Trascrizione completa di Satan's Diary Section 1

class. 33 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:55.039 I was for a whole year known as the worst student, 34 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.879 and my mark for conduct was never higher than four, 35 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:04.280 sometimes three. The most pleasant time I spend at school, 36 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.719 which I recalled to this day with pleasure, was recess 37 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.599 time between lessons, and also the rare occasions when I 38 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:19.360 was sent out from the classroom. The sunbeams, the free sunbeams, 39 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.800 which penetrated some cleft, and which played with the dust 40 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:29.120 in the whole way. All this was so mysterious, so interesting, 41 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.039 so full of a peculiar hidden meaning. When I studied 42 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:38.879 at the gymnasium, my father, an engineer, died. As a 43 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:43.159 university student, I was in dire need during my first 44 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:47.960 course in Saint Petersburg. I even starved, not so much 45 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:53.080 out of real necessity as because of my youth, inexperience, 46 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.960 and my inability to utilize the unnecessary parts of my costume. 47 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.159 I am to this day ashamed to think that I 48 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:05.400 went two days without food at a time when I 49 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:10.479 had two or three pairs of trousers and two overcoats 50 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:14.479 which I could have sold. It was then that I 51 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:19.560 wrote my first story about a starving student. I cried 52 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.959 when I wrote it, and the editor who returned my 53 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:29.759 manuscript laughed. That story of mine remained unpublished. In eighteen 54 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.199 ninety four. In January, I made an unsuccessful attempt to 55 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:39.399 kill myself by shooting. As a result of this unsuccessful attempt, 56 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:44.040 I was forced by the authorities into religious penitence, and 57 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:48.439 I contracted heart trouble, though not of a serious nature, 58 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:53.079 yet very annoying. During this time I made one or 59 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:57.879 two unsuccessful attempts at writing. I devoted myself with greater 60 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:02.600 pleasure and success to painting, which I loved from childhood on. 61 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:08.519 I made portraits to order at three and five roubles apiece. 62 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:13.720 In eighteen ninety seven I received my diploma and became 63 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.639 an assistant attorney, but I was at the very outset 64 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:21.720 side tracked. I was offered a position on the courier 65 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.519 for which I was to report court proceedings. I did 66 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:30.000 not succeed in getting any practice as a lawyer. I 67 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:33.519 had only one case and lost it at every point. 68 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:39.040 In eighteen ninety eight I wrote my first story for 69 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.199 the Eastern Number, and since that time I have devoted 70 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:49.279 myself exclusively to literature. Maxim Gorky helped me considerably in 71 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:56.480 my literary work by his always practical advice and suggestions 72 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:03.839 Andreyev's first steps in literature. His first short stories attracted 73 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:07.959 but little attention at the time of their appearance. It 74 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:12.439 was only when Countess Tolstoy, the wife of Leo Tolstoy, 75 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:16.439 in a letter to the Novoye Vremya, came out in 76 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:22.920 defense of artistic purity and moral power in contemporary literature, 77 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:28.480 declaring that Russian society, instead of buying, reading and making 78 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:33.079 famous the works of the Andreyevs, should rise against such 79 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:38.199 filth with indignation that almost everybody who knew how to 80 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:41.120 read in Russia turned to the little volume of the 81 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:47.439 young writer. In her attack upon Andreev, Contesse Tolstoy said 82 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:53.879 as follows, the poor new writers like Andreyev succeeded only 83 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:58.040 in concentrating their attention on the filthy point of human degradation, 84 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:03.759 and uttered a cry to the undeveloped, half intelligent reading public, 85 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:08.079 inviting them to see and to examine the decomposed corpse 86 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:13.040 of human degradation, and to close their eyes to God's wonderful, 87 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:18.360 vast world, with the majesty of art, with the lofty 88 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.560 yearnings of the human soul, with the religious and moral struggles, 89 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.519 and the great ideals of goodness, even with the downfall 90 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:34.160 misfortunes and weaknesses of such people, as Dostoyevsky depicted in 91 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:39.439 describing all these, every true artist should illumine clearly before 92 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:44.519 humanity not the side of filth and vice, but should 93 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:49.279 struggle against them by illumining the highest ideals of good 94 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:54.480 truth and the triumph over evil, weakness and the vices 95 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:58.279 of mankind. I should like to cry out loudly to 96 00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:02.199 the whole world in all to help those unfortunate people, 97 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:06.199 whose wings given to each of them for high flights 98 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:11.680 towards the

understanding of the spiritual light, beauty, kindness, and God, 99 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:18.480 are clipped by these Andreyevs. This letter of contesse Tolstoy 100 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.639 called forth a storm of protest in the Russian press, 101 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:27.759 and strange to say, the representatives of the fair sex 102 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:33.600 were among the warmest defenders of the young author. Answering 103 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.960 the attack, many women, in their letters to the press 104 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:40.919 pointed out that the author of Anna Karinina had been 105 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:44.799 abused in almost the same manner for his Koitza Sonata, 106 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:49.159 and that Tolstoy himself had been accused of exerting just 107 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:54.279 such an influence as the contests attributed to Andreyev over 108 00:08:54.360 --> 00:09:01.440 the Youth of Russia. Since the publication of Contesse Tolstoy's Condemnation, 109 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:07.480 Andreyev has produced a series of masterpieces, such as the 110 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:13.360 Life of Father Vasili, a powerful psychological study, Red Laughter, 111 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.879 a war story written with the blood of Russia, The 112 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:24.440 Life of Man, a striking morality presentation in five acts, Anathema, 113 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.200 his greatest drama, and The Seven Who Were Hanged, in 114 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.440 which the horrors of Russian life under the Tsar were 115 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:38.639 delineated with such beautiful simplicity and power that Turgenev or 116 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.879 Tolstoy himself would have signed his name to this masterpiece. 117 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:49.120 Thus the first accusations against Andreyev were disarmed by his 118 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:55.759 artistic productions, permeated with sincere, profound love for all that 119 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:01.960 is pure in life. Dostoyevsky and mo Passon depicted more 120 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:07.159 subjects such as that traited in The Abyss than Andreyev, 121 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.320 but with them these stories are lost in the great 122 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:16.240 mass of their other works, while in Andreev, who at 123 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:20.360 that time had as yet produced but a few short stories, 124 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:26.600 works like The Abyss, stood out in bold relief. I 125 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:30.720 recall my first meeting with Leonid Andreyev in nineteen o eight, 126 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:34.440 two weeks after my visit to Count Leo Tolstoy at 127 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:39.720 Yasnya Polana. At that time he had already become the 128 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:44.679 most popular Russian writer, his popularity having overshadowed even that 129 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:50.559 of Maxim Gorki. As I drove from Terioki to Andreyev's 130 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:55.679

house along the dust covered road, the stern and taciturn 131 00:10:55.799 --> 00:11:00.600 little finished driver suddenly broke the silence by saying to 132 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:05.559 me in broken Russian, Andreyev is a good writer. Although 133 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.879 he is Russian, he is a very good man. He 134 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.279 is building a beautiful house here in Finland, and he 135 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:17.440 gives employment to many of our people. We were soon 136 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.919 at the gate of Andreyev's beautiful villa, a fantastic structure, 137 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:27.159 weird looking original in design, something like the conception of 138 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:31.879 the architect in the Life of Man. My son is 139 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:35.440 out a rowing with his wife in the Gulf of Finland. 140 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.879 Andreyev's mother told me they will be back in half 141 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:45.000 an hour. As I waited, I watched the seething activity 142 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:51.679 everywhere on Andreyev's estate in Yasnayapoliana, the home of Count Tolstoy. 143 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:59.840 Everything seemed long established, fixed, well regulated serenely beautiful, and 144 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:05.799 Rayev's estate was astir with vigorous life. Young strong men 145 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:10.279 were building the house of man. More than thirty of 146 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:13.320 them were working on the roof, and in the yard, 147 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:17.799 and a little distance away in the meadows. Young women 148 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:24.879 and girls, bright eyed and red faced, were haying youth, strength, 149 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:29.879 vigor everywhere, and above all the ringing laughter of little 150 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.759 children at play. I could see from the window the 151 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:37.799 blacky little river, which sparkled in the sun hundreds of 152 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:42.960 feet below. The constant noise of the workmen's axes and 153 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:47.120 hammers was so loud that I did not notice when 154 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:51.720 Leonid Andreyev entered the room where I was waiting for him. 155 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:56.480 Pardon my manner of dressing, he said, as we shook 156 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:59.759 hands in the summer. I lead a lazy life and 157 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:02.559 do not write a line. I am afraid I am 158 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:07.080 forgetting even to sign my name. I had seen numerous 159 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:10.600 photographs of Leonid Andreyev, but he did not look like 160 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.679 any of them. Instead of a pale faced, sickly looking 161 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:19.279 young man, there stood before me, a strong, handsome, well 162 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:24.480 built man with wonderful eyes. He wore a grayish blouse, 163 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:29.759 black white pantaloons

up to his knees and no shoes 164 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:35.399 or stockings. We soon spoke of Russian literature at the time, 165 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:41.039 particularly of the drama. We have no real drama in Russia, 166 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:45.840 said Andreyev. Russia has not yet produced anything that could 167 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.639 justly be called a great drama. Perhaps The Storm by 168 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:55.159 Ostrovsky is the only Russian play that may be classed 169 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:59.840 as a drama. Tolstoy's plays cannot be placed in this category. 170 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:05.039 Of the later writers, Anton Tchehov came nearest to giving 171 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:09.240 real dramas to Russia, but unfortunately he was taken from 172 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:13.320 us in the prime of his life. What do you 173 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:17.080 consider your own life of man and to the stars, 174 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:23.200 I asked. They are not dramas, they are merely presentations 175 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.879 in so many acts, answered Andreyev, and after some hesitation, added, 176 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:32.639 I have not written any dramas, but it is possible 177 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:37.720 that I will write one. At this point, Andreyev's wife 178 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:42.519 came in, dressed in a Russian blouse. The conversation turned 179 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:47.240 to America and to the treatment accorded to Maximgoriki in 180 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:51.840 New York. When I was a child, I loved America, 181 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:58.120 remarked Andreyev, perhaps Cooper and Main read my favorite authors 182 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:02.519 in my childhood days, wh were responsible for this. I 183 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:06.120 was always planning to run away to America. I am 184 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:09.919 anxious even now to visit America. But I am afraid 185 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:13.080 I may get as bad a reception as my friend 186 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:17.399 Gorky guard. He laughed as he glanced at his wife. 187 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.679 After a brief pause, he said, the most remarkable thing 188 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:26.600 about the Gorky incident is that while in his stories 189 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:30.919 and articles about America, Gorky wrote nothing but the very 190 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.519 worst that could be said about that country, he never 191 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:38.879 told me anything but the very best about America. Someday 192 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.480 he will probably describe his impressions of America as he 193 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:47.039 related them to me. It was a very warm day. 194 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:51.799 The sun was burning mercilessly in the large room. Madame 195 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:55.159 Andreyev suggested that it would be more pleasant to go 196 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:57.799 down to a shady place near the Black Little River. 197 00:15:59.080

--> 00:16:03.000 On the way down the hill, Andreyev inquired about Tolstoy's 198 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:07.320 health and was eager to know his views on contemporary matters. 199 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:12.320 If Tolstoy were young now, he would have been with us, 200 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:17.440 he said. We stepped into a boat. Madame Andreev took 201 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:22.720 up the oars and began to row. We resumed our conversation. 202 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:29.840 The decadent movement in Russian literature, said Andreyev, started to 203 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:34.200 make itself felt about ten or fifteen years ago. At 204 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:37.799 first it was looked upon as mere child's play, as 205 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:43.279 a curiosity. Now it is regarded more seriously. Although I 206 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.279 do not belong to that school, I do not consider 207 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.080 it worthless. The fault with it is that it has 208 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:54.440 but few talented people in its ranks, and these few 209 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:59.480 direct the criticism of the decadent school. They are the writers, 210 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:04.799 and all so the critics, and they praise whatever they write. 211 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:09.039 Of the younger men. Alexander Blok is perhaps the most gifted. 212 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:14.720 But in Russia our clothes change quickly nowadays, and it 213 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:17.960 is hard to tell what the future will tell us 214 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.359 in our literature and our life. How do I picture 215 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:28.160 to myself this future, continued Andreyev, in answer to a 216 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:32.119 question of mine, I cannot know even the fate and 217 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:35.720 future of my own child. How can I foretell the 218 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:39.599 future of such a great country as Russia. But I 219 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.720 believe that the Russian people have a great future before 220 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:47.200 them in life and in literature, For they are a 221 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:52.559 great people, rich in talents, kind and freedom loving. Savage. 222 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:56.759 As yet, it is true, very ignorant. But on the 223 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:03.519 whole they do not differ so much from other europe nations. Suddenly, 224 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:08.400 the author of Red Laughter looked upon me intently and asked, 225 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:12.599 how is it that the European and the American press 226 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:16.960 has ceased to interest itself in our struggle for emancipation? 227 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:21.200 Is it possible that the reaction in Russia appeals to 228 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:25.519 them more than our people's yearnings for freedom, simply because 229 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:28.960 the reaction happens to be stronger at the present time. 230 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.960 In that event, they are probably sympathizing with the Shah 231 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:38.920 of Persia. Russia today is a lunatic asylum. The people 232 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.039 who are hanged are not the people who should be hanged. 233 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:47.440 Everywhere else, honest people are at large and only criminals 234 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:50.839 are in prison. In Russia, the honest people are in 235 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:55.200 prison and the criminals are at large. The Russian government 236 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:58.880 is composed of a band of criminals, and Nicholas the 237 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.640 second is not the greatest of them. There are still 238 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:06.359 greater ones. I do not hold that the Russian government 239 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.799 alone is guilty of these horas the European nations and 240 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:14.720 the Americans are just as much to blame, for they 241 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:19.240 look on in silence while the most despicable crimes are committed. 242 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:24.480 The murderer usually has at least courage, while he who 243 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:29.559 looks on silently when murder is committed is a contemptible weakling. 244 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:34.640 England and France, who have become so friendly to our government, 245 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:40.079 are surely watching with compassion the poor Shah who hangs 246 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:44.799 the constitutional leaders. Perhaps I do not know international law. 247 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:48.759 Perhaps I am not speaking as a practical man. One 248 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:53.039 nation must not interfere with the internal affairs of another nation, 249 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:56.960 But why do they interfere with our movement for freedom? 250 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.839 Friends helped the Russian government in its own war against 251 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:06.240 the people by giving money to Russia. Germany also helped secretly. 252 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:12.759 In well regulated countries, each individual must behave decently. When 253 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:17.759 a man murders, robs, dishonors women, he is thrown into prison. 254 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.839 But when the Russian government is murdering helpless men and 255 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:26.680 women and children, the other governments look on indifferently, and 256 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:29.839 yet they speak of God. If this had happened in 257 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:32.920 the Middle Ages, a crusade would have been started by 258 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:37.359 civilized peoples who would have marched to Russia to free 259 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:41.880 the women and the children from the close of the governments. 260 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:48.240 Andrey Have became silent. His wife kept rowing for some time, slowly, 261 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:53.079 without saying a word. We soon reached the shore and 262 00:20:53.279 -->

00:20:59.000 returned silently to the house that was twelve years ago. 263 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:03.319 I met him several times after that, the last time 264 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.400 I visited him in Petrograd during the July riots in 265 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:14.079 nineteen seventeen. A literary friend thus describes the funeral of 266 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:20.000 Leonid Andreyev, which gives a picture of the tragedy of Russia. 267 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:23.079 In the morning, a decision had to be raged as 268 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:27.039 to the day of the funeral. It was necessary to 269 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:30.400 see to the purchase and the delivery of the coffin 270 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:36.519 from Viborg, and to undertake all those unavoidable heart duties 271 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:41.160 which are so painful to the family. It appeared that 272 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:44.599 the Russian exiles living in our village had no permits 273 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:48.440 from the Finnish government to go to Viborg, nor the 274 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:53.240 money for that expense. It further appeared that the family 275 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:57.839 of Leonid Andreyev had left at their disposal only one 276 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:03.200 hundred marks about six dollars, which the doctor who had 277 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:08.079 come from the station after Andreev's death, declined to take 278 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:12.680 from the widow for his visit. This was all the 279 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:17.240 family possessed. It was necessary to charge a Russian exile 280 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:21.440 living in a neighboring village who had a pass for Vibourg, 281 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:26.680 with the sad commission of finding among some wealthy people 282 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:31.599 in Vibourg who had known Andreyev the means required for 283 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:37.839 the funeral. On the following day, mass was read. Floral 284 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:43.920 tributes and wreaths from v Bog with black inscriptions made 285 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.720 hastily in ink on white ribbons began to arrive. They 286 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:55.519 were all from private individuals. The local refugees brought garlands 287 00:22:55.559 --> 00:23:01.640 of autumn foliage, bouquets of late flowers. Their children laid 288 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:07.240 there carefully woven, simple and touching, little childish wreaths at 289 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:11.559 the foot of the coffin. Leonid Andreyev's widow did not 290 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:15.319 wish to inter the body in foreign soil, and it 291 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:21.319 was decided temporarily until burial in native ground, to leave 292 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:24.680 his body in the little mortuary in the park on 293 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:29.640 the estate of a local woman landowner. The day of 294 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:34.440 the funeral was not widely known. The need for special 295 00:23:34.519

--> 00:23:38.480 permits to travel deprived many of the opportunity to attend. 296 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:42.440 In this way, it happened that only a very small 297 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:45.279 group of people followed the body from the house to 298 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:50.599 the mortuary. None of his close friends was there. They, 299 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:58.400 like his brother's sister one of his sons, were in Russia, neighbours, refugees, 300 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:02.640 acquaintances of the last two years, with whom his exile 301 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:07.119 had accidentally thrown him into contact, people who had no 302 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:12.599 connection with Russian literature, almost all alien in spirit. Such 303 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.880 was the little group of Russians that followed the coffin 304 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:22.319 of Leonid Andreyev to its temporary resting place. It was 305 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:26.599 a tragic funeral, this funeral in exile of a writer 306 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:30.759 who is so dearly loved by the whole intellectual class 307 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:35.119 of Russia, whom the younger generation of Russia claimed with 308 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:42.200 such enthusiasm. Meanwhile, he rests in a foreign land, waiting, 309 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:47.200 waiting for free Russia to demand back his ashes and 310 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:54.319 pay tribute to his genius. Among his last notes, breathing 311 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:59.160 deep anguish and despair, found on his desk were the 312 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:05.440 following line, means revolution is just as unsatisfactory a means 313 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:10.440 of settling disputes as is war. If it be impossible 314 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:14.960 to vanquish a hostile idea except by smashing the skull 315 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.599 in which it is contained, if it be impossible to 316 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:23.279 appease a hostile heart except by piercing it with a bayonet, 317 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:30.160 then of course fight. Leonid Andreyev died of a broken heart, 318 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:37.079 but the spirit of his genius is deathless. Hermann Bernstein, 319 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:50.000 New York, September and of the preface Section two of 320 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:56.119 Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This 321 00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:00.440 LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Carolyn 322 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:09.599 January eighteenth, on board the Atlantic. This is exactly the 323 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:12.759 tenth day since I have become human, and I am 324 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:18.039 leading this earthly life. My loneliness is very great. I 325 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:21.359 am not in need of friends, but I must speak 326 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:25.240 of myself and have no one to speak to. Thoughts 327 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:30.240 alone are not sufficient, and they

will not become quite clear, precise, 328 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:35.319 and exact until I express them in words. It is 329 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:39.519 necessary to arrange them in a row like soldiers or 330 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:44.119 telephone poles, to lay them out like a railway track, 331 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:51.759 to throw across bridges, and viaducts, to construct barrows and enclosures, 332 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:57.039 to indicate stations in certain places, and only then will 333 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:03.920 everything become clear. This laborious engineering work, I think they 334 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:09.319 call logic and consistency, and is essential to those who 335 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:14.359 desire to be wise. It is not essential to all others. 336 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:21.559 They may wonder about as they please. The work is slow, difficult, 337 00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:26.039 and repulsive for one who is accustomed to I do 338 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:29.680 not know what to call it to embracing all in 339 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:34.920 one breath and expressing all in a single breath. It 340 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.359 is not in vain that men respect their thinkers so much, 341 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:43.759 and it is not in vain that these unfortunate thinkers, 342 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:48.359 if they are honest and conscientious in this process of 343 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:55.960 construction as ordinary engineers, end in insane asylums. I am 344 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:59.119 but a few days on this earth, and more than 345 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:03.680 once have the yellow walls of the insane asylum and 346 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:10.319 its luring open door flashed before my eyes. Yes, it 347 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:15.799 is extremely difficult and irritates one's nerves. I have just 348 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:20.079 now wasted so much of the ship's fine stationery to 349 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:25.160 express a little ordinary thought on the inadequacy of man's 350 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:29.519 words and logic. What will it be necessary to waste 351 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:33.680 to give expression to the great and the unusual. I 352 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:39.359 want to warn you, my earthly reader, at the very outset, 353 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:45.880 not to gape in astonishment. The extraordinary cannot be expressed 354 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:49.839 in the language of your grumbling. If you do not 355 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:54.400 believe me, go to the nearest insane asylum and listen 356 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:59.799 to the inmates. They have all realized something and wanted 357 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:03.559 to give expression to it. And now you can hear 358 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:08.599 the roar and rumble of these rict engines, their wheels 359 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:12.839 revolving and hissing in the air, and you can see 360 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:18.160 with what difficulty they managed to hold intact the rapidly 361 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:25.119 dissolving features of their astonished faces. I see you are 362 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:29.559 all ready to plume me with questions, now that you 363 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:33.720 learned that I am Satan in human form. It is 364 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:38.799 so fascinating. Whence did I come? What are the ways 365 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:44.240 of Hell? Is their immortality there? And also what is 366 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:49.440 the price of coal at the stock exchange of Hell? Unfortunately, 367 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:54.160 my dear reader, despite my desire to the contrary, if 368 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:58.400 I had such a desire, I am powerless to satisfy 369 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:04.119 your very proper curiosity. I could have composed for your 370 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:08.880 benefit one of those funny little stories about horny and 371 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:14.680 hairy devils, which appeal so much to your meager imagination. 372 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.240 But you have had enough of them, are ready, And 373 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:22.000 I do not want to lie so rudely and ungracefully. 374 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:26.519 I will lie to you elsewhere when you least expect it, 375 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:30.720 and that will be far more interesting for both of 376 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.960 us and the truth. How am I to tell it 377 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:39.079 when even my name cannot be expressed in your tongue. 378 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:43.240 You have called me Satan, and I accept the name 379 00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:47.319 just as I would have accepted any other. Be it 380 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:53.519 so I am Satan. But my real name sounds quite different, 381 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:59.119 quite different. It has an extraordinary sound, and try as 382 00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:03.039 I may, I cannot force it into your nearrow ear 383 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:08.400 without tearing it open together with your brain. Be it 384 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:14.759 so I am Satan, and nothing more. And you yourself 385 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:18.480 are to blame for this, my friend? Why is there 386 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:23.920 so little understanding in your reason? Your reason is like 387 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:30.400 a beggar's sack, containing only crusts of stale bread. While 388 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:34.839 it is necessary to have something more than bread. You 389 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:40.799 have but two conceptions of existence, life and death. How 390 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:44.759 then can I reveal to you the third? All? Your 391 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:48.519 existence is an absurdity only because you do not have 392 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:54.079 this third conception, and where can I get it for you? Today? 393 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:58.480 I am human even as you. In my skull is 394 00:31:58.599 --> 00:32:02.920 your brain in in my mouth are your cubic words 395 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:08.279

