3 Grushenka.
you forgive? I will murder the man who’s robbed me! I’ll leave you
He went in and said straight out, ‘There is no God.’ To which the great
I run away, even with money and a passport, and even to America, I should
“Of course I must wake him. My business is too important. I’ve come in
rule men if not he who holds their conscience and their bread in his
To angels—vision of God’s throne,
are not washed. In the words of the Church Ritual: “If any one of the
dare bid against them. The priest at Ilyinskoe wrote to me last Thursday
Alyosha could have hugged him, he was so pleased. But glancing at him he
Alyosha was amazed at the change that had taken place in her in three
“Write down at once ... at once ... ‘that I snatched up the pestle to go
too talked, perhaps even told something themselves. Besides, Father
gently to her). And, indeed, was it to make wine abundant at poor weddings
“He speaks.”
“You do that, _panie_,” said Mitya, recognizing with despair that all was
swallowed up every sensation that might have been aroused, and, if only he
jealous now _on purpose_. Am I blind? Don’t I see? He began talking to me
“No, no! Alexey Fyodorovitch, have you come from him?”
beautiful in another way then. At that moment she was beautiful because
the means of saving us. Perhaps we may even grow wicked later on, may be
began breathing into his mouth, which was putrid and loathsome from some
your wits about you. You will burn and you will burn out; you will be
window. I remember that very well. I ran across the garden to the fence
although mamma muddles things ... she always rushes from one thing to
rigid a fast as Father Ferapont should “see marvels.” His words seemed
exhausted voice:
stain for them. And now I feel God near, my heart rejoices as in Heaven
He noticed this remark with some surprise, but did not answer it.
ladies were oblivious even of dress. Their faces betrayed hysterical,
told us, altogether we’ve asked you, why, in the first place, you halved
knew where the old man kept it hidden, I didn’t know ...” Mitya was
Mitya.
“Then you know what for. It’s different for other people; but we in our
have nothing left of all that was sacred of old. But they have only
curiosity was obviously aroused. But, unluckily, he advised their going on
questions Katerina Ivanovna replied firmly that she had been formerly
Man his loathsomeness displays.”
“Tell me, what made you hope that I should be the one to find him?” Kolya
with a tone of voice that only a shopman could use.
general. Though the guests did not interrupt Father Zossima much, yet they
exile; so his share of the inheritance would come to you and your brother
Chapter VI. Precocity
semblance of Christ! ‘What measure ye mete so it shall be meted unto you
legitimate sons. They had everything, he nothing. They had all the rights,
clear; but the thought in it was to some extent right.
Neither the next day, when the alarm was raised, nor at any time after in
“Very well.”
and so on. His attitude to the personal aspect of the case, to its tragic
“What blood?” asked Grushenka, bewildered.
boy, eat a sweetmeat.”
“No, you’ve contracted for the job and turned out a scamp. You’re a
interest, that every one was burning with impatience for the trial to
to see what you’ll be by that time. It’s rather a solemn promise, you see.
most conspicuous place. For some seconds he examined the prostrate figure
“Here,” he said quietly.
“I don’t understand you!”
it had been with Samsonov, not trying to allure the lady with the
penny from me. I’ll speak to my merchant too’ (that’s what she calls her
whether the lady was still up, the porter could give no answer, except
middle finger. He fixed his teeth in it and it was ten seconds before he
the huts were burnt down, there were only the charred beams sticking up.
“How was it you came just now, eh? Have you walked in!... I was
making the sign of the cross at each of the four walls and four corners of
emancipation. Fyodor Pavlovitch at once began bustling about, making
instantly, and knowing that it referred to Grigory.
gentlemanly person and live as I can, trying to make myself agreeable. I
examined, the counsel for the defense positively fastened upon him when
If any one had looked at Alyosha standing a step behind the elder, he
cheeks. The captain rushed up to her.
have given me a punch in the face on the spot, but you were not a bit
emphatically repeated that he considered the prisoner’s mental condition
could conceive such an audacious, savage act, and carry it out, tells
true, Mitya? How dare you? Am I for sale?”
last Mihail Makarovitch, who had been absent, came hurriedly into the
judging, take it at once, suffer for him yourself, and let him go without
“If I’d guessed, I should have stayed,” cried Ivan.
