the forged coupon()-第29章
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When the young Tsar again lost consciousness； he awoke to find
himself in the middle of a village； where he saw hungry； half…frozen
children and the wife of the man who had assaulted the constable broken
down from overwork。
Then came a new scene。 In Siberia； a tramp is being flogged with the
lash； the direct result of an order issued by the Minister of justice。 Again
oblivion； and another scene。 The family of a Jewish watchmaker is evicted
for being too poor。 The children are crying； and the Jew； Isaaks； is greatly
distressed。 At last they come to an arrangement； and he is allowed to stay
on in the lodgings。
The chief of police takes a bribe。 The governor of the province also
secretly accepts a bribe。 Taxes are being collected。 In the village； while a
cow is sold for payment； the police inspector is bribed by a factory owner；
who thus escapes taxes altogether。 And again a village court scene； and a
sentence carried into executionthe lash！
〃Ilia Vasilievich； could you not spare me that？〃
〃No。〃
The peasant burst into tears。 〃Well； of course； Christ suffered； and
He bids us suffer too。〃
Then other scenes。 The Stundistsa sectbeing broken up and
dispersed； the clergy refusing first to marry； then to bury a Protestant。
Orders given concerning the passage of the Imperial railway train。
Soldiers kept sitting in the mudcold； hungry； and cursing。 Decrees issued
relating to the educational institutions of the Empress Mary Department。
Corruption rampant in the foundling homes。 An undeserved monument。
Thieving among the clergy。 The reinforcement of the political police。 A
woman being searched。 A prison for convicts who are sentenced to be
deported。 A man being hanged for murdering a shop assistant。
Then the result of military discipline： soldiers wearing uniform and
scoffing at it。 A gipsy encampment。 The son of a millionaire exempted
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from military duty； while the only support of a large family is forced to
serve。 The university： a teacher relieved of military service； while the
most gifted musicians are compelled to perform it。 Soldiers and their
debaucheryand the spreading of disease。
Then a soldier who has made an attempt to desert。 He is being tried。
Another is on trial for striking an officer who has insulted his mother。 He
is put to death。 Others； again； are tried for having refused to shoot。 The
runaway soldier sent to a disciplinary battalion and flogged to death。
Another； who is guiltless； flogged； and his wounds sprinkled with salt till
he dies。 One of the superior officers stealing money belonging to the
soldiers。 Nothing but drunkenness； debauchery； gambling； and arrogance
on the part of the authorities。
What is the general condition of the people： the children are half…
starving and degenerate； the houses are full of vermin； an everlasting dull
round of labour； of submission； and of sadness。 On the other hand：
ministers； governors of provinces； covetous； ambitious； full of vanity； and
anxious to inspire fear。
〃But where are men with human feelings？〃
〃I will show you where they are。〃
Here is the cell of a woman in solitary confinement at Schlusselburg。
She is going mad。 Here is another womana girlindisposed； violated
by soldiers。 A man in exile； alone； embittered； half…dead。 A prison for
convicts condemned to hard labour； and women flogged。 They are many。
Tens of thousands of the best people。 Some shut up in prisons； others
ruined by false education； by the vain desire to bring them up as we wish。
But not succeeding in this； whatever might have been is ruined as well； for
it is made impossible。 It is as if we were trying to make buckwheat out
of corn sprouts by splitting the ears。 One may spoil the corn； but one could
never change it to buckwheat。 Thus all the youth of the world； the entire
younger generation； is being ruined。
But woe to those who destroy one of these little ones； woe to you if
you destroy even one of them。 On your soul； however； are hosts of them；
who have been ruined in your name； all of those over whom your power
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extends。
〃But what can I do？〃 exclaimed the Tsar in despair。 〃I do not wish to
torture； to flog； to corrupt； to kill any one！ I only want the welfare of all。
Just as I yearn for happiness myself； so I want the world to be happy as
well。 Am I actually responsible for everything that is done in my name？
What can I do？ What am I to do to rid myself of such a responsibility？
What can I do？ I do not admit that the responsibility for all this is mine。 If