justling one another about with their sharp corners. And I 396 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:12.519 cannot tell you of the extraordinary. If I were to 397 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:16.319 tell you that there are no devils, I would lie. 398 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:20.720 But if I say that such creatures do exist, I 399 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:25.440 also deceive you. You see how difficult it is, how absurd, 400 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:29.200 my friend, I can also tell you, but little that 401 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.720 you would understand of how I assumed the human form 402 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:36.839 with which I began my earthly life ten days ago. 403 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:43.039 First of all, forget about your favorite hairy, horny winged 404 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:48.920 devils who breathe fire, transform fragments of earth and were 405 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:54.200 into gold, and change old men into fascinating youths. And 406 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:59.279 having done all this and prattled much nonsense, they disappear 407 00:32:59.400 --> 00:33:04.880 suddenly through a wall. Remember, when we want to visit 408 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:10.759 your earth, we must always become human. Why this is 409 00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:16.200 so you will learn after your death. Meanwhile, remember I 410 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:20.000 am a human being, now like yourself. There is not 411 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:24.119 the foul smell of a goat about me, but the 412 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:28.599 fragrance of perfume. And you need not fear to shake 413 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:32.720 my hand, lest I may scratch you with my nails. 414 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:37.279 I manicure them just as you do. But how did 415 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:42.519 it all happen? Very simply? When I first conceived the 416 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:46.759 desire to visit this earth, I selected as the most 417 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:52.480 satisfactory lodging a thirty eight year old American billionaire, mister 418 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:57.279 Henry Wondergood. I killed him at night, of course, not 419 00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:01.640 in the presence of witnesses. But you cannot bring me 420 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:07.160 to court despite this confession, because the American is alive, 421 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:12.760 and we both greet you with the one respectful bow aye, 422 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:17.360 and one the good He simply rented his empty place 423 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:21.760 to me. You understand, and not all of it either. 424 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:26.480 The devil take him, and to my great regret, I 425 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:31.280 can return only through the same door which leads you 426 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:37.679 to to liberty through death. This is the most important thing. 427 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:41.079 You may understand something of what I may have to 428 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:45.119 say later on, although to speak to you of such 429 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:49.599 matters in

your language is like trying to conceal a 430 00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:53.920 mountain in a vest pocket, or to empty Niagara with 431 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:58.360 a thimble. Imagine, for example, that you, my dear king 432 00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:02.639 of nature, and want to come closer to the ants, 433 00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:07.360 and that by some miracle you became a real little ant. 434 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:12.119 Then you may have some conception of that gulf which 435 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:18.119 separates me now from what I was. No still more, 436 00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:21.320 imagine that you were a sound and have to become 437 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:27.119 a mere symbol, a musical mark on paper. No, still worse, 438 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:32.360 No comparisons can make clear to you that terrible gulf, 439 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:37.039 whose bottom even I do not see as yet, or 440 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:42.559 perhaps there is no bottom there at all. Think of it. 441 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:46.559 For two days after leaving New York, I suffered from 442 00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:51.880 sea sickness. This sounds queer to you, who are accustomed 443 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:56.719 to wallow in your own dirt. Well, I I have 444 00:35:56.880 --> 00:36:00.639 also wallowed in it, but it was not at all. 445 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:05.360 I only smiled once in thinking that it was not I, 446 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:11.599 but wonder good, and said, roll on, wonder good, roll on. 447 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:16.960 There is another question to which you probably want an answer. 448 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:20.559 Why did I come to this earth and accept such 449 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:26.519 an unprofitable exchange to be transformed from Satan, the mighty, 450 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:33.199 immortal chieftain and ruler into you. I am tired of 451 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:36.679 seeking words that cannot be found. I will answer you 452 00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:42.360 in English, French, Italian or German languages. We both understand well, 453 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:46.760 I have grown lonesome in hell, and I have come 454 00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:51.559 upon the earth to lie and play. You know what 455 00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:56.360 ennui is, And as for falsehood, you know it well too. 456 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.800 And as for play, you can judge it to a 457 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:05.480 certain extent by your own theaters and celebrated actors. Perhaps 458 00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:09.320 you yourself are playing a little role in parliament, at home, 459 00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:13.920 or in your church. If you are, you may understand 460 00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:18.599 something of the satisfaction of play. And if, in addition, 461 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:24.119 you are familiar with the multiplication table, then multiply the 462 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:29.760 delight and joy of play into any considerable figure, and 463 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:36.119 you will get an

idea of my enjoyment of my play. No, 464 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:41.559 imagine that you are an ocean wave which plays eternally 465 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:47.159 and lives only in play. Take this wave, for example, 466 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:51.719 which I see outside the porthole now, and which wants 467 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:56.039 to lift our atlantic. But here I am again seeking 468 00:37:56.119 --> 00:38:02.559 words and comparisons. I simply wants to play. At present, 469 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:07.440 I am still an unknown actor, a modest debutante. But 470 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:11.079 I hope to become no less a celebrity than your 471 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:16.079 own garic or Oldritch. After I have played what I please, 472 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:21.639 I am proud, selfish, And even if you please vain 473 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:26.119 and boastful. You know what vanity is when you crave 474 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:31.599 the praise and plaudits, even of a fool. Then I 475 00:38:31.800 --> 00:38:36.719 entertain the brazen idea that I am a genius. Satan 476 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:41.559 is known for his brazenness. And so imagine that I 477 00:38:41.639 --> 00:38:46.159 have grown weary of Hell, where all these hairy and 478 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:51.159 horny rogues play and lie no worse than I do, 479 00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:55.519 and that I am no longer satisfied with the laurels 480 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:59.599 of Hell, in which I but perceive no small measure 481 00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:05.639 of these flattery and downright stupidity. But I have heard 482 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:09.559 of you, my earthly friend. I have heard that you 483 00:39:09.639 --> 00:39:16.280 are wise, tolerably, honest, properly, incredulous, responsive to the problems 484 00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:21.199 of eternal art, and that you yourself play and lie so 485 00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:26.639 badly that you might appreciate the playing of others not 486 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:31.360 in vain. Have you so many great actors? And so 487 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:38.239 I have come. You understand my stage is the Earth, 488 00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:41.679 and the nearest scene for which I am now bound 489 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:46.360 is Rome, the eternal city as it is called here 490 00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:51.960 in your profound conception of eternity and other simple matters. 491 00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:56.480 I have not yet selected my company. Would you not 492 00:39:56.719 --> 00:40:00.800 like to join it. But I believe that fate and chance, 493 00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:04.840 to whom I am now subservient, like all of your 494 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:11.199 earthly things, will realize my unselfish motives and will send 495 00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:16.639 me worthy partners. Old Europe is so rich in talents, 496 00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:20.400 I believe that I shall find a keen and appreciative 497 00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:25.280 audience in Europe too. I confess that I first

thought 498 00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:29.079 of going to the East, which some of my compatriots 499 00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:33.199 made their scene of activity some time ago, with no 500 00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:38.320 small measure of success. But the East is too credulous, 501 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:42.639 and is inclined too much to poison and the ballet. 502 00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:48.559 Its gods are ludicrous. The East still reeks too much 503 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:54.320 of heary animals. Its lights and shadows are barbariously crude 504 00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:58.159 and too bright to make it worth the while for 505 00:40:58.239 --> 00:41:01.599 a refined artist, as are I am, to go into 506 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:07.679 that crowded, foul circustan. Ah, my friend, I am so 507 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:11.360 vain that I even begin this diary not without the 508 00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:16.079 secret intention of impressing you with my modesty in the 509 00:41:16.199 --> 00:41:21.400 role of seeker of words and comparisons. I hope you 510 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:26.880 will not take advantage of my frankness and cease believing me. 511 00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:32.360 Are there any other questions of the play itself, I 512 00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:36.400 have no clear idea yet it will be composed by 513 00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:41.840 the same impresario who will assemble the actors fate. My 514 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:45.039 modest role as a beginning will be that of a 515 00:41:45.159 --> 00:41:49.119 man who so loves his fellow beings that he is 516 00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:54.000 willing to give them everything, his soul and his money. 517 00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:58.239 Of course, you have not forgotten that I am a billionaire. 518 00:41:58.880 --> 00:42:04.239 I have three billion dollars. Sufficient, is it not for 519 00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:11.239 one spectacular performance? One more detail before I conclude this page, 520 00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:17.360 I have with me sharing my fate, a certain Irwin Toppy, 521 00:42:17.880 --> 00:42:22.000 my secretary, a most worthy person. In his black frock 522 00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:27.960 coat and silk top hat, his long nose resembling an 523 00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:34.960 unripened pear, and his smoothly shaven pastor like face, I 524 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:38.000 would not be surprised to find a prayer book in 525 00:42:38.079 --> 00:42:42.519 his pocket. My Toppy came upon this earth from there, 526 00:42:43.239 --> 00:42:47.360 it asked from Hell, and by the same means as mine, 527 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:53.239 he too assumed the human form, and it seems quite successfully. 528 00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:59.320 The rogue is entirely immune from sea sickness. However, to 529 00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:03.599 be seasick one must have some brains, and my topy 530 00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:09.599 is unusually stupid, even for this earth. Besides, he is 531 00:43:09.639 --> 00:43:14.360 impolite and ventures to offer advice. I am

rather sorry that, 532 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:18.159 out of our entire wealth of material I did not 533 00:43:18.519 --> 00:43:23.079 select someone better. But I am impressed by his honesty 534 00:43:23.559 --> 00:43:29.159 and partial familiarity with the earth. It seemed more pleasant 535 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:33.159 to enter upon this little jaunt with an experienced comrade. 536 00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:37.400 Quite a long time ago, he once before assumed the 537 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:42.719 human form, and was so taken by religious sentiments that 538 00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:48.559 think of it, he entered a Franciscan monastery, lived there 539 00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:53.199 to a ripe old age, and died peacefully under the 540 00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:57.760 name of Brother Vincent. His ashes became the object of 541 00:43:58.079 --> 00:44:02.400 veneration for believers. Not a bad career for a fool 542 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:05.679 of a devil. No sooner did he enter upon this 543 00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:09.760 trip with me than he began to sniff about for 544 00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:16.239 incense in incurable habit. You will probably like him, and 545 00:44:16.400 --> 00:44:20.400 now enough get thee Hence, my friend, I wish to 546 00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:25.719 be alone. Your shallow reflection upon this wall wears upon me. 547 00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:29.679 I wish to be alone, or only with this wonder 548 00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:33.519 good who has leased his aboat to me and seems 549 00:44:33.559 --> 00:44:36.559 to have gotten the best of me somehow or other. 550 00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:41.440 The sea is calm. I am no longer nauseated. But 551 00:44:41.599 --> 00:44:46.320 I am afraid of something. I am afraid. I fear 552 00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:51.800 this darkness which they call night and descends upon the ocean. 553 00:44:52.480 --> 00:44:56.639 Here in the cabin there is still some light, but 554 00:44:56.960 --> 00:45:02.199 there on deck there is terrible darkness, and my eyes 555 00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:08.719 are quite helpless. These silly reflectors, they are worthless. They 556 00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:12.039 are able to reflect things by day, but in the 557 00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:17.400 darkness they lose even this miserable power. Of course, I 558 00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:21.000 shall get used to the darkness. I have already grown 559 00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:25.039 used to many things. But just now I am ill 560 00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:28.480 at ease. And it is horrible to think that the 561 00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:32.920 mere turn of a key obsesses me with this blind, 562 00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:39.679 ever present darkness. Whence does it come? And how brave 563 00:45:39.800 --> 00:45:44.320 men are with their dim reflectors? They see nothing and 564 00:45:44.480 --> 00:45:48.719 simply say it is dark here, we must make a light. 565 00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:52.760 Then they themselves put it out and go to sleep. 566 00:45:53.400 --> 00:45:57.360 I regard these braves with a kind of cold wonder, 567 00:45:57.800 --> 00:46:02.039 and I am seized with admiration. Or must one possess 568 00:46:02.159 --> 00:46:07.079 a great mind to appreciate horror like mine? You are 569 00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:10.360 not such a coward, wand the good you always bore. 570 00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:14.440 The reputation of being a hardened man and a man 571 00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:19.320 of experience There is one moment in the process of 572 00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:23.840 my assumption of the human form that I cannot recollect 573 00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:28.159 without horror. That was when, for the first time I 574 00:46:28.239 --> 00:46:34.280 heard the beating of my heart. This regular, loud, metronome 575 00:46:34.519 --> 00:46:39.039 like sound, which speaks as much of death as of life, 576 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:45.800 filled me with the hitherto inexperienced sensation of horror. Men 577 00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:50.920 are always quarreling about accounts, but how can they carry 578 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:56.800 in their breasts this counting machine, registering with the speed 579 00:46:56.880 --> 00:47:01.679 of a magician the fleeting seconds of life. At first 580 00:47:01.960 --> 00:47:06.039 I wanted to shout and to run back below before 581 00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:10.199 I could grow accustomed to life. But here I looked 582 00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:15.280 at Toppy, this new born fool was calmly brushing his 583 00:47:15.480 --> 00:47:20.199 top hat with the leave of his frock coat. I 584 00:47:20.320 --> 00:47:25.960 broke out into laughter and cried Toppy the brush. We 585 00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:29.840 both brushed ourselves, while the counting machine in my breast 586 00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:35.199 was computing the seconds, and it seemed to me adding 587 00:47:35.239 --> 00:47:41.039 on a few for good measure. Finally, hearing its brazen beating, 588 00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:44.599 I thought I might not have time enough to finish 589 00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:48.000 my toilette. I have been in a great hurry for 590 00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:51.440 some time. Just what it was I would not be 591 00:47:51.559 --> 00:47:55.280 able to complete. I did not know, But for two 592 00:47:55.360 --> 00:47:58.159 days I was in a mad rush to eat and 593 00:47:58.480 --> 00:48:02.960 drink and even sleep. The counting machine was beating away 594 00:48:03.519 --> 00:48:08.199 while I lay in slumber. But I never rush. Now 595 00:48:08.639 --> 00:48:11.719 I know that I will manage to get through, and 596 00:48:11.920 --> 00:48:17.199 my moments seem inexhaustible. But the little machine keeps on 597 00:48:17.320 --> 00:48:21.639 beating just the same, like a drunken soldier at a drum. 598 00:48:22.320 --> 00:48:25.800 And how about the very moments it is using up? Now? 599 00:48:26.360 --> 00:48:29.719 Are they to be counted as equal to the great ones? 600 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:34.360 Then I say it is all a

fraud and protest 601 00:48:34.519 --> 00:48:38.400 as an honest citizen of the United States and as 602 00:48:38.440 --> 00:48:44.039 a merchant, I do not feel well. Yet I would 603 00:48:44.039 --> 00:48:48.639 not repulse even a friend at this moment. Ah, in 604 00:48:48.840 --> 00:48:59.960 all the universe, I am alone. And of section two 605 00:49:00.719 --> 00:49:05.840 Section three of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by 606 00:49:05.880 --> 00:49:10.320 Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 607 00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:19.800 Recording by Carolyn February seventh, nineteen fourteen, Rome, Hotel Internacionale. 608 00:49:21.440 --> 00:49:25.000 I am driven mad whenever I am compelled to seize 609 00:49:25.199 --> 00:49:28.599 the club of a policeman to bring order in my brain. 610 00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:34.000 Facts to the right, thoughts, to the left moods to 611 00:49:34.079 --> 00:49:39.000 the rear. Clear the road for His Highness Conscience, which 612 00:49:39.079 --> 00:49:43.599 barely moves about upon its stilts. I am compelled to 613 00:49:43.719 --> 00:49:49.039 do this, otherwise there would be a riot in Abracadabra chaos. 614 00:49:49.719 --> 00:49:55.079 And so I call you to order. Gentlemen, facts and 615 00:49:55.320 --> 00:50:04.480 lady thoughts. I begin night darkness, the airs bolly. There 616 00:50:04.559 --> 00:50:09.679 is a pleasant fragrance. Toppy is enchanted. We are Italy. 617 00:50:10.199 --> 00:50:14.639 Our speeding train is approaching Rome. We are enjoying our 618 00:50:14.760 --> 00:50:20.679 soft couches. When suddenly crash, Everything flies to the devil. 619 00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:24.719 The train has gone out of its mind. It is wrecked. 620 00:50:25.239 --> 00:50:28.119 I confess without shame that I am not very brave. 621 00:50:28.719 --> 00:50:31.880 That I was seized with terror and seemed to have 622 00:50:31.960 --> 00:50:36.840 lost consciousness. The lights were extinguished, and with much labor, 623 00:50:37.280 --> 00:50:40.000 I crawled out of the corner into which I had 624 00:50:40.039 --> 00:50:44.760 been hurled. I seemed to have forgotten the exit. There 625 00:50:44.840 --> 00:50:50.639 were only walls and corners. I felt something stinging and 626 00:50:50.800 --> 00:50:56.639 beating at me, and all about nothing but darkness. Suddenly 627 00:50:56.719 --> 00:51:00.400 I felt a body beneath my feet. I stepped right 628 00:51:00.480 --> 00:51:04.480 upon the face. Only afterwards did I discover that the 629 00:51:04.519 --> 00:51:10.639 body was that of George, my lackey killed outright, I shouted, 630 00:51:10.679 --> 00:51:14.639 and my obliging Toppy came to my aid. He seized 631 00:51:14.719 --> 00:51:17.880 me by the arm and led me to an open window, 632 00:51:18.320 --> 00:51:22.639 as both exits had been barricaded by fragments of the 633 00:51:22.800 --> 00:51:28.000 car and baggage. I leaped out, but Toppy lingered behind. 634 00:51:28.760

--> 00:51:32.519 My knees were trembling. I was groaning, but still he 635 00:51:32.679 --> 00:51:37.400 failed to appear. I shouted. Suddenly he reappeared at the 636 00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:41.000 window and shouted back, what are you crying about? I 637 00:51:41.039 --> 00:51:45.480 am looking for our hats and your portfolio. A few 638 00:51:45.519 --> 00:51:49.159 moments later he returned and handed me my hat. He 639 00:51:49.280 --> 00:51:54.199 himself had his silk top hat on and carried the portfolio. 640 00:51:55.079 --> 00:51:58.360 I shook with laughter and said, young man, you have 641 00:51:58.639 --> 00:52:03.440 forgotten the umbrella. But the old buffoon has no sense 642 00:52:03.480 --> 00:52:08.599 of humor. He replied seriously, I do not carry an umbrella. 643 00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:11.679 And do you know our George is dead, and so 644 00:52:11.920 --> 00:52:18.159 is the chef. So this fallen carcasse, which has no feelings, 645 00:52:18.199 --> 00:52:23.360 and upon whose face one steps with impunity, is our George. 646 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:28.280 I was again seized with terror, and suddenly my eyes 647 00:52:28.360 --> 00:52:34.920 were pierced with groans, wild shrieks, whistling, and cries. All 648 00:52:34.960 --> 00:52:40.119 the sounds wherewith these braves wail when they are crushed. 649 00:52:40.920 --> 00:52:45.000 At first I was deafened. I heard nothing. The cast 650 00:52:45.039 --> 00:52:48.960 caught fire, The flames and smoke shot up into the air. 651 00:52:49.599 --> 00:52:53.559 The wounded began to groan, and without waiting for the 652 00:52:53.639 --> 00:52:57.960 flesh to roast, I darted like a flush into the field. 653 00:52:58.639 --> 00:53:02.639 What a leap. Fortunately, the low hills of the Roman 654 00:53:02.719 --> 00:53:07.000 Campania are very convenient for this kind of sport, and 655 00:53:07.079 --> 00:53:10.159 I was no means behind in the line of runners. 656 00:53:10.960 --> 00:53:15.039 When out of breath, I hurled myself upon the ground. 657 00:53:15.480 --> 00:53:18.519 It was no longer possible to hear or see anything. 658 00:53:19.239 --> 00:53:23.840 Only toppy was approaching. But what a terrible thing this 659 00:53:24.079 --> 00:53:31.360 heart is. My face touched the earth. The earth was cool, firm, calm, 660 00:53:31.960 --> 00:53:35.159 and here I liked it. It seemed as if it 661 00:53:35.199 --> 00:53:38.400 had restored my breath and put my heart back into 662 00:53:38.440 --> 00:53:43.760 its place. I felt easier. The stars above were calm, 663 00:53:44.119 --> 00:53:47.800 There was nothing for them to get excited about. They 664 00:53:47.880 --> 00:53:53.800 were not concerned with things below. They merely shine in triumph, 665 00:53:54.760 --> 00:54:00.480 that is their eternal ball. And at this brilliant ball, 666 00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:06.920 the earth, clothed in darkness, appeared as an enchanting stranger 667 00:54:07.039 --> 00:54:11.519 in a black mask, not at all

badly expressed. I 668 00:54:11.639 --> 00:54:15.760 trust that you, my reader, will be pleased my stylent. 669 00:54:15.920 --> 00:54:21.039 My manners are improving. I kissed Toppy in the darkness. 670 00:54:21.639 --> 00:54:26.039 I always kiss those I like in the darkness, and 671 00:54:26.119 --> 00:54:31.519 I said, you are carrying your human form, Toppy very well. 672 00:54:32.119 --> 00:54:35.159 I respect you. But what are we to do now? 673 00:54:35.800 --> 00:54:39.480 Those lights yonder in the sky they are the lights 674 00:54:39.519 --> 00:54:44.000 of Rome, but they are too far away. Yes it 675 00:54:44.119 --> 00:54:49.079 is Rome, affirmed Toppy and raised his hand. Do you 676 00:54:49.320 --> 00:54:54.719 hear whistling? From somewhere in the distance came the long, drawn, 677 00:54:55.239 --> 00:55:02.079 piercing shrieking of locomotives. They were sounding the alarm. Yes, 678 00:55:02.360 --> 00:55:07.760 they are whistling, I said, and laughed. They are whistling, 679 00:55:08.360 --> 00:55:13.559 repeated Toppy, smiling. He never laughs. But here again, I 680 00:55:13.599 --> 00:55:19.599 began to feel uncomfortable. I was cold, lonely, quivering in 681 00:55:19.679 --> 00:55:24.039 my feet. There was still the sensation of treading upon corpses. 682 00:55:24.679 --> 00:55:27.920 I wanted to shake myself like a dog after a bath. 683 00:55:28.639 --> 00:55:31.960 You must understand me. It was the first time that 684 00:55:32.000 --> 00:55:34.880 I had seen and felt your corpse, my dear reader, 685 00:55:35.280 --> 00:55:38.599 And if you pardon me, it did not appeal to 686 00:55:38.719 --> 00:55:42.320 me at all. Why did it not protest when I 687 00:55:42.400 --> 00:55:47.800 walked over its face. George had such a beautiful young face, 688 00:55:48.199 --> 00:55:53.360 and he carried himself with much dignity. Remember your face 689 00:55:53.639 --> 00:55:59.079 too may be trod upon, and will you too remain submissive. 690 00:56:00.480 --> 00:56:03.480 We did not proceed to Rome, but went instead in 691 00:56:03.599 --> 00:56:08.840 search of the nearest night lodging. We walked long, we 692 00:56:08.960 --> 00:56:14.719 grew tired, We longed to drink, Oh how we longed 693 00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:20.039 to drink. And now permit me to present to you 694 00:56:20.280 --> 00:56:28.480 my new friend, Signor Thomas Magnus and his beautiful daughter Maria. 695 00:56:29.039 --> 00:56:33.320 At first we observed the faint flicker of light. As 696 00:56:33.360 --> 00:56:37.199 we approached nearer, we found a little house, its white 697 00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:42.119 walls gleaming through a thicket of dark cypress trees and shrubbery. 698 00:56:43.119 --> 00:56:45.639 There was a light in one of the windows. The 699 00:56:45.760 --> 00:56:50.400 rest were barricaded with shutters. The house had a stone 700 00:56:50.480 --> 00:56:58.840 fence in iron gate, strong doors, and silence. At first glance, 701 00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:08.440

