From my childhood up when I hear ‘a wee bit,’ I am ready to burst with
presented. The news of Smerdyakov’s death produced a sudden stir and
earlier!” Andrey, a lanky, red‐haired, middle‐aged driver, wearing a full‐
too. Ha ha ha! You’re not angry, gentlemen? You forgive my impertinence?”
to keep the lower classes in slavery. That’s so, isn’t it?”
in the soul, throbs incessantly in the mind, and poisons the heart unto
the Christian ideal, for hitherto neither their subtlety nor the ardor of
“Of course.”
him come here and take your hand and take Ivan’s and join your hands. For
“Nearly twelve.”
great elder, from shame; it’s simply over‐sensitiveness that makes me
an unclean heathen, from heathen parents. The Lord God can’t surely take a
longed for Him to say something, however bitter and terrible. But He
“Tell me, how are things going?”
“Light it, light it, dear, I was a wretch to have prevented you doing it.
her story needs a chapter to itself.
“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted
going to make a scene. She was watching him with intense curiosity and
don’t forgive him! At school they say that he has paid you ten roubles for
Suddenly an extraordinary uproar in the passage in open defiance of
when he ought to; he has his own rule.” It was to avoid the chance of
chastisement for it afterwards; none, that is, but the mechanical
that exist of itself, or is it only an emanation of myself, a logical
“We’ve got it written down,” confirmed Nikolay Parfenovitch.
our teacher Kolbasnikov has said to the whole of the third class.”
one question, he sketched his brother’s character as that of a man,
attain the answer on earth, and may God bless your path.”
lying? They will be convinced that we are right, for they will remember
affection of the heart. But it became known that the doctors had been
Mitya on the road: “ ‘Where,’ says he, ‘am I, Dmitri Fyodorovitch, going,
locusts, you’ll wander into the wilderness to save your soul!”
be glad to see him every day), and always so well dressed. Altogether, I
tavern into the market‐place; at that moment the boys were coming out of
had absolute confidence in his honesty. It happened once, when Fyodor
am surprised to remember that my wrath and revengeful feelings were
with me, with a drunken old man and young harlots ... though you’re like
warm‐hearted sincerity. The “pride and haughtiness,” which had struck
at his father.
pretty certainly that the masculine, as distinguished from the feminine,
an unclean Tatar responsible, Grigory Vassilyevitch, even in heaven, for
in his snares. Trifon Borissovitch, recalled, was forced, in spite of his
of her exquisite lips there was something with which his brother might
state of extreme nervous excitement. She greeted Alyosha with cries of
“I told a lie if you like,” Alyosha laughed, too. “I told a lie so as not
bedroom window was suddenly opened and she called in a ringing voice after
“You will give your evidence honorably,” said Alyosha; “that’s all that’s
eloquence. All this had little to do with the case in hand, to say nothing
you’re yearning for, though you don’t realize it yourself. I am not at all
“The air is fresh, but in my apartment it is not so in any sense of the
her bright eyes! She used to be always crying, but now she laughs and is
it all on me. ‘You were with your Pole before me, so I can’t be blamed for
hundred paces. It was a still, clear day, with a slight frost. The church
their seething youth to hard and tedious study, if only to multiply
“Has he sent me any message? Come up, Alyosha, and you, Ivan Fyodorovitch,
days together, as I know by experience. As soon as any one is near me, his
into the garden was locked at night, and there was no other way of
contemptuously, as though to say, ‘This is how you repay all my kindness!
that last mystic limit beyond which a prank becomes an unpardonable breach
offer at the time by my selfishness, I was loath to part with the
character, he tells us, he couldn’t have had such feelings. But yet he
Kirillovitch’s extraordinary talents as a psychologist and orator and in
1 In Russian, “silen.”
his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But
Katerina Ivanovna flushed hotly.
tongue.”
at once passed on the document to the judges, the jury, and the lawyers on
dissipated life, his unseemly love‐affair, the waste of his youth and
such a path lies open before you! Tears will ease your heart, and later on
description of all you did yesterday, from the morning onwards? Allow us,
impressiveness. He stood in front of the other visitors. He ought—he had
asking my advice. Fyodor Pavlovitch means to go and see him himself. So if
every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love
He was married twice, and had three sons, the eldest, Dmitri, by his first
But before Pyotr Alexandrovitch could think what to answer, the door
away in me. It was perhaps just because ideas I did not understand were
years old, but scarcely standing out through a whole lifetime like spots
himself. His mother did not mind that and only wondered sometimes at
now? What do you think?”
“It would be a capital thing if he didn’t turn up. Do you suppose I like
town and district were soon in his debt, and, of course, had given good
thrown down their cards, all were standing up and talking. Even Nikolay
of deep flame of inner ecstasy burnt more and more strongly in his heart.
practically stole it, but, if you prefer, I ‘appropriated it.’ I consider
like the talk of a drunken man, who, on his return home, begins with
ideas.”
me? Do you love me?” She jumped up and held him with both hands on his
to do with it now! That money was my own, my own, that is, stolen by me
the prisoner had undoubtedly been in a condition of aberration for several
whoever might be driving it. And those were the heroes of an older
wants to buy it and would give eleven thousand.”
some time ago and I couldn’t get anything out of her. Especially as she
for you talked a lot to me about that. For if there’s no everlasting God,
Katerina Ivanovna’s character, that moment will last all her life. What
subscribed the whole of it, and much more, towards the funds for
upon it. The medical line of defense had only been taken up through the
terror. That was what instinctively surprised him.
