conduct¡¡on¡¡your¡¡part¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡best¡¡for¡¡all¡¡concerned¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He
continued£º¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡you¡¡had¡¡a¡¡fight£»¡¡you¡¡wicked¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡Such
things¡¡sometimes¡¡happen£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡if¡¡you¡¡went
afterward¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡forgiveness¡¡and¡¡buried¡¡your¡¡grievances¡¡out¡¡of
sight¡£¡¡¡¡Scatter¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡four¡¡winds¡¡of¡¡heaven£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡you¡¡do
not¡¡do¡¡so¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡worse¡¡for¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¨
The¡¡younger¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡still¡¡obstinate£»¡¡refused¡¡to
profit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡advice£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡right£»
and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡only¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡grumble¡¡in¡¡his¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡way¡£
Ivan¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡his¡¡neighbor£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡grandfather¡¡wished£»
saying£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡tear¡¡out¡¡Gavryl's¡¡beard¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡it¡¡himself£»
and¡¡his¡¡son¡¡tore¡¡my¡¡shirt¡¡and¡¡trousers¡¡into¡¡shreds¡£¡¨
Ivan¡¡entered¡¡suit¡¡against¡¡Gavryl¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡first¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village
justice£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡getting¡¡satisfaction¡¡from¡¡him¡¡he¡¡carried¡¡his
case¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡¡court¡£
While¡¡the¡¡neighbors¡¡were¡¡wrangling¡¡over¡¡the¡¡affair£»¡¡each¡¡suing
the¡¡other£»¡¡it¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡a¡¡perch¡bolt¡¡from¡¡Gavryl's¡¡wagon¡¡was
lost£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡women¡¡of¡¡Gavryl's¡¡household¡¡accused¡¡Ivan's¡¡son¡¡of
stealing¡¡it¡£
They¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨We¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡time¡¡pass¡¡by¡¡our¡¡window£»¡¡on
his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡wagon¡¡was¡¡standing¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡my¡¡kumushka
£§sponsor£§£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡¡¨told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Ivan's¡¡son¡¡had
offered¡¡it¡¡for¡¡sale¡¡at¡¡the¡¡kabak¡¡£§tavern£§¡£¡¨
This¡¡accusation¡¡caused¡¡them¡¡again¡¡to¡¡go¡¡into¡¡court¡¡for¡¡a
settlement¡¡of¡¡their¡¡grievances¡£
While¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡families¡¡were¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡have¡¡their
troubles¡¡settled¡¡in¡¡court£»¡¡their¡¡home¡¡quarrels¡¡were¡¡constant£»¡¡and
frequently¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡hand¡to¡hand¡¡encounters¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡little
children¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡example¡¡of¡¡their¡¡elders¡¡and¡¡quarrelled
incessantly¡£
The¡¡women£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡met¡¡on¡¡the¡¡riverbank¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡family
washing£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡attending¡¡to¡¡their¡¡work¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡time¡¡in
abusing¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡infrequently¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡blows¡£
At¡¡first¡¡the¡¡male¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡families¡¡were¡¡content¡¡with
accusing¡¡each¡¡other¡¡of¡¡various¡¡crimes£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡stealing¡¡and¡¡like
meannesses¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡in¡¡this¡¡mild¡¡form¡¡did¡¡not¡¡last¡¡long¡£
They¡¡soon¡¡resorted¡¡to¡¡other¡¡measures¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡began¡¡to¡¡appropriate
one¡¡another's¡¡things¡¡without¡¡asking¡¡permission£»¡¡while¡¡various
articles¡¡disappeared¡¡from¡¡both¡¡houses¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡found¡£¡¡
This¡¡was¡¡done¡¡out¡¡of¡¡revenge¡£
This¡¡example¡¡being¡¡set¡¡by¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡the¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children¡¡also
followed£»¡¡and¡¡life¡¡soon¡¡became¡¡a¡¡burden¡¡to¡¡all¡¡who¡¡took¡¡part¡¡in
the¡¡strife¡£
Ivan¡¡Scherbakoff¡¡and¡¡¡¨Gavryl¡¡the¡¡Lame¡¨¡¡at¡¡last¡¡laid¡¡their¡¡trouble
before¡¡the¡¡mir¡¡£¨village¡¡meeting£©£»¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡having¡¡been¡¡in
court¡¡and¡¡calling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡peace¡£¡¡¡¡Both¡¡of¡¡the
latter¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡them¡¡and¡¡their¡¡incessant¡¡wrangling¡£¡¡
One¡¡time¡¡Gavryl¡¡would¡¡succeed¡¡in¡¡having¡¡Ivan¡¡fined£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was
not¡¡able¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡it¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡locked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡dreary
prison¡¡for¡¡days¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡Ivan's¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Gavryl
