that. Quite the contrary, you may make six or seven thousand instead of
“I do not know what saint. I do not know, and can’t tell. I was deceived.
Fyodor Pavlovitch. Who set the rumor going? Of that drunken band five had
particularly to point to his nose, which was not very large, but very
beforehand of this murder of your own parent, left him to his fate, and
“Karamazov,” cried Kolya, “can it be true what’s taught us in religion,
So Alyosha’s cross‐examination ended. What was important and striking
to find out what his father had been doing above. Then he set off,
question, who it was that had founded Troy, but Krassotkin would not tell
the spot....
great interest to us? I mean the ten roubles you borrowed yesterday at
“In the next room, I’ve two words to say to you, something pleasant, very
was never first.
“Like a martyr? How?”
consequence of every sort of falsehood. Never be frightened at your own
because I felt I was a thief. I couldn’t make up my mind, I didn’t dare
swarmed in amazing numbers, so that there was a continual rustling from
did he bring himself to touch that little bag! Why, if only to avoid
certainly found place in his heart, what was worrying him was something
But do make haste,” she finished nervously. She was quite frightened at
extraordinary resolution passed over the Pole’s face.
He was married twice, and had three sons, the eldest, Dmitri, by his first
There was nothing left but faith in what the heart doth say. It is true
The usher at once approached him. Alyosha jumped up and cried, “He is ill.
“Mother, little heart of mine,” he said (he had begun using such strange
Some one called to him to put on his hat as it was cold. But he flung the
school, and with them Ilusha. As soon as he saw me in such a state he
them for it, no one raised his voice in protest, which was strange, for
he, ‘and gave it to a beggar woman.’ And God answered: ‘You take that
bitterly than you have done. If, after your kiss, he goes away untouched,
united all the unsolved historical contradictions of human nature. At the
ran away without murdering him, who did murder him?’ Here, I repeat, you
silent.
appearance. Our court is the best hall in the town—spacious, lofty, and
hardly changed at all, and strange to say there was no smell of decay from
first visit to Mokroe, Mitya must have spent three thousand roubles, “or
nothing but revolting talk and vicious precepts uttered daily over the
minutes before his death, they said afterwards wonderingly, it was
she was now at that stage of unbearable suffering when even the proudest
“Not for another man’s death?”
of saints and martyrs, such as are sold for a few farthings at all the
followed. The monks assembled and the cell was gradually filled up by the
persistently, but it was by no means so loud as it had seemed in his
“If you’d been a cadet in the army, or a young hussar, you wouldn’t have
mind, his beloved elder, had confided him as he lay dying. And suddenly,
At last he found the house in Lake Street. It was a decrepit little house,
“Aie!” shrieked Grushenka, the first to notice him.
“The devil have rheumatism!”
can forgive everything, all and for all, because He gave His innocent
The first to be called in the capacity of expert was Doctor Herzenstube.
sacrificed herself in terror for him, conceiving all of a sudden that he
her, and the corners of her mouth and the lines round it quivered.
have some honor! As soon as I began visiting Grushenka, I ceased to be
trained one little boy to come up to his window and made great friends
“Why, mamma! As though there were rabid boys!”
Shtchedrin, on that subject. He has taught me so much, so much about the
monk. He means to go to Petersburg. There he’ll go in for criticism of an
Smerdyakov remained, sleeping on a bench in the hall.
against Ivan, who pushed him back furiously. The peasant went flying
Krassotkin suddenly released himself from Ilusha’s embrace.
God. Again I say, Be not proud. Be proud neither to the little nor to the
the servants. He was so base as to take her purse, to open her chest with
message to Father Païssy before that to Alyosha, the latter found after
duel I had sent Afanasy back to the regiment, as I felt ashamed to look
losing you and being left without defense in all the world. So I went down
and rushed out of the room. All the guests flocked out after him, in their
with a cheap opal stone in it.
was greatly surprised to find her now altogether different from what he
had attempted to obtain those favors. But all their efforts had been in
round his head, while they’re all three busy putting ice on it. All at
exercise‐book lying on the table.
one could make out what he meant, and he stopped suddenly. Then he was
keep watch over her, and to await the moment when she would say to him at
This request and the necessity of going had at once aroused an uneasy
“No, for perhaps he believes in the pineapple _compote_ himself. He is
they knew it, the world would be a paradise at once.”
ready to go to exile with me? And how she fell down at your feet for my
... but I’ve unconsciously recalled it—I recalled it myself—it was not you
said to him. “We’ll look after him. My brother gave you a terrible blow—on
of sufferings which was necessary to pay for truth, then I protest that
had visited Father Zossima once already, three days before. Though they
idea, only I’ve forgotten it; in fact, it was just the thing for an album.
won’t deny it. And Mitya’s version isn’t bad.”
satisfy you. Come, put on your cap, Alexey Fyodorovitch, and I’ll put on
They had been talking for a quarter of an hour. Katerina Ivanovna was pale
torturing me! Let me tell you everything, so be it. I’ll confess all my
the spot, what then? What will become of them? And worse still, if he
Superior could not be von Sohn.”
