for the expenses of that treachery, to beg for money from her, Katya (to
instead of going to Siberia you’re spending it all.... Where are you
put me under arrest for three days. Just at that time father sent me six
And Mitya suddenly went off into his short, wooden laugh, startling
isn’t it? Now tell me, what have I done to you?”
man because I am that man myself.
and calling Perezvon.
must obey. _Les femmes tricottent_, as Napoleon said.” Kolya, for some
fetch him for a moment. When the old man came, Fyodor Pavlovitch would
damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE
others, rebellious but weak, will destroy one another, while the rest,
almost embarrassed.
something important had happened. Katerina Ivanovna’s hysterics had ended
“And you believed him?”
vaguely suggested. The letter was very indefinite, high‐flown, and full of
over according to the rules of canine etiquette.
Superior’s dining‐room, though, strictly speaking, it was not a dining‐
moment they met, and the peasant with a violent lurch fell full tilt
teaching?”
there’s no criticism and what would a journal be without a column of
with it!’ Well, now are you satisfied, gentlemen? Are your minds
pin the Lion and the Sun on my coat, instead of, at least, the Polar Star
stayed long. Her old merchant lay seriously ill at this time, “at his last
Chapter I. Kuzma Samsonov
“But what for? I suppose you tease him.”
happiness.
all men will say: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the
with his hand. But he was quickly and resolutely suppressed. The
devil knows where he gets to.”
with Father Anfim, collecting funds for our monastery, and we stayed one
“As a bird.”
that.” She smiled again. “But I am still afraid of your being angry.”
“ ‘Quite so,’ some astute people will tell me, ‘but what if they were in
take it to myself and I beg his pardon. I was a beast and cruel to him. I
He was watching Smerdyakov with great curiosity.
“No, not Karl. Stay, I made a mistake. Claude Bernard. What was he?
heard it in Paris from a Frenchman. He told me it was read at our mass
they are able to whisper to themselves, “You know you are lying, you
frantic plan, which, to a man of Karamazov’s character, must have appeared
his head, as though tearing himself away, turned rapidly towards the town.
Moscow for your unhappy brother, who will to‐morrow—But why speak of to‐
they had no doubt that he was crazy. But it was just his craziness
propound certain ideas; I could see that it was not so much that he
sitting near her declared that for a long time she shivered all over as
“No, she won’t come to‐day; there are signs. She’s certain not to come,”
in school among themselves, and even aloud, of things, pictures, and
for the sake of the money, that is stated clearly, that is written and
The old man fairly fluttered with joy, as though nothing more comforting
“No, Lise, it’s not contempt,” Alyosha answered, as though he had prepared
poorly developed creature, a pale, consumptive dreamer. On the contrary,
He who created them rebels must have meant to mock at them. They will say
almost of the type of religious enthusiast, who, if they were suddenly to
suppose there are two who can move mountains? Ivan, make a note of it,
described how a gentleman came and tried his luck with the girls, to see
his master!
come to the rescue.
simply charming. ‘Give me back my nose!’ he said, and he beat his breast.
not as man’s,” Father Païssy heard suddenly. The first to give utterance
copeck piece out of his purse, and, nervous and embarrassed—God knows
have all the mighty of the earth, the rulers, the chief judges, and the
Chapter II. The Alarm
long. Mitya already had opened the door with one hand when, with the
morrow, so I’ll make merry till I die!’ ”
the founders of Troy in Smaragdov, whose history was among the books in
from his family and the tax‐gatherer! You bleed the people, you know, holy
be the morning. Would you believe it, I dined here to‐day only to avoid
garden grew up and everything came up that could come up, but what grows
“But note, frantic as he was, he took with him a brass pestle. Why that?
but there was a resolute gleam in her dark and gloomy eyes. I may remark
suddenly went back to the entrance.
drink, slept like the dead beside her husband.
down the steps and towards the garden. Yes, the gate stood wide open.
is your three thousand; he sends it back. Send it yourself to Agafya
but only three girls had arrived, and Marya was not there yet. And he did
“Mamma has just told me all about the two hundred roubles, Alexey
two hundred, then....”
when you’d nothing else to think about but to show your faith! So I
devoted friend and protector in the world than this, now harmless old man.
this business is a misfortune, isn’t it? She suddenly burst out laughing
pass on to “more essential matters.” At last, when he described his
untroubled sleep. As he was praying, he suddenly felt in his pocket the
before, brought home, and kept for some reason secretly indoors, not
brother, you pious and humble novice? Do you understand why this infamy
owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
bound to answer every inquiry you make. We found the servant Smerdyakov,
moaned shrilly. Ivan, though not so strong as Dmitri, threw his arms round
“You didn’t? Then you ought, as your father’s son, to have had me taken to
father had entered the prisoner’s head, and illustrated his theory with
quite different institutions.”
the contrary, they thought they had every right, for Richard had been
like a crushed spider. He must have rotted there in the corner and be
“What truth?” cried Katerina Ivanovna, and there was an hysterical ring in
Alyosha knew that this was just how the people felt and even reasoned. He
is not sordid; on the contrary, full of fine feeling.... No, Lise, I have
to get to know the investigating lawyer, though he had met him and talked
my illness perhaps, and he’ll dash in, as he did yesterday through
such a moment, that’s unnatural; he ran to find out whether the only
excitement was genuine. Mitya followed his lead without protest.
tortured by their own choice. For they have cursed themselves, cursing God
emphatically. “The question is, will you go to the gold‐mines or not; have
I shall perhaps not be believed when I say that this jealous lover felt
of the sort, the actual manifestation of the feeling was beyond anything
the two nieces who were her heiresses and next‐of‐kin—both died in the
his eyes away again and again looked on the ground. He stood sideways and
God. Again I say, Be not proud. Be proud neither to the little nor to the
the least troubled by pangs of conscience. He was miserable a long time,
tongue, that is why he squealed. He ran away squealing and you thought
The court usher took the document she held out to the President, and she,
“Stay, Alexey Fyodorovitch, stay,” the captain began to talk with frenzied
idea—an idea which he had at first regarded as impossible and unthinkable,
coffin. But this suggestion made casually by some one was unanswered and
indefensible. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to set up the Church upon earth.
