Chapter II: A Song

Stand before your judge-- And your legs will quake! Stand before the priest On your wedding-day,-- How your head will ache! How your head will ache! You will call to mind Songs of long ago, Songs of gloom and woe: Telling how the guests 10 Crowd into the yard, Run to see the bride Whom the husband brings Homeward at his side. How his parents both Fling themselves on her; How his brothers soon Call her "wasteful one"; How his sisters next Call her "giddy one"; 20 How his father growls, "Greedy little bear!" How his mother snarls, "Cannibal!" at her. She is "slovenly" And "disorderly," She's a "wicked one"!

"All that's in the song
Happened now to me.
Do you know the song? 30
Have you heard it sung?"

"Yes, we know it well; Gossip, you begin, We will all join in."

_Matrona_

So sleepy, so weary I am, and my heavy head Clings to the pillow. But out in the passage My Father-in-law Begins stamping and swearing. 40

_Peasants in Chorus_

Stamping and swearing!
Stamping and swearing!
He won't let the poor woman
Rest for a moment.
Up, up, up, lazy-head!
Up, up, up, lie-abed!
Lazy-head!
Lie-abed!
Slut!

_Matrona_

So sleepy, so weary 50 I am, and my heavy head Clings to the pillow; But out in the passage My Mother-in-law Begins scolding and nagging.

_Peasants in Chorus_

Scolding and nagging!
Scolding and nagging!
She won't let the poor woman
Rest for a moment.
Up, up, up, lazy-head! 60
Up, up, up, lie-abed!
Lazy-head!
Lie-abed!
Slut!

"A quarrelsome household It was--that of Philip's To which I belonged now; And I from my girlhood Stepped straight into Hell. My husband departed 70 To work in the city, And leaving, advised me To work and be silent, To yield and be patient: 'Don't splash the red iron With cold water--it hisses!' With father and mother And sisters-in-law he Now left me alone; Not a soul was among them 80 To love or to shield me, But many to scold. One sister-in-law-- It was Martha, the eldest,-- Soon set me to work Like a slave for her pleasure. And Father-in-law too One had to look after, Or else all his clothes To redeem from the tavern. 90 In all that one did There was need to be careful, Or Mother-in-law's Superstitions were troubled (One never could please her). Well, some superstitions Of course may be right; But they're most of them evil. And one day it happened That Mother-in-law 100 Murmured low to her husband That corn which is stolen Grows faster and better. So Father-in-law Stole away after midnight.... It chanced he was caught, And at daybreak next morning Brought back and flung down Like a log in the stable.

"But I acted always 110
As Philip had told me:
I worked, with the anger
Hid deep in my bosom,
And never a murmur
Allowed to escape me.
And then with the winter
Came Philip, and brought me
A pretty silk scarf;
And one feast-day he took me
To drive in the sledges; 120
And quickly my sorrows
Were lost and forgotten:
I sang as in old days
At home, with my father.
For I and my husband
Were both of an age,
And were happy together
When only they left us
Alone, but remember
A husband like Philip 130
Not often is found."

"Do you mean to say
That he never once beat you?"

Matrona was plainly
Confused by the question;
"Once, only, he beat me,"
She said, very low.

"And why?" asked the peasants.

"Well, you know yourselves, friends, How quarrels arise 140 In the homes of the peasants. A young married sister Of Philip's one day Came to visit her parents. She found she had holes In her boots, and it vexed her. Then Philip said, 'Wife, Fetch some boots for my sister.' And I did not answer At once; I was lifting 150 A large wooden tub, So, of course, couldn't speak. But Philip was angry With me, and he waited Until I had hoisted The tub to the oven, Then struck me a blow With his fist, on my temple.

"'We're glad that you came, But you see that you'd better 160 Keep out of the way,' Said the other young sister To her that was married.

"Again Philip struck me!

"'It's long since I've seen you, My dearly-loved daughter, But could I have known How the baggage would treat you!'... Whined Mother-in-law.

"And again Philip struck me! 170

"Well, that is the story.
'Tis surely not fitting
For wives to sit counting
The blows of their husbands,
But then I had promised
To keep nothing back."

"Ah, well, with these women--
The poisonous serpents!--
A corpse would awaken
And snatch up a horsewhip," 180
The peasants say, smiling.

Matrona said nothing.
The peasants, in order
To keep the occasion
In manner befitting,
Are filling the glasses;
And now they are singing
In voices of thunder
A rollicking chorus,
Of husbands' relations, 190
And wielding the knout.

... ...

"Cruel hated husband,
Hark! he is coming!
Holding the knout...."

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!
See the blood spurt!
Ai, leli, leli!
See the blood spurt!"

... ...

"Run to his father!
Bowing before him-- 200
'Save me!' I beg him;
'Stop my fierce husband--
Venomous serpent!'
Father-in-law says,
'Beat her more soundly!
Draw the blood freely!'"

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!
See the blood spurt!
Ai, leli, leli!
See the blood spurt!" 210

... ...

"Quick--to his mother!
Bowing before her--
'Save me!' I beg her;
'Stop my cruel husband!
Venomous serpent!'
Mother-in-law says,
'Beat her more soundly,
Draw the blood freely!'"

_Chorus_

"Hear the lash whistle!
See the blood spurt! 220
Ai, leli, leli!
See the blood spurt!"

* * * * *

"On Lady-day Philip Went back to the city; A little while later Our baby was born. Like a bright-coloured picture Was he--little Djoma; The sunbeams had given Their radiance to him, 230 The pure snow its whiteness; The poppies had painted His lips; by the sable His brow had been pencilled; The falcon had fashioned His eyes, and had lent them Their wonderful brightness. At sight of his first Angel smile, all the anger And bitterness nursed 240 In my bosom was melted; It vanished away Like the snow on the meadows At sight of the smiling Spring sun. And not longer I worried and fretted; I worked, and in silence I let them upbraid. But soon after that A misfortune befell me: 250 The manager by The Pomyeshchick appointed, Called Sitnikov, hotly Began to pursue me. 'My lovely Tsaritsa! 'My rosy-ripe berry!' Said he; and I answered, 'Be off, shameless rascal! Remember, the berry Is not in _your_ forest!' 260 I stayed from the field-work, And hid in the cottage; He very soon found me. I hid in the corn-loft, But Mother-in-law Dragged me out to the courtyard; 'Now don't play with fire, girl!' She said. I besought her To send him away, But she answered me roughly, 270 'And do you want Philip To serve as a soldier?' I ran to Savyeli, The grandfather, begging His aid and advice.

"I haven't yet told you
A word of Savyeli,
The only one living
Of Philip's relations
Who pitied and loved me. 280
Say, friends, shall I tell you
About him as well?"

"Yes, tell us his tale, And we'll each throw a couple Of sheaves in to-morrow, Above what we promised."

"Well, well," says Matrona, "And 'twould be a pity To give old Savyeli No place in the story; 290 For he was a happy one, Too--the old man...."