Samsonov would look upon his freak, supposing he were to consider it from
money from his father,” she went on. “I have never doubted his
verdict is given, you shall decide my fate. Don’t decide it now. I’ll tell
departing. We rejoice and pray for him. Leave me, I must pray. Go, and
too, and used to look after him sometimes almost like a tutor, Fyodor
Katerina Ivanovna at once and be sure to say, ‘He sends his compliments to
hand to be kissed.”
They were both standing at the time by the great stone close to the fence,
include everything and put up with everything.
days together, as I know by experience. As soon as any one is near me, his
dignity of man, and that will only be understood among us. If we were
anything of Grushenka’s words. “Come, why are we sitting here? What shall
Miüsov’s. Gentlemen, gentlemen, I don’t pretend to be on equal terms with
On her and on me!
good guessing it. Rack your brains—you’ll understand it. His article is
expressed it, he found himself, to his surprise, extremely feeble in
some feeling for the public welfare and “the eternal question” lay
With the strangest perplexity he indicated his bundle of hundred‐rouble
he suddenly succeeded in attracting the attention of a far wider circle of
days that you would come with that message. I knew he would ask me to
“Now, Alyosha, take a glass, show what you can do! What shall we drink to?
dull. Before you came, Mitya, they were just as silent and kept turning up
one, not only among ourselves, but all over Russia. This became evident at
Dmitri’s feet till his forehead touched the floor. Alyosha was so
“You see, gentlemen, joking apart”—Mitya lifted his eyes and looked firmly
stolen it. And so that torn scrap of paper is, by the prosecutor’s own
occurrence people try to detect a suspicion, a hint that he was shamming
remorse, but to do what he had to do, let come what would. At that thought
Grigory Vassilyevitch, without abusing me. For as soon as I say to those
that he thought of most. Sitting down again, he began looking round, as
come to stay with them as Marya Kondratyevna’s betrothed, and was living
spite of his independent mind and just character, my opponent may have
when he had finished, he suddenly smiled.
“Why, you keep thinking of our present earth! But our present earth may
actually been quiet for some time, but he watched his neighbor Miüsov with
him in the dark, in the streets, remembered afterwards that they had met a
“As soon as the sun rises to‐morrow, as soon as Phœbus, ever young, flies
it were not for the precious image of Christ before us, we should be
abandoned by him. The officer had gone away and afterwards married, while
He could not go on. His eyes were glittering and he breathed with
Here the prosecutor described the meeting of the family at the monastery,
“The fact is I didn’t give it to him, and it’s a long story,” answered
moral depravity, no real corrupt inner cynicism in it, but there is the
stopped suddenly. “If you could, for instance ... send ... your patient
They began to wash. Pyotr Ilyitch held the jug and poured out the water.
felt it suddenly at the very moment of his ecstasy. And never, never, all
She irritably declined to see him, however, though the unexpected visit at
Grushenka meanwhile seemed enthusiastic over the “sweet hand.” She raised
how he insulted you!’ And I sobbed too. We sat shaking in each other’s
elder let fall the hand raised to bless them, and bowing to them again,
sitting near her declared that for a long time she shivered all over as
opened and this gentleman walked in.
bench. Pressing his fists against his head, he began sobbing with absurd
announcing that she would carry off both the children she wrapped them
he can pray—and that, at least, he owes me for his treachery and for what
“Give him something, Mitya,” said Grushenka. “Give him a present, he’s
beside himself with delight, watching her sip her glass of champagne. The
of formal.... And yet you are not a bit formal really. Go to the door,
“Listen, gentlemen, could anything be more likely than this theory and
thousand for the timber. So the old man keeps asking Ivan to help him by
said that to me about me and he knows what he says.”
attach himself to a good family and obtain a dowry was an alluring
I don’t know how to explain it to you, but I feel it is so, painfully
feeling. Can a Russian peasant be said to feel, in comparison with an
particularly liked listening to me then and they made the men listen.
The great conquerors, Timours and Ghenghis‐Khans, whirled like hurricanes
heart painfully crushes its pride and falls vanquished by grief. Oh,
“Then the third son. Oh, he is a devout and modest youth, who does not
from meekness to violence.
“Leave off ... that’s enough!” Smerdyakov waved his hand again. “You used
“Wait a minute,” he said at last in a weak voice, and suddenly bringing up
“My dear fellow,” observed the visitor sententiously, “it’s better to get
few hours before, no longer made him feel miserable or indignant. He began
might have happened to her, which never left him, he would perhaps have
to use this sum to seduce the woman he, the prisoner, loved. ‘If Fyodor
I do not know how it may be now, but in my childhood I often happened to
“Lost!” shouted Mitya. “A ‘double’ on the seven!”
that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that He loves you with your
dark night resounding with the shout ‘Parricide!’ and the old man falling
soon as the statement of Smerdyakov’s death was made, he cried out aloud
there,” observed Ivan.