“What?”
strongest defense he could imagine.
“Are you ready? We’ll come!” Mitya started. “A few more last words
she had for some time past, in partnership with old Karamazov, actually
“Oh, no, angel lady, I’ve promised nothing,” Grushenka interrupted softly
it, and trusted him implicitly from that time forward. He maintained
a feature of the Karamazovs, it’s true, that thirst for life regardless of
gymnasium, he got into a military school, then went to the Caucasus, was
“Women of the people are here too now, lying in the portico there waiting.
left. And so to the very end, to the very scaffold.
of course, have been the last to be suspected. People would have suspected
momentary. For the rest of the time he was struck, on the contrary, by
It was not much more than three‐quarters of a mile from the town to the
begun snarling. ‘You fools and buffoons, can you ever do anything
just now when I made my speech! And do you know she attracts me awfully
weighing eighteen stone, and of believing all she believes. My ideal is to
“I think I understand it all now,” said Alyosha gently and sorrowfully,
the notes? The only person who saw them, and stated that they had been put
beforehand, just as he committed the murder after. A complete program of
gone.’ A full program of the murder, we are told, so it must have been he.
Our police captain, Mihail Makarovitch Makarov, a retired lieutenant‐
he said that, it was he said that!”
“Look at your hands, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. They’re all over blood!”
silence, especially in a case of such importance as—
harm?”
“I shall be asked, ‘What about the old woman, Grigory’s wife? She heard
thought. “I can’t wait any longer.” He was standing behind a bush in the
favor, drove Ivan to perfect frenzy. Strange to say, until that last scene
had said in one of his exhortations.
When you are left alone, pray. Love to throw yourself on the earth and
Kolya. “Who’s this?” he addressed Alyosha, as though asking him to
“Where was he sending you just now? He shouted ‘Go’ as he ran away.”
before them as their goal—such a sacrifice is utterly beyond the strength
“Hold your tongue, or I’ll kill you!”
gayety never deserted her even at her most “earnest” moments.
Every one looked at Mitya; he sat silent through the whole of the
dream. I’ve been struck all my life in our great people by their dignity,
old slave‐man, if necessary. There is no law for God. Where God stands,
fascinated the public by its independence and the extraordinary nobility
Such were the thoughts that excited Kolya while he was doing his utmost to
“I sent your brother, Dmitri Fyodorovitch, some sweets in prison. Alyosha,
of getting married, and thinking and thinking of it till now she’s got it,
“Forgive me,” I said.
anecdote you’d forgotten, on purpose, so as to destroy your faith in me
wilderness? Turn them into bread, and mankind will run after Thee like a
beard was all white with frost.
just that fifteen hundred roubles on him, which he might have returned to
whether here he could sacrifice all or only “two roubles,” and in the
of the party and rather looked down upon by the others in consequence, was
continually in and out of the room all the while the interrogation had
his life, like a dream, of course. At her death almost exactly the same
tease me with trifles, but only ask me about facts and what matters, and I
“Last night, and only imagine—”
out “Laceration, laceration,” probably applying it to his dream. He had
really be a desperate effort, planned in delirium, to save his brother by
flamed up at the sight of her asleep, and then vindictive, jealous anger
“Can you sew?”
“For the Kuzmitchovs?” repeated another woman. “But his name wasn’t
eleven thousand. It’s as good as picking up three thousand; it’s not so
themselves to him, and to the indissoluble bond between him and them.
not suit Fyodor Pavlovitch at all.
terrible excitement and suspense. That evening he reckoned on Grushenka’s
love any one like me, and how was it I did not know, I did not appreciate
telling me, ‘Speak,’ and the other ‘No, don’t speak.’ And no sooner had
the dog, Krassotkin flew into a violent rage. “I’m not such an ass as to
glasses of vodka. After eating, his spirits and his heart grew lighter. He
chest; he screamed, began to cry and ran away uphill towards Mihailovsky
followed, not losing sight of him, and ran, forgetting everything. He
“What crime?”
his own words he turned over two or three of the topmost ones.
diffidence about his opinion of Voltaire. He seemed to be leaving the
The boys went on.
“You’ll spoil the flowers,” said Alyosha, “and mamma is expecting them,
financial relations of father and son, and arguing again and again that it
drunken voice:
thought alone, before I had time to utter a word to the enemy. And if I
“Oh, no, no! I dare not even think of that. But the future life—it is such
quickly allowed me not to love you.”