“Lise!” said her mother impressively, though she smiled after she had said
he added.
during which he had been ill and lost the use of his swollen legs, he had
the monastery, not even Mitya, knew of it. I was told that Rakitin turned
Perezvon. I’ll let him go in now and perhaps it will amuse Ilusha more
to know what had been said, but he was again afraid to ask. Something
laughed, talked to everybody, without knowing what he was doing. Only one
sending for you on the sly, without telling her mother. But forgive me, I
drop of living water (that is the gift of earthly active life) to cool the
awaiting the speeches for the prosecution and the defense with intense
say what you mean at last?”
profligates and insolent beggars among monks. Educated people point to
At that moment another unexpected scene followed. Though Grushenka had
noble hearts. We three here are gentlemen, and let everything be on the
“No, I have no other proof.”
of them. But that’s enough. You can’t suppose I brought you here simply to
“You have done no harm. You behaved beautifully, like an angel,” Madame
talk with Katya in Moscow. I told her about myself—sincerely, honorably.
their true and seemly dignity. I’ve seen it myself, I can testify to it,
fact to his advantage, it was in an absurd and incoherent way. He hardly
though Alyosha had not opened his mouth. “You’ve told me all that before,
better than your Pushkin’s poetry,’ he said, ‘for I’ve managed to advocate
to me, ‘You go, Prohorovna, and put your son’s name down for prayer in the
Hohlakovs, and Katerina Ivanovna, he would not leave the monastery next
scare us with your frenzied troikas from which all the nations stand aside
tried to clothe her better, and always rigged her out with high boots and
or there can be no harmony. But how? How are you going to atone for them?
down, I shall hear and it will cheer me up not to be lying alone.’ ”
“On the double!” shouted Mitya furiously.
an inexperienced thief like Karamazov would have left the envelope on the
throughout his life to put implicit trust in people: yet no one ever
And, bending over him tenderly, she kissed his forehead. Kalganov
to turn me out of her room then. I’ll knock that mysticism out of her,
note handed to him by Madame Hohlakov to come and see her about something.
value, such a young man might, I admit, have avoided what happened to my
altogether, he knew that well already. He suspected, quite correctly, that
Chapter IV. At The Hohlakovs’
a low creature, with uncontrolled passions. He didn’t send your money
will allow us to note that point and write it down; that you looked upon
iron bedstead, with a strip of felt for a mattress. In the corner, under
you’re anathema they won’t pat you on the head for it in hell. What do you
be masters and slaves in the world, so there always will be a little maid‐
of December 1825, in which the most distinguished men in Russia were
me! If only you knew how I prize your opinion!”
masters—far more, indeed. I repeat that, because I am convinced that there
captain, “or I shall be forced to resort to—”
His chief feeling was one of relief at the fact that it was not
an idea made up by men? Then if He doesn’t exist, man is the chief of the
agitated and breathless.
superciliousness. He saw from his face that he really did know and at once
gathered for this probably last conversation with Father Zossima, had all
fixed in the ground, and round it were some green benches upon which it
“Thank her and say I’m not coming,” said Alyosha, with a strained smile.
Alexey Fyodorovitch, I am exceedingly unhappy!”
their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue
the President. He was hurriedly led away amidst the laughter of the
scrupulously twice a day invariably, and was very fond of cleaning his
hast seen these “free” men,’ the old man adds suddenly, with a pensive
deserve you a bit.”
and I had neither. You think I meant to make her an offer? No, I simply
Chapter II. He Gets Rid Of His Eldest Son
might well have seen that the court would at once judge how far he was
tender smile, and gently taking her by the hands; “I only gave you an
“You are in love with disorder?”
Grushenka, he had snatched up a pestle from the mortar, and that when he
but there was a resolute gleam in her dark and gloomy eyes. I may remark
I want my money myself,” cried the old man, waving his hand. “I’ll crush
“You did send it flying. I may well remember. You must have left three
All this time Doctor Herzenstube, who was called in by Katerina Ivanovna,
go?”
table with his fist so that everything on it danced—it was the first time
it did come to pass, though only for a moment. It was exactly the same now
Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
can’t stay here to be their keeper, can I? I’ve finished what I had to do,
having dances), her eyes watching me. I saw how they glowed with fire—a
fair, pale skin, freckled. His small, lively gray eyes had a fearless
pink patterns on it. There was a pot of geranium on each of the two little
an end of it in one moment; for, listen, listen, gentlemen! Since I know
“I said that yesterday at dinner on purpose to tease you and I saw your
Nikolay Parfenovitch’s little figure was positively majestic by the time
smarting from yesterday’s insult, and that her pride craved satisfaction.
advantage of the fact that Dmitri stopped a moment on entering the room to
frankly as you, though in jest, in bitter jest. ‘I love humanity,’ he
least: there was an earthy look in it, a look like a dying man’s. His eyes
thousand things may happen in reality which elude the subtlest
philanthropic ladies, and the like. They taught him to read and write in
“Morning? I didn’t say I should go in the morning.... But perhaps it may
you!”
with you.”
decide what he, Mitya, was to do with his own money.
gentlemen, to drop that conventional method of questioning. I mean,
“It happens at night. You see those two branches? In the night it is
literary style. That hosannah in the skies really wasn’t bad, was it? And
can tell you that....”
glasses at once.
nail in the wall.” On Alyosha’s inquiring whether she had informed the
Grushenka:
“Leave everything, Dmitri Fyodorovitch,” Madame Hohlakov interrupted in
and delicacy, for here there was no question of money, but only, on the
that.”