That’s why I see and then think, because of those tails, not at all
“You are the only person I can talk to, you know,” Lise began again. “I
“How does he speak, in what language?”
she kissed Grushenka’s hand first, on purpose, with a motive? No, she
the opposite side of the room leading to the inner apartments, and stood
gobble up the monastery’s sauces? I am ashamed, I can’t. You must excuse
looking at her quite approvingly. “That’s her character,” he said,
like a highwayman, and to urge his companions to join him he asserts that
with a sort of shudder.
bathed in tears of long‐concealed indignation, alleged that he, he of all
“It’s not he, it’s nothing, only other visitors.”
object, but that this was what he desired, and, if opportunity arose, that
in a supplicating voice.
Every one noticed with pleasure, moreover, that he, after so short a stay,
from the steps, for he was hardly able to walk, the pain in his back and
giddy. He felt that he was ill and helpless. He was beginning to drop
facts.
toffee and the fondants. “And vodka for Andrey, vodka for Andrey!” he
sat so long in darkness without seeing the light. And then the sign of the
better to accede to the mamma’s request, or else she would be sending down
ecstasy, praying and kissing the ground, quietly and joyfully gave up his
case, and whatever has nothing to do with the case is my private affair. I
“Yes.”
Pavlovitch, mimicking him.
“Human language.”
the window and looked out. Mitya instantly slipped away into the shadow.
But her reproach was undeserved. Alyosha, too, was greatly overcome.
aberration. They found out about aberration as soon as the law courts were
“Yes, my elder sends me out into the world.”
calling you simply Alyosha), I should like Alexey Fyodorovitch, too, to
she been there? Ivan had known nothing of it. So she was not at all so
shall I do with your eyes? I’m afraid your eyes will tell me your
immediately after in this very court. Again I will not venture to
a tray with cups, an empty rum bottle, a bottle of vodka partly full, and
clever. Well, Alexey, it’s all over with me now.”
Though Nikolay Parfenovitch did insert this in the protocol, he showed the
amazement that he felt now, at the first glance at Katerina Ivanovna as
that, he didn’t want to lean out of the window, he didn’t want to move
said just now—that one reptile will devour the other? In that case let me
horses out directly, and then—good‐by, _panie_!”
extremely influential personage in the Government, and I met a very
fell on the floor ... fell all of a heap. Alyosha, Alyosha, what’s the
not I.”
episode occurred. The President, turning to the prisoner, asked him
garden. You’ll see for yourself that it won’t budge, but will remain just
“Trifon Borissovitch, is that you?”
principally about the three thousand roubles, which he said had been
him, but because I meant to kill him, and perhaps I really might have
“Why, you keep thinking of our present earth! But our present earth may
insults you, the more you love him—that’s your ‘laceration.’ You love him
word and the expression of his face?”
“But you have forgiven him already,” said Alyosha, smiling.
wondered with an unpleasant sensation, and as it were regretfully, why she
thing happened to the two little boys as to their elder brother, Mitya.
new one). “The ladder’s the same. I’m at the bottom step, and you’re
almost deaf, who came from Grushenka’s old home, and her granddaughter, a
his gaze at times. Like all very absent‐minded people he would sometimes
question that faced him like some monstrous thing. And he looked at this
lodging and learnt an unexpected and astounding piece of news—she had gone
It began somehow like that. I can never remember poetry. I’ve got it here.
“You were so primed up with your elder’s teaching last night that now you
for it? The chief reason, as I have just said, was that when she would
Pavlovitch persisted in stopping him at the door of the cell.
that it was enough for the time being to make him perfectly happy. He was
were light and some were very severe. Fyodor Pavlovitch strictly forbade
Speak, I want to know what you are thinking!”
It was exactly eleven o’clock when he entered Madame Hohlakov’s house. He
“I consider it my duty to repeat that he is firm in his statement. He does
they carried her away. When the scene was over, he came to himself again,
indeed the last thing she expected of him was that he would come in and
and looked straight at me, her dark eyes determined, even defiant, but on
marked, though he answered rationally. To many questions he answered that
children, they nail their prisoners by the ears to the fences, leave them
remember, Mitya, do you remember how we made friends here last time!”
though he had been at no loss for a word. “And I bought him a pound of
she have been jealous?”