I felt myself responsible for one…hundredth part of it； I would shoot myself
on the spot。 It would not be possible to live if that were true。 But how
can I put an end； to all this evil？ It is bound up with the very existence of
the State。 I am the head of the State！ What am I to do？ Kill myself？ Or
abdicate？ But that would mean renouncing my duty。 O God； O God； God；
help me！〃 He burst into tears and awoke。
〃How glad I am that it was only a dream；〃 was his first thought。 But
when he began to recollect what he had seen in his dream； and to compare
it with actuality； he realised that the problem propounded to him in dream
remained just as important and as insoluble now that he was awake。 For
the first time the young Tsar became aware of the heavy responsibility
weighing on him； and was aghast。 His thoughts no longer turned to the
young Queen and to the happiness he had anticipated for that evening； but
became centred on the unanswerable question which hung over him：
〃What was to be done？〃
In a state of great agitation he arose and went into the next room。 An
old courtier； a co…worker and friend of his father's； was standing there in
the middle of the room in conversation with the young Queen； who was on
her way to join her husband。 The young Tsar approached them； and
addressing his conversation principally to the old courtier； told him what
he had seen in his dream and what doubts the dream had left in his mind。
〃That is a noble idea。 It proves the rare nobility of your spirit；〃 said
the old man。 〃But forgive me for speaking franklyyou are too kind to
be an emperor； and you exaggerate your responsibility。 In the first place；
the state of things is not as you imagine it to be。 The people are not poor。
They are well…to…do。 Those who are poor are poor through their own fault。
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Only the guilty are punished； and if an unavoidable mistake does
sometimes occur； it is like a thunderbolt an accident； or the will of God。
You have but one responsibility： to fulfil your task courageously and to
retain the power that is given to you。 You wish the best for your people
and God sees that。 As for the errors which you have committed
unwittingly； you can pray for forgiveness； and God will guide you and
pardon you。 All the more because you have done nothing that demands
forgiveness； and there never have been and never will be men possessed of
such extraordinary qualities as you and your father。 Therefore all we
implore you to do is to live； and to reward our endless devotion and love
with your favour； and every one； save scoundrels who deserve no
happiness； will be happy。〃
〃What do you think about that？〃 the young Tsar asked his wife。
〃I have a different opinion；〃 said the clever young woman； who had
been brought up in a free country。 〃I am glad you had that dream； and I
agree with you that there are grave responsibilities resting upon you。 I
have often thought about it with great anxiety； and I think there is a simple
means of casting off a part of the responsibility you are unable to bear； if
not all of it。 A large proportion of the power which is too heavy for you；
you should delegate to the people； to its representatives； reserving for
yourself only the supreme control； that is； the general direction of the
affairs of State。〃
The Queen had hardly ceased to expound her views； when the old
courtier began eagerly to refute her arguments； and they started a polite
but very heated discussion。
For a time the young Tsar followed their arguments； but presently he
ceased to be aware of what they said； listening only to the voice of him
who had been his guide in the dream； and who was now speaking audibly
in his heart。
〃You are not only the Tsar；〃 said the voice； 〃but more。 You are a
human being； who only yesterday came into this world； and will
perchance to…morrow depart out of it。 Apart from your duties as a Tsar；
of which that old man is now speaking； you have more immediate duties
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not by any means to be disregarded； human duties； not the duties of a Tsar
towards his subjects； which are only accidental； but an eternal duty； the
duty of a man in his relation to God； the duty toward your own soul； which
is to save it； and also； to serve God in establishing his kingdom on earth。
You are not to be guarded in your actions either by what has been or what
will be； but only by what it is your own duty to do。
***
He opened his eyeshis wife was awakening him。 Which of the three
courses the young Tsar chose； will be told in fifty years。
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