Our evenings, one after another, were spent in such stirring and fervent
seemed at times ready to obey his son, though often extremely and even
he were afraid he might be offended at his giving his present to some one
is quite different. I love Alyosha in a different way. It’s true, Alyosha,
and set off, and you know in those ethereal spaces, in the water that is
But at frequent intervals, all the society of our town, with the mammas
it, what does it matter?”
“It was all that going to Tchermashnya. Why! You were meaning to go to
set fire to the house, Alyosha, to our house; you still don’t believe me?”
make haste back. Lise, do you want anything now? For mercy’s sake, don’t
Zossima’s body in the coffin and brought it into the front room, the
forward, gesticulating violently, beckoning to him, obviously afraid to
full of tears.
with Mitya by going through certain inevitable formalities. But later,
Kolya smiled mysteriously. “Listen, Karamazov, I’ll tell you all about it.
your brother I still feel strong—for I know—you two will never desert me.”
himself. Of this new speech of his I will quote only a few sentences.
“There is, there is. _Il y a du Piron là‐dedans._ He’s a Jesuit, a Russian
things are lawful then, they can do what they like?’ ‘Didn’t you know?’ he
“Drink some water,” said the investigating lawyer softly, for the tenth
of comedy to the difference of opinion between the experts. In his opinion
has come. That is clear and it’s a sin to hide it,” the fanatic, carried
He knew her house. If he went by the High Street and then across the
about everything,” Grushenka drawled again.
“Nothing could stop me, now I am once off. Hey, good morning, peasant!”
brothers?”
by every sort of vileness. Although the old man told lies about my
“Of course, I ought to have guessed,” Ivan said in agitation; “and I did
sides. “It was lacerating,” as was said just now. But what could he
Alyosha, as he blessed him. “It’s difficult to rouse him. And he must not
take it to myself and I beg his pardon. I was a beast and cruel to him. I
murdered his father?”
Came no fruits to deck the feasts,
Once, however, she called him, as it were, puzzled and uneasy.
“He had, besides, a strong presentiment that something terrible would be
punished already by the civil law, and there must be at least some one to
them, but it happened, it happened. But I always liked side‐paths, little
The children looked anxiously at one another. Their smiling faces showed
grief, smiling compassionately at him. Her smile wrung the old man’s heart
childhood, cries out, ‘O Lord, heal me and I shall see Thee!’ and, as it
taking notice of them, and although he was particularly fond of children
ascertained this it was natural for him to help them both. But instead of
reading than hanging about the courtyard. Come, read this,” and Fyodor
“Dmitri Fyodorovitch, dear good Dmitri Fyodorovitch, don’t harm my
The captain was abject in his flattery of Kolya.
“I believe it, since you say so, but confound you, and your brother Ivan
bustle and agitation.
young hero’s pure heart. I am far from intending to apologize for him or
pilgrimage. I have been in three monasteries, but they told me, ‘Go,
Chapter I. They Arrive At The Monastery
timid smile, seeming suddenly convinced from Mitya’s face that he was not
for me even in your heart, my dear hermit. The formula, ‘all is lawful,’ I
in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment
terrible amount of suffering for man on earth, a terrible lot of trouble.
“Our dietary is according to the ancient conventual rules. During Lent
Chapter II. Lizaveta
modern realism and can’t stand anything fantastic. If you like it to be a
“Why not, if I sometimes put on fleshly form? I put on fleshly form and I
home with my faith shaken, and I have been getting more and more shaken
you again. You may beg me on your knees, I shan’t come. I sent you a
off his coat, displaying to all eyes the grand decoration at his neck. The
ached with such anguish, as he had never known in his life before. He was
thought, ‘I’ll fall on his neck at once.’ Then a stupid idea struck me, to
not, there’s an end to the family tie. He is not a father to him, and the
“Yes, I did, too.”
the accumulation of these facts. Yes, the accumulated effect is awful: the
coat.
harmony of the future? I understand solidarity in sin among men. I
family, so that they looked on him quite as their own child. Yet he
“You’d gone away, then I fell into the cellar.”
Grushenka, with a curious note in her voice. Both the Poles rose from
client is one fact—the dead body of his father. Had it been an ordinary
your shells yet. My rule has been that you can always find something
boot, with its thick, dirty sole. The dress of both the Poles looked
face. She started, and drew back a little from him on the sofa.
“How does he fly down? In what form?”
you’ll get no good out of that.”
Chapter V. Elders
when there is a favorable opportunity, and especially with murderers who
“Don’t be uneasy, nothing will happen this time. Hallo, Natasha!” he
than any one in the world!” cried Alyosha, with tears in his voice. “I
“It’s the babe,” answered the driver, “the babe weeping.”
suspicion on the innocent servant.
conviction. Listen, I carry the money about me a whole month, I may make
short, and delicate‐looking. On his white, slender, little fingers he
again.
There are the two hundred roubles, and I swear you must take them
and is alive now.”
And then the commander of the division arrived, and kicked up the devil of
his might. The child let go at last and retreated to his former distance.
doorway, and vanished immediately. “He’s come to look at me dressed up,”
spoke of serfdom and the distressed condition of Russia.
good, Marya Kondratyevna.”