Mitya’s hands might really have been left somewhere hidden in the town, or
on Katerina’s unexpected adventure, but he was very fond of the bereaved
erect on its hind‐legs by Ilusha’s bedside. What followed was a surprise
“Oh, yes, that’s what I say,” he went on stubbornly. “One head is good,
conscience. He’s telling the whole truth, you may believe it.”
envelopes—one is enough. I’ve no witnesses ... except one, perhaps,” he
I now thirst to love, there will be nothing great, no sacrifice in my
me, is she coming now, or not? Tell me? What did she say? How did she say
lice when he was little, if it hadn’t been for me,” he added, describing
wanted to see Fenya on very “important business,” the man made up his mind
suffering—for an idea, for instance—he will very rarely admit that,
now even I have found grace. I am dying in the Lord.’ ‘Yes, Richard, die
itself. Meanwhile, in your despair, you, too, divert yourself with
he the murderer?” she cried, all of a sudden, hysterically, turning
times and explained them. And as in the whole universe no one knows of
assume that my client is guilty of parricide. Even so, hear what I have to
you will stake.”
contrary, the State is transformed into the Church, will ascend and become
generous,” she exclaimed, in a half‐whisper. “Oh, how I love her,
tell her to take them. And you, Alyosha, be sure to tell Mitya that I did
“You are lying; you suggested my going away yourself; you told me to get
hands—the fate of three lives, and the happiness of two.... Excuse me, I’m
tremor at meeting Fetyukovitch, and that they had been enemies from the
That was very long ago, forty years before, when Father Zossima first
you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
Perezvon.” And Kolya began giving orders to the dog, who performed all his
dignity. He asked the question with a sort of cringing timidity. He
in the house but Fyodor Pavlovitch and his son Ivan. And in the lodge
Suddenly he darted back and drew himself up before Alyosha, and his whole
Smerdyakov is dead, no one will believe Ivan’s evidence; but he will go
through, note that. Well, let me tell you, I shall carry it through. I
into the French Academy, and to revenge himself wrote his own epitaph:
raise the cup, and on it will be written, “Mystery.” But then, and only
I will have anything to do with you in the future or whether I give you up
Ivanovna’s. Now Alyosha was impressed by Madame Hohlakov’s blunt and
She was reckless now of all consequences to herself, though, no doubt, she
and as he drew near his goal, again the thought of her, of her alone, took
Alyosha had been struck by Katerina Ivanovna’s beauty when, three weeks
told me, but I didn’t understand. Did they really take you to the court?”
gentlemen, isn’t it too base of you to say that to my face? It’s base,
don’t know whether I was asleep or awake last time. Perhaps I was only
“That’s plagiarism,” cried Ivan, highly delighted. “You stole that from my
“Oh, I didn’t mean anything. From somebody’s pocket, you know. I don’t
anyway; have some shame. Here I’ve torn my heart asunder before you, and
Notes of the Life of the deceased Priest and Monk, the Elder Zossima,
a reality. I know you. Then I shall have attained my object, which is an
of the Saviour. Towards morning he was put in the coffin which had been
was also surrounded with flowers.
“Not coming? Well, I will knock them up, I will!” he muttered at each
he was incapable of that reflection. ‘I don’t remember, it may not have
could be seen full broad shoulders, a high, still quite girlish bosom. Her
her, and Katya is mixed up in it, she thinks. No, my good Grushenka,
respect you. If I respected you, I shouldn’t talk to you without shame,
comes to see a youngster like me and treats me as his equal.” And I
was put to it. A magnificent explosion followed. Mamma was startled, but
before yesterday and told me that he was on the eve of brain fever—and all
n’existe point!_ Don’t pay attention: he is a paltry, pitiful devil,” he
“The court has resolved to go on with the trial, but, meantime, I might
He was wearing his coarse gown girt with a rope. His bare chest, covered
their minds as to the evidence of a man who might, while undergoing a
trace of humor or jesting in her face now, though, in old days, fun and
The President began by informing him that he was a witness not on oath,
and there was no blood on his hands then.” (Fenya had noticed this and
torture me, but not in the same way: not so much as the damned
not yield the defense of the prisoner to the lawyer who has come down from
making for the door, but he stopped short and said suddenly, addressing
Mitya cried suddenly.
off to Mokroe to meet her first lover.”
court. But he instantly restrained himself, and cried again:
him any one would have perceived that Alyosha was one of those youths,
But we must pause to say a few words about him now. He was brought up by
syllable. “And you, Pyotr Alexandrovitch Miüsov, let me tell you that
for fourteen years. His widow, still a nice‐looking woman of thirty‐two,
Book I. The History Of A Family
askance at his new cook. “Would you like to get married? Shall I find you
that the money was under the mattress. But that wasn’t true. It had been
Makarovitch’s visitors there that evening, but he didn’t know which. As it
irritable and exasperated. The object of the prisoner’s continual and
even now, in spite of my weakness, dear Fathers and brothers,” he jested,
All the while he had been talking, the old man sat motionless, watching
be it! So be it!”
me as something new!”
jewels belonging to the murdered woman which he had stolen to divert
simply as an acquaintance, and not a very intimate one, of the murdered
man got ready and came out. I won’t describe in detail how Ivan succeeded
for instance, to inquire why you were absent from the town, and just when
“And you could refuse to forgive her when she begged your forgiveness
suffering (as though it were a distinction). Why won’t he admit it, do you
smile. “I couldn’t have taken you to the lock‐up just then. Who would have
priest at the grating making an appointment with her for the
accumulating a greater mass of objects, but the joy in the world has grown
‘Well?’ said I. I saw his eyes flashing. ‘Father, how he treated you
when, shortly after, he had accompanied Father Anfim on his pilgrimage to
Holy Father Isaac the Syrian_. Ivan read it mechanically.
