按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
TREPLIEFF goes out。
DORN。 ＇Sighing＇ Ah； youth； youth！
MASHA。 It is always 〃Youth； youth；〃 when there is nothing else to be
said。
She takes snuff。 DORN takes the snuff…box out of her hands and flings
it into the bushes。
DORN。 Don't do that； it is horrid。 ＇A pause＇ I hear music in the house。
I must go in。
MASHA。 Wait a moment。
DORN。 What do you want？
MASHA。 Let me tell you again。 I feel like talking。 ＇She grows more
and more excited＇ I do not love my father； but my heart turns to you。 For
some reason； I feel with all my soul that you are near to me。 Help me！
Help me； or I shall do something foolish and mock at my life； and ruin it。 I
am at the end of my strength。
17
… Page 18…
The Sea…Gull
DORN。 What is the matter？ How can I help you？
MASHA。 I am in agony。 No one； no one can imagine how I suffer。
＇She lays her head on his shoulder and speaks softly＇ I love Constantine。
DORN。 Oh； how excitable you all are！ And how much love there is
about this lake of spells！ ＇Tenderly＇ But what can I do for you； my child？
What？ What？
18
… Page 19…
The Sea…Gull
The curtain falls。
ACT II
The lawn in front of SORIN'S house。 The house stands in the
background； on a broad terrace。 The lake； brightly reflecting the rays of
the sun； lies to the left。 There are flower…beds here and there。 It is noon；
the day is hot。 ARKADINA； DORN； and MASHA are sitting on a bench
on the lawn； in the shade of an old linden。 An open book is lying on
DORN'S knees。
ARKADINA。 ＇To MASHA＇ Come； get up。 ＇They both get up＇ Stand
beside me。 You are twenty…two and I am almost twice your age。 Tell me；
Doctor； which of us is the younger looking？
DORN。 You are； of course。
ARKADINA。 You see！ Now why is it？ Because I work； my heart and
mind are always busy； whereas you never move off the same spot。 You
don't live。 It is a maxim of mine never to look into the future。 I never
admit the thought of old age or death； and just accept what comes to me。
MASHA。 I feel as if I had been in the world a thousand years； and I
trail my life behind me like an endless scarf。 Often I have no desire to live
at all。 Of course that is foolish。 One ought to pull oneself together and
shake off such nonsense。
DORN。 ＇Sings softly＇
〃Tell her； oh flowers〃
ARKADINA。 And then I keep myself as correct…looking as an
Englishman。 I am always well…groomed； as the saying is； and carefully
dressed； with my hair neatly arranged。 Do you think I should ever permit
myself to leave the house half…dressed； with untidy hair？ Certainly not！ I
have kept my looks by never letting myself slump as some women do。
＇She puts her arms akimbo； and walks up and down on the lawn＇ See me；
tripping on tiptoe like a fifteen…year…old girl。
DORN。 I see。 Nevertheless； I shall continue my reading。 ＇He takes up
his book＇ Let me see； we had come to the grain…dealer and the rats。
ARKADINA。 And the rats。 Go on。 ＇She sits down＇ No； give me the
book； it is my turn to read。 ＇She takes the book and looks for the place＇
19
… Page 20…
The Sea…Gull
And the rats。 Ah； here it is。 ＇She reads＇ 〃It is as dangerous for society to
attract and indulge authors as it is for grain…dealers to raise rats in their
granaries。 Yet society loves authors。 And so； when a woman has found one
whom she wishes to make her own； she lays siege to him by indulging and
flattering him。〃 That may be so in France； but it certainly is not so in
Russia。 We do not carry out a programme like that。 With us； a woman is
usually head over ears in love with an author before she attempts to lay
siege to him。 You have an example before your eyes； in me and Trigorin。
SORIN comes in leaning on a cane； with NINA beside him。
MEDVIEDENKO follows； pushing an arm…chair。
SORIN。 ＇In a caressing voice； as if speaking to a child＇ So we are
happy now； eh？ We are enjoying ourselves to…day； are we？ Father and
stepmother have gone away to Tv er； and we are free for three whole days！
NINA。 ＇Sits down beside ARKADINA； and embraces her＇ I am so
happy。 I belong to you now。
SORIN。 ＇Sits down in his arm…chair＇ She looks lovely to…day。
ARKADINA。 Yes； she has put on her prettiest dress； and looks sweet。
That was nice of you。 ＇She kisses NINA＇ But we mustn't praise her too
much； we shall spoil her。 Where is Trigorin？
NINA。 He is fishing off the wharf。
ARKADINA。 I wonder he isn't bored。 ＇She begins to read again。＇
NINA。 What are you reading？
ARKADINA。 〃On the Water；〃 by Maupassant。 ＇She reads a few lines
to herself＇ But the rest is neither true nor interesting。 ＇She lays down the
book＇ I am uneasy about my son。 Tell me； what is the matter with him？
Why is he so dull and depressed lately？ He spends all his days on the lake；
and I scarcely ever see him any more。
MASHA。 His heart is heavy。 ＇Timidly； to NINA＇ Please recite
something from his play。
NINA。 ＇Shrugging her shoulders＇ Shall I？ Is it so interesting？
MASHA。 ＇With suppressed rapture＇ When he recites； his eyes shine
and his face grows pale。 His voice is beautiful and sad； and he has the
ways of a poet。
SORIN begins to snore。
20
… Page 21…
The Sea…Gull
DORN。 Pleasant dreams！
ARKADINA。 Peter！
SORIN。 Eh？
ARKADINA。 Are you asleep？
SORIN。 Not a bit of it。 ＇A pause。＇
ARKADINA。 You don't do a thing for your health； brother； but you
really ought to。
DORN。 The idea of doing anything for one's health at sixty…five！
SORIN。 One still wants to live at sixty…five。
DORN。 ＇Crossly＇ Ho！ Take some camomile tea。
ARKADINA。 I think a journey to some watering…place would be good
for him。
DORN。 Why； yes； he might go as well as not。
ARKADINA。 You don't understand。
DORN。 There is nothing to understand in this case； it is quite clear。
MEDVIEDENKO。 He o