punished¡¡in¡¡like¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡the¡¡injury¡¡the¡¡one¡¡could
do¡¡the¡¡other¡¡the¡¡more¡¡delight¡¡he¡¡took¡¡in¡¡it¡£
The¡¡success¡¡of¡¡either¡¡in¡¡having¡¡the¡¡other¡¡punished¡¡only¡¡served¡¡to
increase¡¡their¡¡rage¡¡against¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡like¡¡mad
dogs¡¡in¡¡their¡¡warfare¡£
If¡¡anything¡¡went¡¡wrong¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡he¡¡immediately¡¡accused
his¡¡adversary¡¡of¡¡conspiring¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡sought¡¡revenge
without¡¡stopping¡¡to¡¡inquire¡¡into¡¡the¡¡rights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡case¡£
When¡¡the¡¡peasants¡¡went¡¡into¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡each¡¡other¡¡fined¡¡and
imprisoned£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡soften¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡£¡¡¡¡They
would¡¡only¡¡taunt¡¡one¡¡another¡¡on¡¡such¡¡occasions£»¡¡saying£º¡¡¡¨Never
mind£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡repay¡¡you¡¡for¡¡all¡¡this¡£¡¨
This¡¡state¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡lasted¡¡for¡¡six¡¡years¡£
Ivan's¡¡father£»¡¡the¡¡sick¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡constantly¡¡repeated¡¡his¡¡good
advice¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡try¡¡to¡¡arouse¡¡their¡¡conscience¡¡by¡¡saying£º¡¡¡¨What
are¡¡you¡¡doing£»¡¡my¡¡children£¿¡¡¡¡Can¡¡you¡¡not¡¡throw¡¡off¡¡all¡¡these
troubles£»¡¡pay¡¡more¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡your¡¡business£»¡¡and¡¡suppress¡¡your
anger¡¡against¡¡your¡¡neighbors£¿¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡use¡¡in¡¡your¡¡continuing
to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡more¡¡enraged¡¡you¡¡become¡¡against¡¡each
other¡¡the¡¡worse¡¡it¡¡is¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
Again¡¡was¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡advice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡rejected¡£
At¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡year¡¡of¡¡the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡feud
it¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡a¡¡daughter¡in¡law¡¡of¡¡Ivan's¡¡was¡¡present¡¡at¡¡a
marriage¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡wedding¡¡feast¡¡she¡¡openly¡¡accused¡¡Gavryl¡¡of
stealing¡¡a¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡¡Gavryl¡¡was¡¡intoxicated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡and¡¡was¡¡in
no¡¡mood¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡the¡¡insult£»¡¡so¡¡in¡¡retaliation¡¡he¡¡struck¡¡the
woman¡¡a¡¡terrific¡¡blow£»¡¡which¡¡confined¡¡her¡¡to¡¡her¡¡bed¡¡for¡¡more
than¡¡a¡¡week¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡being¡¡in¡¡delicate¡¡health£»¡¡the¡¡worst
results¡¡were¡¡feared¡£
Ivan£»¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡harass¡¡his¡¡neighbor£»¡¡lodged
a¡¡formal¡¡complaint¡¡before¡¡the¡¡district¡attorney£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡rid
himself¡¡forever¡¡of¡¡Gavryl¡¡by¡¡having¡¡him¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Siberia¡£
On¡¡examining¡¡the¡¡complaint¡¡the¡¡district¡attorney¡¡would¡¡not
consider¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡by¡¡that¡¡time¡¡the¡¡injured¡¡woman¡¡was¡¡walking¡¡about
and¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡ever¡£
Thus¡¡again¡¡Ivan¡¡was¡¡disappointed¡¡in¡¡obtaining¡¡his¡¡revenge£»¡¡and£»
not¡¡being¡¡satisfied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡district¡attorney's¡¡decision£»¡¡had
the¡¡case¡¡transferred¡¡to¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡used¡¡all¡¡possible
means¡¡to¡¡push¡¡his¡¡suit¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡secure¡¡the¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡starshina
£¨village¡¡mayor£©¡¡he¡¡made¡¡him¡¡a¡¡present¡¡of¡¡half¡¡a¡¡gallon¡¡of¡¡sweet
vodki£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mayor's¡¡pisar¡¡£¨secretary£©¡¡also¡¡he¡¡gave
presents¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡this¡¡means¡¡he¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡securing¡¡a¡¡verdict
against¡¡Gavryl¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sentence¡¡was¡¡that¡¡Gavryl¡¡was¡¡to¡¡receive
twenty¡¡lashes¡¡on¡¡his¡¡bare¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡punishment¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be
administered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡yard¡¡which¡¡surrounded¡¡the¡¡court¡house¡£
When¡¡Ivan¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sentence¡¡read¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡triumphantly¡¡at
Gavryl¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡effect¡¡it¡¡would¡¡produce¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Gavryl¡¡turned
very¡¡white¡¡on¡¡hearing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡such
indignity£»¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡his¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡assembly¡¡left¡¡the¡¡room
without¡¡uttering¡¡a¡¡word¡£
Ivan¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡he¡¡heard
Gavryl¡¡saying£º¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¡my¡¡spine¡¡will¡¡burn¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lashes£»
but¡¡something¡¡will¡¡burn¡¡with¡¡greater¡¡fierceness¡¡in¡¡Ivan's
household¡¡before¡¡long¡£¡¨