it all looked suspicious. Toppy knocked still, silence. I knocked again, silence. 702 00:57:09.480 --> 00:57:13.360 Finally there came a gruff voice asking from behind the 703 00:57:13.400 --> 00:57:18.599 iron door, who are you? What do you want? Heartily 704 00:57:18.840 --> 00:57:23.679 mumbling with his parched tongue, my brave Toppy narrated the 705 00:57:23.760 --> 00:57:28.840 story of the catastrophe and our escape. He spoke at length, 706 00:57:29.039 --> 00:57:32.039 and then came the click of a lock and the 707 00:57:32.159 --> 00:57:37.880 door was opened. Following behind our austere and silent stranger, 708 00:57:38.400 --> 00:57:43.599 we entered the house, passed through several dark and silent rooms, 709 00:57:44.280 --> 00:57:48.000 walked up a flight of creaking stairs into a brightly 710 00:57:48.159 --> 00:57:54.400 lighted room, apparently the stranger's work room. There was much light, 711 00:57:54.800 --> 00:57:58.760 many books, with one open beneath a low lamp shaded 712 00:57:58.840 --> 00:58:03.559 by a simple green globe. We had not noticed this 713 00:58:03.800 --> 00:58:07.480 light in the field. But what astonished me was the 714 00:58:07.599 --> 00:58:12.880 silence of the house, despite the rather early hour. Not 715 00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:17.119 a move, not the sound, not a voice was to 716 00:58:17.159 --> 00:58:22.599 be heard. Have a seat. We sat down, and Toppy, 717 00:58:23.079 --> 00:58:27.559 now almost in pain, began again to narrate his story, 718 00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:33.960 but the strange host interrupted him. Yes, a catastrophe, they 719 00:58:33.960 --> 00:58:39.519 often occur in our roads. Were there many victims? Toppy 720 00:58:39.599 --> 00:58:44.039 continued his prattel, and the host, while listening to him, 721 00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:46.920 took a revolver out of his pocket and hid it 722 00:58:46.960 --> 00:58:52.280 in a table drawer, adding carelessly, this is not a 723 00:58:52.519 --> 00:58:59.599 particularly quiet neighborhood. Well, please remain here. For the first time, 724 00:58:59.719 --> 00:59:03.679 he raised his dark eyebrows and his large dim eyes, 725 00:59:04.159 --> 00:59:07.519 and studied us intently, as if he were gazing upon 726 00:59:07.639 --> 00:59:11.559 something savage in a museum. It was an impolite and 727 00:59:11.719 --> 00:59:17.119 brazen stare. I arose and said, I fear that we 728 00:59:17.199 --> 00:59:21.440 are not welcome here, signor, And he stopped me with 729 00:59:21.519 --> 00:59:27.360 an impatient and slightly sarcastic gesture. Nonsense, you remain here. 730 00:59:27.800 --> 00:59:30.960 I will get you some wine and food. My servant 731 00:59:31.039 --> 00:59:33.880 is here in the daytime only, so allow me to 732 00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:37.760 wait on you. You will find the bathroom behind this door. 733 00:59:38.199 --> 00:59:40.639 Go wash and freshen up while I get the wine. 734 00:59:41.159 --> 00:59:46.760 Make yourself at home while we ate and drank with 735 00:59:47.199 --> 00:59:53.320 savage relish. I confess this unsympathetic gentleman kept on reading 736 00:59:53.360 --> 00:59:55.639 a book as if there were no one else in 737 00:59:55.679 --> 00:59:59.960 the room, undisturbed by toppy s munching and the door 738 01:00:00.519 --> 01:00:06.320 struggle with a bone. I studied my host carefully, almost 739 01:00:06.400 --> 01:00:11.239 to my height. His pale face bore an expression of weariness. 740 01:00:12.079 --> 01:00:16.599 He had a black oily bandit like beard, but his 741 01:00:16.880 --> 01:00:21.679 brow was high, and his nose betrayed good sense. How 742 01:00:21.679 --> 01:00:26.880 would you describe it? Well? Here again, I seek comparisons. 743 01:00:27.599 --> 01:00:31.639 Imagine the nose betraying the story of a great, passionate, 744 01:00:32.079 --> 01:00:37.039 extraordinary secret life. It is beautiful and seems to have 745 01:00:37.119 --> 01:00:40.800 been made not out of muscle and cartilage, but out 746 01:00:40.880 --> 01:00:45.079 of what do you call it? Out of thoughts and 747 01:00:45.280 --> 01:00:50.119 brazen desires. He seems quite brave too. But I was 748 01:00:50.199 --> 01:00:56.360 particularly attracted by his hands, very big, very white, and 749 01:00:56.559 --> 01:01:00.719 giving the impression of self control. I do not know 750 01:01:00.800 --> 01:01:05.440 why his hands attracted me so much, but suddenly I thought, 751 01:01:06.320 --> 01:01:11.920 how beautifully exact the number of fingers, exactly ten of them, 752 01:01:12.280 --> 01:01:21.519 ten thin, evil wise crooked fingers. I said, politely, thank you, signor. 753 01:01:22.719 --> 01:01:29.880 He replied, my name is Magnus, Thomas. Magnus, have some wine, Americans. 754 01:01:30.719 --> 01:01:34.079 I waited for Toppy to introduce me according to the 755 01:01:34.119 --> 01:01:38.960 English custom, and I looked toward Magnus. One had to 756 01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:44.239 be an ignorant, illiterate animal not to know me. Toppy 757 01:01:44.280 --> 01:01:50.800 broke in mister Henry Wondergood of Illinois, his secretary, Erwin, TOPPI, 758 01:01:51.039 --> 01:01:57.400 your obedient servant. Yes, citizens of the United States. The 759 01:01:57.519 --> 01:02:02.199 old buffoon blurted out his tyrann yard, evincing a thorough 760 01:02:02.280 --> 01:02:06.480 lack of pride, and Magnus, yes, he was a little 761 01:02:06.519 --> 01:02:12.599 startled billions, my friend, billions. He gazed at me long 762 01:02:12.639 --> 01:02:19.280 and intently, mister Wondergood, Henry Wondergood, are you, not, sir, 763 01:02:19.559 --> 01:02:23.320 that American billionaire who seeks to bestow upon humanity the 764 01:02:23.400 --> 01:02:28.679 benefits of his billions? I modestly shook my head in 765 01:02:28.760 --> 01:02:35.000 the affirmative, Yes, I am the gentleman. Toppy shook his 766 01:02:35.199 --> 01:02:39.679 hid in affirmation the ass Yes, we are the gentlemen. 767 01:02:41.239 -->

01:02:44.360 Magnus bowed and said, with a tinge of irony in 768 01:02:44.400 --> 01:02:49.320 his voice, humanity is awaiting you, mister Wondergood. Judging by 769 01:02:49.360 --> 01:02:54.000 the Roman newspapers, it is extremely impatient. But I must 770 01:02:54.119 --> 01:02:58.000 crave your pardon for this very modest meal. I did 771 01:02:58.039 --> 01:03:04.079 not know. I seized his large, strangely warm hand and 772 01:03:04.280 --> 01:03:10.760 shaking it violently in American fashion. I said, nonsense, Senor Magnus. 773 01:03:11.079 --> 01:03:14.559 I was a swineherd before I became a billionaire. While 774 01:03:14.639 --> 01:03:19.519 you are a straightforward, honest and noble gentleman, whose hand 775 01:03:19.639 --> 01:03:24.000 I press with the utmost respect. The devil take it. 776 01:03:24.400 --> 01:03:27.159 Not a single human face as yet aroused in me 777 01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:33.920 as much sympathy as yours, Magnus said. Magnus said nothing. 778 01:03:34.679 --> 01:03:39.079 I cannot continue this, I said, he said, This cursed 779 01:03:39.159 --> 01:03:44.360 consistency is deadly to my inspiration. It transforms me into 780 01:03:44.400 --> 01:03:48.199 a silly romanticist of a boulevard sheet, and makes me 781 01:03:48.440 --> 01:03:52.880 lie like a mediocrity. I have five senses. I am 782 01:03:52.920 --> 01:03:55.960 a complete human being, and yet I speak only of 783 01:03:56.000 --> 01:04:01.000 the hearing, and now about the sight. I assure you 784 01:04:01.119 --> 01:04:05.559 it did not remain idle. And to this sensation of 785 01:04:05.679 --> 01:04:09.800 the earth of Italy, of my existence, which I now 786 01:04:09.880 --> 01:04:14.559 perceive with a new and sweet strength, You imagine that 787 01:04:14.679 --> 01:04:17.800 all I did was to listen to wise Thomas Magnus. 788 01:04:18.280 --> 01:04:22.800 He speaks, and I gaze, understand and sir, while I think, 789 01:04:23.320 --> 01:04:27.760 what a beautiful earth, what a beautiful campagna di roma. 790 01:04:28.000 --> 01:04:31.960 I persisted in penetrating the recesses of the house into 791 01:04:32.000 --> 01:04:37.519 its looked silent rooms. With every moment my joy mounted 792 01:04:37.599 --> 01:04:40.519 at the thought that I am alive, that I can 793 01:04:40.639 --> 01:04:45.679 speak and play, And suddenly I rather liked the idea 794 01:04:45.840 --> 01:04:49.679 of being human. I remember that I held out my 795 01:04:49.840 --> 01:04:55.960 cards to Magnus Henry Wondergod. He was surprised, but laid 796 01:04:56.159 --> 01:05:00.960 the cards politely on the table. I felt like implanting 797 01:05:01.000 --> 01:05:04.400 a kiss on his brow for his politeness. For the 798 01:05:04.519 --> 01:05:09.880 fact that he too was human, I too am human. 799 01:05:10.639 --> 01:05:14.280 I was particularly proud of my foot encased in a 800 01:05:14.400 --> 01:05:19.199 fine tan leather shoe, and I persisted in swinging it 801 01:05:19.840 --> 01:05:25.719 swing on beautiful human American foot. I was extremely emotional 802 01:05:25.880 --> 01:05:30.119 that evening. I even wanted to weep, to look my 803 01:05:30.280 --> 01:05:34.760 host straightened the eyes, and to squeeze out of my 804 01:05:34.920 --> 01:05:40.519 own eyes so full of love and goodness, two little tears. 805 01:05:41.480 --> 01:05:44.639 I actually did it, for at that moment I felt 806 01:05:44.679 --> 01:05:47.880 a little pleasant sting in my nose, as if it 807 01:05:47.920 --> 01:05:51.960 had been hit by a spurt of lemonade. I observed 808 01:05:52.159 --> 01:05:56.039 that my two little tears made an impression upon Magnus. 809 01:05:57.320 --> 01:06:02.280 But Toppy, while I experienced this wondrous poem of feeling 810 01:06:02.440 --> 01:06:06.840 human and even of weeping, he slept like a dead 811 01:06:06.880 --> 01:06:10.960 one at the very same table. I was rather angered. 812 01:06:11.519 --> 01:06:14.960 This was really going too far. I wanted to shout 813 01:06:14.960 --> 01:06:19.840 at him, but Magnus restrained me. He has had a 814 01:06:19.840 --> 01:06:25.079 good deal of excitement and is weary, mister Wondergood. The 815 01:06:25.199 --> 01:06:28.920 hour had really grown late. We had been talking and 816 01:06:29.119 --> 01:06:33.360 arguing with Magnus for two hours. When Toppy fell asleep. 817 01:06:34.039 --> 01:06:36.639 I sent him off to bid while we continued to 818 01:06:36.760 --> 01:06:41.039 talk and drink for quite a while. I drank more wine, 819 01:06:41.480 --> 01:06:46.639 but Magnus restrained himself. There was a dimness about his face. 820 01:06:47.199 --> 01:06:50.519 I was beginning to develop an admiration for his grim 821 01:06:50.679 --> 01:06:57.800 and at times evil, secretive countenance. He said, I believe 822 01:06:57.880 --> 01:07:02.039 in your altruistic passion and mister wondergood, but I do 823 01:07:02.119 --> 01:07:05.880 not believe that you, a man of wisdom and of action, 824 01:07:06.599 --> 01:07:11.400 and it seems to me somewhat cold, could place any 825 01:07:11.440 --> 01:07:16.880 serious hopes upon your money. Three billion dollars that is 826 01:07:16.920 --> 01:07:24.679 a mighty power. Magnus, Yes, three billion dollars a mighty power. Indeed, 827 01:07:25.480 --> 01:07:30.119 he agreed, rather unwillingly. But what will you do with it? 828 01:07:31.559 --> 01:07:35.559 I laughed. You probably want to say, what can this 829 01:07:35.800 --> 01:07:42.119 ignoramus of an American, this erstwhile swineherd, who knows swine 830 01:07:42.280 --> 01:07:46.400 better than he knows men, do with the money. The 831 01:07:46.480 --> 01:07:51.800 first business helps the other, said Magnus. I dare say 832 01:07:51.880 --> 01:07:55.599 you have but a slight opinion of this foolish philanthropist 833 01:07:56.039 --> 01:08:01.000 whose head has been turned by his gold, said I yes, 834 01:08:01.079 --> 01:08:03.760 to be sure, what can I do? I can open 835

01:08:03.800 --> 01:08:08.400 another university in Chicago, or another maternity hospital in San 836 01:08:08.480 --> 01:08:15.800 Francisco or another humanitarian reformatory in New York. The letter 837 01:08:15.840 --> 01:08:20.319 would be a distinct work of mercy, quoth Magnus. Do 838 01:08:20.399 --> 01:08:24.640 not gaze at me with such reproach, mister Wondergood, I 839 01:08:24.680 --> 01:08:27.720 am not jesting. You will find in me the same 840 01:08:27.800 --> 01:08:32.640 pure love for humanity which burns so fiercely in you. 841 01:08:34.399 --> 01:08:37.279 He was laughing at me, and I felt pity for him. 842 01:08:37.800 --> 01:08:44.319 Not to love people, miserable, unfortunate, Magnus. I could kiss 843 01:08:44.319 --> 01:08:51.479 his brow with great pleasure. Not to love people. Yes, 844 01:08:51.520 --> 01:08:55.279 I do not love them, affirmed Magnus. But I am 845 01:08:55.319 --> 01:08:59.039 glad that you do not intend to travel the conventional 846 01:08:59.199 --> 01:09:06.560 road of all American philanthropists. Your billions, three billions, Magnus, 847 01:09:06.920 --> 01:09:12.039 one could build a nation on this money, yes, or 848 01:09:12.239 --> 01:09:17.880 destroy nation, said I. With this gold, Magnus, one can 849 01:09:18.000 --> 01:09:24.880 start a war or a revolution. Yes. I actually succeeded 850 01:09:24.920 --> 01:09:30.239 in arousing his interests. His large white hands trembled slightly, 851 01:09:30.760 --> 01:09:33.880 and in his eyes there gleamed for a moment a 852 01:09:33.920 --> 01:09:38.119 look of respect. You wonder good. I'm not as foolish 853 01:09:38.159 --> 01:09:44.039 as I thought, he arose, paced up and down the room, and, 854 01:09:44.199 --> 01:09:50.880 halting before me, asked sneeringly, and you know exactly what 855 01:09:50.960 --> 01:09:55.119 your humanity needs most, the creation of a new or 856 01:09:55.239 --> 01:10:00.720 the destruction of the old state, war or peace rest 857 01:10:00.840 --> 01:10:04.920 or revolution? Who are you, mister Wondergood of Illinois, that 858 01:10:05.239 --> 01:10:09.239 ussay to solve these problems? You had better keep on 859 01:10:09.319 --> 01:10:14.479 building your maternity, hospitals and universities. That is far less 860 01:10:14.560 --> 01:10:20.920 dangerous work. I liked the man's auteur. I bowed my 861 01:10:21.039 --> 01:10:26.399 head modestly and said, you are right, Signor Magnus. Who 862 01:10:26.439 --> 01:10:31.920 am I, Henry Wondergood, to undertake the solution of these problems? 863 01:10:32.600 --> 01:10:36.520 But I do not intend to solve them. I merely 864 01:10:36.560 --> 01:10:40.760 indicate them. I indicate them, and I seek the solution. 865 01:10:41.520 --> 01:10:44.720 I seek the solution and the man who can give 866 01:10:44.760 --> 01:10:49.119 it to me. I have never read a serious book carefully. 867 01:10:49.640 --> 01:10:52.600 I see you have quite a supply of books here. 868 01:10:53.239 --> 01:10:57.039 You are a misanthrope, Magnus. You are too much of 869 01:10:57.119 --> 01:11:01.720 a European not to be easily disillusioned in things. While 870 01:11:02.079 --> 01:11:08.159 we young America belief and humanity. A man must be created. 871 01:11:08.880 --> 01:11:13.079 You and Europe are bad craftsmen, and have created a 872 01:11:13.159 --> 01:11:17.680 bad man. We shall create a better one. I beg 873 01:11:17.800 --> 01:11:21.640 your pardon for my frankness. As long as I was 874 01:11:21.800 --> 01:11:26.560 merely Henry Wondergood, I devoted myself only to the creation 875 01:11:26.720 --> 01:11:30.520 of pigs. And my pigs let me say to you 876 01:11:31.199 --> 01:11:36.560 have been awarded no fewer medals and decorations than field 877 01:11:36.720 --> 01:11:42.000 martial moult care. But now I desire to create people. 878 01:11:43.520 --> 01:11:49.119 Magnus smiled. You are an alchemist. Wonder good. You would 879 01:11:49.239 --> 01:11:54.640 transform lead into gold. Yes, I wanted to create gold, 880 01:11:54.720 --> 01:11:58.600 and I seek the Philosopher's stone. But has it not 881 01:11:58.680 --> 01:12:02.039 already been found? It has been found, only you do 882 01:12:02.119 --> 01:12:06.560 not know how to use it. It is love, Ah, Magnus. 883 01:12:06.600 --> 01:12:09.279 I do not know yet what I will do, but 884 01:12:09.399 --> 01:12:14.039 my plans are heroic and magnificent. If not for that 885 01:12:14.359 --> 01:12:21.000 misanthropic smile of yours, I might go further. Believe in man, Magnus, 886 01:12:21.039 --> 01:12:25.960 and give me your aid. You know what man needs most, 887 01:12:26.439 --> 01:12:33.399 he said coolly, and with sadness. He needs prisons and gallows. 888 01:12:34.720 --> 01:12:39.520 I exclaimed in anger. I am particularly adept, and feigning anger, 889 01:12:40.279 --> 01:12:43.800 you are slandering me. Magnus. I see that you must 890 01:12:43.800 --> 01:12:50.560 have experienced some very great misfortune, perhaps treachery, and hold 891 01:12:50.600 --> 01:12:53.439 on one the good. I never speak of myself and 892 01:12:53.600 --> 01:12:56.840 do not like to hear others speak of me. Let 893 01:12:56.880 --> 01:12:59.359 it be sufficient for you to know that you are 894 01:12:59.399 --> 01:13:03.039 the first man in four years to break in upon 895 01:13:03.119 --> 01:13:08.119 my solitude, and this only due to chance. I do 896 01:13:08.199 --> 01:13:12.960 not like people. Oh pardon, but I do not believe it. 897 01:13:14.239 --> 01:13:17.640 Magnus went over to the bookcase, and with an expression 898 01:13:17.680 --> 01:13:22.680 of supreme contempt, he seized the first volume he laid 899 01:13:22.720 --> 01:13:28.000 his hands upon. And you, who have read no books, 900 01:13:28.079 --> 01:13:31.479 he said, do you know what these books are about? 901 01:13:32.079 --> 01:13:36.960 Only about evil, about the mistakes and sufferings of humanity. 902 01:13:37.640 --> 01:13:41.520 They

