THE LOWER DEPTHS
A monologue from the
play by Maxim
Gorky
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from The Moscow Art Theatre Series of Plays. Ed. Oliver
M. Sayler. New York: Brantanos, 1922. |
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NASTYA: At night he came into the garden. I had been
waiting for him quite awhile. I trembled with fear and grief--he
trembled, too . . . he was a white as chalk--and he had the pistol
in his hand . . . and he says to me in a dreadful voice: "My
precious darling ... My one and only love," he says, "my
parents," he says, "refuse to give their consent to
our wedding--and threaten to disown me because of my love for
you. Therefore," he says, "I must take my life."
And his pistol was huge--and loaded with ten bullets . . . "Farewell,"
he says, "beloved comrade! I have made up my mind for good
and all . . . I can't live without you . . ." and I replied:
"My unforgettable friend--my Raoul--joy of my life! My bright
moon! I, too, I can't live without you--because I love you madly,
so madly--and I shall keep on loving you as long as my heart
beats in my bosom. But--" I say--"don't take your young
life! Think how necessary it is to your dear parents whose only
happiness you are. Leave me! Better that I should perish from
longing for you, my life! I alone! I--ah--as such, such! Better
that I should die--it doesn't matter . . . I am of no use to
the world--I have nothing, nothing at all--" [Covers
her face with her hand and weeps--then jumping up.] Shut
up, you bastards! Ah--you lousy mongrels! So help me God--it
happened! It happened! He was a student, a Frenchman--Gastotcha
was his name--he had a little black beard--and patent leathers--may
God strike me dead if I'm lying! And he loved me so--my God,
how he loved me!
MORE
MONOLOGUES BY MAXIM GORKY |