...”
“It’s so trivial, so ordinary.”
Father Zossima’s blessing, there had been an old woman from the town, a
sideways to them and gazed at the wall, struggling against a feeling of
who looked at her uneasily. But her face reassured him at once. After the
work miracles?” exclaimed Rakitin, genuinely surprised again.
on the first day of his arrival, then he had visited him once more, a
any one, the silly fool won’t hurt any one again. But I say, Fenya,” he
“Then it’s for the salvation of my soul you are working, is it, you
the last hour he didn’t know. That must be said to his credit. He had no
and he has forgotten us, he has married. Now he is a widower, he has
really are not like every one else, here you are not ashamed to confess to
Nikolay Parfenovitch Nelyudov, the young investigating lawyer, who had
“The elder, the splendid elder, the elder! The honor and glory of the
dejected but quite cheerful.”
child!’ she cries, holding out her hands to Him. The procession halts, the
Book VI. The Russian Monk
“All! All!” cried Mitya. “Trifon Borissovitch, some more bottles!”
into Mihailovsky Street, which is divided by a small ditch from the High
He blessed them all and bowed low to them.
act of heroic virtue, and you don’t believe in virtue; that’s what
yourselves, Fathers, I will go. But I will take my son, Alexey, away from
away, Marya Kondratyevna.”
her tears. Alyosha fancied that he too had tears in his eyes. “There, you
“Yes.”
“Why, that boy came in riding on that one’s back and this one on that
venomous voice, answered:
I quite meant to. I wanted to so much, that I bribed Rakitin to bring you.
His anger had returned with the last words.
examined. I believe absolutely that my brother is innocent, and if he
1.D.
He suddenly clutched his head.
up straight in it and looked intently at her blackened finger and at the
seeking and laying down those foundations, he had looked upon them as a
its members.’ Secondly, that ‘criminal and civil jurisdiction ought not to
fact down as a secondary confirmation of the circumstance that he had
timid, pleading smile appeared on his lips at once, and with an
taught. Besides, what I said just now about the classics being translated
by it than the monk who had come the day before from St. Sylvester, from
at him, and seemed unable to speak.
“Good‐by, chickens, I go with my heart at rest. And you, granny,” he added
“But he went away, and within an hour of his young master’s departure
to Mitya.
Mechanically he stepped into the garden. Perhaps he fancied something,
and dangerous. What he needed was to feel that there was _another_ man, an
to be atoms, five senses, four elements, and then everything hung together
spare me, if you let me go, I will pray for you. I will be a better man. I
market‐place. His room was poor, but bright and clean. He made me sit
been clear till then. Here we have a different psychology. I have
Makarovitch was a widower, he did not live alone. His widowed daughter
impossible, fantastic schemes occur first, and seem most practical.
dream I have sometimes, you know.... I often dream it—it’s always the same
There are the two hundred roubles, and I swear you must take them
sofa observed in his direction.
“And you imagine he would have accepted such a deed as a substitute for
town the morning before to get his pay. He was instructed to avoid raising
am a bug, and I recognize in all humility that I cannot understand why the
downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating
“But if there were none but the ecclesiastical court, the Church would not
forgotten, and when the elder entered the cell again, he found his guests
went off into a roar of laughter. “Would you like to go to the mines,
soul’s salvation, or perhaps he will suddenly set fire to his native
incomplete and fragmentary. Biographical details, for instance, cover only
but I will do so at the very beginning, for it is my weakness to go to
defender and helper. I was half an hour praying in tears, and it was late,
Tatar and say he was a Christian? That would mean that the Almighty would
him is not even a romance—this is a sphinx setting us a riddle which he
who used to flourish in the times of serfdom. He had unmistakably been, at
go into a nunnery. No, I really shall one day, Alyosha said something to
dreams are sometimes seen not by writers, but by the most ordinary people,
hundred? I insist upon that question, Dmitri Fyodorovitch.”
saving of you, especially of your boy—and you ought to go quickly, before
he committed the murder for the sake of gain only, would he have left the
equality with the guests, he did not greet them with a bow.
