the left hand； Depart from Me； ye cursed； into everlasting fire； prepared
for the devil and his angels： for I was an hungred； and ye gave Me no
meat： I was thirsty； and ye gave Me no drink： I was a stranger and ye
took Me not in： naked； and ye clothed Me not； sick； and in prison； and
ye visited Me not。 Then shall they also answer Him； saying； Lord； when
saw we Thee an hungred； or athirst； or a stranger； or naked； or sick； or in
prison； and did not minister unto Thee？ Then shall He answer them；
saying； Verily I say unto you； Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least
of these； ye did it not to Me。 And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment： but the righteous into life eternal。〃
Vassily； who was sitting on the floor at Chouev's side； and was
listening to his reading the Gospel； nodded his handsome head in approval。
〃True；〃 he said in a resolute tone。 〃Go； you cursed villains； into everlasting
punishment； since you did not give food to the hungry； but swallowed it all
yourself。 Serves them right！ I have read the holy Nikodim's writings；〃 he
added； showing off his erudition。
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〃And will they never be pardoned？〃 asked Stepan； who had listened
silently； with his hairy head bent low down。
〃Wait a moment； and be silent；〃 said Chouev to Vassily； who went on
talking about the rich who had not given meat to the stranger； nor visited
him in the prison。
〃Wait； I say！〃 said Chouev； again turning over the leaves of the Gospel。
Having found what he was looking for； Chouev smoothed the page with
his large and strong hand； which had become exceedingly white in prison：
〃And there were also two other malefactors； led with Him〃 it means
with Christ〃to be put to death。 And when they were come to the place；
which is called Calvary； there they crucified Him； and the malefactors； one
on the right hand； and the other on the left。 Then said Jesus；'Father；
forgive them； for they know not what they do。' And the people stood
beholding。 And the rulers also with them derided Him； saying；'He saved
others； let Him save Himself if He be Christ； the chosen of God。' And the
soldiers also mocked Him； coming to Him； and offering Him vinegar； and
saying； 'If Thou be the King of the Jews save Thyself。' And a
superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek； and Latin；
and Hebrew； 'This is the King of the Jews。' And one of the malefactors
which were hanged railed on Him； saying； 'If thou be Christ； save Thyself
and us。' But the other answering rebuked Him； saying； 'Dost not thou fear
God； seeing thou art in the same condemnation？ And we indeed justly； for
we receive the due reward of our deeds： but this man hath done nothing
amiss。' And he said unto Jesus； 'Lord； remember me when Thou comest
into Thy kingdom。' And Jesus said unto him； 'Verily I say unto thee； to…day
shalt thou be with Me in paradise。'〃
Stepan did not say anything； and was sitting in thought； as if he were
listening。
Now he knew what the true faith was。 Those only will be saved who
have given food and drink to the poor and visited the prisoners； those who
have not done it； go to hell。 And yet the malefactor had repented on the
cross； and went nevertheless to paradise。 This did not strike him as being
inconsistent。 Quite the contrary。 The one confirmed the other： the fact
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that the merciful will go to Heaven； and the unmerciful to hell； meant that
everybody ought to be merciful； and the malefactor having been forgiven
by Christ meant that Christ was merciful。 This was all new to Stepan；
and he wondered why it had been hidden from him so long。
From that day onward he spent all his free time with Chouev； asking
him questions and listening to him。 He saw but a single truth at the
bottom of the teaching of Christ as revealed to him by Chouev： that all
men are brethren； and that they ought to love and pity one another in order
that all might be happy。 And when he listened to Chouev； everything that
was consistent with this fundamental truth came to him like a thing he had
known before and only forgotten since； while whatever he heard that
seemed to contradict it； he would take no notice of； as he thought that he
simply had not understood the real meaning。 And from that time Stepan
was a different man。
IV
STEPAN had been very submissive and meek ever since he came to
the prison； but now he made the prison authorities and all his fellow…
prisoners wonder at the change in him。 Without being ordered； and out of
his proper turn he would do all the very hardest work in prison； and the
dirtiest too。 But in spite of his humility； the other prisoners stood in awe of
him； and were afraid of him； as they knew he was a resolute man；
possessed of great physical strength。 Their respect for him increased after
the incident of the two tramps who fell upon him； he wrenched himself
loose from them and broke the arm of one of them in the fight。 These
tramps had gambled with a young prisoner of some means and deprived
him of all his money。 Stepan took his part； and deprived the tramps of
their winnings。 The tramps poured their abuse on him； but when they
attacked him； he got the better of them。 When the Governor asked how the
fight had come about； the tramps declared that it was Stepan who had
begun it。 Stepan did not try to exculpate himself； and bore patiently his
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sentence which was three days in the punishment…cell； and after that
solitary confinement。
In his solitary cell he suffered because he could no longer listen to
Chouev and his Gospel。 He was also afraid that the former visions of
HER and of the black devils would reappear to torment him。 But the
visions were gone for good。 His soul was full of new and happy ideas。
He felt glad to be alone if only he could read； and if he had the Gospel。 He
knew that he might have got hold of the Gospel； but he could not read。
He had started to learn the alphabet in his boyhood； but could not
grasp the joining of the syllables； and remained illiterate。 He made up
his mind to start reading anew； and asked the guard to bring him the
Gospels。 They were brought to him； and he sat down to work。 He
contrived to recollect the letters； but could not join them into syllables。 He
tried as hard as he could to understand how the letters ought to be put
together to form words； but with no result whatever。 He lost his sleep； had
no desire to eat； and a deep sadness came over him； which he was unable
to shake off。
〃Well； have you not yet mastered it？〃 asked the guard one day。
〃No。〃
〃Do you know 'Our Father'？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Since you do； read it in the Gospels。 Here it is；〃 said the guard；
showing him the prayer in the Gospels。 Stepan began to read it； comparing
the letters he knew with the familiar sounds。
And all of a sudden the mystery of the syllables was revealed to him；
and he began to read。 This was a great joy。 From that moment he could
read； and the meaning of the words； spelt out with such great pains；
became more significant。
Stepan did not mind any more being alone。 He was so full of his
work that he did not feel glad when he was transferred back to the
common cell； his private cell being needed for a political prisoner who had
been just sent to prison。
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V
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