are filled with tears and blood. Wonder good. Look 903 01:13:42.000 --> 01:13:46.800 in this thin little book, which I clasp between two fingers, 904 01:13:47.399 --> 01:13:51.560 is contained a whole ocean of human blood. And if 905 01:13:51.560 --> 01:13:54.960 you should take all of them together, and who has 906 01:13:55.079 --> 01:14:01.560 spilt this blood? The devil? I felt, and wanted to 907 01:14:01.680 --> 01:14:08.319 bow in acknowledgment. But he threw the book aside and shouted, no, sir, man, 908 01:14:08.920 --> 01:14:13.520 man has spilled this blood. Yes. I do read books, 909 01:14:13.560 --> 01:14:17.159 but only for one purpose, to learn how to hate 910 01:14:17.279 --> 01:14:21.720 man and to hold him in contempt. You, wonder good, 911 01:14:21.720 --> 01:14:25.760 have transformed your pigs into gold. Yes, And I can 912 01:14:25.800 --> 01:14:30.399 see how your gold is being transformed back again into pigs. 913 01:14:30.960 --> 01:14:35.039 They will devour you won the good. But I do 914 01:14:35.119 --> 01:14:39.279 not wish either to prattle or to lie. Throw your 915 01:14:39.399 --> 01:14:44.600 money into the sea, or build some new prisons and gallows. 916 01:14:45.239 --> 01:14:50.239 You are vain like all men, then go on building gallows. 917 01:14:50.680 --> 01:14:54.600 You will be respected by serious people, while the flock 918 01:14:54.680 --> 01:14:59.840 in general will call you great. Or don't you American 919 01:15:00.079 --> 01:15:05.800 from Illinois want to get into the pantheon? No, Magnus, 920 01:15:06.359 --> 01:15:11.640 blood cried Magnus, can't you see that? It is everywhere here? 921 01:15:11.680 --> 01:15:16.680 It is on your boot. Now I confess that at 922 01:15:16.720 --> 01:15:20.840 the moment Magnus appeared to be insane, I jerked my 923 01:15:21.000 --> 01:15:25.000 foot in sudden fear, and only then did I perceive 924 01:15:25.119 --> 01:15:33.159 a dark reddish spot on my shoe. How dastardly, Magnus smiled, and, 925 01:15:33.239 --> 01:15:39.880 immediately regaining his composure, continued calmly and without emotion. I 926 01:15:40.000 --> 01:15:45.520 have unwittingly startled you, mister Wondergood. Nonsense. You probably stepped 927 01:15:45.560 --> 01:15:51.800 on something inadvertently, a mere trifle. But this conversation, a 928 01:15:51.880 --> 01:15:55.760 conversation I have not conducted for a number of years, 929 01:15:55.800 --> 01:16:00.920 makes me uneasy. And good night, mister Wondergood. To morrow 930 01:16:01.079 --> 01:16:04.319 I shall have the honor of presenting you to my daughter, 931 01:16:04.920 --> 01:16:10.319 And now you will permit me, and so on. In short, 932 01:16:10.760 --> 01:16:14.039 this gentleman conducted me to my room in a most 933 01:16:14.039 --> 01:16:18.479 impolite manner, and well nigh put me to bed. I 934 01:16:18.560 --> 01:16:22.560 offered no resistance. Why should I? I must say that 935 01:16:22.640 --> 01:16:26.439 I did not like him at this moment. I was 936 01:16:26.479 --> 01:16:30.800 even pleased when he turned to go. But suddenly he 937 01:16:30.880 --> 01:16:35.920 turned at the very threshold, and, stepping forward, stretched out 938 01:16:35.920 --> 01:16:42.159 his large white hands and murmured, do you see these hands. 939 01:16:42.399 --> 01:16:45.479 There's blood on them. Let it be the blood of 940 01:16:45.520 --> 01:16:51.159 a scoundrel, a torturer, a tyrant, but it is the 941 01:16:51.199 --> 01:16:58.319 same red human blood. Good night. He spoiled my night 942 01:16:58.479 --> 01:17:03.520 for me. I saw by eternal salvation that on that 943 01:17:03.760 --> 01:17:07.760 night I felt great pleasure in being a man, and 944 01:17:07.840 --> 01:17:13.680 I made myself thoroughly at home in his narrow human skin. 945 01:17:14.920 --> 01:17:18.880 It made me feel uncomfortable in the armpits, you see. 946 01:17:19.279 --> 01:17:23.079 I bought it ready made, and thought that it would 947 01:17:23.159 --> 01:17:26.239 be as comfortable as if it had been made to measure. 948 01:17:27.079 --> 01:17:32.119 I was highly emotional. I was extremely good and affable. 949 01:17:32.680 --> 01:17:36.399 I was very eager to play, but I was not 950 01:17:36.520 --> 01:17:43.079 inclined to tragedy. Blood. How can any person of good breeding, 951 01:17:43.640 --> 01:17:47.520 thrust his white hands under the nose of a stranger 952 01:17:48.399 --> 01:17:54.199 hang men have very white hands. Do not think I 953 01:17:54.239 --> 01:17:58.479 am jesting. I did not feel well. In the daytime, 954 01:17:58.560 --> 01:18:02.319 I still managed to subdue Wonder Good. But at night 955 01:18:02.399 --> 01:18:06.399 he lays his hands upon me. It is he who 956 01:18:06.479 --> 01:18:11.079 fills me with his silly dreams and shakes within me 957 01:18:11.319 --> 01:18:18.119 his entire dusty archive. And how godlessly silly and meaningless 958 01:18:18.159 --> 01:18:23.199 are his dreams. He fusses about within me all night long, 959 01:18:23.439 --> 01:18:27.640 like a returned master, seems to be looking about for something, 960 01:18:28.159 --> 01:18:33.119 grumbles about losses and wear and tear, and sneezes, and 961 01:18:33.279 --> 01:18:36.960 cavotes about like a dog lying uncomfortable on its bit. 962 01:18:37.840 --> 01:18:41.199 It is he who draws me in at night, like 963 01:18:41.279 --> 01:18:46.279 a mass of wet lime, into the depth of miserable humanity, 964 01:18:46.800 --> 01:18:51.840 where I nearly choke to death. When I awake in 965 01:18:51.840 --> 01:18:55.359 the morning, I feel that wonder God has infused ten 966 01:18:55.520 --> 01:18:59.119 more degrees of human and to me think of it, 967 01:18:59.560 --> 01:19:03.399 he may soon eject me all together and leave me 968 01:19:03.640 --> 01:19:08.760 standing outside. He the miserable owner of an empty barn 969 01:19:09.159 --> 01:19:14.079 into which I brought breath and soul. Like a hurried thief. 970 01:19:14.199

--> 01:19:18.479 I crawled into a stranger's clothes, the pockets of which 971 01:19:18.520 --> 01:19:24.880 are bulging with forged promissory notes. No still worse, it 972 01:19:24.960 --> 01:19:29.520 is not only uncomfortable attire, it is a low, dark 973 01:19:29.600 --> 01:19:34.560 and stifling jail, wherein I occupy less space than a 974 01:19:34.680 --> 01:19:38.399 ring might in the stomach of Wonder Good. You, my 975 01:19:38.520 --> 01:19:42.800 dear reader, have been hidden in your prison from childhood, 976 01:19:43.279 --> 01:19:46.760 and you even seem to like it. But I I 977 01:19:47.039 --> 01:19:50.680 come from the kingdom of liberty, and I refuse to 978 01:19:50.720 --> 01:19:55.159 be wonder Good's tape worm, one swallow of poison, and 979 01:19:55.319 --> 01:19:59.960 I am free again. What will you say, then, scoundrel 980 01:20:00.239 --> 01:20:04.520 wonder Good? Without me, you will be devoured by the worms, 981 01:20:05.159 --> 01:20:11.119 You will crack open at the seams, miserable carcasse. Touch me. Not. 982 01:20:13.279 --> 01:20:16.359 On this night, however, I was in the absolute power 983 01:20:16.399 --> 01:20:20.560 of wonder Good. What is human blood to me? What 984 01:20:20.880 --> 01:20:24.680 do I care about the troubles of their life? But 985 01:20:24.840 --> 01:20:29.600 wonder Good was quite aroused by the crazy magnus. Suddenly 986 01:20:29.800 --> 01:20:33.760 I felt, just think of it, that I am filled 987 01:20:33.840 --> 01:20:37.920 with blood like the bladder of an ox. And the 988 01:20:37.960 --> 01:20:41.439 bladder is very thin and weak, so that it would 989 01:20:41.439 --> 01:20:45.760 be dangerous to prick it. Prick it and out spurts 990 01:20:46.000 --> 01:20:49.800 the blood. I was terrified at the idea that I 991 01:20:49.880 --> 01:20:53.640 might be killed in this house, that someone might cut 992 01:20:53.680 --> 01:20:58.359 my throat, and turning me upside down, hanging by the legs, 993 01:20:58.800 --> 01:21:03.079 would letter the blow run out upon the floor. I 994 01:21:03.199 --> 01:21:06.800 lay in the darkness and strained my ears to hear 995 01:21:07.319 --> 01:21:11.319 whether or not Magnus was approaching with his white hands. 996 01:21:12.199 --> 01:21:16.479 And the greater the silence in this curset house, the 997 01:21:16.560 --> 01:21:22.520 more terrified I grew. Even Toppy failed to snore as usual. 998 01:21:23.399 --> 01:21:28.359 This made me angry. Then my body began to ache. 999 01:21:28.960 --> 01:21:32.199 Perhaps I was injured in the wreck, or was a 1000 01:21:32.279 --> 01:21:37.520 weariness brought on by the flight. Then my body began 1001 01:21:37.600 --> 01:21:41.399 to itch in the most ordinary way, and I even 1002 01:21:41.479 --> 01:21:45.560 began to move the feet. It was the appearance of 1003 01:21:45.680 --> 01:21:51.199 the jovial clown in the tragedy. Suddenly a dream seized 1004 01:21:51.279 --> 01:21:56.079 me by the feet and dragged me rapidly

below. I 1005 01:21:56.159 --> 01:22:01.399 hardly had time enough to shout, and what nonsense arose 1006 01:22:01.640 --> 01:22:07.359 before me? Do you ever have such dreams? I felt 1007 01:22:07.479 --> 01:22:10.520 that I was a bottle of champagne, with a thin 1008 01:22:10.720 --> 01:22:14.960 neck and sealed, but filled not with the wine but 1009 01:22:15.039 --> 01:22:19.199 with blood. And it seemed that not only I, but 1010 01:22:19.479 --> 01:22:24.279 all people had become bottles with sealed tops, and all 1011 01:22:24.319 --> 01:22:27.760 of us were arranged in a row on the seashore, 1012 01:22:28.680 --> 01:22:33.880 and someone horrible was approaching from somewhere and wanted to 1013 01:22:34.000 --> 01:22:37.600 smash us all. And I saw how foolish it would 1014 01:22:37.640 --> 01:22:41.960 be to do so, and wanted to shout, don't smash them, 1015 01:22:42.319 --> 01:22:46.520 get a corkscrew. But I had no voice. I was 1016 01:22:46.560 --> 01:22:52.159 a bottle. Suddenly, the dead lacky George approached. In his 1017 01:22:52.479 --> 01:22:58.399 hands was a huge sharp cockscrew. He said something and 1018 01:22:58.560 --> 01:23:02.399 seized me by the throat. Ah, ah, by the throat. 1019 01:23:03.479 --> 01:23:07.520 I awoke in pain. Apparently he did try to open 1020 01:23:07.600 --> 01:23:12.640 me up. My wrath was so great that I neither sighed, 1021 01:23:12.880 --> 01:23:18.199 nor smiled nor moved. I simply killed wonder good again. 1022 01:23:19.039 --> 01:23:24.560 I gnashed my teeth, straightened out my eyes, closed them 1023 01:23:24.720 --> 01:23:30.079 calmly stretched out at full length, and lay peacefully in 1024 01:23:30.199 --> 01:23:35.399 the full consciousness of the greatness of my ego. Had 1025 01:23:35.600 --> 01:23:38.680 the ocean itself moved up on me, I would not 1026 01:23:38.880 --> 01:23:44.239 have batted an eye get thee Hence my friend. I 1027 01:23:44.279 --> 01:23:50.600 wished to be alone. And the body grew silent, colorless, airy, 1028 01:23:50.760 --> 01:23:55.279 and empty. Again. With light step, I left it, and 1029 01:23:55.439 --> 01:23:59.520 before my eyes there arose a vision of the extraordinary, 1030 01:24:00.199 --> 01:24:04.439 that which cannot be expressed in your language. My poor friend, 1031 01:24:05.399 --> 01:24:09.960 satisfy your curiosity with the dream I have just confided 1032 01:24:10.159 --> 01:24:15.560 to you, and ask no more. Or does not the huge, 1033 01:24:15.840 --> 01:24:25.159 sharp corkscrew suit you, but it is so artistic? End 1034 01:24:25.199 --> 01:24:41.319 of section three Section four of Satan's Diary by Leonit Andreyev, 1035 01:24:41.880 --> 01:24:46.199 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 1036 01:24:46.199 --> 01:24:52.000 public domain. Recording by Carolyn. In the morning, I was 1037 01:24:52.079 --> 01:24:57.520 well again, refreshed and beautiful. I yearned for the play 1038 01:24:58.079 --> 01:25:01.319 like an actor who has just left his dressing room. 1039 01:25:02.159 --> 01:25:05.960 Of course, I did not forget to shave. This Canaia 1040 01:25:06.199 --> 01:25:10.159 wonder good gets overgrown with hair as quickly as his 1041 01:25:10.319 --> 01:25:15.119 golden skinned pigs. I complained about this to Toppy, with 1042 01:25:15.279 --> 01:25:19.439 whom while waiting for Magnus, I was walking in the garden, 1043 01:25:20.199 --> 01:25:27.119 and Toppy thinking awhile replied philosophically, Yes, man sleeps and 1044 01:25:27.159 --> 01:25:31.359 his beard grows. This is as it should be for 1045 01:25:31.560 --> 01:25:38.000 the barbers. Magnus appeared. He was no more hospitable than yesterday, 1046 01:25:38.319 --> 01:25:44.319 and his pale face carried unmistakable indications of weariness. But 1047 01:25:44.479 --> 01:25:48.399 he was calm and polite, how black his beard is 1048 01:25:48.439 --> 01:25:52.960 in the daytime. He pressed my hand in cool politeness 1049 01:25:53.439 --> 01:25:57.920 and said, we were perched on a wall. You are 1050 01:25:58.000 --> 01:26:02.359 enjoying the Roman companion, mister wonder Good, a magnificent sight. 1051 01:26:02.920 --> 01:26:06.840 It is said that the Compania is noted for its fevers, 1052 01:26:07.520 --> 01:26:11.000 But there is but one fever that produces in me, 1053 01:26:11.960 --> 01:26:17.279 the fever of thought. Apparently wonder Good did not have 1054 01:26:17.439 --> 01:26:20.039 much of a liking for nature, and I have not 1055 01:26:20.199 --> 01:26:25.159 yet managed to develop a taste for earthly landscape. An 1056 01:26:25.199 --> 01:26:30.000 empty field for me. I cast my eyes politely over 1057 01:26:30.079 --> 01:26:35.079 the countryside before us, and said, people interest me more, 1058 01:26:35.319 --> 01:26:41.279 Senor Magnus. He gazed at me intently with his dark eyes, 1059 01:26:41.800 --> 01:26:47.439 and lowering his voice, said dryly, and with apparent reluctance, 1060 01:26:48.880 --> 01:26:53.720 just two words about people, mister Wondergood. You will soon 1061 01:26:53.920 --> 01:27:00.000 see my daughter Maria. She is my three billions, you understand, 1062 01:27:00.079 --> 01:27:06.720 and I nodded my head in approval. But your California 1063 01:27:06.840 --> 01:27:11.760 does not produce such gold, neither does any other country 1064 01:27:11.800 --> 01:27:16.279 on this dirty earth. It is the gold of the heavens. 1065 01:27:16.960 --> 01:27:19.880 I am not to believe, mister Wonderguld, but even I 1066 01:27:20.039 --> 01:27:24.840 experience some doubts when I meet the gaze of my Maria. 1067 01:27:25.720 --> 01:27:29.359 Hers are the only hands and to which you might, 1068 01:27:29.520 --> 01:27:36.319 without the slightest misgiving, place your billions. I am an 1069 01:27:36.399 --> 01:27:40.560 old bachelor, and I was overcome with fear. But Magnus 1070 01:27:40.600 --> 01:27:44.600 continued sternly, with a ring of triumph in his voice. 1071 01:27:45.560 -->

01:27:49.199 But she will not accept them, sir. Her gentle hands 1072 01:27:49.319 --> 01:27:54.399 must never touch this golden dirt. Her clean eyes will 1073 01:27:54.439 --> 01:28:00.159 never behold any sight but that of this endless, godless company. 1074 01:28:01.039 --> 01:28:05.199 Here is her monastery, mister Wondergood, and there is but 1075 01:28:05.560 --> 01:28:10.359 one exit for her from here into the Kingdom of Heaven, 1076 01:28:10.560 --> 01:28:15.600 if it does exist. I beg your pardon, but I 1077 01:28:15.640 --> 01:28:20.520 cannot understand this, my dear Magnus. I protested in great joy, 1078 01:28:21.239 --> 01:28:26.600 life and people. The face of Thomas Magnus grew angry, 1079 01:28:27.199 --> 01:28:32.119 as it did yesterday, and in stone ridicule, he interrupted me. 1080 01:28:33.039 --> 01:28:36.439 And I beg you to grasp a dear wonder good 1081 01:28:36.920 --> 01:28:40.680 that life and people are not for Maria. It is 1082 01:28:40.880 --> 01:28:45.119 enough that I know them. My duty was to warn you. 1083 01:28:45.840 --> 01:28:50.600 And now he again assumed the attitude of cold politeness. 1084 01:28:51.359 --> 01:28:54.279 I ask you to come to my table, you too, 1085 01:28:54.399 --> 01:28:59.079 mister Tuppy. We had begun to eat and were chattering 1086 01:28:59.159 --> 01:29:05.000 off small as when Maria entered. The door through which 1087 01:29:05.159 --> 01:29:09.640 she entered was behind my back. I mistook her soft 1088 01:29:09.920 --> 01:29:14.039 step for those of the maid carrying the dishes. But 1089 01:29:14.159 --> 01:29:18.960 I was astonished by the long nosed Toppy sitting opposite me. 1090 01:29:19.840 --> 01:29:25.560 His eyes grew round like circles, his face red as 1091 01:29:25.600 --> 01:29:29.159 if he were choking. His Adam's apple seemed to be 1092 01:29:29.279 --> 01:29:32.479 lifted above his neck, as if driven by a wave, 1093 01:29:33.039 --> 01:29:38.640 and to disappear again somewhere behind his narrow ministerial collar. 1094 01:29:39.520 --> 01:29:42.560 Of course, I thought he was choking to death with 1095 01:29:42.680 --> 01:29:47.439 a fishbone, and shouted, Toppy, what is the matter with you? 1096 01:29:47.760 --> 01:29:52.720 Take some water? But Magnus was already on his feet, 1097 01:29:53.159 --> 01:30:00.960 announcing coldly, my daughter Maria, mister Henry Wondergood. I turned 1098 01:30:01.000 --> 01:30:05.920 about quickly, and how can I express the extraordinary when 1099 01:30:05.960 --> 01:30:11.199 it is inexpressible? It was something more than beautiful. It 1100 01:30:11.399 --> 01:30:14.800 was terrible in its beauty. I do not want to 1101 01:30:14.880 --> 01:30:19.800 seek comparisons. I shall leave that to you. Take all 1102 01:30:19.920 --> 01:30:23.039 that you have ever seen or ever known of the 1103 01:30:23.119 --> 01:30:28.680 beautiful on earth, the lily, the stars, the sun, but 1104 01:30:29.000 --> 01:30:34.760 add add still more, but not this

was the awful 1105 01:30:34.960 --> 01:30:39.960 aspect of it. There was something else, the elusive yet 1106 01:30:40.000 --> 01:30:45.880 astonishing similarity to whom whom have I met upon this earth, 1107 01:30:45.920 --> 01:30:50.800 who was so beautiful, so beautiful, and awe inspiring, all 1108 01:30:51.000 --> 01:30:56.239 inspiring and unapproachable. I have learned by this time your 1109 01:30:56.479 --> 01:31:00.199 entire archive wonder good, and I do not believe that 1110 01:31:00.279 --> 01:31:07.399 it comes from your modest gallery. Madonna mumbled Toppy in 1111 01:31:07.439 --> 01:31:12.840 a hoarse voice, scared out of his wits. So that 1112 01:31:13.279 --> 01:31:18.000 is it, Yes, Madonna, the fool was right, and I 1113 01:31:18.399 --> 01:31:23.520 Satan could understand his terror. Madonna, whom people see only 1114 01:31:23.600 --> 01:31:29.520 in churches, in paintings, in the imagination of artists, Maria, 1115 01:31:30.000 --> 01:31:33.800 the name which rings only in hymns and prayer books, 1116 01:31:34.239 --> 01:31:40.520 heavenly beauty, mercy, forgiveness, and love, Star of the Seas. 1117 01:31:41.279 --> 01:31:46.000 Do you like that name? Star of the Seas? It 1118 01:31:46.279 --> 01:31:51.159 was really devilishly funny. I made a deep bow and 1119 01:31:51.359 --> 01:31:54.760 almost blurted out, Madam. I beg your pardon for my 1120 01:31:54.920 --> 01:31:58.119 unbidden intrusion, but I really did not expect to meet 1121 01:31:58.159 --> 01:32:01.439 you here. I most humbly I beg your pardon, But 1122 01:32:01.520 --> 01:32:04.520 I could not imagine that this black bearded fellow has 1123 01:32:04.680 --> 01:32:08.840 the honor of having you for his daughter. A thousand times. 1124 01:32:08.840 --> 01:32:13.800 I crave your pardon for but enough, I said something else, 1125 01:32:14.640 --> 01:32:17.720 How do you do, Signorina? It is indeed a pleasure, 1126 01:32:19.439 --> 01:32:22.960 And she really did not indicate in any way that 1127 01:32:23.039 --> 01:32:27.520 she was already acquainted with me. One must respect an 1128 01:32:27.520 --> 01:32:31.680 incognito if one would remain a gentleman, and only a 1129 01:32:31.840 --> 01:32:36.199 scoundrel would dare to tear a mask from a lady's face. 1130 01:32:37.279 --> 01:32:41.119 This would have been all the more impossible because her father, 1131 01:32:41.560 --> 01:32:47.359 Thomas Magnus, continued to urge us with a chuckle. Do eat, please, 1132 01:32:47.479 --> 01:32:51.600 mister tuppy. Why do you not drink, mister Wondergood? The 1133 01:32:51.720 --> 01:32:58.960 wine is splendid. In the course of what followed, first 1134 01:32:59.279 --> 01:33:06.840 she breathed, second she blinked, Third she ate. And she 1135 01:33:07.079 --> 01:33:10.640 was a beautiful girl, about eighteen years of age, and 1136 01:33:10.760 --> 01:33:14.760 her dress was white and her throat bare. It was 1137 01:33:15.039 --> 01:33:20.039 really laughable. I gazed at her bare neck. And believe me, 1138 01:33:20.279 --> 01:33:24.640 my earthly friend, I am not easily seduced. I am 1139 01:33:24.680 --> 01:33:28.159 not a romantic youth, but I am not old by 1140 01:33:28.199 --> 01:33:32.039 any means. I am not at all bad looking. I 1141 01:33:32.199 --> 01:33:36.279 enjoy an independent position in the world. And don't you 1142 01:33:36.520 --> 01:33:43.000 like the combination satan and Maria, Maria, and Satan. In 1143 01:33:43.239 --> 01:33:47.680 evidence of the seriousness of my intentions, I can submit 1144 01:33:48.000 --> 01:33:52.319 at that moment I thought more of our descendants and 1145 01:33:52.760 --> 01:34:00.880 sought in name for our first born than indulged in frivolity. Suddenly, 1146 01:34:01.239 --> 01:34:05.319 Toppy's Adam's apple gave a jerk, and he inquired, hoarsely, 1147 01:34:06.319 --> 01:34:11.520 has any one ever painted your portrait? Signorina Maria never 1148 01:34:11.640 --> 01:34:17.760 poses for painters, broke in magnus sternly. I felt like 1149 01:34:17.960 --> 01:34:21.720 laughing at the fool. Toppy had already opened wide, my 1150 01:34:21.880 --> 01:34:26.520 mouth filled with a set of first class American teeth. 1151 01:34:27.119 --> 01:34:32.840 When Maria's pure gaze pierced my eyes, and everything flew 1152 01:34:32.960 --> 01:34:38.359 to the devil, as in that moment of the railway catastrophe. 1153 01:34:38.960 --> 01:34:43.279 You understand, she turned me inside out like a stocking, 1154 01:34:43.880 --> 01:34:47.800 or how shall I put it. My fine Parisian costume 1155 01:34:48.039 --> 01:34:52.439 was driven inside of me, and my still finer thoughts, 1156 01:34:52.720 --> 01:34:56.079 which however, I would not have wanted to convey to 1157 01:34:56.159 --> 01:35:02.479 the lady, suddenly appeared upon the surface. With all my secrecy, 1158 01:35:02.840 --> 01:35:05.960 I was left no more sealed than a room in 1159 01:35:06.039 --> 01:35:12.439 a fifteen cent lodging house. But she forgave me, said nothing, 1160 01:35:12.880 --> 01:35:16.399 and threw her gaze like a projector in the direction 1161 01:35:16.520 --> 01:35:22.319 of Toppi, illumining his entire body. You too would have 1162 01:35:22.479 --> 01:35:25.880 laughed had you seen how this poor old devil was 1163 01:35:26.159 --> 01:35:30.479 set a glow and a flame by this gaze, clear 1164 01:35:30.640 --> 01:35:33.920 from the prayer book to the fishbone with which he 1165 01:35:34.039 --> 01:35:39.520 nearly choked to death. Fortunately for both of us, Magnus 1166 01:35:39.560 --> 01:35:42.760 arose and invited us to follow him into the garden. 1167 01:35:44.159 --> 01:35:48.600 Come let us go into the garden, said he. Maria 1168 01:35:48.720 --> 01:35:55.239 will show you her favorite flowers. Yes, Maria, but seek 1169 01:35:55.359 --> 01:35:59.960 no songs of praise from me, o poet hose mad. 1170 01:36:00.359 --> 01:36:03.960 I was as provoked as a man whose closet has 1171 01:36:04.239 -->