“No, fourteen—that is, I shall be fourteen very soon, in a fortnight. I’ll
main part of the goods ordered would be packed and sent off, as on the
Gentlemen, only fancy; there’s a poor but honorable man living here,
The latter, at last, answered him, not condescendingly, as Alyosha had
rational and philanthropic....”
performance. All the pious people in the town will talk about it and
sitting in the same place as before, opposite the investigating lawyer,
Pyotr Ilyitch.
slippers and a little old overcoat. He was amusing himself by looking
leave their coats in there, because the room is small and hot.”
“You can speak,” Nikolay Parfenovitch assented.
“Excuse me, excuse me, I’ll catch you. When you flew out at Alyosha under
and calm agreement was such a surprise to Rakitin that he almost started
the culprit was Karp, a dangerous convict, who had escaped from prison and
and cynicism, which have come to him rather by inheritance than by the
Alyosha read the note in amazement, read it through twice, thought a
clouding his reason. It all surged up in one moment! It was an impulse of
his own life. “I went in to clear away the samovar and he was hanging on a
days together, as I know by experience. As soon as any one is near me, his
of it or not? Answer.”
Fyodorovitch “in perfect honesty, and it’s only because his honor was in
Chapter V. A Sudden Resolution
gentleman, a young thinker and a great lover of literature and art, the
Here is my question: Is it true, great Father, that the story is told
look at it.... Damn it, never mind!”
difficult he still found it to believe in the strange and unexpected mood
really only seeking your approbation for my sincerity when I told you I
very beautiful, so I had no right to consider him repulsive. That’s what I
hear? But he’ll only be here, the priest writes, for a week altogether, so
“Don’t provoke him,” observed Smurov.
fact, and not a conclusion drawn from the prisoner’s expression by his own
on which Father Païssy had found Alyosha sitting in the morning.) Another
would probably be looked on as a pleasure.”
God had not blessed them with children. One child was born but it died.
listeners. They all spoke of it, not laughing, but with a strange gravity.
direction, but he chose it with the same thirst for swift achievement. As
breast, such new and unknown feeling, surprising even to himself, a
But the elder had already noticed in the crowd two glowing eyes fixed upon
Alyosha—the voice of the schoolboy—from behind the curtain. “I bit his
business, with an understanding of this Lyagavy (curious surname!). Or—the
large old mahogany leather sofa, on which a bed had been made up, with
nothing and cursed them both. But he had not reckoned on a dowry; what
and had been brought to him before.
“He is proud,” he used to say, “he will never be in want of pence; he has
father, he suddenly announced that the baby “ought not to be christened at
appeared in the doorway. Behind him there could be seen accompanying him a
with your nose, they send you to Paris: there, they say, is a European
The peasant sat watching him and grinning. Another time Mitya might have
say, ‘I am yours, take me where you will,’ he might have the wherewithal
face a look of concentrated thought, almost austere at the first glance.
evidence in quite a different tone and spirit just before.
“What do you mean by mystic? Cure me of what?” Alyosha was rather
hidden the children’s money in my boots, and cheated them, but isn’t there
“Both? Whom?”
own!”
and curse Thy name.” And God gave up the just man He loved so, to the
boasting when I told Rakitin I had given away an onion, but it’s not to
who slept quietly without stirring, with regular, hardly audible breathing
It is impossible that there should be no servants in the world, but act so
a ringing, happy voice, and bending down he seized the dog and lifted him
in one place sets up movement at the other end of the earth. It may be
was sitting at home. It was Sunday and there was no school. It had just
whistle did not sound to release him. Kolya looked sternly at the luckless
Karamazov is a scoundrel, but not a thief.”
honor. Such gentlemen of accommodating temper and dependent position, who
The boys, seeing that the father would not leave the coffin and that it
her bright eyes! She used to be always crying, but now she laughs and is
how fortunate!” she cried in a voice suddenly changed. In one instant
three; she can move, but very little. She is of humble origin. Arina
Chapter V. Not You, Not You!
Agrafena Alexandrovna(3) sent for me and shouted at me: ‘Don’t dare to
Thursday: ‘It is unseemly by remitting the fast on the Holy Thursday to
the horrors of slavery and confusion to which Thy freedom brought them.
anxious air inquired where was Maximov?
“No, father, and it wouldn’t be suitable, it wouldn’t be right at all.”
aloud, only perhaps in Lent. He was fond of the Book of Job, and had
but it slipped from my pen. Then I wrote at once to Ivan, and told him all
confessed that he had done wrong, that he had borrowed “ten roubles in my
awhile.’ Those were his words about you. He remembered you lovingly, with
“The Holy Ghost in the form of a dove?”
evening suit, white tie, gloves, though I was God knows where and had to
destroy himself than remain on earth, though he had bread in abundance.
taken his eyes off him while he told his story, as though struck by
He said this and smiled with a face as white as chalk. “Why is it he is
one to hold for a time. But he would not do this and seemed indeed
Alyosha noticed that many, almost all, went in to the elder for the first
suffering.... Think what she has gone through, what she is enduring now!
never said a word of this to Ivan, and Ivan of course has never dropped a
stand. I stood up for him at once, and gave it to them hot. I beat them,
off. He dreamed of rising up, going out and confessing in the face of all
luckless man trampled on the money, Lise could not help clasping her hands
and so on, and so on. And yet they dragged the evidence out of the raving,
now has gone on before me with the witch. Shall we be very late, Andrey?”
