白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot I.
Two days after the strange conclusion to Nastasia Philipovna'sbirthday party, with the record of which we concluded the firstpart of this story, Prince Muishkin hurriedly left St. Petersburgfor Moscow, in order to see after some business connected withthe receipt of his unexpected fortune.
It was said that there were other reasons for his hurrieddeparture; but as to this, and as to his movements in Moscow, andas to his prolonged absence from St. Petersburg, we are able togive very little information.
The prince was away for six months, and even those who were mostinterested in his destiny were able to pick up very little newsabout him all that while. True, certain rumours did reach hisfriends, but these were both strange and rare, and each onecontradicted the last.
Of course the Epanchin family was much interested in hismovements, though he had not had time to bid them farewell beforehis departure. The general, however, had had an opportunity ofseeing him once or twice since the eventful evening, and hadspoken very seriously with him; but though he had seen theprince, as I say, he told his family nothing about thecircumstance. In fact, for a month or so after his departure itwas considered not the thing to mention the prince's name in theEpanchin household. Only Mrs. Epanchin, at the commencement ofthis period, had announced that she had been "cruelly mistaken inthe prince!" and a day or two after, she had added, evidentlyalluding to him, but not mentioning his name, that it was anunalterable characteristic of hers to be mistaken in people. Thenonce more, ten days later, after some passage of arms with one ofher daughters, she had remarked sententiously. "We have hadenough of mistakes. I shall be more careful in future!" However,it was impossible to avoid remarking that there was some sense ofoppression in the household--something unspoken, but felt;something strained. All the members of the family wore frowninglooks. The general was unusually busy; his family hardly ever sawhim.
As to the girls, nothing was said openly, at all events; andprobably very little in private. They were proud damsels, andwere not always perfectly confidential even among themselves. Butthey understood each other thoroughly at the first word on alloccasions; very often at the first glance, so that there was noneed of much talking as a rule.
One fact, at least, would have been perfectly plain to anoutsider, had any such person been on the spot; and that was,that the prince had made a very considerable impression upon thefamily, in spite of the fact that he had but once been inside thehouse, and then only for a short time. Of course, if analyzed,this impression might have proved to be nothing more than afeeling of curiosity; but be it what it might, there itundoubtedly was.
Little by little, the rumours spread about town became lost in amaze of uncertainty. It was said that some foolish young prince,name unknown, had suddenly come into possession of a giganticfortune, and had married a French ballet dancer. This wascontradicted, and the rumour circulated that it was a youngmerchant who had come into the enormous fortune and married thegreat ballet dancer, and that at the wedding the drunken youngfool had burned seventy thousand roubles at a candle out of purebravado.
However, all these rumours soon died down, to which circumstancecertain facts largely contributed. For instance, the whole of theRogojin troop had departed, with him at their head, for Moscow.This was exactly a week after a dreadful orgy at the Ekaterinhofgardens, where Nastasia Philipovna had been present. It becameknown that after this orgy Nastasia Philipovna had entirelydisappeared, and that she had since been traced to Moscow; sothat the exodus of the Rogojin band was found consistent withthis report.
There were rumours current as to Gania, too; but circumstancessoon contradicted these. He had fallen seriously ill, and hisillness precluded his appearance in society, and even atbusiness, for over a month. As soon as he had recovered, however,he threw up his situation in the public company under GeneralEpanchin's direction, for some unknown reason, and the post wasgiven to another. He never went near the Epanchins' house at all,and was exceedingly irritable and depressed.
Varvara Ardalionovna married Ptitsin this winter, and it was saidthat the fact of Gania's retirement from business was theultimate cause of the marriage, since Gania was now not onlyunable to support his family, but even required help himself.
We may mention that Gania was no longer mentioned in the Epanchinhousehold any more than the prince was; but that a certaincircumstance in connection with the fatal evening at Nastasia'shouse became known to the general, and, in fact, to all thefamily the very next day. This fact was that Gania had come homethat night, but had refused to go to bed. He had awaited theprince's return from Ekaterinhof with feverish impatience.
On the latter's arrival, at six in the morning, Gania had gone tohim in his room, bringing with him the singed packet of money,which he had insisted that the prince should return to NastasiaPhilipovna without delay. It was said that when Gania entered theprince's room, he came with anything but friendly feelings, andin a condition of despair and misery; but that after a shortconversation, he had stayed on for a couple of hours with him,sobbing continuously and bitterly the whole time. They had partedupon terms of cordial friendship.