01:36:08.600 just been ransacked by a burglar. I wanted to gaze 1172 01:36:08.600 --> 01:36:12.760 at Maria, but was compelled to look upon the foolish 1173 01:36:12.800 --> 01:36:17.359 flowers because I dared not lift my eyes. I am 1174 01:36:17.359 --> 01:36:21.239 a gentleman and cannot appear before a lady without necktie. 1175 01:36:21.720 --> 01:36:26.079 I was seized by a curious humility. Do you like 1176 01:36:26.239 --> 01:36:30.600 to feel humble? I do not. I do not know 1177 01:36:30.680 --> 01:36:35.880 what Maria said, but I swear by eternal salvation. Her 1178 01:36:36.039 --> 01:36:40.439 gaze and her entire uncanny countenance was the embodiment of 1179 01:36:40.520 --> 01:36:44.840 an all embracing meaning so that any wise word I 1180 01:36:45.000 --> 01:36:50.319 might have uttered would have sounded meaningless. The wisdom of 1181 01:36:50.439 --> 01:36:55.119 words is necessary only for those poor in spirit. The 1182 01:36:55.319 --> 01:36:59.880 right are silent. Take note of that, a little poet 1183 01:37:00.119 --> 01:37:04.760 sage and eternal chatterbox. Wherever you may be, let it 1184 01:37:04.840 --> 01:37:08.359 be sufficient for you that I have humbled myself to 1185 01:37:08.479 --> 01:37:13.720 speak ah, but I have forgotten my humility. She walked, 1186 01:37:13.760 --> 01:37:19.000 and I and Toppy crawled after her. I detested myself 1187 01:37:19.399 --> 01:37:24.319 and this broad backed Toppy because of his hanging nose 1188 01:37:24.399 --> 01:37:30.359 and large pale ears. What was needed here was an apollo, 1189 01:37:30.720 --> 01:37:35.760 and not a pair of ordinary Americans. We felt quite 1190 01:37:35.840 --> 01:37:39.079 relieved when she had gone and we were left alone 1191 01:37:39.119 --> 01:37:44.439 with Magnos. It was all so sweet and simple. Toppy 1192 01:37:44.479 --> 01:37:48.840 abandoned his religious airs, and I crossed my legs comfortably, 1193 01:37:49.439 --> 01:37:53.920 lit a cigar, and fixed my steel sharp gaze upon 1194 01:37:54.000 --> 01:38:00.720 the whites of Magnus's eyes. You must be off to Rome, 1195 01:38:01.159 --> 01:38:06.439 mister Wondergood. They are probably worrying about you, said our host, 1196 01:38:06.560 --> 01:38:12.039 in a tone of loving concern. I consent, Toppy, I replied, 1197 01:38:12.680 --> 01:38:17.039 He smiled, and added, ironically, I hardly think that would 1198 01:38:17.079 --> 01:38:22.439 be sufficient, mister Wondergood. I sought to clasp his great 1199 01:38:22.640 --> 01:38:26.479 white hand, but it did not seem to move closer. 1200 01:38:27.359 --> 01:38:31.319 But I caught it just the same, pressed it warmly, 1201 01:38:31.680 --> 01:38:36.520 and he was compelled to return the pressure very well. 1202 01:38:36.600 --> 01:38:41.359 Signor Magnus, I am off at once, I said, I 1203 01:38:41.399 --> 01:38:45.359 have already sent for the carriage. He replied, is not 1204 01:38:45.640 --> 01:38:50.039 the campagna beautiful in the morning. I again took a 1205 01:38:50.039 --> 01:38:54.680 polite look at the countryside and said, with emotion, yes, 1206 01:38:54.840 --> 01:38:59.079 it is beautiful, Irwin, my friend, leave us for a moment. 1207 01:38:59.600 --> 01:39:02.479 I have a few words to say to Signor Magnus. 1208 01:39:04.119 --> 01:39:09.479 Toppy left and Signor Magnus opened wide his big, sad eyes. 1209 01:39:10.560 --> 01:39:14.399 I again tried my steel on him, and, bending forward 1210 01:39:14.560 --> 01:39:19.960 closer to his dark face, I asked, have you ever observed, 1211 01:39:20.199 --> 01:39:26.279 dear Magnus, the very striking resemblance between your daughter, the 1212 01:39:26.560 --> 01:39:33.359 Signorina Maria, and a certain celebrated personage. Don't you think 1213 01:39:33.399 --> 01:39:40.840 she resembles the Madonna Madonna, drawled out Magnus. No, dear 1214 01:39:41.039 --> 01:39:45.439 wonder good, I haven't noticed that. I never go to church, 1215 01:39:45.640 --> 01:39:49.000 but I fear you will be late the Roman fever. 1216 01:39:50.159 --> 01:39:55.039 I again seized his white hand and shook it vigorously. No, 1217 01:39:55.439 --> 01:39:59.760 I did not tear it off, and from my eyes 1218 01:40:00.079 --> 01:40:08.359 there burst forth again those two tears. Let us speak plainly, 1219 01:40:08.600 --> 01:40:13.319 Signor Magnus said, I I am a straightforward man and 1220 01:40:13.439 --> 01:40:16.359 have grown to love you. Do you want to come 1221 01:40:16.399 --> 01:40:20.039 along with me and be the lord of my billions? 1222 01:40:21.319 --> 01:40:26.680 Magnus was silent, His hand lay motionless in mine. His 1223 01:40:26.840 --> 01:40:30.920 eyes were lowered, and something dark seemed to pass over 1224 01:40:31.000 --> 01:40:37.720 his face, then immediately to disappear. Finally, he said, seriously 1225 01:40:37.800 --> 01:40:44.359 and simply, I understand you, mister Wondergood, but I must refuse. No, 1226 01:40:44.640 --> 01:40:48.279 I will not go with you. I have failed to 1227 01:40:48.399 --> 01:40:52.399 tell you one thing, but your frankness and confidence in 1228 01:40:52.439 --> 01:40:55.359 me compel me to say that I must, to a 1229 01:40:55.479 --> 01:41:02.039 certain extent steer clear of the police. The Roman police, 1230 01:41:02.479 --> 01:41:09.159 I asked, betraying a slight excitement. Nonsense, we shall buy it. No, 1231 01:41:09.760 --> 01:41:13.720 the international, he replied. I hope you do not think 1232 01:41:13.800 --> 01:41:17.880 that I have committed some base crime. The trouble is 1233 01:41:17.960 --> 01:41:21.720 not with police, which can be bored. You are right, 1234 01:41:21.880 --> 01:41:25.359 mister Wondergot, when you say that one can buy almost 1235 01:41:25.439 --> 01:41:28.800 any one. The truth is that I can be of 1236 01:41:28.840 --> 01:41:32.319 no use to you. What do you want me for? 1237 01:41:32.880 --> 01:41:36.600 You love humanity and I detest it. At best, I 1238 01:41:36.640 -->

01:41:40.439 am indifferent to it. Let it live now and not 1239 01:41:40.560 --> 01:41:45.520 interfere with me. Leave me, my Maria, Leave me the 1240 01:41:45.600 --> 01:41:49.399 right and strength to detest people as I read the 1241 01:41:49.600 --> 01:41:54.319 history of their life. Leave me my compania. And that 1242 01:41:54.479 --> 01:41:57.880 is all I want, and all of which I am capable. 1243 01:41:58.640 --> 01:42:02.479 All the oil within me has burnt out. Wonder good 1244 01:42:03.159 --> 01:42:07.840 you see before you an extinguished lamp hanging on a wall, 1245 01:42:08.399 --> 01:42:13.479 a lamp which once good bye. I do not ask 1246 01:42:13.600 --> 01:42:18.640 your confidence Magnos, I interjected, pardon me, you will never 1247 01:42:18.760 --> 01:42:22.840 receive it. Mister Wondergood. My name is an invention, but 1248 01:42:23.039 --> 01:42:25.319 it is the only one I can offer to my 1249 01:42:25.439 --> 01:42:31.159 friends to tell the truth. I liked Thomas Magnus at 1250 01:42:31.159 --> 01:42:36.039 that moment. He spoke bravely and simply. In his face 1251 01:42:36.439 --> 01:42:41.119 one could read stubbornness and will. This man knew the 1252 01:42:41.239 --> 01:42:45.399 value of human life and had the mean of one 1253 01:42:45.520 --> 01:42:49.920 condemned to death. But it was the mean of a proud, 1254 01:42:50.520 --> 01:42:56.560 uncompromising criminal who will never accept the ministrations of a priest. 1255 01:42:57.520 --> 01:43:00.800 For a moment, I thought my father, that had many 1256 01:43:00.880 --> 01:43:05.680 bastard children, deprived of legacy and wondering about the world. 1257 01:43:06.479 --> 01:43:11.399 Perhaps Thomas Magnus's one of these wonderers, and is it 1258 01:43:11.560 --> 01:43:15.119 possible that I have met a brother on this earth? 1259 01:43:16.119 --> 01:43:21.800 Very interesting, but from a purely human business point of view, 1260 01:43:22.199 --> 01:43:25.680 one cannot help but respect a man whose hands are 1261 01:43:25.840 --> 01:43:32.119 steeped in blood. I saluted, changed my position, and in 1262 01:43:32.239 --> 01:43:37.800 the humblest possible manner, asked Magnus's permission to visit him 1263 01:43:37.840 --> 01:43:44.199 occasionally and seek his advice. He hesitated, but finally looked 1264 01:43:44.279 --> 01:43:50.119 me straight in the face and agreed, very well, mister Wondergood, 1265 01:43:50.560 --> 01:43:54.319 you may come. I hope to hear from you things 1266 01:43:54.439 --> 01:43:58.640 that may supplement the knowledge I glean from books. And 1267 01:43:58.720 --> 01:44:00.960 by the way, mister Toppy has has made an excellent 1268 01:44:01.000 --> 01:44:06.800 impression upon my Maria Toppy. Yes, she has found a 1269 01:44:06.920 --> 01:44:11.439 striking resemblance between him and one of her favorite saints. 1270 01:44:12.000 --> 01:44:18.319 She goes to church frequently. Toppy aus saint Or has 1271 01:44:18.359 --> 01:44:22.960 his prayer book overbalanced, his huge back and the fishbone 1272 01:44:22.960 --> 01:44:27.840 in his throat. Magnus gazed at me almost gently, and 1273 01:44:27.960 --> 01:44:35.039 only his thin nose seemed to tremble slightly with restrained laughter. 1274 01:44:35.920 --> 01:44:39.800 It is very pleasant to know that behind this austere 1275 01:44:39.880 --> 01:44:48.119 exterior there is so much quiet and restrained merriment. It 1276 01:44:48.359 --> 01:44:52.840 was twilight when we left. Magnus followed us to the threshold, 1277 01:44:53.000 --> 01:44:57.960 but Maria remained in seclusion the little white house, surrounded 1278 01:44:58.000 --> 01:45:01.880 by the cypress trees. He was as quiet and silent 1279 01:45:01.960 --> 01:45:05.600 as we found it yesterday, but the silence was of 1280 01:45:05.640 --> 01:45:11.920 a different character. The silence was the soul of Maria. 1281 01:45:12.279 --> 01:45:16.279 I confess that I felt rather sad at this departure, 1282 01:45:16.760 --> 01:45:21.119 but very soon came a new series of impressions which 1283 01:45:21.399 --> 01:45:27.479 dispelled this feeling. We were approaching Rome. We entered the 1284 01:45:27.600 --> 01:45:33.520 brightly illuminated, densely populated straits through some opening in the 1285 01:45:33.560 --> 01:45:37.479 city wall, and the first thing we saw in the 1286 01:45:37.520 --> 01:45:42.760 eternal city was a creaking trolley car trying to make 1287 01:45:42.800 --> 01:45:46.520 its way through the same hole in the wall. Toppi, 1288 01:45:46.920 --> 01:45:51.199 who was acquainted with Rome, reveled in the familiar atmosphere 1289 01:45:51.239 --> 01:45:55.079 of the churches we were passing, and indicated with his 1290 01:45:55.319 --> 01:46:00.600 long finger the remnants of ancient Rome, which seemed to 1291 01:46:00.640 --> 01:46:05.159 be clinging to the huge wall of the new structures, 1292 01:46:05.239 --> 01:46:08.319 just as if the letter had been bombarded with the 1293 01:46:08.359 --> 01:46:12.439 shells of old and fragments of the missiles had clung 1294 01:46:12.520 --> 01:46:18.239 to the bricks here and there we came upon additional 1295 01:46:18.359 --> 01:46:23.880 heaps of this old rubbish. Above a low parapets of stone, 1296 01:46:24.119 --> 01:46:28.760 we observed a dark, shallow ditch and a large triumphal 1297 01:46:28.920 --> 01:46:36.640 gait half sunk in the earth. The forum, exclaimed Toppy majestically. 1298 01:46:37.399 --> 01:46:42.079 Our coachman nodded his head in affirmation. With every new 1299 01:46:42.199 --> 01:46:46.800 pile of old stone and brick, the fellows swelled with pride, 1300 01:46:47.359 --> 01:46:52.159 while I longed for my New York and its skyscrapers, 1301 01:46:52.560 --> 01:46:56.199 and tried to calculate the number of drugs that would 1302 01:46:56.239 --> 01:47:00.720 be necessary to clear these heaps of rubbish called ancient 1303 01:47:00.920 --> 01:47:06.239 Rome away before morning. When I mentioned this

to Toppy, 1304 01:47:06.279 --> 01:47:11.439 he was insulted and replied, you don't understand anything. Better, 1305 01:47:11.479 --> 01:47:14.159 close your eyes and just a reflect that you are 1306 01:47:14.199 --> 01:47:19.279 in Rome. I did so, and was again convinced that 1307 01:47:19.600 --> 01:47:22.560 sight is as much of an impediment to the mind 1308 01:47:22.640 --> 01:47:27.600 as sound. Not without reason, are all wise folk on 1309 01:47:27.760 --> 01:47:34.760 the earth blind and all good musicians death? Like Toppy, 1310 01:47:34.960 --> 01:47:38.600 I began to sniff the air, and through my sense 1311 01:47:38.640 --> 01:47:42.960 of smell, I gathered more of Rome and it's horribly 1312 01:47:43.119 --> 01:47:49.680 long and highly entertaining history than hitherto. Thus, a decaying 1313 01:47:49.800 --> 01:47:54.239 leaf in the woods smells stronger than the young and 1314 01:47:54.520 --> 01:47:59.000 green foliage. Will you believe me when I say that 1315 01:47:59.079 --> 01:48:03.800 I sensed the odor of blood and nero? But when 1316 01:48:03.840 --> 01:48:08.920 I opened my eyes expectantly I observed a plane every 1317 01:48:09.039 --> 01:48:14.720 day chaosk and eleminate. Stand. Well, how do you like it? 1318 01:48:15.279 --> 01:48:23.199 Growled Toppy, still dissatisfied. It smelts, well, certainly it smelts. 1319 01:48:23.560 --> 01:48:27.720 It will smell stronger with every hour. These are old, 1320 01:48:27.960 --> 01:48:34.640 strong aromas, mister wondergirt, And so it really was. The 1321 01:48:34.680 --> 01:48:39.079 odor grew in strength. I cannot find comparisons to make 1322 01:48:39.119 --> 01:48:42.920 it clear to you. All the sections of my brain 1323 01:48:43.079 --> 01:48:46.800 began to move and buzz like bees aroused by smoke. 1324 01:48:47.560 --> 01:48:51.920 It is strange, but it seems that Rome is included 1325 01:48:51.960 --> 01:48:56.079 in the archive of the silly wonder Good. Perhaps this 1326 01:48:56.279 --> 01:49:01.439 is his native town. When we approached a certain populous square, 1327 01:49:02.039 --> 01:49:06.920 I sensed the clear odor of some blood relatives, which 1328 01:49:07.119 --> 01:49:11.279 was soon followed by the conviction that I, too, have 1329 01:49:11.520 --> 01:49:18.399 walked these straits before. Have I, like Toppy, previously donned 1330 01:49:18.520 --> 01:49:23.880 the human form? Ever louder busted the bees. My entire 1331 01:49:23.960 --> 01:49:30.279 beehive buzzed, and suddenly thousands of faces dim and white 1332 01:49:30.760 --> 01:49:36.840 beautiful and horrible began to dance before me. Thousands upon 1333 01:49:37.079 --> 01:49:45.279 thousands of voices, noises, cries, laughters, and sighs nearly set 1334 01:49:45.359 --> 01:49:49.840 me deaf. No, this was no longer a beehive. It 1335 01:49:50.000 --> 01:49:55.880 was a huge, fiery smithy, where firearms were being forged, 1336 01:49:55.960 --> 01:50:02.880 with the red sparks flying all about. I, of course, 1337 01:50:03.239 --> 01:50:05.720 if I had lived in Rome before, I must have 1338 01:50:05.800 --> 01:50:09.640 been one of its empress. I remember the expression of 1339 01:50:09.760 --> 01:50:13.800 my face. I remember the movement of my bare neck 1340 01:50:13.880 --> 01:50:17.680 as I turn my head. I remember the touch of 1341 01:50:17.920 --> 01:50:24.520 golden laurels upon my bald head. Irene ah. I hear 1342 01:50:24.640 --> 01:50:28.880 the steps of the iron legiance of Rome. I hear 1343 01:50:29.000 --> 01:50:36.479 the iron voices vivat Caesar, I am hot, I am burning? 1344 01:50:37.039 --> 01:50:39.199 Or was I not an emperor but simply one of 1345 01:50:39.239 --> 01:50:42.880 the victims when Rome burnt down in accordance with the 1346 01:50:42.960 --> 01:50:47.720 magnificent plan of Nero. No, this is not a fire, 1347 01:50:48.319 --> 01:50:52.119 This is a funeral pyre, on which I am forcibly asconced. 1348 01:50:52.720 --> 01:50:56.079 I hear the snake like hissing of the tongues of 1349 01:50:56.479 --> 01:51:01.640 flame beneath my feet. I stre in my neck, all 1350 01:51:01.880 --> 01:51:06.960 lined with blue veins, and in my throat there rises 1351 01:51:07.199 --> 01:51:12.520 the final curse or blessing think of it. I even 1352 01:51:12.600 --> 01:51:16.680 remember that Roman face in the front row of spectators, 1353 01:51:17.239 --> 01:51:20.880 which even then gave me no rest because of its 1354 01:51:20.960 --> 01:51:26.479 idiotic expression and sleepy eyes. I am being burnt and 1355 01:51:26.680 --> 01:51:34.439 its sleeps. Hotel Internacionale, cried Toppy, and I opened my eyes. 1356 01:51:35.840 --> 01:51:38.520 We were going up a hill along a quiet strait, 1357 01:51:39.159 --> 01:51:43.119 at the end of which there glowed a large structure 1358 01:51:43.680 --> 01:51:47.640 worthy even of New York. It was the hotel where 1359 01:51:47.640 --> 01:51:53.560 we had previously wired for reservations. They probably thought we 1360 01:51:53.640 --> 01:51:59.079 had perished in the wreck. My funeral pyre was extinguished. 1361 01:51:59.800 --> 01:52:02.840 I grew as merry as a darkie who has just 1362 01:52:03.079 --> 01:52:09.279 escaped from heart labor. And I whispered to Toppy, Well, Toppy, 1363 01:52:09.319 --> 01:52:15.560 and how about the madonna. Yes, interesting, I was frightened 1364 01:52:15.560 --> 01:52:20.239 at first, and nearly choked to death with the bone. 1365 01:52:20.680 --> 01:52:23.479 You are silly, Toppy. She is polite and did not 1366 01:52:23.680 --> 01:52:28.399 recognize you. She simply took you for one of her saints. 1367 01:52:28.920 --> 01:52:32.000 It is a pity, old boy, that we have chosen 1368 01:52:32.039 --> 01:52:38.319 for ourselves these solemn American faces. Had we looked around 1369 01:52:38.399 --> 01:52:42.960 more carefully, we might have found some more beautiful I 1370 01:52:43.000 --> 01:52:48.840 am quite satisfied with mine, said Toppy sadly, and turned away.