At the same moment the counsel for defense, the celebrated Fetyukovitch,
come to find him.
himself was confident of his success. He was surrounded by people
has come from the devil’s son and a holy innocent. Nurse him and weep no
once it’s collapsed! I spoke this morning with inspiration, but I went
“Listen, you showed me those notes just now to convince me.”
think of it! Ah, but you were here only four days ago, on Wednesday. You
you.’ I’m going to beg forgiveness: ‘Forgive me, good people, a silly
recognized by the criminal in his soul. What was said here just now is
window? Remember the sarcasms in which the prosecutor indulged at the
time, civilly and obsequiously persuading Mitya not to give away “cigars
He was watching Smerdyakov with great curiosity.
monastery.” The present paragraph in the paper _Gossip_ was under the
all that has happened till to‐day—”
be it! So be it!”
wretched. But who can reproach her, who can boast of her favor? Only that
when you come out of the monastery? What sort of suit? Don’t laugh, don’t
monastery, Zossima. Such an elder!”
But do make haste,” she finished nervously. She was quite frightened at
can’t stay here to be their keeper, can I? I’ve finished what I had to do,
towards him.
and gloat over my anger. ‘I’ll pay him out, I’ll pay him out!’ That’s what
me, it was quite natural, for I really shed tears and cried for several
He did not say much, but kept sighing and shaking his head over me
“No,” I said, “not now, later on when I have grown worthier and deserve
find Dmitri Fyodorovitch at home, though it was eight o’clock. ‘He’s been
Fyodor Pavlovitch, who had given his word to sit still and be quiet, had
flung it at the orator.
Ivan shook. “Get away, miserable idiot. What have I to do with you?” was
I’d inherited a fortune, because of that, because of that! I always
“And no wonder, Lise, no wonder ... your caprices will make me hysterical
his head and Perezvon instantly licked his cheek. Ilusha crept close to
conversation, and it appeared that Smerdyakov had already reported it all
Chapter IV. At The Hohlakovs’
and apparently attaching no significance to his answer. “I put you off
mean to go into all that. But what’s that sentimentality you’ve got up
right arm the keen inquisitive little eyes of the monk from Obdorsk peeped
diggers lowered the coffin. Snegiryov with his flowers in his hands bent
grown used to him, and coming back from seeing Mitya (whom she had begun
punished for their fathers, who have eaten the apple; but that reasoning
is the prisoner before us, all the rest of my speech will deal with him.
wine‐glass? I remembered that and I broke a glass to‐day and drank ‘to my
“Why, look,” squealed the captain suddenly, and showing him the two notes
of robbery is an absurdity, as I proved before. And it was not to murder
great irritation; secondly, he writes of the envelope from what he has
told me the story and laughed at you.... You wanted to put me in prison
“It must have run away and died somewhere. It must have died after a meal
of his mind and, in fact, a maniac. I maintain that he is in his right
and fellow monks. As the deceased was a priest and monk of the strictest
visited by the Queen of Heaven herself. But the devil did not slumber, and
called Akim had picked up on the floor in the passage a hundred roubles
in a garret, according to one story, of typhus, or as another version had
down directly, shall I fall?’ And it was through this fear that I suddenly
cannot live nor God exist, for God gives joy: it’s His privilege—a grand
year previously, ventured, trembling with fear and the delicacy of his
Smaragdov, and no one had Smaragdov but Kolya. One day, when Kolya’s back
in secret somewhere in the Egyptian desert, so you wouldn’t find them—if
always putting on his big, round, silver‐rimmed spectacles. He rarely read
“You won’t forgive her!” cried Mitya, with frantic reproach.
Chapter VI. For Awhile A Very Obscure One
horses, and galloped to Volovya. “Why is it worth while speaking to a
were ordinary enough, he found nothing of interest in the interior of the
old man said in answer to Alyosha’s persistent inquiries. Alyosha saw that
But Marfa continued screaming, and seeing that her master’s window was
disrespectful to the servant Grigory and his wife, who had cared for him
to wait for? Here I have a willow, a handkerchief, a shirt, I can twist
that for the last two months he has completely shared our conviction of
Him, even with His garments. An old man in the crowd, blind from
or there can be no harmony. But how? How are you going to atone for them?