The Epanchins heard about this, as well as about the episode atNastasia Philipovna's. It was strange, perhaps, that the factsshould become so quickly, and fairly accurately, known. As far asGania was concerned, it might have been supposed that the newshad come through Varvara Ardalionovna, who had suddenly become afrequent visitor of the Epanchin girls, greatly to their mother'ssurprise. But though Varvara had seen fit, for some reason, tomake friends with them, it was not likely that she would havetalked to them about her brother. She had plenty of pride, inspite of the fact that in thus acting she was seeking intimacywith people who had practically shown her brother the door. Sheand the Epanchin girls had been acquainted in childhood, althoughof late they had met but rarely. Even now Varvara hardly everappeared in the drawing-room, but would slip in by a back way.Lizabetha Prokofievna, who disliked Varvara, although she had agreat respect for her mother, was much annoyed by this suddenintimacy, and put it down to the general "contrariness" of herdaughters, who were "always on the lookout for some new way ofopposing her." Nevertheless, Varvara continued her visits.
A month after Muishkin's departure, Mrs. Epanchin received aletter from her old friend Princess Bielokonski (who had latelyleft for Moscow), which letter put her into the greatest goodhumour. She did not divulge its contents either to her daughtersor the general, but her conduct towards the former becameaffectionate in the extreme. She even made some sort ofconfession to them, but they were unable to understand what itwas about. She actually relaxed towards the general a little--hehad been long disgraced--and though she managed to quarrel withthem all the next day, yet she soon came round, and from hergeneral behaviour it was to be concluded that she had bad goodnews of some sort, which she would like, but could not make upher mind, to disclose.
but even required help himself.prince's departure,continued his old life. That is, he went to .
However, a week later she received another letter from the samesource, and at last resolved to speak.
She solemnly announced that she had heard from old PrincessBielokonski, who had given her most comforting news about "thatqueer young prince." Her friend had hunted him up, and found thatall was going well with him. He had since called in person uponher, making an extremely favourable impression, for the princesshad received him each day since, and had introduced him intoseveral good houses.
The girls could see that their mother concealed a great deal fromthem, and left out large pieces of the letter in reading it tothem.
However, the ice was broken, and it suddenly became possible tomention the prince's name again. And again it became evident howvery strong was the impression the young man had made in thehousehold by his one visit there. Mrs. Epanchin was surprised atthe effect which the news from Moscow had upon the girls, andthey were no less surprised that after solemnly remarking thather most striking characteristic was "being mistaken in people"she should have troubled to obtain for the prince the favour andprotection of so powerful an old lady as the PrincessBielokonski. As soon as the ice was thus broken, the general lostno time in showing that he, too, took the greatest interest inthe subject. He admitted that he was interested, but said that itwas merely in the business side of the question. It appearedthat, in the interests of the prince, he had made arrangements inMoscow for a careful watch to be kept upon the prince's businessaffairs, and especially upon Salaskin. All that had been said asto the prince being an undoubted heir to a fortune turned out tobe perfectly true; but the fortune proved to be much smaller thanwas at first reported. The estate was considerably encumberedwith debts; creditors turned up on all sides, and the prince, inspite of all advice and entreaty, insisted upon managing allmatters of claim himself--which, of course, meant satisfyingeverybody all round, although half the claims were absolutelyfraudulent.
Mrs. Epanchin confirmed all this. She said the princess hadwritten to much the same effect, and added that there was nocuring a fool. But it was plain, from her expression of face, howstrongly she approved of this particular young fool's doings. Inconclusion, the general observed that his wife took as great aninterest in the prince as though he were her own son; and thatshe had commenced to be especially affectionate towards Aglayawas a self-evident fact.
All this caused the general to look grave and important. But,alas! this agreeable state of affairs very soon changed oncemore.
A couple of weeks went by, and suddenly the general and his wifewere once more gloomy and silent, and the ice was as firm asever. The fact was, the general, who had heard first, how NastasiaPhilipovna had fled to Moscow and had been discovered there byRogojin; that she had then disappeared once more, and beenfound again by Rogojin, and how after that she had almostpromised to marry him, now received news that she had once moredisappeared, almost on the very day fixed for her wedding, flyingsomewhere into the interior of Russia this time, and that PrinceMuishkin had left all his affairs in the hands of Salaskin anddisappeared also--but whether he was with Nastasia, or had onlyset off in search of her, was unknown.