1371 01:52:49.880 --> 01:52:54.319 A glow of secret self satisfaction appeared upon his long 1372 01:52:54.880 --> 01:53:02.079 shiny nose. Ah, Toppy, Ah, this saint, but we were 1373 01:53:02.119 --> 01:53:08.399 already being accorded a triumphal reception. End of section four 1374 01:53:14.920 --> 01:53:20.079 Section five of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by 1375 01:53:20.079 --> 01:53:24.359 Herman Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 1376 01:53:25.000 --> 01:53:34.800 Recording by Carolyne February fourteenth, Rome, Hotel Internacionale. I do 1377 01:53:34.840 --> 01:53:38.159 not want to go to Magnus. I am thinking too 1378 01:53:38.279 --> 01:53:41.920 much of his Madonna of flesh and bone. I have 1379 01:53:42.039 --> 01:53:45.560 come here to lie and to play merrily, and I 1380 01:53:45.600 --> 01:53:48.359 am not at all taken by the prospect of being 1381 01:53:48.359 --> 01:53:53.159 a mediocre actor who weeps behind the scenes and appears 1382 01:53:53.199 --> 01:53:58.600 on the stage with his eyes perfectly dry. Moreover, I 1383 01:53:58.640 --> 01:54:02.239 have no time to get about the fields, catching butterflies 1384 01:54:02.319 --> 01:54:06.039 with a net like a boy. The whole of Rome 1385 01:54:06.159 --> 01:54:10.279 is buzzing about me. I am an extraordinary man who 1386 01:54:10.319 --> 01:54:15.119 loves his fellow beings, and I am celebrated. The mobs 1387 01:54:15.159 --> 01:54:19.439 who flock to worship me are no less numerous than 1388 01:54:19.560 --> 01:54:25.039 those who worship the Vicar of Christ himself. Two popes 1389 01:54:25.119 --> 01:54:30.800 all at once. Yes, happy Rome cannot consider itself an orphan. 1390 01:54:31.920 --> 01:54:34.720 I am now living at the hotel where all is 1391 01:54:34.800 --> 01:54:38.479 a quiver with ecstasy when I put my shoes outside 1392 01:54:38.600 --> 01:54:42.319 my door for the night. But they are renovating a 1393 01:54:42.399 --> 01:54:48.840 palace for me. The historic villa. Orsini, painters, sculptors and 1394 01:54:49.039 --> 01:54:54.119 poets are kept busy. One brush pusher is already painting 1395 01:54:54.199 --> 01:54:57.920 my portrait, assuring me that I remind him of one 1396 01:54:57.920 --> 01:55:02.800 of the Medy Geese. The other brush pushes are sharpening 1397 01:55:02.840 --> 01:55:08.000 their knives for him, I ask him, and can you 1398 01:55:08.239 --> 01:55:13.439 paint a Madonna? Certainly he can? It was he if 1399 01:55:13.560 --> 01:55:17.399 the signor recollects who painted the famous Turk on the 1400 01:55:17.479 --> 01:55:22.520 cigarette boxes, the turk whose fame is known even in America. 1401 01:55:23.439 --> 01:55:28.479 And now three brush pushers are painting Madonnas for me. 1402 01:55:29.520 --> 01:55:33.920 The rest are running about Rome seeking models. I set 1403 01:55:34.039 --> 01:55:38.920 to one in my barbarous American ignorance of the higher arts. 1404 01:55:39.439 --> 01:55:43.199 But if you find such a model, signor just bring 1405 01:55:43.239 --> 01:55:48.319 her to me. Why waste paint and canvas? He was 1406 01:55:48.479 --> 01:55:54.760 evidently paint and mumbled as signor a model. I think 1407 01:55:54.800 --> 01:55:58.640 he took me for a merchant in livestock. But fool. 1408 01:55:58.960 --> 01:56:01.279 Why do I need your aid, for which I must 1409 01:56:01.359 --> 01:56:05.279 pay a commission? When my ante chamber is filled with 1410 01:56:05.399 --> 01:56:10.600 the flock of beauties, they all worship me. I reminded 1411 01:56:10.760 --> 01:56:15.520 them of Savonarola, and they seek to transform every dark 1412 01:56:15.640 --> 01:56:19.800 corner in my drawing room and every soft couch into 1413 01:56:19.840 --> 01:56:24.600 a confessional. I am so glad that these society ladies, 1414 01:56:25.239 --> 01:56:29.640 like the painters, know so well the history of their 1415 01:56:29.680 --> 01:56:34.600 country and realize who I am. The joy of the 1416 01:56:34.760 --> 01:56:38.399 Roman papers on finding that I did not perish in 1417 01:56:38.479 --> 01:56:43.039 the wreck and lost neither my legs nor my billions, 1418 01:56:43.800 --> 01:56:46.920 was equal to the joy of the papers of Jerusalem 1419 01:56:47.039 --> 01:56:51.479 on the day of the Resurrection of Christ. In reality, 1420 01:56:52.039 --> 01:56:55.319 there was a little cause for satisfaction on the part 1421 01:56:55.399 --> 01:56:58.399 of the letter. As far as I am able to 1422 01:56:58.520 --> 01:57:03.560 read history, I feared that I might remind the journalists 1423 01:57:03.600 --> 01:57:08.000 of J. Caesar, But fortunately they think little of the 1424 01:57:08.159 --> 01:57:12.960 past and confine themselves to pointing out my resemblance to 1425 01:57:13.000 --> 01:57:19.840 President Wilson scoundrels. They were simply flattering my American patriotism 1426 01:57:20.640 --> 01:57:25.640 to the majority. However, I recall a prophet, but they 1427 01:57:25.680 --> 01:57:29.199 do not know which one. On this point, they are 1428 01:57:29.239 --> 01:57:33.560 modestly silent. At any rate, it is not Mahomet. My 1429 01:57:33.640 --> 01:57:38.880 opposition to marriage is well known at all telegraph stations. 1430 01:57:39.640 --> 01:57:42.720 It is difficult to imagine the filth on which I 1431 01:57:42.840 --> 01:57:49.119 fed my hungry interviewers. Like an experienced swineherd. I gaze 1432 01:57:49.239 --> 01:57:53.920 with horror on the mess they feed upon, they eat, 1433 01:57:54.159 --> 01:57:58.640 and yet they live, although I must admit I do 1434 01:57:58.760 --> 01:58:03.640 not see them go owing fat. Yesterday morning I flew 1435 01:58:03.720 --> 01:58:08.159 in an aeroplane over Rome and the Campania. You will 1436 01:58:08.239 --> 01:58:12.920 probably ask whether I saw Maria's home. No, I did 1437 01:58:13.000 --> 01:58:16.560 not find it. How can one find a grain of 1438 01:58:16.760 --> 01:58:21.479 sand among a myriad

of other grains? But I really 1439 01:58:21.520 --> 01:58:24.800 did not look for it. I felt horror stricken at 1440 01:58:24.840 --> 01:58:32.239 the great altitude. But my good interviewers, restless and impatient, 1441 01:58:32.880 --> 01:58:39.039 were astounded by my coolness and courage. One fellow, strong, 1442 01:58:39.560 --> 01:58:44.600 surly and bearded, who reminded me of honeybal was the 1443 01:58:44.760 --> 01:58:49.800 first to reach me after the flight and asked, did 1444 01:58:49.880 --> 01:58:53.560 not the sensation of flying in the airmster wonder good? 1445 01:58:54.039 --> 01:58:58.520 The feeling of having conquered the elements thrill you with 1446 01:58:58.640 --> 01:59:02.800 a sense of pride light in man who has subdued. 1447 01:59:04.119 --> 01:59:09.239 He repeated the question. They don't seem to trust me somehow, 1448 01:59:09.279 --> 01:59:14.319 and are always suggesting the proper ancess. But I shrugged 1449 01:59:14.359 --> 01:59:19.960 my shoulders and exclaimed, sadly, can you imagine signor No? 1450 01:59:20.720 --> 01:59:23.520 Only once did I have a sense of pride in men, 1451 01:59:23.640 --> 01:59:30.079 and that was in the lavatory on board the Atlantic. Oh, 1452 01:59:30.399 --> 01:59:34.720 in the lavatory. But what happened is storm, And you 1453 01:59:34.800 --> 01:59:38.640 were astounded by the genius of man who has subdued 1454 01:59:39.720 --> 01:59:44.800 nothing extraordinary happened. But I was astounded by the genius 1455 01:59:44.800 --> 01:59:48.479 of man who managed to create a palace out of 1456 01:59:48.640 --> 01:59:55.439 such a disgusting necessity as a lavatory. Oh, a real 1457 01:59:55.560 --> 02:00:01.199 temple in which one is the archpriest. Permit me to 1458 02:00:01.319 --> 02:00:04.720 make a note of that. It is such an original 1459 02:00:05.439 --> 02:00:11.880 illumination of the problem. And today the whole eternal city 1460 02:00:12.079 --> 02:00:15.960 was feeding on this sally. Not only did they not 1461 02:00:16.199 --> 02:00:19.920 request me to leave the place, but on the contrary, 1462 02:00:20.359 --> 02:00:24.439 this was the day of the first official visits to 1463 02:00:24.560 --> 02:00:29.159 my apartments, something on the order of a minister of state, 1464 02:00:29.760 --> 02:00:34.279 an ambassador or some other. Palace chef cane and port 1465 02:00:34.520 --> 02:00:38.520 sugar and cinnamon all over me as if I were pudding. 1466 02:00:39.279 --> 02:00:42.760 Later in the day I returned the visits. It is 1467 02:00:43.000 --> 02:00:47.880 not very pleasant to keep such things. Need I say 1468 02:00:47.920 --> 02:00:51.720 that I have a nephew. Every American millionaire has a 1469 02:00:51.760 --> 02:00:56.199 nephew in Europe. My nephew's name is also wonder good. 1470 02:00:56.720 --> 02:01:01.359 He is connected with some legation, is very correct in manners, 1471 02:01:01.920 --> 02:01:06.159 and his bald spot is so oiled that my kiss 1472 02:01:06.199 --> 02:01:09.279 could serve me as a breakfast were I fond of 1473 02:01:09.479 --> 02:01:14.359 scented oil. But one must be willing to sacrifice something, 1474 02:01:14.960 --> 02:01:19.439 especially the gratification of a sense of smell. The kiss 1475 02:01:19.560 --> 02:01:22.760 cost me not a cent, while it meant a great 1476 02:01:22.920 --> 02:01:26.239 deal to the young man. It opened for him a 1477 02:01:26.319 --> 02:01:32.600 white credit on soap and perfumery. But enough, when I 1478 02:01:32.680 --> 02:01:36.479 look at these ladies and gentlemen and reflect that they 1479 02:01:36.520 --> 02:01:40.199 are just as they were at the court of Ascourbanipal, 1480 02:01:40.880 --> 02:01:44.720 and that for the past two thousand years the pieces 1481 02:01:44.720 --> 02:01:50.159 of silver received by Judas continued to bear interest. Like 1482 02:01:50.279 --> 02:01:57.720 his kiss, I grow bored with this old and threadbare play. Ah. 1483 02:01:57.840 --> 02:02:02.239 I want a great play. I seek originality and talent. 1484 02:02:03.079 --> 02:02:08.479 I want beautiful lines and bold strokes. This company here 1485 02:02:08.600 --> 02:02:12.680 casts me in the role of an old brass band conductor. 1486 02:02:13.479 --> 02:02:16.880 At times I come to the conclusion that it wasn't 1487 02:02:17.039 --> 02:02:20.520 really worth my while to have undertaken such a long 1488 02:02:20.600 --> 02:02:26.720 journey for the sake of this old drivel, to exchange ancient, 1489 02:02:27.279 --> 02:02:34.479 magnificent and multi colored hell for its miserable replica. In truth, 1490 02:02:34.840 --> 02:02:38.640 I am sorry that Magnus and his Madonna refused to 1491 02:02:38.800 --> 02:02:43.359 join me. We would have played a little, just a little. 1492 02:02:44.800 --> 02:02:48.760 I have had but one interesting morning. In fact, I 1493 02:02:48.880 --> 02:02:54.119 was quite excited. The congregation of a so called free church, 1494 02:02:54.680 --> 02:02:59.279 composed of very serious men and women who insist upon 1495 02:02:59.359 --> 02:03:05.239 worshiping in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, invited 1496 02:03:05.479 --> 02:03:09.840 me to deliver a Sunday sermon. I donned a black 1497 02:03:10.000 --> 02:03:15.199 frock coat, which gave me a close resemblance to Toppy, 1498 02:03:16.000 --> 02:03:21.760 went through a number of particularly expressive gestures before my mirror, 1499 02:03:22.279 --> 02:03:26.439 and was driven in an automobile like a prophet Moderne 1500 02:03:26.880 --> 02:03:32.439 to the service. I took as my subject or text 1501 02:03:33.119 --> 02:03:37.560 Jesus' advice to the rich youth to distribute his wealth 1502 02:03:37.640 --> 02:03:41.720 among the poor, and in not more than half an 1503 02:03:41.720 --> 02:03:47.000 hour I demonstrated as conclusively as too and two make 1504 02:03:47.199 --> 02:03:52.319 four that love of one's neighbors the all important thing. 1505

02:03:53.159 --> 02:03:57.800 Like a practical and careful American, However, I pointed out 1506 02:03:57.960 --> 02:04:00.960 that it was not necessary to try and go after 1507 02:04:01.039 --> 02:04:03.760 the whole of the Kingdom of Heaven at one shot, 1508 02:04:04.199 --> 02:04:09.840 and to distribute one's wealth carelessly, that one can buy 1509 02:04:09.880 --> 02:04:14.119 it up in lots on the installment plan and by 1510 02:04:14.239 --> 02:04:19.039 easy payments. The faces of the faithful bore a look 1511 02:04:19.079 --> 02:04:25.279 of extreme concentration. They were apparently figuring out something, and 1512 02:04:25.520 --> 02:04:28.760 came to the conclusion that on the basis I suggested, 1513 02:04:29.319 --> 02:04:32.279 the Kingdom of Heaven was attainable for the pockets of 1514 02:04:32.359 --> 02:04:37.279 all of them. Unfortunately, a number of my quick witted 1515 02:04:37.359 --> 02:04:41.920 compatriots were present in the congregation. One of them was 1516 02:04:41.960 --> 02:04:45.880 about to rise to his feet to propose the formation 1517 02:04:46.039 --> 02:04:50.439 of a stock company, when I realized the danger and 1518 02:04:50.760 --> 02:04:55.640 frustrated his plan by letting loose a fountain of emotion, 1519 02:04:56.319 --> 02:05:02.479 and thus extinguished his religiously practice zeal. What did I 1520 02:05:02.560 --> 02:05:08.000 not talk about? I whipped for my sad childhood spent 1521 02:05:08.159 --> 02:05:13.399 in labor and privation. I whined about my poor father 1522 02:05:14.039 --> 02:05:19.000 who perished in a match factory. I prayed solemnly for 1523 02:05:19.159 --> 02:05:23.920 all my brothers and sisters in Christ. The swamp I 1524 02:05:24.079 --> 02:05:29.079 created was so huge that the journalists caught enough wild 1525 02:05:29.359 --> 02:05:35.319 dogs to last them for six months. How we wept. 1526 02:05:36.079 --> 02:05:40.239 I shivered with the dampness, and began to beat energetically 1527 02:05:40.319 --> 02:05:45.399 the drum of my billions. Dumb dumb, everything for others, 1528 02:05:45.840 --> 02:05:50.720 not as sent for me, dumb dumb, with a brazenness 1529 02:05:50.760 --> 02:05:54.560 worthy of the whip. I concluded with the words of 1530 02:05:54.720 --> 02:05:59.520 the great teacher, Come, ye unto all who are heavy 1531 02:05:59.600 --> 02:06:04.479 laden and to weary, and I well comfort ye Ah, 1532 02:06:04.640 --> 02:06:10.720 What a pity I cannot perform miracles. A little practical miracle, 1533 02:06:11.279 --> 02:06:14.920 something on the odor of transforming a bottle of water 1534 02:06:15.039 --> 02:06:19.359 into one of sour kianti, or some of the worshipers 1535 02:06:19.399 --> 02:06:23.560 into pastry, would have gone a long way. At that moment. 1536 02:06:24.479 --> 02:06:29.119 You laugh and are angry, My earthly reader, there's no 1537 02:06:29.279 --> 02:06:33.560 reason for you to act. Thus, remember only that the 1538 02:06:33.680 --> 02:06:40.079 extraordinary cannot be expressed in your ventriloquist language, and that 1539 02:06:40.199 --> 02:06:45.920 my words are merely a cursed mask for my thoughts. Maria, 1540 02:06:46.960 --> 02:06:51.159 you will read of my success in the newspapers. There 1541 02:06:51.319 --> 02:06:56.279 was one fool, however, who almost spoiled my day for me. 1542 02:06:57.159 --> 02:07:01.079 He was a member of the Salvation Army. He came 1543 02:07:01.159 --> 02:07:05.079 to see me and suggested that I immediately take up 1544 02:07:05.119 --> 02:07:09.920 a trumpet and lead the army into battle. They were 1545 02:07:10.119 --> 02:07:14.359 two cheap laurels, he offered, and I drove him out, 1546 02:07:15.119 --> 02:07:19.720 but toppy. He was triumphantly silent all the way home, 1547 02:07:20.119 --> 02:07:25.600 and finally he said, very respectfully, you were in fine 1548 02:07:25.680 --> 02:07:29.800 metal to day, mister Wondergot. I even wept. It is 1549 02:07:29.840 --> 02:07:33.720 a pity that neither Magnus nor his daughter heard you preach. 1550 02:07:34.520 --> 02:07:41.039 She she would have changed her opinion of us. You understand, 1551 02:07:41.159 --> 02:07:45.199 of course, that I felt like kicking this admirer out 1552 02:07:45.239 --> 02:07:49.800 of the carriage. I again felt in the pupils of 1553 02:07:49.920 --> 02:07:55.000 my eyes the piercing sting of tears. The speed with 1554 02:07:55.159 --> 02:07:59.279 which I was again turned inside out and spread out 1555 02:07:59.359 --> 02:08:03.199 on a plate for the public's view is equal only 1556 02:08:03.359 --> 02:08:07.079 to that with which an experienced waiter opens a can 1557 02:08:07.079 --> 02:08:11.439 of conserves. I drew my top hat over my eyes, 1558 02:08:12.119 --> 02:08:15.920 raised the collar of my coat, and, looking very much 1559 02:08:16.079 --> 02:08:22.159 like a tragedian, just hissed off the stage, I wrote, silently, 1560 02:08:22.800 --> 02:08:28.439 and without acknowledging the greetings showered upon me. I proceeded 1561 02:08:28.560 --> 02:08:34.239 to my apartments. Ah, that gaze of Maria, And how 1562 02:08:34.279 --> 02:08:37.359 could I have acknowledged the greetings when I had no 1563 02:08:37.600 --> 02:08:43.600 cane with me? I have declined all of today's invitations, 1564 02:08:43.680 --> 02:08:47.800 and I am at home. I am engaged in religious meditation. 1565 02:08:48.600 --> 02:08:53.039 This was how Toppy announced it to the journalists. He 1566 02:08:53.079 --> 02:08:57.960 has really begun to respect me. Before me our whiskey 1567 02:08:58.000 --> 02:09:02.600 and champagne. I am slowly filling up on the liquor, 1568 02:09:02.880 --> 02:09:07.199 while from the dining hall below come the distant strains 1569 02:09:07.239 --> 02:09:13.560 of music. My wonder good was apparently considerable of a drunkard, 1570 02:09:14.079 --> 02:09:17.079 And every night he drags me to the wine shop, 1571 02:09:17.640 --> 02:09:24.039 to which I

interpose no objection. What's the difference? Fortunately, 1572 02:09:24.439 --> 02:09:28.359 his intoxication is of a merry kind, and we make 1573 02:09:28.640 --> 02:09:33.199 quite a pleasant time of it. At first, we cast 1574 02:09:33.279 --> 02:09:38.359 our dull eyes over the furniture and involuntarily begin to 1575 02:09:38.520 --> 02:09:46.039 calculate the value of all this bronze, these carpets, Venetian mirrors, 1576 02:09:46.079 --> 02:09:53.600 et cetera. A trifle, we agree, and with peculiar self satisfaction, 1577 02:09:54.199 --> 02:09:58.760 we lose ourselves in the contemplation of our own billions, 1578 02:09:59.399 --> 02:10:04.279 of our our power, and our remarkable wisdom and character. 1579 02:10:05.399 --> 02:10:11.840 Our bliss increases with each additional glass, with peculiar pleasure. 1580 02:10:12.359 --> 02:10:16.680 We wallow in the cheap luxury of the hotel and 1581 02:10:17.039 --> 02:10:20.600 think of it I am actually beginning to have liking 1582 02:10:20.720 --> 02:10:28.800 for bronze carpets, glass and stones. My puritan toppy condemns luxury. 1583 02:10:29.520 --> 02:10:34.359 It reminds him of sodomant Gomorrah. But it is difficult 1584 02:10:34.479 --> 02:10:39.039 for me to part with these little emotional pleasures. How 1585 02:10:39.119 --> 02:10:44.039 silly of me. We continue to listen dully and half 1586 02:10:44.119 --> 02:10:49.600 heartedly to the music, and to venture to whistle some accompaniments. 1587 02:10:50.640 --> 02:10:54.960 We add a little contemplation on the deculite of the ladies, 1588 02:10:55.039 --> 02:11:00.319 and then, with our step still firmb we proceed to 1589 02:11:00.439 --> 02:11:05.399 our resting room. But we are just already forbid when 1590 02:11:05.560 --> 02:11:09.720 suddenly I felt as if someone had struck me a blow, 1591 02:11:10.199 --> 02:11:14.640 and I was immediately seized with a tempest of tears, 1592 02:11:14.680 --> 02:11:21.840 of love and sadness. The extraordinary suddenly found expression. I 1593 02:11:22.079 --> 02:11:27.680 grew as broad as space and deep as eternity, and 1594 02:11:27.800 --> 02:11:34.319 I embraced all in a single breath. But oh what sadness, 1595 02:11:34.840 --> 02:11:40.800 Oh what love, Maria. But I am nothing more than 1596 02:11:40.800 --> 02:11:45.159 a subterranean lake in the valley of wonder good, and 1597 02:11:45.399 --> 02:11:50.680 my storms in no way disturb his firm tread. I 1598 02:11:50.720 --> 02:11:54.319 am only a solitaire in his stomach of which he 1599 02:11:54.520 --> 02:12:01.880 seeks to rid himself. We ring for the servants soda, 1600 02:12:02.640 --> 02:12:09.840 I am simply drunk a rivederci signor buonarotte and of 1601 02:12:10.000 --> 02:12:21.399 section five section six of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 1602 02:12:21.880 --> 02:12:26.960 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 1603 02:12:26.960 --> 02:12:36.319 public domain. Recording by Caroline February eighteenth, nineteen fourteen, Rome, 1604 02:12:36.760 --> 02:12:44.119 Hotel Internacionale. Yesterday I visited Magnus. I was compelled to 1605 02:12:44.279 --> 02:12:48.199 wait long for him in the garden, and when he 1606 02:12:48.279 --> 02:12:52.239 did appear, he was so cold and indifferent that I 1607 02:12:52.359 --> 02:12:57.720 felt like leaving. I observed a few gray hairs in 1608 02:12:57.760 --> 02:13:03.439 the black beard. I had not noticed them before. Was 1609 02:13:03.560 --> 02:13:10.439 Maria unwell? I appeared concerned. Everything is so uncertain that 1610 02:13:10.560 --> 02:13:13.800 on leaving a person for one hour, one may have 1611 02:13:13.960 --> 02:13:18.880 to seek him in eternity. Maria as well. Thank you, 1612 02:13:19.439 --> 02:13:25.000 replied Magnus frigidly. He seemed surprised, as if my question 1613 02:13:25.159 --> 02:13:30.520 were presumptuous and improper. And how are your affairs, mister Wondergood? 1614 02:13:31.239 --> 02:13:35.399 The Roman papers are filled with news of you. You 1615 02:13:35.560 --> 02:13:41.800 are scoring a big success, with pain aggravated by the 1616 02:13:41.840 --> 02:13:47.399 absence of Maria. I revealed to Magnus my disappointment and 1617 02:13:47.600 --> 02:13:53.239 my annuee. I spoke well, not without wit and sarcism. 1618 02:13:54.079 --> 02:13:57.840 I grew more and more provoked by his lack of 1619 02:13:58.000 --> 02:14:04.560 attention and interest plainly written on his pale and weary face. 1620 02:14:05.720 --> 02:14:10.479 Not once did he smile or venture to put any questions. 1621 02:14:11.079 --> 02:14:15.000 But when I reached the story of my nephew, he 1622 02:14:15.159 --> 02:14:20.399 frowned in displeasure and said, fie, this is a cheap 1623 02:14:20.640 --> 02:14:25.560 variety farce. How can you occupy yourself with such trifles, 1624 02:14:25.640 --> 02:14:31.119 mister Wondergod, I replied angrily, But it is not I 1625 02:14:31.279 --> 02:14:37.159 who am occupying myself with them, Senora Magnus. And how 1626 02:14:37.159 --> 02:14:41.119 about the interviews? What about that flight of yours? You 1627 02:14:41.159 --> 02:14:47.239 should drive them away? This humbles your three billions? And 1628 02:14:47.479 --> 02:14:50.600 is it true that you delivered some sort of a sermon? 1629 02:14:52.239 --> 02:14:57.359 The joy of play forsook me? Unwilling as Magnus was 1630 02:14:57.479 --> 02:15:00.279 to listen to me. I told him all abou about 1631 02:15:00.359 --> 02:15:06.039 my sermon, and those credulous fools who swallowed sacrilege as 1632 02:15:06.199 --> 02:15:10.920 they do marm laide. And did you expect anything different, 1633 02:15:11.079 --> 02:15:15.800 mister Wondergood, I expected that they would fall upon me 1634 02:15:15.960 --> 02:15:21.359 with clubs for my audacity. When I sacrilegiously bandied about 1635 02:15:21.520 --> 02:15:26.319 the words of the Testament. Yes they are beautiful words, 1636 02:15:26.840 --> 02:15:31.319

