The Cherry Orchard / Вишневый сад. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Trofimov. Some one’s coming.

Enter aTrampin an old white peaked cap and overcoat. He is a little drunk.

Tramp. Excuse me, may I go this way straight through to the station?

Gaev. You may. Go along this path.

Tramp. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. [Hiccups] Lovely weather… [Declaims] My brother, my suffering brother… Come out on the Volga, you whose groans… [ToVarya] Mademoiselle, please give a hungry Russian thirty copecks…

Varyascreams, frightened.

Lopakhin.

[Angrily] There’s manners everybody’s got to keep!

Lubov. [With a start] Take this… here you are… [Feels in her purse] There’s no silver… It doesn’t matter, here’s gold.

Tramp. I am deeply grateful to you!

[Exit. Laughter.]

Varya. [Frightened] I’m going, I’m going… Oh, little mother, at home there’s nothing for the servants to eat, and you gave him gold.

Lubov. What is to be done with such a fool as I am! At home I’ll give you everything I’ve got.

Ermolai Alexeyevitch, lend me some more!..

Lopakhin. Very well.

Lubov. Let’s go, it’s time. And Varya, we’ve settled your affair; I congratulate you.

Varya. [Crying] You shouldn’t joke about this, mother.

Lopakhin. Oh, feel me, get thee to a nunnery.

Gaev. My hands are all trembling; I haven’t played billiards for a long time.

Lopakhin. Oh, feel me, nymph, remember me in thine orisons.

Lubov.

Come along; it’ll soon be supper-time.

Varya. He did frighten me. My heart is beating hard.

Lopakhin. Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, on August 22 the cherry orchard will be sold. Think of that!… Think of that!..

All go out exceptTrofimovandAnya.

Anya. [Laughs] Thanks to the tramp who frightened Barbara, we’re alone now.

Trofimov. Varya’s afraid we may fall in love with each other and won’t get away from us for days on end. Her narrow mind won’t allow her to understand that we are above love.

To escape all the petty and deceptive things which prevent our being happy and free, that is the aim and meaning of our lives. Forward! We go irresistibly on to that bright star which burns there, in the distance! Don’t lag behind, friends!

Anya. [Clapping her hands] How beautifully you talk! [Pause] It is glorious here today!

Trofimov. Yes, the weather is wonderful.

Anya.