“That’s human blood, and my God! why was it shed? But ... Fenya ...
prominent citizen. The dead child lies hidden in flowers. ‘He will raise
his gaze at times. Like all very absent‐minded people he would sometimes
monastery. The nearest friends of the deceased and those whose duty it was
stretched himself full length on the bench and slept like the dead.
“Don’t be angry with a feeble old man, Ivan. I know you don’t love me, but
pulled at him, pushed him, even beat him; but after five minutes of vain
sword out of his hand, I’ll fall on him, wave my sword over him and say:
any one—and such a sum!
to Mitya.
intently, however.
can hand over that gift of freedom with which the ill‐fated creature is
“_Panie, panie!_” yelled Mitya, “she’s pure and shining, and I have never
“My theory, Karamazov, is clear and simple,” he hurried on again, looking
dark alleys of the town. The Prisoner went away.”
Ivan went into the corner, took a towel, and did as he said, and with a
too, the breath of corruption had come, naturally, as from all dead
had the thought of Smerdyakov in my mind. I’ve been sitting here, shouting
“It’s true, indeed, Smerdyakov is accused only by the prisoner, his two
wheeled into this room.”
have the right to forgive and could forgive? But there is a Being and He
as before. It happened on one occasion that a new governor of the
“This is from Kiev, Dmitri Fyodorovitch,” she went on reverently, “from
another province, where he had gone upon some small piece of business in
account. And that’s why it’s so base of you. For I didn’t kill him, I
Yet, in spite of these edifying memories, it would be difficult to explain
will.”
... It’s the marriage, the wedding ... yes, of course. Here are the
absence of anything like real evidence it will be too awful for you to
conclusion. Going into the cottage where the clergy were assembled and the
too.
seemed changed at once. Till then he had taken no notice of him, though he
to come. There’s no need to build halls for this, let him take them into
“I should be very grateful,” Alyosha interrupted suddenly, “if you could
Misha, isn’t it?” He turned to Pyotr Ilyitch again.
dirty dinner‐napkin. Pyotr Ilyitch sat down opposite, and the champagne
Moravian brother, I am not quite sure which. He had been living amongst us
why many people were extremely delighted at the smell of decomposition
add here that before a day had passed something happened so unexpected, so
aunt’s, to whom these gentlemen never allude in good society, seeming
there were exclamations and sympathetic sobs ... a kind of frenzy seemed
The news of his death spread at once through the hermitage and reached the
He read it and simply flung down the book. He was trembling all over.
presence. To show what a pass things had come to, I may mention that
girl standing in the left corner said aloud. The man spun round instantly
could. The captain suddenly began to shake with dumb sobs, and Kolya’s
and, in the second place, I suppose, that his master seeing that there was
me, but I foresee that nothing will induce me to change it—nothing. It
my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return into the earth; the Lord gave
and I first of all. Excuse me for the triviality of the expression, but
But I’ve not drunk a quarter of a bottle, and I’m not Silenus. I’m not
Out of a purse, eh?”
cruel insult to him and stood up for him. And so in the first place, we
“I spoke because I felt sorry for you. If I were in your place I should
one from the blue room, in which the examination was proceeding. It was a
Dmitri Fyodorovitch’s were all rainbow‐colored....”
wouldn’t have written to me; but, look, everything is written there
fate.
“Oh, I don’t know.... I don’t know. Perhaps I shan’t kill, and perhaps I
“Nothing but saffron? Don’t you remember any other ingredient?”
strengthened it. He found his brother agitated, nervously excited. Mitya
but seductive and irresistibly logical. To kill the old man, take the
“Tell me, can he be allowed to go on defiling the earth?” He looked round
Smaragdov’s _Universal History_. That’s all true. Read that.”
suddenly approached the old man in silence and softly kissed him on his
it too much into account.”
through snow and sleet. He was cold, it was early in November, and the
“You have crushed me! Only now, as you speak, I understand that I was
not feed him. He was a stray dog that had run away from the village ... I
“You see, in spirit. After rubbing your back, I believe, you drank what
not come into my life, I should never perhaps, so I fancy at least, have
carriage had hardly been brought to the steps of the hotel, and he had
“It’s not Karamazov at all; it’s not his doing. Our fellows began going
exactly that age. She was very white in the face, with a pale pink tint on
peeped out from the steps curious to see who had arrived.
lost all Thy faith in Him, and wouldst have been dashed to pieces against
the same chair as before, with a blissful smile on her face. Her cheeks
that babe I am going to Siberia now. I am not a murderer, but I must go to
at his request. “H’m!... So that’s where you want to be, my gentle boy?”
everything, life itself, for it. Though these young men unhappily fail to
Dei_, been burnt by the cardinal, the Grand Inquisitor, in a magnificent
or anything, a man sees sometimes such artistic visions, such complex and
Chapter VII. The Controversy
“I have proofs, great proofs. I shall show them.”
numerous) she told Ivan so plainly. This was what he had called to Alyosha
understand what child he was talking about, and even as though he was
Alyosha. His lips were strangely compressed like a thread.
Book VIII. Mitya
killed a man, an old servant; and he flung away the pestle with a curse,
The prosecutor frowned darkly.
thought Ivan, and he went on his way to Smerdyakov’s.
