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has transformed them into stones and water and clouds； but their spirits
have flowed together into one； and that great world…soul am I！ In me is the
spirit of the great Alexander； the spirit of Napoleon； of Caesar； of
Shakespeare； and of the tiniest leech that swims。 In me the consciousness
of man has joined hands with the instinct of the animal； I understand all；
all； all； and each life lives again in me。
＇The will…o…the…wisps flicker out along the lake shore。＇
ARKADINA。 ＇Whispers＇ What decadent rubbish is this？
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Imploringly＇ Mother！
NINA。 I am alone。 Once in a hundred years my lips are opened； my
voice echoes mournfully across the desert earth； and no one hears。 And
you； poor lights of the marsh； you do not hear me。 You are engendered at
sunset in the putrid mud； and flit wavering about the lake till dawn；
unconscious； unreasoning； unwarmed by the breath of life。 Satan； father of
eternal matter； trembling lest the spark of life should glow in you； has
ordered an unceasing movement of the atoms that compose you； and so
you shift and change for ever。 I； the spirit of the universe； I alone am
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immutable and eternal。 ＇A pause＇ Like a captive in a dungeon deep and
void； I know not where I am； nor what awaits me。 One thing only is not
hidden from me： in my fierce and obstinate battle with Satan； the source of
the forces of matter； I am destined to be victorious in the end。 Matter and
spirit will then be one at last in glorious harmony； and the reign of
freedom will begin on earth。 But this can only come to pass by slow
degrees； when after countless eons the moon and earth and shining Sirius
himself shall fall to dust。 Until that hour； oh； horror！ horror！ horror！ ＇A
pause。 Two glowing red points are seen shining across the lake＇ Satan； my
mighty foe； advances； I see his dread and lurid eyes。
ARKADINA。 I smell sulphur。 Is that done on purpose？
TREPLIEFF。 Yes。
ARKADINA。 Oh； I see； that is part of the effect。
TREPLIEFF。 Mother！
NINA。 He longs for man
PAULINA。 ＇To DORN＇ You have taken off your hat again！ Put it on；
you will catch cold。
ARKADINA。 The doctor has taken off his hat to Satan father of
eternal matter
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Loudly and angrily＇ Enough of this！ There's an end to
the performance。 Down with the curtain！
ARKADINA。 Why； what are you so angry about？
TREPLIEFF。 ＇Stamping his foot＇ The curtain； down with it！ ＇The
curtain falls＇ Excuse me； I forgot that only a chosen few might write plays
or act them。 I have infringed the monopoly。 I I…
He would like to say more； but waves his hand instead； and goes out to
the left。
ARKADINA。 What is the matter with him？
SORIN。 You should not handle youthful egoism so roughly； sister。
ARKADINA。 What did I say to him？
SORIN。 You hurt his feelings。
ARKADINA。 But he told me himself that this was all in fun； so I
treated his play as if it were a comedy。
SORIN。 Nevertheless…
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The Sea…Gull
ARKADINA。 Now it appears that he has produced a masterpiece； if
you please！ I suppose it was not meant to amuse us at all； but that he
arranged the performance and fumigated us with sulphur to demonstrate to
us how plays should be written； and what is worth acting。 I am tired of
him。 No one could stand his constant thrusts and sallies。 He is a wilful；
egotistic boy。
SORIN。 He had hoped to give you pleasure。
ARKADINA。 Is that so？ I notice； though； that he did not choose an
ordinary play； but forced his decadent trash on us。 I am willing to listen to
any raving； so long as it is not meant seriously； but in showing us this； he
pretended to be introducing us to a new form of art； and inaugurating a
new era。 In my opinion； there was nothing new about it； it was simply an
exhibition of bad temper。
TRIGORIN。 Everybody must write as he feels； and as best he may。
ARKADINA。 Let him write as he feels and can； but let him spare me
his nonsense。
DORN。 Thou art angry； O Jove！
ARKADINA。 I am a woman； not Jove。 ＇She lights a cigarette＇ And I
am not angry； I am only sorry to see a young man foolishly wasting his
time。 I did not mean to hurt him。
MEDVIEDENKO。 No one has any ground for separating life from
matter； as the spirit may well consist of the union of material atoms。
＇Excitedly； to TRIGORIN＇ Some day you should write a play； and put on
the stage the life of a schoolmaster。 It is a hard； hard life。
ARKADINA。 I agree with you； but do not let us talk about plays or
atoms now。 This is such a lovely evening。 Listen to the singing； friends；
how sweet it sounds。
PAULINA。 Yes； they are singing across the water。 ＇A pause。＇
ARKADINA。 ＇To TRIGORIN＇ Sit down beside me here。 Ten or
fifteen years ago we had music and singing on this lake almost all night。
There are six houses on its shores。 All was noise and laughter and romance
then； such romance！ The young star and idol of them all in those days was
this man here； ＇Nods toward DORN＇ Doctor Eugene Dorn。 He is
fascinating now； but he was irresistible then。 But my conscience is
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The Sea…Gull
beginning to prick me。 Why did I hurt my poor boy？ I am uneasy about
him。 ＇Loudly＇ Constantine！ Constantine！
MASHA。 Shall I go and find him？
ARKADINA。 If you please； my dear。
MASHA。 ＇Goes off to the left； calling＇ Mr。 Constantine！ Oh； Mr。
Constantine！
NINA。 ＇Comes in from behind the stage＇ I see that the play will never
be finished； so now I can go home。 Good evening。 ＇She kisses
ARKADINA and PAULINA。＇
SORIN。 Bravo！ Bravo！
ARKADINA。 Bravo！ Bravo！ We were quite charmed by your acting。
With your looks and such a lovely voice it is a crime for you to hide
yourself in the country。 You must be very talented。 It is your duty to go on
the stage； do you hear me？
NINA。 It is the dream of my life； which will never come true。
A