I took his half‐rouble, bowed to him and his wife, and went out rejoicing.
in, stayed a little while and hastened out to confirm the news to the
I shall never be at home to you again, and I shall take her away, you may
at moments, to think that he had written his own sentence of death with
Chapter V. So Be It! So Be It!
arrived among us, had from the first felt marked respect for Ippolit
had the means of not being a scoundrel, but that still he would remain a
continued. “Tell me, please, that is if you are not annoyed by my perhaps
him, drummed at him incessantly, till at last he solemnly confessed his
“I do not draw back one iota from what I have said just now, but suppose
earthly truth, the eternal truth is accomplished. The Creator, just as on
Then he was completely aghast.
looked at him very affectionately: before Mitya’s arrival, she had been
he called into the passage.
Don’t believe him: he has brain fever.” Katerina Ivanovna rose impulsively
now. He has suddenly gone crazy over Grushenka. His mouth waters at the
It wouldn’t take much to do for Æsop, would it?” whispered Ivan to
been drunk!... We’ve hated each other for many things, Katya, but I swear,
twenty‐five thousand, he might say twenty‐eight thousand, in fact,
nothing and cursed them both. But he had not reckoned on a dowry; what
wrong thing. Your reverence,” he cried, with sudden pathos, “you behold
‘wisp of tow.’ Schoolboys are a merciless race, individually they are
no one of these witnesses counted that money; they all judged simply at
very likely to come to the summer‐house. Alyosha did not, however, give
“And why are you so dressed up? What a curious cap you’ve got on!”
“Enough, dear son, enough, dear,” he pronounced with feeling at last. “Why
didst crave for free love and not the base raptures of the slave before
copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
certain moral convictions so natural in a brother.
his acquittal. But that was only for the first instant, and it was
confusion not saying good‐by, or bowing to their host. Only the monks went
fussing about and listening, called Nikolay Parfenovitch’s attention to
perfect self‐forgetfulness in the love of your neighbor, then you will
bound to answer every inquiry you make. We found the servant Smerdyakov,
clearly and tremble. It’s terrible, terrible!”
the place is holy. Where I stand will be at once the foremost place ...
for you. How you rushed into the discussion this morning! I’ve forgotten
and Alyosha, for which the general’s widow had rewarded him with a slap in
speech. Persons of experience suspected that he had some design, that he
She must have understood it, yet she made up her mind to tell everything.
hundred, like a locket round my neck, but yesterday I undid it, and spent
side, and a full‐skirted coat. He had saved a good sum of money, but was
weapon with which Grigory had been attacked. And immediately that weapon
This request and the necessity of going had at once aroused an uneasy
tells us Smerdyakov got up, went in and murdered his master and stole the
all that day the mother and son were constantly rushing into each other’s
enlightened Russian atheist and mix it with the soul of the prophet Jonah,
through Mitya’s mind. It occurred to him, too, that this Pole must be the
Chapter VI. “I Am Coming, Too!”
confounded by the smell of corruption, and there the chief sign of the
“But is her husband in prison?” the matter‐of‐fact Kostya inquired
“Oh, as much as you like,” the latter replied.
minus would disappear at once, and good sense would reign supreme
The prosecutor positively smiled at the “innocence of this subterfuge.”
nature. Oh, we shall persuade them at last not to be proud, for Thou didst
General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works.
_all_, and said that it was nice. He laughed and said it really was nice.
“Well, God bless you, you’d better stay, then,” Grushenka decided in her
So they thought of Greek and Latin. That’s my opinion, I hope I shall
Pavlovitch protested.
been forgotten for the time; but still he had been in his mind, and as
such a crime, and yet he has so much time to spend on sentimentality with
as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will
use the right word?”
the longer it went on, the more intense was his suffering.
abused the monks to Alyosha. He himself was far from being religious; he
“My little girl, Father, Lizaveta.”
thinking ‘how any one like that must despise a nasty thing like me.’ I
flung myself into a life of pleasure, and plunged headlong into all the
imagined that it had aroused such burning, such intense, interest in every
shall make a point of it. What does he mean?”
depression so vexatious and irritating was that it had a kind of casual,
He turned it all out of his pockets; even the small change—two pieces of
specially, never speak to me again,” he added, with sudden irritation;
and light to Thy people!
of agonies—I exist. I’m tormented on the rack—but I exist! Though I sit
especially when he compares him with the excellent fathers of his
same man. Even his face is not the same; he’s different altogether. I
likely the suicide would never have taken place. This is a fact, and
he considered himself to have been cheated, without extraordinary
already at home, and when once I had started on that road, to go farther
shoulders, whispered, but still seemed unable to realize this. But how
“A tumbler‐full, even. Perhaps a tumbler and a half?”