And he ran out into the passage. He didn’t want to cry, but in the passage
“Don’t you think so?”
further, but from Ippolit Kirillovitch’s eyes he saw that he had not given
tears.
his conscience: ‘I steal,’ he says, ‘but I don’t go against the Church.
“He is proud,” he used to say, “he will never be in want of pence; he has
interesting thoughts on this theme.
“No, she won’t come to‐day; there are signs. She’s certain not to come,”
for this timorous man, and always treated him with marked respect, though
solely because he desired to believe and possibly he fully believed in his
whole life will slip away like a phantom. In that case you will naturally
to come then and say, ‘Alexandr Alexandrovitch is a man of the noblest
and pompous speeches. Grushenka simply laughed, and gave her former
of considerable range. The prosecutor was too simple in taking him for
from his sores with a pot‐sherd—and for no object except to boast to the
shall be purified, gentlemen? But listen, for the last time, I am not
from the church to the graveyard, the canticle “What earthly joy...”
reader—that is listener. Why should an author forego even one listener?”
“Joking? I was told at the elder’s yesterday that I was joking. You know,
Ilusha. She took away his little cannon and he gave it to her,” the
the monks agreed beforehand, saying, “I’ll confess I lost my temper with
as any one says a word from the heart to her—it makes her forget
them into a rope in a minute, and braces besides, and why go on burdening
depression so vexatious and irritating was that it had a kind of casual,
It is, of course, perfectly evident that there was even more likelihood of
only that I don’t know how to destroy you and I see I must suffer for a
He looked round the summer‐house, which somehow struck him as a great deal
in the most naïve way Grushenka’s offer to sit with him. They all went to
talks! How he talks!”
now, here—when I said that if there were no God He would have to be
the very eve of an attack of brain fever. Though his health had long been
“And for what reason can _this_ have happened,” some of the monks said, at
was not the same, and had never been in any envelope. By strict
He bent his head, and hid his face in his hands. The lawyers were silent.
my last night.”
a question—for instance, what year it is?”
upon you as my best friends at this moment of my life, at this moment when
have to let it off on me, Alexey, man of God!” said Rakitin, with a smile
be an offense to Christ. For such as those I have prayed inwardly all my
“What can I do for you, _panie_?” lisped the little Pole.
“Eye‐Witness.” These paragraphs, it was said, were so interesting and
portraits—one of some prince who had been governor of the district thirty
seals of red sealing‐wax on the envelope, but it had been torn open and
eternal life?”
the _coup d’état_ of December, I happened to be calling in Paris on an
which made all his schoolfellows from the bottom class to the top want to
about a criminal being taken to execution, about it being still far off,
“If you have to choose between the two, father or son, you’d better choose
dressed. It was a rather warm night in May. As he went down the steps, he
shall struggle with my heart. You see, Alyosha, I’ve grown to love my
almost believing it himself. He was so touched he was almost weeping. But
talking in our mansion without mamma and the girls taking part in it.
could not go on for emotion. “Oh, I understand the people’s love for you.
Through the pale darkness of the night loomed a solid black mass of
was in his heart,” Alyosha continued, “that he might find in his heart
Chapter VI. Smerdyakov
then not only from men, as now, but from Christ. By his crime he would
“Dear Father, God reward you, our benefactor, who prays for all of us and
Frenchman described hell: ‘_J’ai bu l’ombre d’un cocher qui avec l’ombre
“Consider yourself, Grigory Vassilyevitch,” Smerdyakov went on, staid and
in due time. Yet even when I did know of this special circumstance I still
about our affairs. Show yourself to him.”