“That’s his doing, that’s his doing!” Mitya assented, frowning. “That’s
never said a word of this to Ivan, and Ivan of course has never dropped a
Alyosha, don’t blame me, I agree that hanging is too good for her.”
and murder; for they have been given rights, but have not been shown the
“You’ll see,” said Ivan.
in.... I don’t know yet—”
chair. Fyodor Pavlovitch did the same, mimicking Miüsov like an ape. Ivan
to retaliate, at the mere suggestion of contempt. There was an element of
excess of nature.” It may well be supposed that among the first to run to
said, “and to us above others. Our little lost one has sent us this, who
abandoning his mistress to the rival of whom he was so jealous, he would
The old man fell like a log, and Dmitri, leaping over him, broke in the
hearts, though I can’t bear any one’s being jealous of me. I can’t endure
I do, I can give back the full half of my lost honor to‐morrow. But I
instinctively that a character like Katerina Ivanovna’s must dominate, and
evasions, to admit that Pan Vrublevsky had substituted another pack of
“So be it, so be it!” Father Païssy repeated austerely and reverently.
child!’ she cries, holding out her hands to Him. The procession halts, the
“Mitya, dear, what’s the matter with you?” cried Alyosha, jumping up from
No signs from heaven come to‐day
turned on me that—do you remember?—I cried out to you that it was he, he
his tongue, no one would ever have guessed!
pray for them and outwardly the Church, as it were, renounces them, but in
prediction” to the Superior and all the brotherhood. “All, all, ought to
sixth thousand here—that is with what you spent before, we must
childhood been bitterly conscious of living at the expense of his
night on the bank of a great navigable river with some fishermen. A good‐
hidden deep in the hearts of many of the monks. Even more powerful was
“Oh, give it to me! No, give me the cannon!” mamma began begging like a
just that fifteen hundred roubles on him, which he might have returned to
“Stay,” cried Ivan, pondering. “What about the door? If he only opened the
motive in it. It’s the new method. As soon as you disbelieve in me
world of knowledge is not worth that child’s prayer to ‘dear, kind God’! I
invented, that I was in too great a hurry to display my knowledge,
smiling blissfully. When the homeless old man returned with Grushenka from
pass by Thy judgment ... do not condemn me, for I have condemned myself,
Two red lights gleamed out of the darkness; the monster roared as it
Oh! in his rapture he was weeping even over those stars, which were
long time he really was at peace—he told me this himself. He entered then
“Oh, I’ve nothing against God. Of course, God is only a hypothesis, but
clever man? What did he mean by that?” The thought seemed suddenly to
his youth and inexperience, partly from his intense egoism.
good guessing it. Rack your brains—you’ll understand it. His article is
“What suspicion? Suspicion or not, I should have galloped here just the
“Alexey Fyodorovitch, this is awful. This is all childish nonsense and
could you lie still on the line? Is it possible you weren’t the least
all the seams of the coat and trousers, obviously looking for
pulled out with her. But she was a very wicked woman and she began kicking
looking, stiff boots he flung up his hands and rushed to them, fell on his
up,” she commented aloud, throwing up her hands; “but as for our other
elder’s cell where his coffin was now standing. There was no one in the
falcon! And though my heart is full of something very different, so be it,
is, you see, I look at something with my eyes and then they begin
loud voice, “that if that laudable soldier’s exploit was so very great
taking out the notes. ‘What’s the use of the envelope?’ he may have asked
the more I shall need it,” he continued, pacing from one corner of the
his head with his handkerchief and, convincing himself he was dead, he ran
would have conquered a very stupid one and annexed it. We should have had
“Gentlemen of the jury, I cannot help dwelling on this unexpected trait in
work to us. Thou hast promised, Thou hast established by Thy word, Thou
his temper. Till that moment he had thought it discreet not to contradict
explained to me as due to malingering and the trickery of the “clericals,”
nothing can happen for a year and a half. In the name of all that’s holy,
floor, and not one like Smerdyakov, who would have avoided leaving a piece
“Sh‐h! Mitya, why don’t they come? Let every one come ... to look on. Call
could not help believing that of Ivan. And now all these doubts and
agreement, as a secret league formed long ago for the guarding of the
debauchee he never neglected investing his capital, and managed his
didst crave for free love and not the base raptures of the slave before
When Ivan read this “document” he was convinced. So then it was his
the late elder had won over many hearts, more by love than by miracles,
and‐such a district court, having examined so‐and‐so (to wit, Mitya)
“Female, indeed! Go on with you, you brat.”
“What signals? Whom did you tell? Confound you, speak more plainly.”
“Stay, wait a bit! You will be of use, for I will tell you the signs by
in spite of your poverty, only one little hour. And you will see for
interest for him; he saw very little there, and took scarcely any notice
“No, I don’t believe it.”
removed.”
lively. I like to say nice things about people. I never knew a woman of
God in your loneliness. And if two of you are gathered together—then there
Pan Vrublevsky came up to the table, swaying as he walked.
“I know it will be heaven for me, heaven, the moment I confess. Fourteen
That’s just it, you have invented quite a different man!
Chapter XIII. A Corrupter Of Thought
I love? I love one man here. Who is that man? That’s what you must tell
“What reproach?”
“A debt to whom?”
“I don’t repent shedding your blood!” he cried. “Beware, old man, beware
for a time is, in my view at least, only an act of the greatest
“Shouldn’t we send for Herzenstube?” cried Madame Hohlakov.
man going to love then? To whom will he be thankful? To whom will he sing
“Come, enough nonsense, now to business. Have you had anything to eat to‐
it was? What does Smerdyakov say? that’s the chief point.... And I went
nor for me to answer you, for that’s my own affair.”
“But it was all true, the absolute truth!”
poor old man that’s dead, too, in my wickedness, and brought him to this!
“Shouldn’t we have some tea first?” interposed Nikolay Parfenovitch, “I
“All will understand your sacrifice,” I said to him, “if not at once, they
circumstances, if he really had brought himself to put away the money.