“The rocket will go off and fizzle out, perhaps. The peasants are not very
“Yes, on that sofa in the corner. You would have driven him away. You did
with a radiant smile of delight. At the same instant a servant brought in
any one. If he doesn’t believe in people, of course, he does despise
“For sale indeed! You used to visit gentlemen in the dusk for money once;
base justice on reason alone, but not with Christ, as before, and they
passionately.
which is so often seen, though only for a moment, in such over‐wrought
life!’ ”
Chapter VIII. Delirium
So you see, gentlemen, I understand the distinction between us.... But you
Grushenka besought him with sudden eagerness. “Set my mind at rest that I
the greatest need and comfort to find some one or something holy to fall
That’s all about it. As soon as I got back to town I pledged them.”
it—good‐by to America! We’ll run here to Russia as American citizens.
in one place sets up movement at the other end of the earth. It may be
object in coming.”
And yet I know that I am only going to a graveyard, but it’s a most
purposely resorted to this method, gentlemen of the jury, to show that you
staggered back. Grushenka walked suddenly and noiselessly into the room.
thickly.
“But I should like Alyosha, too (Ah! Alexey Fyodorovitch, forgive my
Dmitri Fyodorovitch knew them all through me, I thought that you would
appearance of truthfulness and personal dignity. He spoke little, and with
“It’ll be all right, now.”
to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot
“Have you been to the Church of the Ascension?” he suddenly asked him,
old women said pathetically about her, after her death. Her broad,
think, be criticized too severely, for at the slightest acquaintance with
“the hetaira.” But Grushenka was a more familiar figure to the ladies of
notes and gold coins of which that sum was made up, and those very notes
him more than Thyself! Respecting him less, Thou wouldst have asked less
till the evening before implicitly believed that Katerina Ivanovna had a
Chapter VI. The First Interview With Smerdyakov
“And I of you,” said Alyosha, smiling and pressing his hand.
had never read a single book. The two merchants looked respectable, but
he is tasting the new wine. Why do you wonder at me? I gave an onion to a
Moscow, two years before. Lise was extremely touched by his story. Alyosha
the burial, he devoted himself to “religion,” and took to reading the
his intercession by a suggestion of hope. The suggestion, it is true, was
mine. We will go out. I have a word to say to you in earnest, but not
“Stay”—he got up from the sofa—“an hour ago I took that new towel from
slur on his honor. And three weeks ago, Dmitri seized him by the beard in
I knew he kept under his pillow, ready for Grushenka, I considered as
hundred roubles was needed, but there was a discount of about two hundred
“That’s very difficult to decide, Dmitri Fyodorovitch, what makes a man
is. Then there would be an end to my sufferings. I like being doctored
passage. They went into that room and lighted a tallow candle. The hut was
Anticipating events I can say at least one thing: he was at that moment on
have—coffee?”
perhaps prepared a free‐and‐easy opening for the conversation on his way,
Smerdyakov was silent and still scanned Ivan with the same insolent stare.
taken from his own words by Alexey Fyodorovitch Karamazov.
The whole court was thrown into confusion. I don’t remember everything as
gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Has it not lasted nineteen
to. Dear little brother, I don’t want to corrupt you or to turn you from
russian!”
Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and
founded Troy?” to which Dardanelov had made a very vague reply, referring
analysis of reason and common sense. And so they set up before us a false
tone, and even his manner, and at once rose to pathos. The audience seemed
once, as he felt fearfully exhausted. And he did fall asleep at once, and
me, eh? Did you really mean to shoot yourself to‐morrow, you stupid? No,
And most likely he would have come to me early to‐morrow, and perhaps have
When Mitya was summoned from his cell, he always went downstairs, to the
teeth.
instead of giving a firm foundation for setting the conscience of man at
the course of years to expiate his cowardice.”
were only one tiny bit of evidence, a mere hint at evidence, it did go
you of the hymn. They’ll say I’m out of my mind or a fool. I am not out of
“What of it?” Kolya thought fit to defend himself, though the praise was
Mitya, and what was particularly striking, this was a surprise even to the
Pavlovitch, and what do you want with virtue? Why do you want to go
wilderness, and we are told in the books that he “tempted” Thee. Is that
“Precisely. I have cross‐examined him several times,” Nikolay Parfenovitch
hearts, though I can’t bear any one’s being jealous of me. I can’t endure
man well have remembered for twenty‐three years how he ran in his father’s
lots of kites flapping and whirling. There were as many as thirty in
‘Fyodor Pavlovitch, our papa,’ he said, ‘was a pig, but his ideas were
moment the thought struck him that Dmitri was mad.
him to bed. They wrapped a wet towel round his head. Exhausted by the
passionate people have a line which mustn’t be crossed. If it were, he’d
Sounds of approval and laughter, at the expense of the prosecutor, were
appropriated. “I’ve been a scoundrel to one of them, and I shall be a
Good‐by. It’s no use talking! It’s not amusing. You go your way and I
them, his hands behind his back. The Poles looked severe but were
her himself? And that’s not all, either. I can tell you more than that. I
justice, a respect for woman and a recognition of her right to love. And
to the sainted man whom you reverence so highly,” he wrote in conclusion.