Chapter I. They Arrive At The Monastery
article dealt with a subject which was being debated everywhere at the
far more than you do yourself, and there’s no need for you to tell me
But, before God, I repeat to you, I am innocent of my father’s blood! For
that he did stop, instead of passing by, as he meant to the minute before,
of prosperity! But he had at home an old silver watch which had long
Famusov in the last scene of _Sorrow from Wit_. You are Tchatsky and she
capricious and tearful and insane! And now I can get a servant with this
home.”
handkerchiefs. So that when the noise died down, the President confined
She took a glass, Alyosha took his, tasted it and put it back.
but later, during the last month especially, Mitya had hardly called at
the army, he still had mustaches and no beard. His dark brown hair was
come not only to make His great terrible sacrifice. She knew that His
allow me, ‘For my little chicken’ ... yes—three thousand!” he shouted, “do
was never separated from it; in very truth I was keeping that book “for
and a genius. Remember that! The people will meet the atheist and overcome
what he was, and what happened? He took it, he took it, and squandered it
her and the invalid herself fully believed as a truth beyond question that
good‐by. Get well. Is there anything you want?”
“Then I didn’t quite understand you,” said Katerina Ivanovna slowly,
happened?” Ivan shouted suddenly, for some unknown reason raising his
“Take off your coat,” Smerdyakov conceded.
to find out where she was. That’s a fact that can’t be disputed. Had she
was completely laid up by his lumbago. Fyodor Pavlovitch finished his tea
with an intent, almost uncanny fixity. An expression of wonder, almost of
every one in the town went to it. It was the same this time. After dinner
an attack _on purpose_. But, if it were on purpose, the question arises at
completely. I made up my mind to write to the papers to thank him, I was
extraordinary heat telling his wife or one of his household how he has
To this Grushenka firmly and quietly replied:
“What a dear, charming boy he is!”
signs of a spiritual transformation in her, and a steadfast, fine and
I will only observe that from the first moments of the trial one peculiar
what you want, you saucy jackanapes!”
replied that he had meant to offer the “little chap,” not money, but a
Chapter VII. “It’s Always Worth While Speaking To A Clever Man”
been the only person in the world with whom she was so. Of late, when
were there, too,’ they said, ‘you helped, you’re known all over the
downwards on the ground, he sobbed like a little child, shaken by his
Alyosha suddenly smiled a forced smile.
“From the little Obdorsk monastery, from St. Sylvester,” the monk answered
though impatient and weary, her face rather pale and her lips and eyes
absolved, reconciled, exhorted, imposed penance, blessed, and dismissed
America already?”
Is there beauty in Sodom? Believe me, that for the immense mass of mankind
into her eyes. Alyosha at once saw it and felt a pang of sympathy. His
himself in time. Mitya, it is true, had not heard him.
passion for Mitya, in spite of his crime. Her pride and “aristocratic
“It isn’t possible. You are very clever. You are fond of money, I know
here all is formulated and geometrical, while we have nothing but
Unjustly and angrily. He must come back here, come back,” Alyosha kept
been minutely remembered to this day in our town and all the surrounding
peculiarly horrifying in it for us? We are so accustomed to such crimes!
staggered back. Grushenka walked suddenly and noiselessly into the room.
used to say in the old comedies, ‘kindly be seated,’ ” and with a rapid
expiate everything by this secret agony.” But that hope, too, was vain;
afraid now to be inquisitive:
slip, no one all my life will answer me. How can I prove it? How can I
like two enemies in love with one another. Katerina Ivanovna’s “returns”
be admitted without difficulty. Things were managed in our little town, as
Chapter I. The Fatal Day
and which he did not dare confess even to me. I must confess I did think
“The Pan Captain has heard of Pan Podvysotsky, perhaps?”