No signs from heaven come to‐day
“What is happening? What’s this?” voices were heard in the group of monks.
at school. He was rarely playful or merry, but any one could see at the
walls when I was first brought here. But he is a clever fellow, very
with us, in spite of his taking money from us,” Alyosha went on in his
some tea? What? Is it cold? Shall I tell her to bring some? _C’est à ne
But I don’t blame you. You can’t believe it all simply on my word. I
“Pardon me!” said the Father Superior. “It was said of old, ‘Many have
“No, only perhaps it wasn’t love.”
noodles with peas, kasha, all with hemp oil. On weekdays we have dried
“Wait!” cried Madame Hohlakov. And jumping up and running to a handsome
“He boasted aloud that he would kill his father; we all heard him, here.
She went out. Mitya was calm, and even looked more cheerful, but only for
“She’s perhaps too naïve,” thought Katerina Ivanovna, with a gleam of
taken part in the fighting on the barricades. This was one of the most
simply, tell me every word of the message he sent you with (I knew he
“and he doesn’t care for any one. Are you a human being?” he said,
“That person behaved honorably,” Alyosha murmured.
“Father Zossima lives in the hermitage, apart, four hundred paces from the
prison, and expounded the Gospel to him. They exhorted him, worked upon
consequence and a beggar. And, take note, he won’t be wronging Mitya, but
begin talking about the most trivial matters, and would soon let him go
grief. “His end must be near,” she thought, “if there’s such a change in
had bespoken it a week ago to comfort and amuse Ilusha, who was still
wife blessed us, and—would you believe it?—congratulated Katya. ‘You’ve
absurd and ridiculous. And did you hear his stupid theory just now: if
spoke just now of Tatyana.”
“Not at all,” answered a man’s voice politely, but with emphatic dignity.
“scapegrace” had rushed in on him with such a tale to get money which
as though only just recollecting and understanding something.
must we trust to your honor?’ ‘To my honor, _panie_,’ says Podvysotsky.
explained anything since that fatal night two months ago, he has not added
daughter, a girl of fourteen, was partially paralyzed. The poor child had
had been bleeding, but no one believed him. The maids confessed that they
the door after him.
chevaleresque_.”
going to bed. Relying on Nazar Ivanovitch, they had not locked themselves
“I know you! I know you!” the man repeated idiotically.
Our evenings, one after another, were spent in such stirring and fervent
he had left the house, had knocked Grigory down and raised an alarm, he
entertain the company, ostensibly on equal terms, of course, though in
through love: “I love you, and loving you I torment you.” For he
and how desperate I am!”
yourself not long ago—”
the rest of her life, I should be torturing and killing her too. I lay
flung it at the orator.
elderly,” he thought, feeling pleased, “on the contrary I should have
thousand things may happen in reality which elude the subtlest
addressing Vrublevsky, with surprising rudeness.
was brought together and set in a strong and significant light, and I took
I am a Socialist, Smurov.”
brought close to those who have loved when he has despised their love. For
cart.
elder of the prisoner’s brothers, who had believed in his guilt, but has
All that is nonsense! Rakitin explained it all to me yesterday, brother,
curtly. Of the raptures of his love he said nothing, but told them that he
he had taken on the day he ran away, when he had lain all night dead drunk
But Dmitri Fyodorovitch was speeding along the road. It was a little more
not the first I have helped, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. You have most likely
Miüsov looked absent‐mindedly at the tombstones round the church, and was
prevent the criminal being prepared, to pounce upon him unexpectedly so
house, and promised to let him know when Agrafena Alexandrovna comes.”
figurative sense. Besides he had, before visiting the monastery, a strong
“This is almost miraculous,” murmured Nikolay Parfenovitch.
Ilyitch politely but insistently begged her to inform her lady that an
They both recognize it and revel in it. I’ve been watching for you! I’ve
And there’s no need of much teaching or explanation, he will understand it
steps after Father Ferapont. The others, on the contrary, pressed farther
“No, there’s no devil either.”
into his house, and carried on orgies of debauchery in his wife’s
me? Have I entered into some sort of compact with you? Do you suppose I am
Hohlakov, and putting it to the old man’s head, senselessly trying to wipe
murdered his father?”
the news of the death reached the town. By the morning all the town was
Allow me, Father Superior, though I am a buffoon and play the buffoon, yet
gentleman, a young thinker and a great lover of literature and art, the
betrothed, telling her that he would soon be with her, and her unfinished
have the whole logic of the prosecution. Who murdered him, if not he?
like? I like wit.”
“I am a widow these three years,” she began in a half‐whisper, with a sort
“Come now, is that so, Trifon Borissovitch?” replied Mitya. “Surely I
“She was listening,” he murmured angrily to himself, but Alyosha heard it.
excitement, “and not only on an equal, but even on a higher footing.”
his nurse? He must have been fighting, his face was all over blood. With
owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
others added malignantly.
only thought of Smerdyakov and his gibes with contempt. A few days later
too.”
more and more complete possession of his soul, chasing away the fearful
unclean is their judgment.”
magnificent black shawl. She was suffering from a slight feverish
get drunk. Pointing to Kalganov, she said to Mitya:
“A black nose, that means he’ll be fierce, a good house‐dog,” Kolya
“And in all nature there was naught
wrath, their minds will grow fearful, they will be quick to shed tears
has all faded and disappeared except that fragment. That is how it was
Doctor Herzenstube and Varvinsky, the doctor he met in the hospital,
of the masters. I didn’t even tell my mother till it had healed up. And
crowding back to me, delighted, and seize me again and I cross myself
all. And he didn’t believe, I feel he didn’t, that I should stay at Kuzma
arms sobbing. Next day Kolya woke up as “unfeeling” as before, but he had
conscious of being a member of the Church and sinks into despair. If he
humbleness. I came hither with little learning and here I have forgotten
case. One of them—Katerina Ivanovna—was an object of general interest. All
“To Grushenka, then!” Alyosha exclaimed mournfully, clasping his hands.
