KATERINA. No, no! Go in God's name! (Boris is about to go up to her.) No, no, enough.
BORIS (sobbing). God be with thee! There's only one thing to pray God for, that she may soon be dead, that she may not be tortured long! Farewell!
KATERINA.
Farewell!
[Boris goes out. Katerina follows him with her eyes and stands for some time, lost in thought.
SCENE IV
KATERINA (alone). Where am I going now? Home? No, home or the grave—it's the same. Yes, home or the grave! … the grave! Better the grave…. A little grave under a tree … how sweet…. The sunshine warms it, the sweet rain falls on it … in the spring the grass grows on it, soft and sweet grass … the birds will fly in the tree and sing, and bring up their little ones, and flowers will bloom; golden, red and blue … all sorts of flowers, (dreamily) all sorts of flowers … how still! how sweet! My heart's as it were lighter! But of life I don't want to think! Live again! No, no, no use … life is not good! … And people are hateful to me, and the house is hateful, and the walls are hateful! I will not go there! No, no, I will not go! If I go to them, they'll come and talk, and what do I want with that? Ah, it has grown dark! And there is singing again somewhere! What are they singing? I can't make out…. To die now…. What are they singing? It is just the same whether death comes, or of myself … but live I cannot! A sin to die so! … they won't pray for me! If anyone loves me he will pray … they will fold my arms crossed in the grave! Oh yes…. I remember. But when they catch me, and take me home by force…. Ah, quickly, quickly! (Goes to the river bank. Aloud) My dear one! My sweet! Farewell! [Exit.
[Enter Mme. Kabanova, Kabanov, Kuligin and workmen with torches.
SCENE V
MME. KABANOVA, KABANOV and KULIGIN.
KULIGIN.
They say she was seen here.
KABANOV.
Is it certain?
KULIGIN.
They say they saw her.
KABANOV.
Thank God, if she has been seen alive.
MME. KABANOVA.
And you in such a fright already and crying over it! There's no need.
She's not worth fretting about! Don't worry yourself, we shall have our
hands full with her for many a long year yet.
KABANOV. Who would have dreamed of her coming here! A place so frequented. No one would ever think of hiding here.
MME. KABANOVA. That's just her way! The shameless hussy! She wants to keep up her character, it seems!
[A crowd with torches collects, coming in from different directions.
ONE OF THE CROWD.
Well, is she found?
MME. KABANOVA.
It seems not. She seems to have vanished into the earth.
SEVERAL VOICES.
How strange! It's a queer thing. And where could she hide?
ONE OF THE CROWD.
Oh, she'll be found!
A SECOND.
Of course she'll be found!
A THIRD.
To be sure, she'll come back of herself.
[A voice behind the scene: "Hi, boat there!"
KULIGIN (from the bank).
Who's calling? What is it?
[The voice: "A woman's thrown herself into the water!" Kuligin and several men after him run out.
SCENE VI
MME. KABANOVA, and KABANOV and Crowd.
KABANOV. Merciful Heavens, it is she! (tries to run off. Mme. Kabanova holds his arm) Mamma, let me go! I will save her! or I too … What can I do without her!
MME. KABANOVA. I'm not going to let you go, and don't you suppose it! Kill yourself on her account; she's worth that, isn't she? As if she'd not brought disgrace enough on us already, to plot to do a thing like this too!
KABANOV.
Let me go!
MME. KABANOVA.
There are plenty to help without you. I'll curse you if you go.
KABANOV (falling on his knees).
Oh, to look upon her at least!
MME. KABANOVA.
They'll pull her out—you'll look upon her, right enough.
KABANOV (gets up. To the crowd).
Well, my lads, do you see anything?
ONE OF THE CROWD.
It's dark down below, there's nothing in sight.
[A noise behind the scene.
A SECOND.
They seemed to be shouting something, but I couldn't make out what.
THE FIRST.
That's Kuligin's voice.
THE SECOND.
They're coming along the bank with torches.
THE FIRST.
They're coming this way, and they're carrying her.
[Several people come back.
ONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME BACK. That Kuligin's a brave fellow! It was close here in a deep pool, near the bank; with the torchlight we could see a long way off in the water; he saw her dress and pulled her out.
KABANOV.
Alive?
THE MAN. How could she be alive? She had thrown herself from the height; the bank is steep there, and she must have fallen upon the anchor, she was so injured, poor thing! But she looks as though she were alive! Only one little wound on the temple, and one single stain of blood on it.
[Kabanov runs across the scene, meets Kuligin with the crowd, carrying in Katerina.
SCENE VII
The Same and KULIGIN.
KULIGIN. Here is your Katerina. You may do what you like with her. Her body is here, take it; but her soul is not yours now; she is before a Judge more merciful than you are, now!
[Lays her on the ground and exit.
KABANOV (rushes to Katerina).
Katia! Katia!
MME. KABANOVA.
Hush! It's a sin even to weep for her!
KABANOV.
Mother, you have murdered her! you! you! you!
MME. KABANOVA. What do you mean? Think what you're saying! You forget whom you're speaking to!
KABANOV.
You have murdered her! you! you!
MME. KABANOVA. Come, I'll talk to you at home. (Bows low to the assembled people) I thank you, good people, for your services! [All bow low.
KABANOV. It is well with you, Katia! But why am I left to live and suffer! [Falls on his wife's body.