it to me. Wine doesn’t give peace. Everything’s going round, the stove,
“Nonsense!” he went out of the hospital.
long reclining chair. She had a charming little face, rather thin from
past been so tactless as to show this contempt before his mother, hinting
Over the hurdle in the garden, Dmitri, mounted on something, was leaning
“Agrafena Alexandrovna?” The inn‐keeper understood at once, looking
will be fun. He can lie somewhere at our feet. Will you lie at our feet,
shall open all your letters and read them, so you may as well be
Marfa Ignatyevna had tasted the stuff, too, and, being unused to strong
many new habits and opinions that I was transformed into a cruel, absurd,
under some floor, in some corner, under the roof. With what object? I
and he was in the same dress as he had worn yesterday sitting with them,
fits from which he had suffered before at moments of strain, might be
strength, which kept him up through this long conversation. It was like a
himself very shortly or send a letter, and that she was to go home and
Mitya fumed with rage.
“Who is stupid? Of whom are you talking, brother?” Alyosha asked anxiously
At last he found the house in Lake Street. It was a decrepit little house,
loathed. It all dawned upon him suddenly and became clear. Just before,
can judge a criminal, until he recognizes that he is just such a criminal
“What Piron?” cried Mitya.
up alone in impatient and hysterical expectation of the object of his
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direction of his terrible lady.
fervently, almost frantically. “That’s the chief question—that’s my most
his turn came to question him. It must be noted that Grigory entered the
to some ordinary worldly conversation, it would be meanness, but when her
but at once leapt up and began ferociously returning their fire. Both
would. He jumped up and ran homewards again. But it was not far off and
time bore traces of something that testified unmistakably to the life he
him to take his name up, it was evident that they were already aware of
You are working for the whole, you are acting for the future. Seek no
She was, of course, at once asked what ground she had for such a definite
woman to be given “to some one poorer than me.” Such offerings, always of
“Nuts?”
“She won’t. She won’t. She won’t. She won’t on any account!”
cast‐iron posts. Of course I grasped the position at once. She walked in
pronounces her _bon jugement_. Similar plays, chiefly from the Old
it. ‘I am a useless cripple, no good to any one.’ As though she were not
explain or justify my hero, I see that some explanation is necessary for
know where to seat them, for every ticket had long since been eagerly
cruelly all that month. But of that later....
Oh, that’s nothing, nothing, there’s still a whole street before him, and
boys remembered it. Kolya Krassotkin was the foremost of them.
legs, shaking his head, lifting him up and making him sit on the bench.
must have been not men but gods. They had borne Thy cross, they had
made his way homewards. But his steps became more and more hurried, he
terrible disgrace in store for me.” (As he said “here,” Dmitri struck his
to him! And you’ve really not succeeded in finding that dog? His father
and the whole institution of “elders,” which he regarded as a pernicious
appetite to you. I will decline, and not you. Home, home, I’ll eat at
“Why, to‐day he told me that a fool would visit me and would ask me
fault. We’ll go to Siberia together!’ So you already believed him to have
“Ideas, ideas, that’s all! Ethics! What is ethics?”
childish impressions grew dimmer, though I forgot nothing. I picked up so
“There is a strength to endure everything,” Ivan said with a cold smile.
“But can you possibly have thought of all that on the spot?” cried Ivan,
Grigory know beforehand; he will be sure not to let him in.”
say.”
“You are lying, your aim is to convince me you exist apart and are not my
thought you were not timid with him, you’d twist him round your little
Though swollen and red and tender!
submissiveness and the effect of this humility, they will attain at last,
in your hands.
desire’?... Tell me, did you think then that I desired father’s death or
said slowly, in a soft and almost compassionate tone. “But all this, if
That was what my heart whispered to me at once. You came in and all grew
worth!”
such a moment, that’s unnatural; he ran to find out whether the only
carried off his feet by noble ideals, but only if they come of themselves,
of the audience were fastened upon him. He began very simply and directly,
turned pale, his lips quivered, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
“So now you can build up your tower,” Mitya broke off, and again turned
“We have to make ... in brief, I beg you to come this way, this way to the
Here is my question: Is it true, great Father, that the story is told
brought me to you.... So now to this priest!”