Ivan£»¡¡on¡¡hearing¡¡these¡¡words£»¡¡instantly¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡court£»
and¡¡going¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨Oh£¡¡¡just¡¡judges£»¡¡he¡¡threatens
to¡¡burn¡¡my¡¡house¡¡and¡¡all¡¡it¡¡contains¡£¡¨
A¡¡messenger¡¡was¡¡immediately¡¡sent¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡Gavryl£»¡¡who¡¡was
soon¡¡found¡¡and¡¡again¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡judges¡£
¡¨Is¡¡it¡¡true£»¡¨¡¡they¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡you¡¡said¡¡you¡¡would¡¡burn¡¡Ivan's
house¡¡and¡¡all¡¡it¡¡contained£¿¡¨
Gavryl¡¡replied£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡may
give¡¡me¡¡as¡¡many¡¡lashes¡¡as¡¡you¡¡pleasethat¡¡is£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the
power¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡alone¡¡have¡¡to¡¡suffer¡¡for
the¡¡truth£»¡¡while¡¡he£»¡¨¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡Ivan£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡and¡¡say
what¡¡he¡¡pleases¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Gavryl¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡say¡¡something¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡his
lips¡¡trembled£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡words¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡so¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡he
turned¡¡his¡¡face¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡wall¡£
The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡so¡¡much¡¡suffering¡¡moved¡¡even¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡to¡¡pity£»
and£»¡¡becoming¡¡alarmed¡¡at¡¡Gavryl's¡¡continued¡¡silence£»¡¡they¡¡said£»
¡¨He¡¡may¡¡do¡¡both¡¡his¡¡neighbor¡¡and¡¡himself¡¡some¡¡frightful¡¡injury¡£¡¨
¡¨See¡¡here£»¡¡my¡¡brothers£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡one¡¡feeble¡¡old¡¡judge£»¡¡looking¡¡at
Ivan¡¡and¡¡Gavryl¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡try¡¡to
arrange¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡peaceably¡£¡¡¡¡You£»¡¡brother¡¡Gavryl£»¡¡did¡¡wrong¡¡to
strike¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡was¡¡in¡¡delicate¡¡health¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lucky¡¡thing
for¡¡you¡¡that¡¡God¡¡had¡¡mercy¡¡on¡¡you¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡did¡¡not¡¡die£»
for¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what¡¡dire¡¡misfortune¡¡might¡¡have
overtaken¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡will¡¡not¡¡do¡¡either¡¡of¡¡you¡¡any¡¡good¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on
living¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡¡at¡¡present¡£¡¡¡¡Go£»¡¡Gavryl£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡friends¡¡with
Ivan£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡will¡¡forgive¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡will¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡the
verdict¡¡just¡¡given¡£¡¨
The¡¡secretary¡¡on¡¡hearing¡¡this¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this
on¡¡the¡¡present¡¡case¡£¡¡¡¡According¡¡to¡¡Article¡¡117¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡has
gone¡¡too¡¡far¡¡to¡¡be¡¡settled¡¡peaceably¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡verdict¡¡has¡¡been
rendered¡¡and¡¡must¡¡be¡¡enforced¡£¡¨
But¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡would¡¡not¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡secretary£»¡¡saying¡¡to¡¡him£º
¡¨You¡¡talk¡¡altogether¡¡too¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡must¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡the¡¡first
thing¡¡is¡¡to¡¡fulfill¡¡God's¡¡command¡¡to¡¡'Love¡¡thy¡¡neighbor¡¡as
thyself£»'¡¡and¡¡all¡¡will¡¡be¡¡well¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¨
Thus¡¡with¡¡kind¡¡words¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡reconcile¡¡the¡¡two
peasants¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡words¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡stony¡¡ground£»¡¡however£»¡¡for¡¡Gavryl
would¡¡not¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡them¡£
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡old£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gavryl£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡have¡¡a¡¡son¡¡married£»¡¡and
never¡¡from¡¡my¡¡birth¡¡has¡¡the¡¡lash¡¡been¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡my¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡now
this¡¡bear¡¡Ivan¡¡has¡¡secured¡¡a¡¡verdict¡¡against¡¡me¡¡which¡¡condemns¡¡me
to¡¡receive¡¡twenty¡¡lashes£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡bow¡¡to¡¡this¡¡decision
and¡¡suffer¡¡the¡¡shame¡¡of¡¡a¡¡public¡¡beating¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡he¡¡will¡¡have
cause¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡this¡£¡¨
At¡¡this¡¡Gavryl's¡¡voice¡¡trembled¡¡and¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡speaking£»¡¡and
turning¡¡his¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡judges¡¡took¡¡his¡¡departure¡£
It¡¡was¡¡about¡¡ten¡¡versts'¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡court¡¡to¡¡the¡¡homes¡¡of
the¡¡neighbors£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡Ivan¡¡travelled¡¡late¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡women¡¡had
already¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cattle¡£¡¡¡¡He
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