Smerdyakov had finished tea and the samovar was out. He was sitting at the
go hunting about the town for other people’s dogs when I’ve got a dog of
I was unfair to her; she is a Christian soul, gentlemen, yes, I tell you,
recrossing his legs.
caustic lotion for wounds, what’s it called? We’ve got some. You know
his father and have always believed that he had been unfairly treated by
“It was he told you about the money, then?”
grateful lady, pointing to Krassotkin.
an unprecedented scene. It had all come from the impulse of a moment.
and I heard through a trustworthy man that if I were to go he’d give me a
continued, “that outraged nature and the criminal heart bring their own
Another idea, too, forced itself upon him: “What if she loved neither of
world of knowledge is not worth that child’s prayer to ‘dear, kind God’! I
one might like looking at them. But even then we should not love them. But
tore it off that I became a downright thief, a thief and a dishonest man
It’s three months since I left home. I’ve forgotten him. I’ve forgotten
Mitya.
up the shallow little grave he fell on his knees and bowed down to the
Fyodorovitch, give me your pistols at once if you mean to behave like a
universal, inexhaustible love. Then every one of you will have the power
easy, though perfectly polite, air. “You are angry with me even for being
expenses. I will only say that this business took a whole hour, but Ivan
suddenly delighted at something—“ha ha!”
said he, and so he began stinging his daughter. I know for a fact there
way, along which we are going now—from our gate to that great stone which
“ ‘Everything is lawful,’ you mean? Everything is lawful, is that it?”
work ... there’s snow in Siberia.... I love driving in the snow ... and
don’t seem to understand what I tell you.”
the steps from the elder’s cell, as though he had been waiting for them
to take to Mokroe. I took four dozen with me then,” he added (suddenly
excitement, “and not only on an equal, but even on a higher footing.”
always visited his soul after the praise and adoration, of which his
to use this sum to seduce the woman he, the prisoner, loved. ‘If Fyodor
coming. She was on the look‐out for you.”
the girl came up, she either kissed her, or made the sign of the cross
prisoner was guilty, obviously and conclusively guilty. I imagine that
“Surely he did not tell you so?” asked Alyosha.
under his pillow, as soon as Ivan had left. ‘As soon as Ivan had gone
thought he was showing off before him. If he dared to think anything like
think.... Well, even if I’ve not forgotten anything, let me stay a
“Ah, children, ah, dear friends, don’t be afraid of life! How good life is
“But I am not going to give it to you. Look at it from here.”
Chapter VI. The Prosecutor’s Speech. Sketches Of Character
and not simply for the sake of instructing them, but as though thirsting
you. He will stab you in a minute, on the sly, as he did Krassotkin.”
whole truth, that you may see what a wretch I am! I am not talking to
And taking the topmost note from the bundle he held it out to Pyotr
any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase
is awfully keen on it. He doesn’t ask me, but orders me to escape. He
told him those secret signals that he might see my slavish devotion, and
Yes, that astounding piece of evidence has been brought forward twice to‐
unconsciously (like everything in nature) avenging the violation of its
kept strictly and in humble surroundings, “on Lenten fare,” as the wits
The room inhabited by the family of the retired captain Snegiryov is
he considered himself to have been cheated, without extraordinary
idea. “Misha,” he turned to the boy as he came in, “look here, run to
of cooked beef.
appeared that among the women who had come on the previous day to receive
on her sarafan to take her to church to be married, and she said, ‘I’ll
on the way down to the cellar, you know. You mentioned the very spot.”
“That’s quite likely. It does happen sometimes.” The prosecutor exchanged
many sofas, lounges, settees, big and little tables. There were pictures
namely, the charge of robbery, and the complete impossibility of proving
state of aberration. She made me cry again yesterday, and the day before,
Grushenka was with his father or not. But, strange to say, both the
“To Poland, _panovie_, I drink to your Poland!” cried Mitya.
He ridiculed those duties. He left his little children to the servants,
and Christ himself forgave the woman ‘who loved much.’ ”
You’re not worth it—no one is ... Enough, gentlemen. I’m not going on.”
give Thy life for them! Instead of taking possession of men’s freedom,
“You think it’s something to do with you? If it were, he wouldn’t have
the peasants, and am always glad to do them justice.”
and again took a flying leap forward), “so will not you, excellent and
a conscientious doctor and an excellent and pious man, a Hernguter or
preliminary inquiry when he alleged at Mokroe that those fifteen hundred
Which the universe is striving, and Which Itself was ‘with God,’ and Which
“That’s human blood, and my God! why was it shed? But ... Fenya ...
swift motion revived Mitya. The air was fresh and cool, there were big
with her hands behind her head. She was dressed as though expecting some
“Agrafena Alexandrovna?” The inn‐keeper understood at once, looking
The seven too was trumped.
if he has confessed, then why, I ask again, did he not avow the whole
delicacy. I will only observe that Mitya looked upon Grushenka’s past as
Alyosha and Madame Hohlakov entered, Ivan Fyodorovitch stood up to take
sing‐song voice, looking at the coffin of the dead elder:
pain.”
my father. I nearly killed him, and I swore I’d come again and kill him,
scene), and he is able to forgive infidelity almost conclusively proved,
become his lawful wife. We have good evidence of this. As for the
before, people had heard him say so! They are all, all against him, all
like that I will come and fast too! No, saintly monk, you try being
sorts of extraordinary tales were told about her, amazing anecdotes of her
“There’s no sentimentality about it. You are going yourself now to make it
instinctively that a character like Katerina Ivanovna’s must dominate, and
It was a tiny silver ikon on a cord, such as is sometimes worn next the
Miüsov. He felt altogether dissatisfied with his position.
doctor uttered with an almost wrathful sternness that made the captain
it with indignation. “But perhaps I haven’t got a clever face?” he
it for me, friend, there’ll be a police search at my place to‐morrow.’ And
obviously liked having her hand kissed.
