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greatest respect for that man； and I must ask you not to speak ill of him in
my presence。
TREPLIEFF。 I have no respect for him at all。 You want me to think
him a genius； as you do； but I refuse to lie： his books make me sick。
ARKADINA。 You envy him。 There is nothing left for people with no
talent and mighty pretensions to do but to criticise those who are really
gifted。 I hope you enjoy the consolation it brings。
TREPLIEFF。 ＇With irony＇ Those who are really gifted； indeed！
＇Angrily＇ I am cleverer than any of you； if it comes to that！ ＇He tears the
bandage off his head＇ You are the slaves of convention； you have seized
the upper hand and now lay down as law everything that you do； all else
you strangle and trample on。 I refuse to accept your point of view； yours
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and his； I refuse！
ARKADINA。 That is the talk of a decadent。
TREPLIEFF。 Go back to your beloved stage and act the miserable
ditch…water plays you so much admire！
ARKADINA。 I never acted in a play like that in my life。 You couldn't
write even the trashiest music…hall farce； you idle good…for…nothing！
TREPLIEFF。 Miser！
ARKADINA。 Rag…bag！
TREPLIEFF sits down and begins to cry softly。
ARKADINA。 ＇Walking up and down in great excitement＇ Don't cry！
You mustn't cry！ ＇She bursts into tears＇ You really mustn't。 ＇She kisses his
forehead； his cheeks； his head＇ My darling child； forgive me。 Forgive your
wicked mother。
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Embracing her＇ Oh； if you could only know what it is to
have lost everything under heaven！ She does not love me。 I see I shall
never be able to write。 Every hope has deserted me。
ARKADINA。 Don't despair。 This will all pass。 He is going away to…
day； and she will love you once more。 ＇She wipes away his tears＇ Stop
crying。 We have made peace again。
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Kissing her hand＇ Yes； mother。
ARKADINA。 ＇Tenderly＇ Make your peace with him； too。 Don't fight
with him。 You surely won't fight？
TREPLIEFF。 I won't； but you must not insist on my seeing him again；
mother； I couldn't stand it。 ＇TRIGORIN comes in＇ There he is； I am going。
＇He quickly puts the medicines away in the cupboard＇ The doctor will
attend to my head。
TRIGORIN。 ＇Looking through the pages of a book＇ Page 121； lines 11
and 12； here it is。 ＇He reads＇ 〃If at any time you should have need of my
life； come and take it。〃
TREPLIEFF picks up the bandage off the floor and goes out。
ARKADINA。 ＇Looking at her watch＇ The carriage will soon be here。
TRIGORIN。 ＇To himself＇ If at any time you should have need of my
life； come and take it。
ARKADINA。 I hope your things are all packed。
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The Sea…Gull
TRIGORIN。 ＇Impatiently＇ Yes； yes。 ＇In deep thought＇ Why do I hear a
note of sadness that wrings my heart in this cry of a pure soul？ If at any
time you should have need of my life； come and take it。 ＇To ARKADINA＇
Let us stay here one more day！
ARKADINA shakes her head。
TRIGORIN。 Do let us stay！
ARKADINA。 I know； dearest； what keeps you here； but you must
control yourself。 Be sober； your emotions have intoxicated you a little。
TRIGORIN。 You must be sober； too。 Be sensible； look upon what has
happened as a true friend would。 ＇Taking her hand＇ You are capable of
self…sacrifice。 Be a friend to me and release me！
ARKADINA。 ＇In deep excitement＇ Are you so much in love？
TRIGORIN。 I am irresistibly impelled toward her。 It may be that this
is just what I need。
ARKADINA。 What； the love of a country girl？ Oh； how little you
know yourself！
TRIGORIN。 People sometimes walk in their sleep； and so I feel as if I
were asleep； and dreaming of her as I stand here talking to you。 My
imagination is shaken by the sweetest and most glorious visions。 Release
me！
ARKADINA。 ＇Shuddering＇ No； no！ I am only an ordinary woman；
you must not say such things to me。 Do not torment me； Boris； you
frighten me。
TRIGORIN。 You could be an extraordinary woman if you only would。
Love alone can bring happiness on earth； love the enchanting； the poetical
love of youth； that sweeps away the sorrows of the world。 I had no time
for it when I was young and struggling with want and laying siege to the
literary fortress； but now at last this love has come to me。 I see it
beckoning； why should I fly？
ARKADINA。 ＇With anger＇ You are mad！
TRIGORIN。 Release me。
ARKADINA。 You have all conspired together to torture me to…day。
＇She weeps。＇
TRIGORIN。 ＇Clutching his head desperately＇ She doesn't understand
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me！ She won't understand me！
ARKADINA。 Am I then so old and ugly already that you can talk to
me like this without any shame about another woman？ ＇She embraces and
kisses him＇ Oh； you have lost your senses！ My splendid； my glorious
friend； my love for you is the last chapter of my life。 ＇She falls on her
knees＇ You are my pride； my joy； my light。 ＇She embraces his knees＇ I
could never endure it should you desert me； if only for an hour； I should
go mad。 Oh； my wonder； my marvel； my king！
TRIGORIN。 Some one might come in。 ＇He helps her to rise。＇
ARKADINA。 Let them come！ I am not ashamed of my love。 ＇She
kisses his hands＇ My jewel！ My despair！ You want to do a foolish thing；
but I don't want you to do it。 I shan't let you do it！ ＇She laughs＇ You are
mine； you are mine！ This forehead is mine； these eyes are mine； this silky
hair is mine。 All your being is mine。 You are so clever； so wise； the first of
all living writers； you are the only hope of your country。 You are so fresh；
so simple； so deeply humourous。 You can bring out every feature of a man
or of a landscape in a single line； and your characters live and breathe。 Do
you think that these words are but the incense of flattery？ Do you think I
am not speaking the truth？ Come； look into my eyes； look deep； do you
find lies there？ No； you see that I alone know how to treasure you。 I alone
tell you the truth。 Oh； my very dear； you will go with me？ You will？ You
will not forsake me？
TRIGORIN。 I have no will of my own； I never had。 I am too in