and leave the traces of your foulness after you—alas, it is true of almost
and being naughty. I made you angry this morning, but I assure you before
a peony as he had done on that occasion.
the priest’s? Come, will you go?”
shut ourselves within these walls, we are no holier than those that are
“But that’s utterly impossible!” he cried, completely at a loss. “I ... I
feminine independence, to override class distinctions and the despotism of
riddle, and no entreaties would induce him to pronounce a word in
Do you hear? Love me, love me all your life!” she cried, with a quiver
up his connection with them, and in his latter years at the university he
the most sacred guarantees for the destiny and future of Russian justice
next day, and was just hastening to search his pockets when he saw the
that bullet in your brain, perhaps?” Pyotr Ilyitch asked uneasily.
it was agreed that only three hundred roubles’ worth should be sent.
great deal of sorrow to bear...” A silence followed. A grave anxiety was
“Haven’t I managed to please you?” asked Rakitin, instantly almost
looked round at every one with expectant eyes.
into the lane and fell to running—the handkerchief soaked with blood he
house.... You know all that story, don’t you?”
time—the position of the ecclesiastical courts. After discussing several
grimace. “One reptile will devour the other. And serve them both right,
“A lie? You know Fyodor Pavlovitch?”
“And cherry jam? They have it here. You remember how you used to love
“I know nothing of his whereabouts and don’t want to.”
tremor at meeting Fetyukovitch, and that they had been enemies from the
that’s bad for her now.”
ever so many times yourself. And he is an excellent, earnest young man,
with perfect composure and remarkable distinctness. “He looks on that
things that feeling. Go at once and seek suffering for yourself, as though
as early as possible and locked himself up alone in the house. He was in
the bushes on the left, by the fence. The people must be sitting on it
from Katerina Ivanovna. And why the devil should I like him? He
greater disgrace than the murder and robbing of my father, if I had
immediately surrounded by pastors, members of Christian brotherhoods,
there was something queer of the sort, very whimsically expressed. The
pocket, and took it by one corner in her right hand, to wave it in the
all and go to the East so as to see no one again. Not _her_
“And I kiss you too, Lise. Listen, Alexey Fyodorovitch,” Madame Hohlakov
“Well, now we will finish talking and go to his funeral dinner. Don’t be
bustle going on in the other rooms of the tavern; there were shouts for
revelers, of course, laughed at this unexpected opinion; and one of them
“He wants to write an article about me, about my case, and so begin his
will see His Holiness too, even though he had not believed in it till
“And perhaps I don’t even believe in God.”
no attempt at eloquence, at pathos, or emotional phrases. He was like a
spectacles.... Mitya forgot his surname though he knew him, had seen him:
“Damn it all! I can hardly button it,” Mitya grumbled. “Be so good as to
that day. I subscribed ten roubles in the cause of the Slavs!... But you
the general opinion of the town, he refused to entertain a suspicion
for only one rouble and included a receipt signed by both.
through the copse he made one observation however—that the Father Superior
I hasten to emphasize the fact that I am far from esteeming myself capable
to see him, as he had meant to. But though he waited, he sent Smurov to
“Constitute a sin it may, but consider yourself, Grigory Vassilyevitch,
pas Dieu, il faudrait l’inventer._ And man has actually invented God. And
“Is your name Matvey?”
evidence. Mitya confirmed it, saying that he had been pointing to the
used to drive all over the province, complaining tearfully to each and all
explain what he meant. During the prayer, “Like the Cherubim,” he joined
intense hatred, and for some unknown reason his curly hair particularly
perhaps you won’t understand what I am saying to you, because I often
she’s there, there, under the window; how is it you don’t see her?’ I
and began to pray.
“Nikolay Ilyitch Snegiryov, sir, formerly a captain in the Russian
and don’t you be afraid. At least, I am afraid, but I enjoy it. It’s not
won’t you dare? You must guess that for yourself. That’s a riddle for
something else I am afraid of now: that that new man may leave me. Even
“Anger!” the captain repeated, “that’s just what it is. He is a little
but that by to‐morrow morning, if the present remedies were unavailing, he
very pleasant to take offense, isn’t it? A man may know that nobody has
begets it and does his duty by it.
pocket, and whistled with all his might as though giving a signal. He had
efforts result not in attaining fullness of life but self‐destruction, for
he, how could he not have thought of him? Why was it he had forgotten this
from Mitya. Enraged by the tone in which Rakitin had referred to
forgive me for every one? Speak, simple peasant heart!”
same time there were some among those who had been hitherto reverently
_half_ several times) he could free himself from at once, but that he was
naturally a kind and merry heart. ‘I also write vaudevilles of all sorts.’
mines: ‘that would be an outlet for your turbulent energies, your romantic
all together to say a good word to each other. That’s what I am doing:
“When you come, pretend you’ve come of your own accord to ask after me.
“Ah, Lise, what a good thing!” cried Alyosha joyfully. “You know, I was
“None at all?”
sensitive boy,” Alyosha answered warmly.
“A great writer(9) of the last epoch, comparing Russia to a swift troika
“Philosophy, indeed, when all my right side is numb and I am moaning and
instance, and the “manly” Kolya burst into tears like a boy of six. And
particularly to talk to him. Ivan looked at him and stopped, and the fact
him; that he was in a hurry to suggest this idea to me that I might fancy
In the four rooms for visitors there were beds. Grushenka settled herself
purposely used these words instead of “intentionally”) consulted a lawyer
a weak son, would have submitted, have felt ashamed of his father, sir,
This anticipation showed itself in some by anxiety, in others by devout
two hundred roubles from her, as from a sister, knowing that you are in
this pine‐tree as in a dream,’ only she said something so original about
don’t know whether I was asleep or awake last time. Perhaps I was only
Chapter III. An Onion
But as soon as Lise saw Alyosha’s finger through the crack, she flung the
slept soundly without dreams, but waked early, at seven o’clock, when it
“Well, I should hope not! Confound this dinner!”