“No one, no one, I told you so before, or you’ve not understood anything!
full speed, so that it would arrive not more than an hour later than
Alyosha read the note in amazement, read it through twice, thought a
monastery. His expression was one of unquestioning, but self‐respecting,
described above, when Alyosha came from Mitya to Katerina Ivanovna, Ivan
soul will be troubled,’ she said, ‘and he will write you a letter.’ And
would be the best thing to do?”
“I should be very grateful,” Alyosha interrupted suddenly, “if you could
money, how he had broken in, knocked his father down, and after that had
“Well, I made up my mind to kill myself. What had I left to live for? That
you will reach it and behold clearly the miraculous power of the Lord who
anxiety:
make me some sort of wart on my face—what’s the use of their being so
son over his mother’s property, which was by right his.”
shall we? Do you know Kalganov?”
built on this longing, and I am a believer. But then there are the
You are stupid and vulgar. You are awfully stupid. No, I can’t put up with
evidence in quite a different tone and spirit just before.
staggering. “Mitya, don’t give me any more wine—if I ask you, don’t give
some one? In the tavern again, as before? Have you been beating that
sighed.
mankind, don’t you think so? Voltaire didn’t believe in God and loved
your nose pulled for the rest of your life, your desire has already been
It was a warm, bright day at the end of August. The interview with the
just at the toe there was a big hole in the leather, carefully blackened
am incapable of loving any one.”
treated him badly over Father Zossima.”
the little monastery of Obdorsk in the far North. It was he who had been
“Oh, I’ve nothing against God. Of course, God is only a hypothesis, but
it openly, they won’t let it through,’ he said. He laughed. ‘But what will
Tchermashnya?” They reached Volovya station. Ivan got out of the carriage,
evidence, if you examine each part of it separately; or, at least, you
as though he had been knocked down, and struggling, sobbing, and wailing,
and put them on the table for his night’s lodging, the candle, and the
The master came to try the girls:
mind, and that if he had not been, he would have behaved more cleverly. As
hand on his head. “You see I am sitting up talking; maybe I shall live
and ours is the only true Christianity which has been subjected to the
sentence and forgot the end of it. Pyotr Ilyitch found himself obliged to
practical “from such a business man” with an understanding of the
his low sensuality. Do you know, I simply wonder at you, Alyosha, how you
them. We know what we know!”
Kondratyevna, flattered by Alyosha’s apology. “For Dmitri Fyodorovitch
“Well, the lieutenant‐colonel produced the battalion money, to the
“Eh, that’s enough! That’s all stupid, I don’t want to listen. I thought
brother Ivan. He’s trying to get Mitya’s betrothed for himself, and I
came to me and held out her hand.
hour is not yet come,’ He said, with a soft smile (He must have smiled
on the tip of his tongue, but to his profound astonishment he heard
“God forbid!” cried Alyosha.
his conscience: ‘I steal,’ he says, ‘but I don’t go against the Church.
parted friends. A fool.... He’s forgiven me.... He’s sure to have forgiven
“A brilliant idea!” Mitya interrupted ecstatically. “He’s the very man, it
fortnight she’ll be dancing a quadrille. I’ve called in Doctor
very opposite conclusion? There are two persons—the prisoner and
Why am I, of all creatures in the world, doomed to be cursed by all decent
But I will not detail the evidence of the other witnesses, who only
“Sh‐h! Mitya, why don’t they come? Let every one come ... to look on. Call
To Nikolay Parfenovitch’s direct question, had he noticed how much money
And how shall I, too, put up with the rabble out there, though they may be
gentleman!”
something real, not simply your fancy, as you persisted in declaring last
“They taught me all those well‐bred, aristocratic dances when I was
I copied out three lines of it. Wait a minute. Here it is.”
could build up any tolerable sort of life for the feeble, unruly,
satisfy you. Come, put on your cap, Alexey Fyodorovitch, and I’ll put on
unfortunate. We were too ready to make every sacrifice for an unworthy,
feel sorry for him? What then?”
I was referring to the gold‐mines.”
some sort, most likely. They are all scoundrels. And Rakitin will make his
Dmitri led his brother to the most secluded corner of the garden. There,
“Moreover, Smerdyakov, whose health was shaken by his attacks of epilepsy,
have slain themselves on earth, woe to the suicides! I believe that there
that moment and they kicked up a shindy at once. ‘You did that on
the room to receive his guests. He was a tall, thin, but still vigorous
bottle she gives him to drink with a special prayer; but not quite all,
Christ has sent you those tears.”
listening in thoughtful silence to Alyosha, and seeming scarcely surprised
he caught the smile.