Lizabetha Prokofievna received confirmatory news from theprincess--and alas, two months after the prince's firstdeparture from St. Petersburg, darkness and mystery once moreenveloped his whereabouts and actions, and in the Epanchin familythe ice of silence once more formed over the subject. Varia,however, informed the girls of what had happened, she havingreceived the news from Ptitsin, who generally knew more than mostpeople.
To make an end, we may say that there were many changes in theEpanchin household in the spring, so that it was not difficult toforget the prince, who sent no news of himself.
The Epanchin family had at last made up their minds to spend thesummer abroad, all except the general, who could not waste timein "travelling for enjoyment," of course. This arrangement wasbrought about by the persistence of the girls, who insisted thatthey were never allowed to go abroad because their parents weretoo anxious to marry them off. Perhaps their parents had at lastcome to the conclusion that husbands might be found abroad, andthat a summer's travel might bear fruit. The marriage betweenAlexandra and Totski had been broken off. Since the prince'sdeparture from St. Petersburg no more had been said about it; thesubject had been dropped without ceremony, much to the joy ofMrs. General, who, announced that she was "ready to cross herselfwith both hands" in gratitude for the escape. The general,however, regretted Totski for a long while. "Such a fortune!" hesighed, "and such a good, easy-going fellow!"
After a time it became known that Totski had married a Frenchmarquise, and was to be carried off by her to Paris, and then toBrittany.
"Oh, well," thought the general, "he's lost to us for good, now."
suddenlyblushed all over, and became very thoughtful. age. grave and important. But,alas! this agreeable state .
So the Epanchins prepared to depart for the summer.
But now another circumstance occurred, which changed all theplans once more, and again the intended journey was put off, muchto the delight of the general and his spouse.
A certain Prince S-- arrived in St. Petersburg from Moscow, aneminent and honourable young man. He was one of those activepersons who always find some good work with which to employthemselves. Without forcing himself upon the public notice,modest and unobtrusive, this young prince was concerned with muchthat happened in the world in general.
He had served, at first, in one of the civil departments, hadthen attended to matters connected with the local government ofprovincial towns, and had of late been a corresponding member ofseveral important scientific societies. He was a man of excellentfamily and solid means, about thirty-five years of age.
Prince S-- made the acquaintance of the general's family, andAdelaida, the second girl, made a great impression upon him.Towards the spring he proposed to her, and she accepted him. Thegeneral and his wife were delighted. The journey abroad was putoff, and the wedding was fixed for a day not very distant.
The trip abroad might have been enjoyed later on by Mrs. Epanchinand her two remaining daughters, but for another circumstance.
It so happened that Prince S-- introduced a distant relation ofhis own into the Epanchin family--one Evgenie Pavlovitch, a youngofficer of about twenty-eight years of age, whose conquests amongthe ladies in Moscow had been proverbial. This young gentlemanno sooner set eyes on Aglaya than he became a frequent visitor atthe house. He was witty, well-educated, and extremely wealthy, asthe general very soon discovered. His past reputation was theonly thing against him.
Nothing was said; there were not even any hints dropped; butstill, it seemed better to the parents to say nothing more aboutgoing abroad this season, at all events. Aglaya herself perhapswas of a different opinion.
All this happened just before the second appearance of our heroupon the scene.
By this time, to judge from appearances, poor Prince Muishkin hadbeen quite forgotten in St. Petersburg. If he had appearedsuddenly among his acquaintances, he would have been received asone from the skies; but we must just glance at one more factbefore we conclude this preface.
Colia Ivolgin, for some time after the prince's departure,continued his old life. That is, he went to school, looked afterhis father, helped Varia in the house, and ran her errands, andwent frequently to see his friend, Hippolyte.
The lodgers had disappeared very quickly--Ferdishenko soon afterthe events at Nastasia Philipovna's, while the prince went toMoscow, as we know. Gania and his mother went to live with Variaand Ptitsin immediately after the latter's wedding, while thegeneral was housed in a debtor's prison by reason of certainIOU's given to the captain's widow under the impression that theywould never be formally used against him. This unkind action muchsurprised poor Ardalion Alexandrovitch, the victim, as he calledhimself, of an "unbounded trust in the nobility of the humanheart."
When he signed those notes of hand,he never dreamt that they wouldbe a source of future trouble. The event showed that he was mistaken."Trust in anyone after this! Have the least confidence in man or woman!"he cried in bitter tones, as he sat with his new friends in prison, andrecounted to them his favourite stories of the siege of Kars, andthe resuscitated soldier. On the whole, he accommodated himselfvery well to his new position. Ptitsin and Varia declared that hewas in the right place, and Gania was of the same opinion. Theonly person who deplored his fate was poor Nina Alexandrovna, whowept bitter tears over him, to the great surprise of herhousehold, and, though always in feeble health, made a point ofgoing to see him as often as possible.