He worked His first miracle to help men’s gladness.... ‘He who loves men
“You did say so, Dmitri Fyodorovitch. You said it before Andrey. Andrey
They went out, but stopped when they reached the entrance of the
ever.”
pass, though I’m perfectly free to stop it. I can stop it or carry it
vanished.
Chinaman, so it’s a relative thing. Or isn’t it? Is it not relative? A
might, in fact, be simply his ravings, the delusion of an old man of
real actuality, such events, even a whole world of events, woven into such
floated through Alyosha’s head as it lay on the pillow, “yes, if
up,” she commented aloud, throwing up her hands; “but as for our other
hindrance. It’s with me, you know, like the saying: ‘When he is sober, he
thrilling with emotion. And his heart glowed, and he struggled forward
another with a transparent bright yellow stone, of great brilliance. And
changed for the better since yesterday, there was scarcely any trace of
the man who has freed himself from the tyranny of material things and
Ilyitch the verses and didn’t say who was the author. But I am convinced
were able to do it. These Turks took a pleasure in torturing children,
the corner behind the ikons. It would have been absurd to keep it under
that. What he wanted to know was where she was. But his father, his
formerly with flogging also, reform no one, and what’s more, deter hardly
And this is what happened: every one was amazed and horrified, every one
that month. Ah, he likes being always surrounded with company, and he
warning the elder, telling him something about them, but, on second
My brother asked the birds to forgive him; that sounds senseless, but it
exclaimed suddenly. “Where was he murdered? How was he murdered? How, and
“Ah, you shameless woman! She is making you a declaration, Alexey!”
“You may laugh,” I said to him, laughing too, “but afterwards you will
The landlord, who had been for some time past inquisitively peeping in at
almost frightened; he remembered it afterwards. Smerdyakov stood facing
yours. What does money matter? We shall waste it anyway.... Folks like us
champagne on the table.
I am approaching the sudden catastrophe which was perhaps the final cause
the town, still angry, and still, perhaps, in love with me. Now they live
the universal happiness of man. But Thou mightest have taken even then the
any one—and such a sum!
turned away his eyes pretending not to have noticed.
gone on without interruption for so many years, ceased. Grushenka had
Mitya seized ten roubles and handed it to Pyotr Ilyitch, then tossed
understand them at the time. He died the third week after Easter. He was
straight out,” said Ivan, irritably. “I must wait till sentence is passed
her evidence, he jumped up from his seat, sank back again, and hid his
distinct proof. Grigory’s description of the scene at the dinner‐table,
though I were drunk!”
(so Alyosha thought it), as though voluntarily submitting to the blind,
ten roubles a possession he valued, though, three hours later, he was in
me by now ... if he had got up, he wouldn’t have forgiven me”—Mitya
extraordinarily lively, strolling about the room, laughing and praising
“and your story only gave the last touch to it. Looking at you, I
The elder Zossima was sixty‐five. He came of a family of landowners, had
Yesterday he brought me an apple. Forgive your own mother—forgive a poor
“So I shall tell Mitya how you kissed my hand, but I didn’t kiss yours at
tenfold their powers of serving the truth and the cause they have set
the desire to see the monastery and the holy man. As his lawsuit with the
a sheet” on her entrance. All in black, she advanced modestly, almost
not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against
particularly important for you.”
horrifying my mother, the servants, and me too. For though I was only
pure friendship. I have often been friendly with women quite innocently. I
“Lise,” she whispered almost in his ear, “Lise has greatly surprised me
him, his hands behind his back, looking at him with assurance and almost
talked about all over Russia.” But I am anticipating.
unintentionally, of course, for I was sitting in Grushenka’s bedroom and I
and think and dream, and at that moment I feel full of strength to
terrible obligation, even that reminder made no impression on him, did not
furiously, in a perfect frenzy. “And he only wanted to marry me, because
he called after him again.
she does come, you run up and knock at my door or at the window from the
in spite of his excellent disposition and his grateful and sensitive
many people had for years past come to confess their sins to Father
I am guilty, too—but that you need not write down” (he turned suddenly to
over Russia; it’s talked of in all the papers and journals. Fetyukovitch
of time for them,” he thought. They reached the station quickly, changed
come, madam—”
too; in the spring there was an outbreak of smallpox and I went and was
invented thee!’ and adds, in proud ecstasy, that all the peoples of the
“In regard to my epilepsy, sir, you had much better inquire of the doctors
Fyodor Pavlovitch, who had given his word to sit still and be quiet, had
he did not kiss his hand. But when he saw all this bowing and kissing on
real. That may be so, but answer me one question: what motive had he for
Mitya was reduced to silence. He flushed all over. A moment later he felt
it, but you may have sown an evil seed in him and it may grow, and all
repeat; I never for one instant doubt of his innocence. But, so be it, I
questions about Grushenka, and carried away by the loftiness of his own
the mines, breaking ore with a hammer? I am not a bit afraid of that—it’s
The woman listened to him, looking down with her cheek in her hand. She
to him in the very room in which she had once received Grushenka. In the
noble birth and high rank in the service, who was at that time away at the
streamed down in bucketfuls. Mitya gazed blankly out of the window.
character, my awful, unhappy character! Oh, you will see, I shall end by
given it, too; she’d have been certain to give it, to be revenged on me,
that he had pictured the fatal moment beforehand, but had only pictured
“Yes, what you said just now,” said Nikolay Parfenovitch, looking at him
At the moment when Krassotkin opened the door and came into the room, the
“Why bring in the question of worth? The matter is most often decided in
nervous, at once smiled and looked on the floor.
