第 27 节
作者:
低诉 更新:2021-02-27 01:23 字数:9320
that she can barely move; and only with difficulty。 The little boy;
all bent over; and stepping gently; with his tiny bare feet; drags
along a jug of water; shifting it from hand to hand; for it is
heavier than he。 The young girl flings over her shoulder a load of
hay which is also heavier than herself; advances a few steps; halts;
and drops it; without the strength to carry it。 The old woman of
fifty rakes away without stopping; and with her kerchief awry she
drags the hay; breathing heavily and tottering。 The old woman of
eighty only rakes the hay; but even this is beyond her strength; she
slowly drags along her feet; shod with bast shoes; and; frowning; she
gazes gloomily before her; like a seriously ill or dying person。 The
old man has intentionally sent her farther away than the rest; to
rake near the cocks of hay; so that she may not keep in line with the
others; but she does not fall in with this arrangement; and she toils
on as long as the others do; with the same death…like; gloomy
countenance。 The sun is already setting behind the forest; but the
cocks are not yet all heaped together; and much still remains to do。
All feel that it is time to stop; but no one speaks; waiting until
the others shall say it。 Finally the shoemaker; conscious that his
strength is exhausted; proposes to the old man; to leave the cocks
until the morrow; and the old man consents; and the women instantly
run for the garments; jugs; pitchforks; and the old woman immediately
sits down just where she has been standings and then lies back with
the same death…like look; staring straight in front of her。 But the
women are going; and she rises with a groan; and drags herself after
them。 And this will go on in July also; when the peasants; without
obtaining sufficient sleep; reap the oats by night; lest it should
fall; and the women rise gloomily to thresh out the straw for the
bands to tie the sheaves; when this old woman; already utterly
cramped by the labor of mowing; and the woman with child; and the
young children; injure themselves overworking and over…drinking; and
when neither hands; nor horses; nor carts will suffice to bring to
the ricks that grain with which all men are nourished; and millions
of poods {33} of which are daily required in Russia to keep people
from perishing。
And we live as though there were no connection between the dying
laundress; the prostitute of fourteen years; the toilsome manufacture
of cigarettes by women; the strained; intolerable; insufficiently fed
toil of old women and children around us; we live as though there
were no connection between this and our own lives。
It seems to us; that suffering stands apart by itself; and our life
apart by itself。 We read the description of the life of the Romans;
and we marvel at the inhumanity of those soulless Luculli; who
satiated themselves on viands and wines while the populace were dying
with hunger。 We shake our heads; and we marvel at the savagery of
our grandfathers; who were serf…owners; supporters of household
orchestras and theatres; and of whole villages devoted to the care of
their gardens; and we wonder; from the heights of our grandeur; at
their inhumanity。 We read the words of Isa。 v。 8: 〃Woe unto them
that join house to house; that lay field to field; till there be no
place; that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
(11。) Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning; that they may
follow strong drink; that continue until night; till wine inflame
them! (12。) And the harp and the viol; and tabret and pipe; and wine
are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord;
neither consider the operation of his hands。 (18。) Woe unto them
that draw iniquity with cords of vanity; and sin as it were with a
cart…rope。 (20。) Woe unto then that call evil good; and good evil;
that put darkness for light; and light for darkness; that put bitter
for sweet; and sweet for bitter! (21。) Woe unto them that are wise in
their own eyes; and prudent in their own sight(22。) Woe unto them
that are mighty to drink wine; and men of strength to mingle strong
drink。〃
We read these words; and it seems to us that this has no reference to
us。 We read in the Gospels (Matt。 iii。 10): 〃And now also the axe
is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire。〃
And we are fully convinced that the good tree which bringeth forth
good fruit is ourselves; and that these words are not spoken to us;
but to some other and wicked people。
We read the words of Isa。 vi。 10: 〃Make the heart of this people
fat; and make their ears heavy; and shut their eyes; lest they see
with their eyes; and hear with their ears; and understand with their
heart; and convert and be healed。 (11。) Then said I: Lord; how
long? And he answered; Until the cities be wasted without
inhabitant; and the houses without man; and the land be utterly
desolate。〃
We read; and are fully convinced that this marvellous deed is not
performed on us; but on some other people。 And because we see
nothing it is; that this marvellous deed is performed; and has been
performed; on us。 We hear not; we see not; and we understand not
with our heart。 How has this happened?
Whether that God; or that natural law by virtue of which men exist in
the world; has acted well or ill; yet the position of men in the
world; ever since we have known it; has been such; that naked people;
without any hair on their bodies; without lairs in which they could
shelter themselves; without food which they could find in the
fields;like Robinson {34} on his island;have all been reduced to
the necessity of constantly and unweariedly contending with nature in
order to cover their bodies; to make themselves clothing; to
construct a roof over their heads; and to earn their bread; that two
or three times a day they may satisfy their hunger and the hunger of
their helpless children and of their old people who cannot work。
Wherever; at whatever time; in whatever numbers we may have observed
people; whether in Europe; in America; in China; or in Russia;
whether we regard all humanity; or any small portion of it; in
ancient times; in a nomad state; or in our own times; with steam…
engines and sewing…machines; perfected agriculture; and electric
lighting; we behold always one and the same thing;that man; toiling
intensely and incessantly; is not able to earn for himself and his
little ones and his old people clothing; shelter; and food; and that
a considerable portion of mankind; as in former times; so at the
present day; perish through insufficiency of the necessaries of life;
and intolerable toil in the effort to obtain them。
Wherever we have; if we draw a circle round us of a hundred thousand;
a thousand; or ten versts; or of one verst; and examine into the
lives of the people comprehended within the limits of our circle; we
shall see within that circle prematurely…born children; old men; old
women; women in labor; sick and weak persons; who toil beyond their
strength; and who have not sufficient food and rest for life; and who
therefore die before their time。 We shall see people in the flower
of their age actually slain by dangerous and injurious work。
We see that people have been struggling; ever since the world has
endured; with fearful effort; privation; and suffering; against this
universal want; and that they cannot overcome it 。 。 。 {35}
Footnotes:
{1} The fine; tall members of a regiment; selected and placed
together to form a showy squad。
{2} '' Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition printed in
Russia; in the set of Count Tolstoi's works。
{3} Reaumur。
{4} A drink made of water; honey; and laurel or salvia leaves; which
is drunk as tea; especially by the poorer classes。
{5} '' Omitted by the censor from the authorized edition published
in Russia in the set of count Tolstoi's works。 The omission is
indicated thus 。 。 。
{6} Kalatch; a kind of roll: baranki; cracknels of fine flour。
{7} An arshin is twenty…eight inches。
{8} A myeshchanin; or citizen; who pays only poll…tax and not a
guild tax。
{9} Omitted in authorized edition。
{10} Omitted by the censor in the authorized edition。
{11} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{12} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{13} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{14} Omitted by the Censor from the authorized edition。
{15} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{16} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition
{17} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{18} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{19} A very complicated sort of whist。
{20} The whole of this chapter is omitted by the Censor in the
authorized edition; and is there represented by the following
sentence: 〃And I felt that in money; in money itself; in the
possession of it; there was something immoral; and I asked myself;
What is money?〃
{21} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。
{22} Omitted by the Censor in the authorized edition。