Since the general's "mishap," as Colia called it, and themarriage of his sister, the boy had quietly possessed himself offar more freedom. His relations saw little of him, for he rarelyslept at home. He made many new friends; and was moreover, afrequent visitor at the debtor's prison, to which he invariablyaccompanied his mother. Varia, who used to be always correctinghim, never spoke to him now on the subject of his frequentabsences, and the whole household was surprised to see Gania, inspite of his depression, on quite friendly terms with hisbrother. This was something new, for Gania had been wont to lookupon Colia as a kind of errand-boy, treating him with contempt,threatening to "pull his ears," and in general driving him almostwild with irritation. It seemed now that Gania really needed hisbrother, and the latter, for his part, felt as if he couldforgive Gania much since he had returned the hundred thousandroubles offered to him by Nastasia Philipovna. Three months afterthe departure of the prince, the Ivolgin family discovered thatColia had made acquaintance with the Epanchins, and was on veryfriendly terms with the daughters. Varia heard of it first,though Colia had not asked her to introduce him. Little by littlethe family grew quite fond of him. Madame Epanchin at firstlooked on him with disdain, and received him coldly, but in ashort time he grew to please her, because, as she said, he "wascandid and no flatterer" -- a very true description. From the firsthe put himself on an equality with his new friends, and though hesometimes read newspapers and books to the mistress of the house,it was simply because he liked to be useful.
One day, however, he and Lizabetha Prokofievna quarrelledseriously about the "woman question," in the course of a livelydiscussion on that burning subject. He told her that she was atyrant, and that he would never set foot in her house again. Itmay seem incredible, but a day or two after, Madame Epanchin senta servant with a note begging him to return, and Colia, withoutstanding on his dignity, did so at once.
Aglaya was the only one of the family whose good graces he couldnot gain, and who always spoke to him haughtily, but it sohappened that the boy one day succeeded in giving the proudmaiden a surprise.
It was about Easter, when, taking advantage of a momentary tete-a-tete Colia handed Aglaya a letter, remarking that he "hadorders to deliver it to her privately." She stared at him inamazement, but he did not wait to hear what she had to say, andwent out. Aglaya broke the seal, and read as follows:
"Once you did me the honour of giving me your confidence. Perhapsyou have quite forgotten me now! How is it that I am writing toyou? I do not know; but I am conscious of an irresistible desireto remind you of my existence, especially you. How many times Ihave needed all three of you; but only you have dwelt always inmy mind's eye. I need you--I need you very much. I will not writeabout myself. I have nothing to tell you. But I long for you tobe happy. ARE you happy? That is all I wished to say to you--Yourbrother,
"PR. L. MUISHKIN."
On reading this short and disconnected note, Aglaya suddenlyblushed all over, and became very thoughtful.
It would be difficult to describe her thoughts at that moment.One of them was, "Shall I show it to anyone?" But she was ashamedto show it. So she ended by hiding it in her table drawer, with avery strange, ironical smile upon her lips.
Next day, she took it out, and put it into a large book, as sheusually did with papers which she wanted to be able to findeasily. She laughed when, about a week later, she happened tonotice the name of the book, and saw that it was Don Quixote, butit would be difficult to say exactly why.
I cannot say, either, whether she showed the letter to hersisters.
But when she had read it herself once more, it suddenly struckher that surely that conceited boy, Colia, had not been the onechosen correspondent of the prince all this while. She determinedto ask him, and did so with an exaggerated show of carelessness.He informed her haughtily that though he had given the prince hispermanent address when the latter left town, and had offered hisservices, the prince had never before given him any commission toperform, nor had he written until the following lines arrived,with Aglaya's letter. Aglaya took the note, and read it.
"DEAR COLIA,--Please be so kind as to give the enclosedsealed letter to Aglaya Ivanovna. Keep well--Ever yourloving, "PR. L. MUISHKIN."
"It seems absurd to trust a little pepper-box like you," saidAglaya, as she returned the note, and walked past the "pepper-box" with an expression of great contempt.
This was more than Colia could bear. He had actually borrowedGania's new green tie for the occasion, without saying why hewanted it, in order to impress her. He was very deeply mortified.