“Do you recognize this object?”
older. His face was very thin and covered with a network of fine wrinkles,
herself?” Mitya exclaimed bitterly again.
Alyosha cried sorrowfully. “With such a hell in your heart and your head,
do you say the story is told of?” asked the Father Librarian.
felt obliged to decline the honor of your hospitality, and not without
added carelessly, addressing the company generally.
that his invincible rival was perhaps by no means so invincible, that the
street.
the People! There was in those days a general of aristocratic connections,
just now when I made my speech! And do you know she attracts me awfully
individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time. For the sake
had only lately come to the town. And this man—the inspector of police,
“Thanks, Agrafena Alexandrovna, you’ve given me fresh courage,” Mitya
don’t know how to begin.”
an extremely light color, long out of fashion, and of very thin material.
through my mind. That’s what brought it back to me just now. How could I
fall down the cellar stairs in a fit, if you didn’t sham a fit on
She was breathless. She had perhaps intended to express her idea with more
thought, “to reassure them, in case they heard my footsteps and are
Smerdyakov knew I didn’t like my father and perhaps believed that I
angry, all you care about is intelligence, but I repeat again that I would
Chapter I. The Engagement
very painful.”
they always do,” Kolya began carelessly. “I was walking through the
to find it, where his master kept it. And the covering of the money—the
he is the murderer, and not Dmitri, then, of course, I am the murderer,
questioning the women whether they had seen anything the evening before.
God.’ He says that to me, but he weeps himself. I see that he cries like
even remember his drunken letter. ‘He snatched up the pestle,’ they say,
with marked persistence of all the witnesses who could be asked it, not
now, trying to get money from me, though he has wasted thousands on this
“Is it possible?” said Mitya, turning quickly to Maximov with an
remembering that punctuality is the courtesy of kings....”
Book II. An Unfortunate Gathering
follow the dead with tears, but here we rejoice over the father who is
your solitude. Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you
so to speak. But he asked me, ‘Why, have you tickled her?’ I thought I’d
“That was simply out of affection and my sincere devotion to you,
“You see, in spirit. After rubbing your back, I believe, you drank what
turned out that they could speak Russian quite correctly except for their
tenderness, though he obviously concealed it as though he were almost
followed Ivan.
not believe in God, that’s his secret!”
give her the sacred name of mother? Let us be bold, gentlemen, let us be
intense irresistible inclination to go down, open the door, go to the
of what’s good for Himself, and nothing but nastiness is left for me. But
Andrey was, as a rule, a talkative peasant, he did not utter a word,
“And you know he attacks them first. He is bitter against them on your
flooding the earth with blood, for blood cries out for blood, and he that
Chapter I. Father Zossima And His Visitors
her. All that time she was obtaining exact information as to her Sofya’s
Ignatyevna, but it would be simply shameful to imagine her murdering her
flashed into Mitya’s mind, “and behind the screen, is Grushenka,” thought
clever. Well, Alexey, it’s all over with me now.”
at me and bit my finger badly, I don’t know why.”
acute irritation. She almost shrieked, and interrupted him in a fury:
you? If you won’t, I am glad to see you ...”
to drive the second cart was pulling on his smock, stoutly maintaining
crowd behind the partition stood throughout the case closely packed,
sentimentality. It must be noted that Grushenka had concealed from him the
ruin, catching at the last straw, ready to sink if he failed. Old Samsonov
before him, feeling his legs grow weak under him, and frantically
his father and mother? He comes to you in dreams now, and you grieve. But
“That image of the Mother of God of which I was telling you just now,” he
enough to go out. But to Alyosha her face was even more attractive than
“The Pole—the officer?”
you confirm the statement that you disliked your father, Fyodor
remembering this great day, you will not forget my words, uttered from the
“In a miracle of Divine Providence. God knows my heart. He sees my
pass, though I’m perfectly free to stop it. I can stop it or carry it
again, I yield to no one the defense of the criminal. I am here to accuse
in the mists of uncertainty, though there are people who’d be pleased to
right, as it turned out, to compare himself to a swan singing his last
(he is stupid, but honest), but he’s—a sensualist. That’s the very
apprehensive that Dmitri Fyodorovitch would make a scene and carry away
Or so it seemed to a silly girl like me.... And now, O Lord, it’s not the
that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for
venomous voice, answered:
noted in passing that he was a young man of sturdy character.
“I assure you you’re mistaken,” cried Mitya, wringing his hands in
time—”
dream of going to Katya and saying, ‘I’m a scoundrel, but not a thief!’ Do
money is as good as in your pocket, not three thousand, but three million,
surprised.
disappearance of quite half of the three thousand he had just taken from
conversation. “And your business is important,” he said, “so you’d
the top of his voice:
explain it!—and delicately, carefully, as only you know how to” (Alyosha
of his sins. For that three thousand—I give you my solemn word—I’ll make
praise God, for if only in you two His truth has been fulfilled.
Parfenovitch hurriedly added up the total.
“You’ll kill me? No, excuse me, I will speak. I came to treat myself to
hospital, I had a real attack and a more violent one than I’ve had for
convinced that it has all been “for the last time,” and that his rival
“Besides, you fell from the garret then.”
chief point, could you not, at the same time, give us some slight hint as
“Have you noticed, Smurov, that in the middle of winter we don’t feel so
And if he goes away I shall go, too!” she added with flashing eyes.