agreed Magnus. But didn't you know that all their worship 1637 02:15:31.399 --> 02:15:34.600 of for God and all their faith are nothing but 1638 02:15:34.720 --> 02:15:39.600 a sacrilege when they term a waifer the body of Christ, 1639 02:15:40.159 --> 02:15:45.439 while some sixtus or pious reigns undisturbed and with the 1640 02:15:45.520 --> 02:15:49.920 approval of all Catholics as the vicar of Christ, why 1641 02:15:49.960 --> 02:15:54.720 should not you, an American from Illinois, call yourself at 1642 02:15:54.880 --> 02:16:01.039 least his governor. This is not meant as sacrilege, mister Wondergood. 1643 02:16:01.520 --> 02:16:07.239 These are simply allegories, highly convenient for blockheads, and you 1644 02:16:07.520 --> 02:16:12.119 are only wasting your wrath. But when will you get 1645 02:16:12.279 --> 02:16:18.319 down to business? I threw up my hands in skillfully 1646 02:16:18.399 --> 02:16:24.439 simulated sorrow. I want to do something, but I know 1647 02:16:24.800 --> 02:16:28.720 not what to do. I shall probably never get down 1648 02:16:28.840 --> 02:16:33.399 to business until you, Magnus, agreed to come to my aid. 1649 02:16:35.040 --> 02:16:40.399 He frowned at his own large, motionless white hands, and 1650 02:16:40.639 --> 02:16:45.879 then at me. You are too credulous, mister Wondergood. This 1651 02:16:46.079 --> 02:16:50.319 is a great fault when one has three billions. No, 1652 02:16:50.639 --> 02:16:54.440 I am of no use to you. Our roads are 1653 02:16:54.520 --> 02:17:01.319 far apart. But dear Magnus, I expect him to strike 1654 02:17:01.479 --> 02:17:05.319 me for this, gentle dear, which I uttered in my 1655 02:17:05.440 --> 02:17:11.079 best possible falsetto. But I ventured to continue with all 1656 02:17:11.159 --> 02:17:15.639 the sweetness I managed to accumulate. In Rome. I looked 1657 02:17:15.719 --> 02:17:19.479 upon the dim physiognomy of my friend, and in a 1658 02:17:19.600 --> 02:17:26.399 still gentlerful setto, I asked, and of what nationality are you, 1659 02:17:26.879 --> 02:17:32.040 my dear signor magnus. I suspect for some reason that 1660 02:17:32.079 --> 02:17:38.319 you are not Italian? He replied calmly, No, I am 1661 02:17:38.360 --> 02:17:45.719 not Italian. But where is your country? My country? Omnis 1662 02:17:45.719 --> 02:17:50.079 solemn libram libro patria. I suppose you do not know Latin. 1663 02:17:50.559 --> 02:17:55.200 It means where freedom is. There is the fatherland of 1664 02:17:55.319 --> 02:18:01.200 every free man. Will you take breakfast with me? The 1665 02:18:01.239 --> 02:18:06.959 invitation was couched in such icy tones, and Maria's absence 1666 02:18:07.239 --> 02:18:12.239 was so strongly implied therein that I was compelled to 1667 02:18:12.319 --> 02:18:17.600 decline it politely. The devil take this man. I was 1668 02:18:17.719 --> 02:18:21.120 not at all in a merry mood that morning. I 1669 02:18:21.280 --> 02:18:26.200 fervently wished to weep upon his

breast while he mercilessly 1670 02:18:26.399 --> 02:18:31.719 threw cold showers upon my noblest transports. I sighed and 1671 02:18:31.840 --> 02:18:37.200 changed my pose. I assumed a pose prepared especially for Maria. 1672 02:18:38.200 --> 02:18:42.319 Speaking in a low voice, I said, I want to 1673 02:18:42.399 --> 02:18:48.159 be frank with you, signor Magnus. My past contains many 1674 02:18:48.239 --> 02:18:53.559 dark pages which I should like to redeem. I he 1675 02:18:53.680 --> 02:18:58.600 quickly interrupted me, there are dark pages and everybody's past, 1676 02:18:58.719 --> 02:19:02.399 mister Wondergot, I myself am not so clear of reproach 1677 02:19:02.479 --> 02:19:05.959 as to accept the confession of such a worthy gentleman. 1678 02:19:07.040 --> 02:19:11.680 I am a poor spiritual father, he added, with a 1679 02:19:11.760 --> 02:19:17.600 most unpleasant laugh. I never pardoned sinners, and in view 1680 02:19:17.639 --> 02:19:21.040 of that, what pleasure could there be for you in 1681 02:19:21.079 --> 02:19:25.440 your confession? Better tell me something more about your nephew. 1682 02:19:26.159 --> 02:19:31.479 Is he young? We spoke about my nephew, and Magnus smiled. 1683 02:19:32.239 --> 02:19:37.600 A pause ensued. Then Magnus asked whether I had visited 1684 02:19:37.639 --> 02:19:42.479 the Vatican Gallery, and I bade him goodbye, requesting him 1685 02:19:42.479 --> 02:19:46.799 to transmit my compliments to Maria. I confess I was 1686 02:19:46.840 --> 02:19:51.559 a sorry sight and felt deeply indebted to Magnus when 1687 02:19:51.559 --> 02:19:55.840 he said, in bidding me farewell, do not be angry 1688 02:19:55.920 --> 02:19:59.600 with me, mister Wondergood. I am not altogether well today 1689 02:19:59.680 --> 02:20:04.639 and am rather worried about my affairs. That's all. I 1690 02:20:04.680 --> 02:20:07.840 hope to be more pleasant when we meet again, but 1691 02:20:08.000 --> 02:20:11.840 be so kind as to excuse me this morning. I 1692 02:20:11.879 --> 02:20:17.200 shall see that Maria gets your compliments. If this black 1693 02:20:17.280 --> 02:20:21.440 bearded fellow we're only playing, I confess I would have 1694 02:20:21.479 --> 02:20:26.200 found a worthy partner. A dozen piccaninnies could not have 1695 02:20:26.360 --> 02:20:31.040 licked off the honeyed expression my face assumed at Magnus's 1696 02:20:31.079 --> 02:20:35.959 promise to transmit my greetings to Maria all the way 1697 02:20:36.079 --> 02:20:40.680 back to my hotel, I smiled idiotically at the coachman's back, 1698 02:20:41.200 --> 02:20:45.920 and afterwards bestowed a kiss on Toppy's brow. The Canaya 1699 02:20:46.079 --> 02:20:50.079 still maintains an odor of fair like a young devil. 1700 02:20:51.399 --> 02:20:54.760 I see there was a prophet in your visit, said 1701 02:20:54.879 --> 02:21:04.840 Toppy significantly. How is Magnus's daughter? You understand? Splendid? Toppy, splendid? 1702 02:21:05.319 --> 02:21:09.360 She said

that my beauty and wisdom reminded her of Solomon's. 1703 02:21:10.600 --> 02:21:16.239 Toppy smiled condescendingly at my unsuccessful jest. The honeyed expression 1704 02:21:16.360 --> 02:21:20.200 left my face, and rust and vinegar took the place 1705 02:21:20.280 --> 02:21:24.520 of the sugar. I looked myself in my rim and 1706 02:21:24.680 --> 02:21:28.639 for a long time continued to curse Satan for falling 1707 02:21:28.680 --> 02:21:33.440 in love with the woman. You consider yourself original, my 1708 02:21:33.559 --> 02:21:37.040 earthly friend, when you fall in love with the woman 1709 02:21:37.399 --> 02:21:41.520 and begin to quiver all over with the fever of love, 1710 02:21:42.399 --> 02:21:46.319 and I do not. I can see the legions of 1711 02:21:46.559 --> 02:21:50.760 couples from Adam and eve On. I can see their 1712 02:21:50.879 --> 02:21:56.399 kisses and caresses. I can hear the words so cursedly monotonous, 1713 02:21:56.879 --> 02:22:00.639 and I begin to detest my own lips, daring to 1714 02:22:00.799 --> 02:22:06.360 mumble the mumblings of others, my eyes simulating the gaze 1715 02:22:06.440 --> 02:22:11.479 of others, my heart surrendering obediently to the click of 1716 02:22:11.719 --> 02:22:15.479 the look of a house of shame. I can see 1717 02:22:15.520 --> 02:22:20.760 all these excited animals, and their groaning and their caresses, 1718 02:22:21.280 --> 02:22:24.760 and I cry with revulsion at my own mass of 1719 02:22:25.000 --> 02:22:30.920 bones and flesh and nerves. Take care, Satan in human form, 1720 02:22:31.159 --> 02:22:37.319 deceit is coming over you. Won't you take Maria for yourself, 1721 02:22:37.479 --> 02:22:43.920 my earthly friend, Take her? She is yours, not mine. Ah. 1722 02:22:44.000 --> 02:22:47.680 If Maria were my slave, I would put a rope 1723 02:22:47.719 --> 02:22:51.680 around her neck and would take her naked to the 1724 02:22:51.799 --> 02:22:55.920 market place. Who will buy? Who will pay the most 1725 02:22:56.079 --> 02:23:00.520 for this unearthly beauty? Ah? Do not havet the poor 1726 02:23:00.559 --> 02:23:07.440 blind merchant? Open wide your purses, jingle louder your gold, 1727 02:23:08.040 --> 02:23:14.559 generous gentleman, what. She will not go far, not signor 1728 02:23:14.920 --> 02:23:18.440 she will come and she will love you. This is 1729 02:23:18.719 --> 02:23:23.479 simply her maidenly modesty. Sir, Shall I tie the other 1730 02:23:23.680 --> 02:23:26.360 end of the rope about her and lead her to 1731 02:23:26.479 --> 02:23:30.280 your bit, kind sir, take the rope along with you. 1732 02:23:30.719 --> 02:23:34.600 I charge nothing for that, only rid me of this 1733 02:23:34.799 --> 02:23:39.680 heavenly beauty. She has the face of the radiant Madonna. 1734 02:23:40.280 --> 02:23:44.239 She is the daughter of the honorable Thomas Magnus, and 1735 02:23:44.440 --> 02:23:49.120 both of them are thieves. He stole his white hands, 1736 02:23:49.319 --> 02:23:54.479 and she her pristine face. But I am beginning to 1737 02:23:54.559 --> 02:23:58.399 play with you, dear reader. That is a mistake. I 1738 02:23:58.440 --> 02:24:02.120 have simply taken the wrong note book. No, it is 1739 02:24:02.200 --> 02:24:05.440 not a mistake. It is worse. I play because my 1740 02:24:05.559 --> 02:24:10.399 loneliness is very great, very deep. I fear it has 1741 02:24:10.520 --> 02:24:13.959 no bottom at all. I stand on the edge of 1742 02:24:14.040 --> 02:24:18.760 an abyss and hurl words, many heavy words, into it, 1743 02:24:19.159 --> 02:24:24.559 but they fall without a sound. I hurl into it, laughter, 1744 02:24:25.280 --> 02:24:30.280 threats and moans. I spit into it, I fling into 1745 02:24:30.360 --> 02:24:35.479 it heaps of stones and rocks, I throw mountains into it, 1746 02:24:35.840 --> 02:24:42.000 and still it remains silent and empty. No, really, there 1747 02:24:42.079 --> 02:24:46.079 is no bottom to this abyss. And we toil in vain, 1748 02:24:46.680 --> 02:24:50.639 you and I, my friend. But I see your smile 1749 02:24:50.719 --> 02:24:55.399 and your cunning laugh. You understand why I spoke so 1750 02:24:55.399 --> 02:25:01.120 sourly of loneliness. Ah, it is love. And you want 1751 02:25:01.280 --> 02:25:06.680 to ask whether I have a mistress. Yes, there are too. 1752 02:25:06.920 --> 02:25:11.200 One is a Russian countess, the other an Italian comtesse. 1753 02:25:12.000 --> 02:25:15.799 They differ only in the kind of perfume they use. 1754 02:25:16.479 --> 02:25:20.159 But this is such an immaterial matter that I love 1755 02:25:20.280 --> 02:25:25.959 them both equally. You probably wish to ask also whether 1756 02:25:26.200 --> 02:25:30.920 I shall ever visit Magnus again. Yes, I shall go 1757 02:25:31.000 --> 02:25:35.239 to Magnus. I love him very much. It matters a 1758 02:25:35.280 --> 02:25:39.319 little that his name is false, and that his daughter 1759 02:25:39.440 --> 02:25:44.760 has the audacity to resemble the Madonna. I haven't enough 1760 02:25:44.799 --> 02:25:48.319 of wonder good in me to be particular about a name, 1761 02:25:49.000 --> 02:25:52.600 and I am too human not to forgive the efforts 1762 02:25:52.639 --> 02:25:59.319 of others to appear divine. I swear by eternal salvation 1763 02:26:00.200 --> 02:26:05.559 that the one is worthy of the other. And of 1764 02:26:05.680 --> 02:26:16.760 section six Section seven of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 1765 02:26:17.120 --> 02:26:21.600 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 1766 02:26:21.639 --> 02:26:29.239 public domain. Recording by Carolyn Section seven, February twenty first, 1767 02:26:30.040 --> 02:26:39.559 nineteen fourteen Rome, Villa Orsini, Cardinal X, the closest friend 1768 02:26:39.639 --> 02:26:43.559 and confidante of the Pope, has paid me a visit. 1769 02:26:44.239 --> 02:26:49.319 He was accompanied by two abbeys. In general, he is 1770 02:26:49.360 --> 02:26:52.639 a person

at whose attentions to me have brought me 1771 02:26:52.879 --> 02:26:58.520 no small measure of prestige. I met his eminence in 1772 02:26:58.559 --> 02:27:03.239 the reception hall of my new palace. Toppy was dancing 1773 02:27:03.440 --> 02:27:08.639 all about the priests, snatching their blessings quicker than a 1774 02:27:08.719 --> 02:27:14.559 lover does the kisses of his mistress. Six devout hands 1775 02:27:14.600 --> 02:27:20.879 hardly managed to handle one devil grown pious, and before 1776 02:27:21.000 --> 02:27:25.479 we had reached the threshold of my study, he actually 1777 02:27:25.600 --> 02:27:31.200 contrived to touch the belly of the Cardinal. What ecstasy. 1778 02:27:32.520 --> 02:27:38.000 Cardinal X speaks all the European languages, and out of 1779 02:27:38.239 --> 02:27:43.319 respect for the stars and stripes and my billions, he 1780 02:27:43.479 --> 02:27:49.399 spoke English. He began the conversation by congratulating me upon 1781 02:27:49.520 --> 02:27:54.000 the acquisition of the Villa Orsini, and told me its 1782 02:27:54.239 --> 02:27:59.319 history in detail for the past two hundred years. This 1783 02:27:59.600 --> 02:28:05.440 was quite unexpected, very long, at times confusing and unintelligible, 1784 02:28:06.000 --> 02:28:10.639 so that I was compelled, like a real American ass 1785 02:28:11.120 --> 02:28:16.799 to blink constantly. But this gave me an opportunity to 1786 02:28:16.879 --> 02:28:21.920 study my distinguished and eminent visitor. He is not at 1787 02:28:21.959 --> 02:28:26.239 all old. He is broad shouldered, well built, and in 1788 02:28:26.319 --> 02:28:31.879 good health. He has a large, almost square face in 1789 02:28:32.079 --> 02:28:37.399 olive skin, with a bluish tinge upon his shaven cheeks, 1790 02:28:37.920 --> 02:28:43.159 and his thin but beautiful hands reveal his Spanish blood. 1791 02:28:44.159 --> 02:28:49.319 Before he dedicated himself to God, Cardinal X was a 1792 02:28:49.559 --> 02:28:55.159 Spanish grandee and duke. But his dark eyes are too 1793 02:28:55.200 --> 02:29:01.680 small and too deeply set beneath his thick eyebrows, and 1794 02:29:01.959 --> 02:29:06.239 the distance between the short nose and the thin lips 1795 02:29:06.440 --> 02:29:11.399 is too long. All this reminds me of someone, But 1796 02:29:11.600 --> 02:29:16.200 of whom and what is this curious habit I have 1797 02:29:16.319 --> 02:29:22.520 of being reminded of someone, probably a saint. For a moment, 1798 02:29:22.799 --> 02:29:28.520 the Cardinal was lost in thought, and suddenly I recalled, Yes, 1799 02:29:29.120 --> 02:29:35.000 this is simply a shaven monkey. This must be its sad, 1800 02:29:35.559 --> 02:29:42.559 boundless pensiveness, its evil gleam within the narrow pupil. But 1801 02:29:42.719 --> 02:29:47.799 in a moment the Cardinal laughed, jested, and gesticulated like 1802 02:29:47.879 --> 02:29:52.319 a Neapolitan Lazarone. He was no longer telling me the 1803 02:29:52.360 -->

02:29:56.920 history of the palace. He was playing. He was interpreting 1804 02:29:56.959 --> 02:30:03.360 it in facial expression and dramatic monologue. He has short fingers, 1805 02:30:03.799 --> 02:30:07.360 not at all like those of a monkey, and when 1806 02:30:07.399 --> 02:30:12.879 he gesticulates, he rather resembles a penguin, while his voice 1807 02:30:13.000 --> 02:30:18.159 reminds me of a talking parrot. Who are you, anyhow? No? 1808 02:30:18.639 --> 02:30:22.600 A monkey? He is laughing again, and I observe that 1809 02:30:22.680 --> 02:30:26.639 he really does not know how to laugh. It is 1810 02:30:26.760 --> 02:30:29.920 as if he had learned the human art of laughter. 1811 02:30:30.079 --> 02:30:35.840 But yesterday he likes it, but experiences considerable difficulty in 1812 02:30:35.959 --> 02:30:41.920 extracting it from his throat. The sounds seemed to choke him. 1813 02:30:42.120 --> 02:30:46.879 It is impossible not to echo this strange, contagious laughter, 1814 02:30:47.639 --> 02:30:51.719 but it seems to break one's jaws and teeth, and 1815 02:30:51.959 --> 02:30:57.760 to petrify the muscles. It was really remarkable. I was 1816 02:30:58.200 --> 02:31:02.799 fascinated when Cardinal Eggs suddenly cut short his lecture on 1817 02:31:02.959 --> 02:31:08.200 the Villa Orsini by a fit of groaning laughter, which 1818 02:31:08.360 --> 02:31:14.639 left him calm and silent. His thin fingers played with 1819 02:31:14.799 --> 02:31:19.799 his rosary. He remained quiet and gazed at me with 1820 02:31:19.920 --> 02:31:26.360 a mien of deepest reverence and gentle love. Something akin 1821 02:31:26.520 --> 02:31:31.639 to tears glistened in his dark eyes. I had made 1822 02:31:31.639 --> 02:31:36.239 an impression upon him. He loved me what was I 1823 02:31:36.360 --> 02:31:41.799 to do? I gazed into his square, ape like face. 1824 02:31:42.719 --> 02:31:48.000 Kindliness turned to love, love, and to passion, and still 1825 02:31:48.239 --> 02:31:52.959 we maintained the silence. Another moment, and I would have 1826 02:31:53.079 --> 02:31:58.360 stifled him in my embrace. Well, here you are in Rome, 1827 02:31:58.520 --> 02:32:04.399 mister Wondergood, sweetly, sang the old monkey, without altering his 1828 02:32:04.639 --> 02:32:10.840 loving gaze. Here I am in Rome, I agreed, obediently, 1829 02:32:11.559 --> 02:32:16.559 continuing to gaze upon him with the same sinful passion. 1830 02:32:18.079 --> 02:32:21.920 And do you know, mister Wondergood, why I came here? 1831 02:32:22.760 --> 02:32:26.360 It asked, In addition, of course, to the pleasure I 1832 02:32:26.440 --> 02:32:32.000 anticipated in making your acquaintance, I thought, and, with my 1833 02:32:32.079 --> 02:32:39.239 gaze unchanged, replied, for money, your eminence. The cardinal shook 1834 02:32:39.680 --> 02:32:45.239 as though flapping his wings, laughed and slapped his knee, 1835 02:32:45.760 --> 02:32:50.399 and again lost himself in loving contemplation

