The Storm

[Gives Boris a sign and he walks away to the entrance of the arcade.

KULIGIN (coming into the middle of the scene and addressing the crowd). Why, what are you afraid of, I should like to know! every blade of grass, every flower is rejoicing now, while we try to get away and are as frightened as if it were a disaster! The storm kill us indeed! It's not a storm to be dreaded, it's a blessing! Yes, a blessing! Everything's dreadful to you. If the Northern Lights shine in the heavens—you ought to admire and marvel at "the dawn breaking in the land of midnight!" But you are in terror, and imagine it means war or flood. If a comet comes—I can't take my eyes from it! a thing so beautiful! the stars we have looked upon to our hearts' content, they are always with us, but that is something new; well, one must gaze and admire! But you're afraid even to look at the sky, and all in a tremble! You make a bogey out of everything. Ah, what a people! I'm not afraid, you see. Come, sir, let's go on!

BORIS.

Yes, let us go! it's more terrible here! [Goes.

SCENE V

The Same, without BORIS and KULIGIN.

MME. KABANOVA. Well, that's a pretty sermon he gave us! Something worth hearing, and no mistake! What have the times come to, when such as he turn teacher! If an old man talks so, what can we expect from the young ones!

A WOMAN. The whole sky's overcast. It's covered up all over, as it were, with a cap.

FIRST. Eh, mate, see how the storm cloud is rolling into a ball, as though there were something alive turning round in it. And see how it's creeping up towards us, creeping like a live thing!

SECOND. Mark my words, that storm's not coming up for nothing. It's the truth I tell you; I know. It'll strike someone dead, or set fire to a house; you'll see, look what an extraordinary colour!

KATERINA (listening).

What are they saying? They say someone will be struck dead.

KABANOV.

You know what stuff they talk, any nonsense that comes into their heads.

MME. KABANOVA. Don't you criticise your elders! They know better than you. Old people have forewarnings of all sorts. Old people don't talk at random.

KATERINA (to her husband).

Dear Tihon, I know who will be struck dead.

VARVARA (to Katerina, softly).

If only you would hold your tongue!

KABANOV.

How do you know?

KATERINA.

It will strike me. Pray for me, then.

[Enter Old Lady with footmen. Katerina with a shriek hides her face.

SCENE VI

The Same and the OLD LADY.

THE OLD LADY. Why hide your face? It's no use hiding! One can see you're afraid. You've no wish to die! She wants to live! To be sure she does!—look what a beauty! Ha, ha, ha! Beauty! Better pray to God to take away your beauty! It's beauty that is our ruin! Ruin to yourself, a snare to others, so rejoice in your beauty if you will! Many, many, you lead into sin! Giddy fellows fight duels over you, slash each other with swords for your sake. And you are glad! Old men, honourable men, forget that they must die, tempted by beauty! And who has to answer for all. Better go down into the abyss with your beauty! Yes, quick, quick. (Katerina hides herself.) Where will you hide away, foolish one! There's no escaping God! (A clap of thunder.) All of you will burn in fire unquenchable! [Exit.

KATERINA.

Ah, I am dying!

VARVARA. Why do you torture yourself like this! Stand on one side and pray; you will feel better.

KATERINA (goes to the wall and drops on her knees, then jumps up quickly, seeing the picture on the wall). Ah! Hell! Hell! The fire unquenchable! (Mme. Kabanova, Kabanov, and Varvara surround her.) My heart is torn! I can bear it no longer! Mother! Tihon! I have sinned against God and against you! Did I not swear to you I would not set eyes on anyone when you were away! You remember! you remember! And do you know what I have done in my sinfulness? The first night I went out of the house….

KABANOV (in despair, in tears, pulls at her sleeve).

You mustn't, you mustn't! don't! What are you saying? Mother is here!

MME. KABANOVA (severely).

Come, come, speak, now you have begun.

KATERINA.

And every night the same…. (Sobs, Kabanov tries to embrace her).

MME. KABANOVA.

Let her be! With whom?

VARVARA.

She's raving, she doesn't know what she is saying.

MME. KABANOVA.

You be quiet! So this is the meaning of it! Well, with whom?

KATERINA.

With Boris Grigoritch. (A clap of thunder.) Ah!

[Falls unconscious in her husband's arms.

MME. KABANOVA. Well, son! You see what freedom leads to! I told you so, but you wouldn't heed me. See what you've brought on yourself!