“Why, the isolation that prevails everywhere, above all in our age—it has
him. An exhausted, consumptive‐looking, though young peasant woman was
It was only later that we learned that Ivan had come partly at the request
sorry to be—losing a friend. But that was acting, too—you were playing a
and a genius. Remember that! The people will meet the atheist and overcome
again in the same falsetto:
feeling. Can a Russian peasant be said to feel, in comparison with an
It seemed strange to Alyosha, too, that in spite of the calamity that had
Only, here with us now he is not as he used to sit beside us before.’ And
Perhaps it is Thy will to hear it from my lips. Listen, then. We are not
father, Fyodor Pavlovitch?” asked the investigating lawyer, softly but
speaking strangely, disconnectedly. At last he sat down, put his elbows on
beside her? I came here seeking my ruin, and said to myself, ‘What does it
should you deny the prisoner a sense of honor? Yes, he has a sense of
was glowing in his mind and in his heart. The one window of the cell was
from your notes, your letters, and your agreements, how much money you
“But not in such a cause, not with such disgrace and such horror!” said
noticed it with some embarrassment. He ascribed his brother’s indifference
back to reason. But I swear, by God, Alyosha, I never insulted the poor
“Well, I made up my mind to kill myself. What had I left to live for? That
one little time, without going up to him, without speaking, if I could be
“And the Prisoner too is silent? Does He look at him and not say a word?”
Liars! They all desire the death of their fathers. One reptile devours
innovations nowadays, are we to follow them all?” added others.
telling us about old times till we nearly split our sides.... Especially
consequently, the possibility of their having been stolen.
“But what do we want a second cart for?” Mitya put in. “Let’s start with
understanding what he said.
business, I’ll snap my fingers in his face, he shall never see me again!”
into his care. If he hadn’t looked after him there would have been no one
take the money to‐morrow. To‐morrow he will be sure to take it,” said
have us believe that he stole up to the window, peeped respectfully in,
“He is suspected, too.”
her away? Where had he the means, the money to do it? It was just at this
Alyosha did not look at him, but from a slight movement Rakitin at once
something of my words.
“You see what our peasants are, Mavriky Mavrikyevitch. They’ve no shame!”
shelf, and so on.
you!’ Compliments, his compliments! Just compliments and farewell!
have become an atheist and a socialist. For socialism is not merely the
“Rakitin,” he said suddenly, in a firm and loud voice; “don’t taunt me
everything, and was looking round at every one with a childlike smile of
doctors. The medical experts were the famous doctor from Moscow, our
torments one till at last one realizes, and removes the offending object,
“Thanks, my dear, thanks! You are a good woman. I love you. I will do so
He felt it almost unthinkable that Katya would consent to come, and at the
him.... I was told that once or twice, while Katerina Ivanovna was giving
Have you been home and seen your brother?” It seemed strange to Alyosha
No signs from heaven come to‐day
was who told the story.”
asking strangely, still looking at the elder with the same inexplicable
like to look at it? I’ll take it off ...”
Zossima’s bedroom, knelt down, and bowed to the ground before the elder,
I was cold, so I kissed you.... But I see it was stupid.”
“There is something spiteful and yet open‐hearted about you,” Alyosha
else. I came here perhaps to have a look and speak my mind. My son,
despicable fabrication of the impotent and infinitely small Euclidian mind
universe it will be, when everything in heaven and earth blends in one
perfumes, and such things. But he seemed to have as much contempt for the
“Yes, a grand feast the night before. Damn it all, gentlemen! Do make
At this point the President checked her sternly, begging her to moderate
The public and the jury, of course, were left with a grain of doubt in
simply carried away the envelope with him, without troubling himself to
“Get along with you!” retorted Agafya, really angry this time. “Ridiculous
wanted it for. Yes, yes—to win that creature and carry her off. I knew
boy flushed crimson but did not dare to reply.
“Ah, dear boy, how can you talk of joy when you lie feverish at night,
go on. Alyosha, who knew every expression of his face, saw that he was
years afterwards, some sensible monks were amazed and horrified, when they
explained to me afterwards that it was all sarcastic. I thought he was in
money, though he was always afraid that his sons Ivan and Alexey would
Katerina Ivanovna did not take her hand away. She listened with timid hope
instead of delight his soul was filled with such gloom, and his heart
It was explained further that Mitya had, on the contrary, often told her
and joy. That’s the trouble, for everything in the world is a riddle! And
you know she is laughing at me every minute. But this time she was in
feeling would always save him at the fatal moment, as it has indeed saved
door behind him. His face looked frenzied, his lips were trembling. He
paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ’AS‐IS,’ WITH NO OTHER
thought you were not timid with him, you’d twist him round your little
saucy pranks again? I know, you are at it again!”
made his way in the dark to her bedroom, where a light was burning. As
prejudicial to Mitya. He calculated almost on his fingers that on his
to Thee already. And is it for me to conceal from Thee our mystery?
conclusion. The candle burnt dimly, a cricket chirped; it became
stolen from him! And if any one did steal, he did not leave a receipt. How
There was such a peremptory note in Katya’s voice that Ivan, after a
doctor, Herzenstube, and the young doctor, Varvinsky. The two latter
one else knew that he was being watched. The box with the pistols had been
express in three words, three human phrases, the whole future history of
“Who is he? Who is here? What third person?” Ivan cried in alarm, looking
in disgust. Not a runaway troika, but the stately chariot of Russia will
without my hearing you. My dear, dear Alexey Fyodorovitch, if you only
That may restore both foot and brain!
“Ah, that’s perfectly true!” exclaimed Alyosha.
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