Grushenka, angel, give me your hand. Look at that charming soft little
bade him see to it that that beggar be never seen again, and never
girl standing in the left corner said aloud. The man spun round instantly
“He looked too closely at my socks, and turned them inside out on purpose
Alyosha raised his downcast eyes and again flushed, and again smiled
Ivan ended by dismissing all doubts. He could not think of Dmitri without
“How cross you are! It’s because of yesterday; you had better lie down,”
contemptuous eyes were fixed upon her, as she finished giving her evidence
smart calf boots with a special English polish, so that they shone like
was nothing for it; he could not take his words back, but his luck had
rushed at once to the other extreme, as he always does, and began to
and playing the buffoon. Though the boy tried not to show how he disliked
triviality, the incompleteness, and the fantastic character of the
Kolya was disconcerted. The captain fidgeted uneasily.
carpet.... He began hinting at his feelings, in fact, and one day, as he
part of the breast?” Fetyukovitch asked eagerly.
it.” Smerdyakov looked resolutely at Ivan. He was very weak and spoke
could have stopped him, sat now quite unmoved, with downcast eyes,
“You agree. Then it must be so, if you agree. It’s true, isn’t it,
INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark
was disgraceful to speak. This boy began very early, almost in his infancy
http://www.gutenberg.org/donate
from you. I saw the sum in your hands, myself—count it I didn’t, you
Chapter VI. A Laceration In The Cottage
Her voice quivered, and tears glittered on her eyelashes. Alyosha
under the mattress. A stupid thing to believe. So if Dmitri Fyodorovitch
thought, ‘I’ll fall on his neck at once.’ Then a stupid idea struck me, to
one. Ah, man should be dissolved in prayer! What should I be underground
telling lies. I had the low idea of trying to get him in my clutches, but
“Oh, no, I am not laughing and don’t suppose for a moment that you are
benefactor’s family. They provided him liberally with money and even
with Mitya; that he looked upon them as part of the inheritance he had
to clink glasses with the Pole whom he had so solemnly invited to drink to
upon him was so strong that he could not live without her (it had been so
was nothing much—wayside blossoms _à la_ Paul de Kock—though the cruel
mayest not take from men the freedom which Thou didst exalt when Thou wast
the pieces in the market‐place.”
a noteworthy character, miserly and hard as flint. Though Grushenka’s hold
“And in all nature there was naught
won’t even take off my coat. Where can one sit down?”
black, it shows that God has not deemed him worthy of such glory—that is
considerable sums to the almshouse and the orphan asylum; he was very
would intentionally keep out of his way now, but he must find him anyhow.
begin one thing and go on with another, as though he were letting himself
bullet.... My eternal gratitude—”
Ivanovna with three thousand roubles to send off by post. But the question
“Expecting him? To come to you?”
“ ‘Then it was, but now it isn’t.’
“Dmitri Fyodorovitch told me so himself; you can believe him. The woman
of his mouth quivered. Ilusha smiled a pitiful little smile, still unable
suggestive. But examine all these facts separately, regardless of their
treating the chorus, you shouted straight out that you would leave your
here, ‘You may die,’ said he, ‘but you’ll know perfectly what disease you
poet. Othello’s soul was shattered and his whole outlook clouded simply
He proceeded to do so, but we won’t repeat his story. He told it dryly and
sister! And now that man who wronged me has come; I sit here waiting for a
“I mention this fact that you may note one, to my thinking, very
going now—to Venice? Your Venice will keep another two days. I would have
and cried to him ‘Forgive father, forgive him,’—that only God knows—and I,
won’t let her follow me to Siberia? Do they let convicts get married? Ivan
don’t know the man you have to deal with! You have to do with a prisoner
latter went nearer to Lise and, smiling in a strangely awkward way, held
“By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbor actively
of its appearance. And so be it, so be it!”
lips once more softly pronounce, ‘Maiden, arise!’ and the maiden arises.
back on popular remedies, a German doctor advised me to rub myself with
and see his brother Dmitri before that fateful interview. Without showing
learn of you, Karamazov,” Kolya concluded, in a voice full of spontaneous
The court usher took the document she held out to the President, and she,
uneasiness rose from not knowing which of them to choose, which was most
of the speech, of the prosecutor’s feat in examining the prisoner at
“And what has he told you, gentlemen—Smerdyakov, I mean?” he added
“Aie!” shrieked Grushenka, the first to notice him.
The prosecutor, too, intervened, and again reminded the prisoner that he
be your second send me your challenge. I will give satisfaction, though
boiling within him at having to pretend and affect holiness.”
“The coffee is cold,” he cried harshly; “I won’t offer you any. I’ve
“Would you like to look anywhere else if you’re not ashamed to?”
wanted was to go to Fyodor Pavlovitch’s and find out if anything had
men.”
“Stay, Trifon Borissovitch,” began Mitya, “first and foremost, where is
the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
receive his blessing. Miüsov even tried to kiss his hand, but the Father
“No, I won’t let you alone. Tell me, when was she here?”
fly to America is mean, worse than mean—silly. Why go to America when one
about it. On the evening he wrote that letter at the ‘Metropolis’ tavern,
they will come back to us after a thousand years of agony with their
swindlers, and don’t deserve to be pitied, and it’s a good thing they’re
spare—whom? Him or myself? Tell me, Alexey Fyodorovitch!”
and there was no blood on his hands then.” (Fenya had noticed this and
ashamed.... I want to walk about the room.... I sometimes don’t see you
monk! So there is a little devil sitting in your heart, Alyosha
You wouldn’t believe how I respect you, Alyosha, for never telling lies.
priest will give you horses back to Volovya station.”
this _Gossip_. I read it and gasped. Who could have written it? He must
His light‐colored dressing‐gown and white shirt were soaked with blood.
“If you’d been a cadet in the army, or a young hussar, you wouldn’t have
sorts. You will help the poor, and they will bless you. This is the age of
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