“What’s more, Smerdyakov at the inquiry volunteered the statement that it
harmony altogether. It’s not worth the tears of that one tortured child
mistrustfulness concealed under a mask of _naïveté_, and an intelligence
feel sorry for him? What then?”
on me. I feel I am going to have a fit. I have a presentiment. Fright
deal from previous conversations and added them to it.
the table, leaned his head on his hands and pronounced this strange
Grushenka for a moment. All this was explained afterwards in detail, and
Parfenovitch had left the young ladies and run in, looking strenuous and
fouled by flies, let’s pass to my tragedy, also befouled by flies, that is
going to call her husband, but suddenly realized that when she had got up,
“That ... it’s not the coat. It’s only a little here on the sleeve.... And
Man will be lifted up with a spirit of divine Titanic pride and the man‐
so pleased? Yes, I believe it was because I was so pleased ... though it’s
for life, and I go on living in spite of logic. Though I may not believe
had happened a year before, when he accidentally fell from the garret.
down so low over the open grave that the boys caught hold of his coat in
move calmly and majestically to its goal. In your hands is the fate of my
“It’s a monk come to beg for the monastery. A nice place to come to!” the
And how shall I, too, put up with the rabble out there, though they may be
argument to a tenth of what it would be. Still we’d better keep to the
Smerdyakov smiled contemptuously.
envelope? No, if the robber had been some one like me, he’d simply have
persisted in accusing him and declaring that he had committed the crime
when he ran to her, she grasped his hand tightly.
Saying, “It’s a shame, sir, to strike a sick man,” he dried his eyes with
his position.... To begin with, he was sore at having been so glad of the
against an unjustly oppressive force. Society cuts him off completely by a
“Upon my word, you don’t suppose they won’t acquit him?” one of our young
neighbors. That there was no law of nature that man should love mankind,
earlier!” Andrey, a lanky, red‐haired, middle‐aged driver, wearing a full‐
a pail of water from the passage. First he wetted his own head, then,
your hands like this, till it hurts—you remember how in Moscow I used to
his face to the ground, stretched out his arms and as though in joyful
feelings are another matter. You see, gentlemen”—Mitya frowned—“it seems
only was he unable to release him, but there was not and could not be on
confession, for that’s all you want. You didn’t want to hear about God,
http://www.pglaf.org.
from her seat.
however many houses have been passed, he will still think there are many
He had gone back to his original tone of resentful buffoonery. Alyosha
596‐1887, email business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date
just now. Let us wait a minute and then go back.”
“Tut, tut, tut! Bethinking thyself and the rest of the rigmarole. Bethink
description of all you did yesterday, from the morning onwards? Allow us,
gazed enchanted at the toy. The sensation was even greater when Kolya
shall be purified, gentlemen? But listen, for the last time, I am not
murderers have done that, but what sin have you committed yet, that you
“Listen, listen!” cried Kalganov, bubbling over, “if he’s telling lies—and
State it will be difficult for him, in opposition to the Church all over
in placing his “favorite” with the widow Morozov was that the old woman
after reading the paper.
Alyosha was mysteriously summoned by a monk to see Rakitin, who had
movement in the old man’s face. He started.
but that by to‐morrow morning, if the present remedies were unavailing, he
copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works
heart, but Nastasya Petrovna,’ she would say, ‘is of the brood of hell.’
Grushenka for the last three or four days; he hopes she’ll come for the
Mitya, run and find his Maximov.”
that the Roman Catholic movement of the last centuries is actually nothing
“Ivan, Ivan! Water, quickly! It’s like her, exactly as she used to be
was wandering along through the rooms in excited expectation of hearing
lighted room, she must be behind the screen; and the unhappy man would
persuade him to sell them outright. But Mitya would not consent, so the
heart needs? He needs sunshine, childish play, good examples all about
“You sit down, too,” said he.
“Run, run away from the rails,” the boys cried to Kolya from the bushes,
“Three years ago?” asked the elder.
frenzy of the luckless man worn out with jealousy and nervous exhaustion,
comfort the heart.... Without them, sorrow would be too heavy for men to
Madame Hohlakov screamed and shut her eyes.
cheeks betrayed at the first glance that she was ill. But what struck
“I do not know what saint. I do not know, and can’t tell. I was deceived.
of his destiny. He drove away any other idea, in fact. But for that ending
In truth if they don’t say this (for they don’t know how to say this yet),
satisfy you. Come, put on your cap, Alexey Fyodorovitch, and I’ll put on
Chapter VII. “It’s Always Worth While Speaking To A Clever Man”
men.”
spontaneously.
Alyosha shook hands with her. Grushenka was still crying. He saw that she
feature was working in her utterly distorted face.
confirmed the suspicion. The man knew—indeed his mistress did not conceal
Father Païssy’s reading the Gospel. It is worthy of note, too, that no one
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