At last he goes up slowly, sets the light on the table and speaks.
fixedly at him, at the bundle of notes in his hand; looked at Grushenka,
on the impulse of the moment. All of a sudden she would say to him: “Take
“Here is her note.” Alyosha took it out of his pocket. Mitya looked
benefactress.”
“Why did you tell a lie, pretending we are thrashed?” asked Smurov.
hands. “I have never given him money, never! Oh, run, run!... Don’t say
Alyosha looked at him in silence.
tormenting me! Why do you interfere, as if I should believe that you
reproach. And even if the law itself makes you his judge, act in the same
always silent. It’s God that’s worrying me. That’s the only thing that’s
“Karamazov’s a riddle to me all the same. I might have made his
lie.
“No, I don’t want it to belong to both of us, I want it to be mine
was hidden in that house, not long before the arrest, in some crevice,
Sohn. It is von Sohn himself, risen from the dead. Why, how did you tear
group was talking eagerly about something, apparently holding a council.
noble hearts. We three here are gentlemen, and let everything be on the
“Is that all?”
describing, often in one word, his own sensations. Dmitri listened in
“_His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do
I am bound to my dear.
“Bravo! Now give me the pistols. Upon my honor I’ve no time now. I should
respectable family, and taken under the protection of a wealthy old man,
And he even began blubbering. He was sentimental. He was wicked and
from Dmitri ever since their first meeting. For even that first meeting
“Yes, he told me, ‘Don’t tell him.’ It’s you that Mitya’s most afraid of.
the fact came to be remembered and established that “at midday, on the day
asked them all to sit down. The blood rushed to Alyosha’s cheeks. He was
was expected, who had come from Moscow, where he had a great reputation.
Mitya cried suddenly.
might have escaped his doom or, at least, that doom would have been less
Chapter II. The Injured Foot
“She was terribly scared.
Charming pictures.
everywhere, seen everything, talked to everybody, knew every detail of the
Dmitri Fyodorovitch himself.
if only with Grigory. This afternoon he was in a particularly good‐humored
voice continued. “Why don’t you go on?”
“Not an easy job? Why not?”
efforts. The priest said nothing, the sleepy forester looked gloomy.
“No, I don’t believe,” whispered Smerdyakov.
ready to flay you alive, I tell you, every one of them, all these angels
away’—you hear that; so he had thought everything out, weighing every
an outcry over those three thousand being lost, even if I’d been
father had entered the prisoner’s head, and illustrated his theory with
“Good‐by. You are a nice chap, that you are.”
of all her doings.
made against him, had brought forward nothing in his defense, while the
“Never mind. I want to suffer too,” muttered Alyosha.
last button on a cuff, as I swear Leo Tolstoy has never invented. Yet such
know, you innocent boy, that this is all delirium, senseless delirium, for
“Don’t be afraid of Ivan either. He is angry, but he’ll defend you.”
the peasant he had knocked down, still lying senseless and motionless. The
“You did send it flying. I may well remember. You must have left three
documents, ‘Krassotkin son.’ ” Kolya laughed for some reason, but added
bare thee, and the paps that gave thee suck—the paps especially. When you
arms was a little baby crying. And her breasts seemed so dried up that
Her one hope.... Oh, go, go!...”
forgotten? You’ve no great memory if you’ve forgotten me. They told us you
“Yes,” answered Alyosha, who had in truth only eaten a piece of bread and
another victim out of pity; then he would have felt differently; his
captain’s wife sitting in her arm‐chair, who was very ill‐humored at the
was not more than thirty‐three, and had been five years a widow. Her
him but despair—for what chance had he, with nothing in the world, to
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