of my nose. 1836 02:32:51.719 --> 02:32:57.159 This dumb reverence, to which I replied with redoubled zest, 1837 02:32:57.840 --> 02:33:03.479 began to wield a peculiar influence upon me. I purposely 1838 02:33:03.639 --> 02:33:07.040 tell you all this in detail, in order that you 1839 02:33:07.120 --> 02:33:13.000 may understand my wish at that moment to begin cavorting about, 1840 02:33:13.520 --> 02:33:17.719 to sing like a cock, to tell my best Arkansas 1841 02:33:17.879 --> 02:33:22.799 anecdote or simply to invite his eminence to remove his 1842 02:33:23.040 --> 02:33:29.680 regalia and play a game of poker. Your Eminence. I 1843 02:33:29.879 --> 02:33:35.639 love Americans, mister Wondergood, Your eminence in Arkansas. They tell 1844 02:33:35.680 --> 02:33:40.079 a story. I see you want to get down to business. 1845 02:33:40.559 --> 02:33:45.879 I understand your impatience. Money matters should never be postponed. 1846 02:33:46.639 --> 02:33:51.719 Is that not so? It depends entirely upon one's concern 1847 02:33:51.799 --> 02:33:56.399 in these matters, Your Eminence. The square face of the 1848 02:33:56.479 --> 02:34:00.920 Cardinal grew serious, and in his eyes there gleamed for 1849 02:34:01.079 --> 02:34:05.760 a moment a ray of loving reproach. I hope you 1850 02:34:05.799 --> 02:34:09.840 are not vexed at my long dissertation, mister Wondergood. I 1851 02:34:09.920 --> 02:34:13.799 love so much the history of our great city that 1852 02:34:13.879 --> 02:34:18.200 I could not forego the pleasure the things you see before. 1853 02:34:18.239 --> 02:34:23.040 You are not Rome. There is no Rome, mister Wondergood. 1854 02:34:23.760 --> 02:34:28.360 Once upon a time it was the eternal city. But 1855 02:34:28.680 --> 02:34:33.840 today it is simply a large city. And the greater 1856 02:34:33.959 --> 02:34:39.079 it grows, the further it is from eternity. Where is 1857 02:34:39.319 --> 02:34:44.680 that great spirit which once illumined it? I shall not 1858 02:34:45.000 --> 02:34:49.079 narrate to you all the prattle of this purple perrot, 1859 02:34:49.799 --> 02:34:55.959 his gently cannibal look, his grimaces, and his laughter. All 1860 02:34:56.040 --> 02:34:59.959 that the old shaven monkey told me when it finds 1861 02:35:00.000 --> 02:35:05.760 finally grow weary. Was your misfortune is that you love 1862 02:35:05.879 --> 02:35:12.360 your fellow beings too much. Love your neighbor well. Let 1863 02:35:12.479 --> 02:35:16.920 neighbors love each other. Go on teaching that, But why 1864 02:35:16.959 --> 02:35:20.680 do you want to do it? When one loves too well, 1865 02:35:21.040 --> 02:35:25.040 one is blind to the shortcomings of the beloved, and 1866 02:35:25.520 --> 02:35:31.840 still worse, one elevates these faults into virtues. How can 1867 02:35:31.840 --> 02:35:37.399 you reform people and make them happy without realizing their shortcomings, 1868 02:35:37.799 --> 02:35:43.200 or by ignoring their vices. When one loves one pities, 1869 02:35:43.319 --> 02:35:47.799 and pity is the death of power. You see. I 1870 02:35:47.840 --> 02:35:51.479 am quite frank with you, mister Wondergot, and I repeat, 1871 02:35:52.120 --> 02:35:56.159 love is weakness. Love will get the money out of 1872 02:35:56.200 --> 02:36:01.280 your pocket and will squander it on rouge. Leave love 1873 02:36:01.520 --> 02:36:06.559 to the lower classes, let them love each other, demand 1874 02:36:06.600 --> 02:36:11.159 it of them. But you, you have risen to greater heights, 1875 02:36:11.600 --> 02:36:17.280 gifted with such power. But what can I do, your eminence? 1876 02:36:17.680 --> 02:36:20.680 I am at a loss to understand it. All. From 1877 02:36:20.719 --> 02:36:24.360 my childhood on, especially in church, I have had it 1878 02:36:24.600 --> 02:36:28.319 drummed into me that one must love his neighbor, and 1879 02:36:28.399 --> 02:36:35.120 I believed it, And so the cardinal grew pensive like laughter. 1880 02:36:35.760 --> 02:36:41.760 Pensiveness was becoming to him and rendered his square face immovable, 1881 02:36:42.280 --> 02:36:47.520 filling it with dignity and lonely grave. Leaning forward with 1882 02:36:47.719 --> 02:36:52.120 his lips compressed and supporting his chin upon his hand, 1883 02:36:52.799 --> 02:36:58.319 he fixed his sharp, sleepy eyes upon me. There was 1884 02:36:58.479 --> 02:37:02.600 much sorrow in them. He seemed to be waiting for 1885 02:37:02.719 --> 02:37:06.719 the conclusion of my remark, and, not having patience to 1886 02:37:06.799 --> 02:37:14.319 do so, sighed and blinked. Childhood, Yes, he mumbled, still 1887 02:37:14.399 --> 02:37:20.840 blinking sorrowfully. Children. Yes, but you are no longer a child. 1888 02:37:21.399 --> 02:37:26.799 Forget this lesson. He must acquire the heavenly gift of forgetfulness, 1889 02:37:26.959 --> 02:37:34.000 you know. He gnashed his white teeth and significantly scratched 1890 02:37:34.079 --> 02:37:40.520 his nose with his thin finger, continuing seriously, But it's 1891 02:37:40.719 --> 02:37:47.479 all the same, mister Wondergot, You yourself cannot accomplish much. Yes, yes, 1892 02:37:48.000 --> 02:37:52.120 one must know people to make them happy, isn't that 1893 02:37:52.280 --> 02:37:58.719 your noble aim? But the Church alone knows people. She 1894 02:37:58.840 --> 02:38:02.639 has been a mother and teacher for thousands of years. 1895 02:38:03.159 --> 02:38:08.520 Her experience is the only one worthwhile, and I may say, 1896 02:38:09.120 --> 02:38:13.600 the only reliable one as far as I know your career, 1897 02:38:13.719 --> 02:38:19.000 mister Wondergoot, you are an experienced cattle man, and you know, 1898 02:38:19.159 --> 02:38:23.280 of course what experience means, even in the matter of 1899 02:38:23.399 --> 02:38:31.440 handling such simple creatures as as swine. He was startled 1900 02:38:31.559 --> 02:38:36.360 and suddenly began to bark, to cough, to wine. He 1901 02:38:36.479 -->

02:38:43.280 was laughing again, swine, that's fine, that's splendid, mister wondergoot. 1902 02:38:43.639 --> 02:38:47.239 But do not forget that one finds the devil too 1903 02:38:47.559 --> 02:38:54.719 in swine. Seizing his laughter, he proceeded in teaching others 1904 02:38:54.920 --> 02:38:59.440 we learn ourselves. I do not contend that all the 1905 02:38:59.559 --> 02:39:05.040 method of education and training employed by the Church were 1906 02:39:05.239 --> 02:39:11.159 equally successful. No, we often made mistakes, but every one 1907 02:39:11.200 --> 02:39:16.319 of our mistakes served to improve our methods. We are 1908 02:39:16.520 --> 02:39:24.399 approaching perfection, mister Wondergood, We are approaching perfection. I hinted 1909 02:39:24.440 --> 02:39:29.040 at the rapid growth of rationalism, which, it seemed to me, 1910 02:39:29.879 --> 02:39:35.440 threatened to destroy the perfection of the Church. But Cardinal 1911 02:39:35.879 --> 02:39:44.159 X again flapped his wings and almost screeched with laughter. Rationalism, 1912 02:39:44.799 --> 02:39:50.200 You are a most talented humorist, mister Wondergood. Tell me, 1913 02:39:50.959 --> 02:39:58.559 was not the celebrated Mark Twain, a countryman of yours. Yes, yes, rationalism. 1914 02:39:59.159 --> 02:40:04.799 Just think moment, from what root is this word derived, 1915 02:40:04.959 --> 02:40:12.239 and what does it mean a razzio amneskiss me, felis quantilla, sapiencia, 1916 02:40:12.360 --> 02:40:17.600 rigitur orbis ah, my dear wonder good. To speak of 1917 02:40:17.799 --> 02:40:21.799 razzio on this earth is more out of place than 1918 02:40:21.840 --> 02:40:24.239 it would be to speak of a rope in the 1919 02:40:24.280 --> 02:40:28.440 home of a man who has just been hanged. I 1920 02:40:28.520 --> 02:40:34.040 watched the old monkey enjoying himself, and I enjoyed myself too. 1921 02:40:34.120 --> 02:40:38.520 I studied his mixture of a monkey, parrot, penguin, fox, 1922 02:40:38.639 --> 02:40:43.079 wolf and what not, and it was really funny. I 1923 02:40:43.319 --> 02:40:48.079 love Mary suicides. For a long time, we continued our 1924 02:40:48.280 --> 02:40:52.680 fun at the expense of Razzio, until his eminence calmed 1925 02:40:52.760 --> 02:40:59.399 himself and assumed the tone of a teacher as anti semitism. 1926 02:40:59.479 --> 02:41:05.239 Is this socialism of fools? And are you familiar? I 1927 02:41:05.520 --> 02:41:10.120 told you we are approaching perfection. So is rationalism the 1928 02:41:10.200 --> 02:41:16.120 wisdom of fools. The wise man goes further. The razzio 1929 02:41:16.479 --> 02:41:20.799 constitutes the holiday dress of a fool. It is the 1930 02:41:20.879 --> 02:41:24.520 coat he dons in the presence of others. But he 1931 02:41:24.639 --> 02:41:31.079 really lives, sleeps, works, loves, and dies without any razio 1932 02:41:31.280 --> 02:41:37.959 at all. Do you fear death, mister wondergoot? I did 1933 02:41:37.959 --> 02:41:44.239 not feel like replying, and remained silent. You need not 1934 02:41:44.520 --> 02:41:50.040 feel shamed, mister Wondergot, one should fear death, as long 1935 02:41:50.079 --> 02:41:55.360 as there is death. The features of the monkey's face 1936 02:41:55.719 --> 02:42:00.879 suddenly contracted, and in his eyes there appeared horror and wrath, 1937 02:42:01.600 --> 02:42:04.760 as if someone had seized him by the back of 1938 02:42:04.840 --> 02:42:09.159 his neck and thrust him into the darkness and terror 1939 02:42:09.639 --> 02:42:15.040 of a primeval forest. He feared death, and his terror 1940 02:42:15.200 --> 02:42:20.959 was dark, evil and boundless. I needed no words of explanation, 1941 02:42:21.479 --> 02:42:27.600 and no other evidence. One look upon this distorted, befogged, 1942 02:42:27.719 --> 02:42:33.760 and confused human face was sufficient to compel reverence for 1943 02:42:33.840 --> 02:42:39.840 the great irrational, And how weak is their steadiness. My 1944 02:42:40.040 --> 02:42:45.120 wonder got also grew pale and cringed. Ah the rogue 1945 02:42:45.200 --> 02:42:51.239 he was now seeking protection and help from me, Will 1946 02:42:51.319 --> 02:42:56.559 you have some wine, your eminence? But his eminence was 1947 02:42:56.719 --> 02:43:01.040 himself again. He curved his thin lips and to a smile, 1948 02:43:01.559 --> 02:43:06.440 and shook his head in the negative. And suddenly he 1949 02:43:06.520 --> 02:43:12.159 broke out again with surprising fury. And as long as 1950 02:43:12.319 --> 02:43:16.639 there is death, the Church is unshakable. Let all of 1951 02:43:16.680 --> 02:43:20.600 you who seek to undermine her, tear her and blow 1952 02:43:20.680 --> 02:43:24.280 her up. You cannot conquer her. And even if you 1953 02:43:24.319 --> 02:43:29.360 should succeed in destroying her, The first to perish beneath 1954 02:43:29.440 --> 02:43:34.239 her ruins would be yourselves. Who will then defend you 1955 02:43:34.360 --> 02:43:38.920 against death, who will give you sweet faith in immortality, 1956 02:43:39.479 --> 02:43:45.200 in eternal life, the everlescing bliss. Believe me, mister Wondergut. 1957 02:43:45.559 --> 02:43:50.040 The world is not seeking your razio. It is all 1958 02:43:50.120 --> 02:43:58.040 a misunderstanding. But what does it seek your eminence? What 1959 02:43:58.360 --> 02:44:02.479 does it want? What does wolt dizzy be? You know 1960 02:44:02.760 --> 02:44:08.959 our latin? The world wants to be fooled? And the 1961 02:44:09.000 --> 02:44:14.120 old monkey again grew merry, begun to wink, to beam 1962 02:44:14.239 --> 02:44:20.799 with satisfaction, slapped his knee and burst into laughter. I 1963 02:44:20.920 --> 02:44:27.399 also laughed. The rascal was so funny. And is it you, 1964 02:44:27.959 --> 02:44:33.280 said I, who wants to fool it? The cardinal again 1965 02:44:33.440 --> 02:44:39.799 grew serious and replied, sadly, the Holy Sea needs funds, 1966 02:44:40.120 -->

02:44:45.159 mister Wondergood. The world, while it has not grown rational, 1967 02:44:45.680 --> 02:44:49.639 has become weaker and its faith, and it is somewhat 1968 02:44:49.920 --> 02:44:56.040 difficult to manage it. He sighed, and continued, You are 1969 02:44:56.079 --> 02:44:59.959 not a socialist, mister Wondergood. Ah, do not be ashamed. 1970 02:45:00.319 --> 02:45:04.200 We are all socialists now. We are all on the 1971 02:45:04.360 --> 02:45:08.760 side of the hungry the more satisfied they will be, 1972 02:45:09.520 --> 02:45:15.360 the more they will fear death. You understand. He flung 1973 02:45:15.440 --> 02:45:19.159 out his arms and drew them in again like a 1974 02:45:19.280 --> 02:45:24.959 net filled with fish, and said, we are fishermen, mister Wondergood, 1975 02:45:25.360 --> 02:45:30.600 humble fishermen. And tell me, do you regard the desire 1976 02:45:30.680 --> 02:45:36.200 for liberty as a virtue or a vice? The entire 1977 02:45:36.319 --> 02:45:40.760 civilized world regards the desire for liberty as a virtue, 1978 02:45:41.280 --> 02:45:46.360 I replied angrily. I expected no other reply from a 1979 02:45:46.399 --> 02:45:51.000 citizen of the United States. But don't you personally believe 1980 02:45:51.520 --> 02:45:57.000 that he who will give man limitless freedom will also 1981 02:45:57.280 --> 02:46:04.079 bring him death. Death alone releases all earthly ties. And 1982 02:46:04.440 --> 02:46:09.799 don't you regard the words freedom and death as synonymous? 1983 02:46:11.680 --> 02:46:17.479 I speak of political liberty, of political liberty. Oh, we 1984 02:46:17.559 --> 02:46:20.680 have no objection to that. You can have as much 1985 02:46:20.680 --> 02:46:25.479 as you please. Of that, of course, provided min themselves 1986 02:46:25.680 --> 02:46:29.159 ask for it. Are you sure they really want it? 1987 02:46:29.719 --> 02:46:34.760 If they do, please help yourself. It is all nonsense 1988 02:46:34.799 --> 02:46:37.799 and calumny to say that the Holy See is in 1989 02:46:37.879 --> 02:46:41.760 favor of reaction. I had the honor to be present 1990 02:46:41.840 --> 02:46:46.239 on the balcony of the Vatican when His Holiness blessed 1991 02:46:46.479 --> 02:46:52.120 the First French aeroplane that appeared over Rome and the 1992 02:46:52.200 --> 02:46:57.040 next Pope, I am sure will gladly bless the barricades. 1993 02:46:57.879 --> 02:47:01.959 The time of galilee has pass, asked mister Wondergood. And 1994 02:47:02.159 --> 02:47:07.600 we all know now that the earth does move. He 1995 02:47:07.680 --> 02:47:11.319 drew a circle in the air with his finger, indicating 1996 02:47:11.360 --> 02:47:16.159 the revolution of the earth. I said, you must permit 1997 02:47:16.319 --> 02:47:21.639 me to think over your proposal. Your eminence, Cardinal X 1998 02:47:22.040 --> 02:47:26.200 jumped up from his chair and gently touched my shoulder 1999 02:47:26.760 --> 02:47:32.239 with two of his aristocratic fingers. Oh, I am not 2000 02:47:32.440 --> 02:47:37.120 hurrying you, my good mister Wondergood. It was you who 2001 02:47:37.159 --> 02:47:41.319 were hurrying me. I am even convinced that you will 2002 02:47:41.319 --> 02:47:46.000 at first refuse me, but when after some little experience, 2003 02:47:46.520 --> 02:47:51.360 you will have realized the real needs of man, I 2004 02:47:51.639 --> 02:47:56.479 too love man, mister Wondergood, to be sure, not so passionately. 2005 02:47:56.600 --> 02:48:02.559 And he departed with the same remises, bearing himself with 2006 02:48:02.840 --> 02:48:08.079 dignity and dispensing blessings all about him. I saw him 2007 02:48:08.120 --> 02:48:11.479 again through the window at the entrance of the palace. 2008 02:48:12.040 --> 02:48:16.719 While the coachman was bringing up the carriage. He was 2009 02:48:17.040 --> 02:48:21.120 speaking into the ear of one of his abyss, whose 2010 02:48:21.319 --> 02:48:27.479 face resembled a black plate. The Cardinal's countenance no longer 2011 02:48:27.559 --> 02:48:32.280 reminded me of a monkey. It was rather the face 2012 02:48:32.360 --> 02:48:39.760 of a shaven, hungry, tired lion. This able actor needed 2013 02:48:39.879 --> 02:48:44.920 no dressing room for his makeup. Behind him stood a 2014 02:48:45.040 --> 02:48:50.479 tall black key, all dressed in black, reminding one of 2015 02:48:50.559 --> 02:48:56.559 an English baronet. Whenever his Eminence turned about in his direction, 2016 02:48:57.239 --> 02:49:03.680 he would respectfully lift his faded silk hat. And of 2017 02:49:03.840 --> 02:49:14.879 section seven Section eight of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 2018 02:49:15.360 --> 02:49:20.000 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 2019 02:49:20.000 --> 02:49:28.079 public domain recording by Carolyn. Section eight. Following the departure 2020 02:49:28.120 --> 02:49:32.159 of his Eminence, I was surrounded by a merry group 2021 02:49:32.280 --> 02:49:36.600 of friends, with whom I had filled the spare rooms 2022 02:49:36.719 --> 02:49:41.639 of my palace for the purpose of alleviating my loneliness. 2023 02:49:41.719 --> 02:49:47.120 And Ennui Toppy looked proud and happy. He was so 2024 02:49:47.239 --> 02:49:53.799 satiated with blessings that he fairly bulged. The artists, decorators, 2025 02:49:53.799 --> 02:49:58.879 and others, whatever you call them, were greatly impressed with 2026 02:49:59.200 --> 02:50:03.879 the cardinal visit, and spoke with much glee of the 2027 02:50:04.000 --> 02:50:09.920 remarkable expression of his face and the grandeur of his manner. 2028 02:50:10.799 --> 02:50:15.719 The Pope himself but When I remarked with the naivete 2029 02:50:15.719 --> 02:50:19.280 of a red skin that he reminded me of a monkey, 2030 02:50:20.040 --> 02:50:25.200 the shrewd cana yes burst into loud laughter, and one 2031 02:50:25.239 --> 02:50:30.520 of them immediately sketched a portrait of Cardinal X in 2032

02:50:30.600 --> 02:50:35.200 a cage. I am not a moralist to judge other 2033 02:50:35.280 --> 02:50:39.639 people for their petty sins. They will get what is 2034 02:50:39.959 --> 02:50:44.719 do them on their judgment day. And I was much 2035 02:50:44.959 --> 02:50:49.760 pleased by the cleverness of the laughing beasts. They do 2036 02:50:49.799 --> 02:50:53.440 not appear to have much faith in love for one's 2037 02:50:53.600 --> 02:50:58.639 fellow beings, And if I should rummage about among their drawings, 2038 02:50:59.040 --> 02:51:02.239 I would probably find a pretty good sketch of the 2039 02:51:02.479 --> 02:51:07.559 ass wonder good. I like that. I find relief in 2040 02:51:07.719 --> 02:51:13.360 communion with my little pleasant sinners from the babbling of 2041 02:51:13.600 --> 02:51:19.639 the great and disagreeable saints whose hands are covered with blood. 2042 02:51:21.040 --> 02:51:24.959 Then Topy asked me, and how much does he want? 2043 02:51:26.159 --> 02:51:33.239 He wants all? Toppy said with determination, don't you give 2044 02:51:33.360 --> 02:51:37.440 him all? He promised to make me a prelate. But 2045 02:51:37.840 --> 02:51:41.399 all the same, don't you give him all? One should 2046 02:51:41.479 --> 02:51:48.479 save his money every day. I have unpleasant experiences with Toppy. 2047 02:51:49.120 --> 02:51:54.520 People are constantly foisting counterfeit coin on him. When they 2048 02:51:54.680 --> 02:51:58.799 first gave him some. He was greatly perturbed and was 2049 02:51:58.879 --> 02:52:03.000 impressed with one what I said to him. You really 2050 02:52:03.040 --> 02:52:07.520 astonish me, Toppy, I said, it is ridiculous for an 2051 02:52:07.520 --> 02:52:11.440 old devil like you to accept counterfeit money from human 2052 02:52:11.520 --> 02:52:16.200 beings and allow yourself to be fooled. You ought to 2053 02:52:16.239 --> 02:52:19.639 be ashamed of yourself. Toppy, I fear you will make 2054 02:52:19.680 --> 02:52:25.000 a begar of me. Now. However, Toppy, entangled in the 2055 02:52:25.120 --> 02:52:29.319 mesh of the counterfeit and the genuine, seeks to preserve 2056 02:52:29.600 --> 02:52:34.280 both the one and the other. He is quite clever 2057 02:52:34.399 --> 02:52:38.799 in money matters, and the Cardinal tried in vain to 2058 02:52:39.040 --> 02:52:45.799 bribe him Toppy a prelate. But the shaven monkey does 2059 02:52:45.920 --> 02:52:50.959 really want my three billions. Apparently the belly of the 2060 02:52:51.000 --> 02:52:56.079 Holy Sea is rumbling with hunger. I gazed long at 2061 02:52:56.239 --> 02:53:01.079 the well executed caricature of the Cardinal, and the longer 2062 02:53:01.159 --> 02:53:05.479 I gazed, the less I liked it. No, there was 2063 02:53:05.879 --> 02:53:11.200 something missing. The artist had sensed the ridiculous pretty well. 2064 02:53:11.639 --> 02:53:14.920 But I do not see that fire of spiite and 2065 02:53:15.159 --> 02:53:20.440 malice which is in constant

play beneath the gray ashes 2066 02:53:20.559 --> 02:53:24.879 of terror. The best sheal and the human is there, 2067 02:53:25.440 --> 02:53:29.879 but it is not molded into that extraordinary mask, which, 2068 02:53:30.399 --> 02:53:34.040 now that a long distance separates me from the cardinal 2069 02:53:34.479 --> 02:53:38.799 and I no longer hear his heavy laughter is beginning 2070 02:53:38.840 --> 02:53:44.799 to exercise a most disagreeable influence over me. Or is 2071 02:53:44.840 --> 02:53:51.840 it because the extraordinary is inexpressible through pencil? In reality, 2072 02:53:52.040 --> 02:53:56.239 he is a cheap rascal, no better than a plain 2073 02:53:56.520 --> 02:54:01.799 pick pocket, and told me nothing new. He is human 2074 02:54:01.959 --> 02:54:06.840 enough and wise enough to cultivate that contemptuous laughter of 2075 02:54:06.959 --> 02:54:12.280 his at the expense of the rational. But he revealed 2076 02:54:12.360 --> 02:54:16.200 himself to me, and do not take offense at my 2077 02:54:16.280 --> 02:54:23.200 American rudeness, dear reader, somewhere behind his broad shoulders, cringing 2078 02:54:23.280 --> 02:54:30.200 with terror, there gleamed also your dear countenance. It was 2079 02:54:30.479 --> 02:54:34.559 like a dream, you understand. It was as if someone 2080 02:54:34.680 --> 02:54:40.959 were strangling you, and you, in stifled voice, cried to Heaven, 2081 02:54:41.719 --> 02:54:46.799 murder police. Ah, you do not know that third, which 2082 02:54:46.840 --> 02:54:50.760 is neither life nor death. And I know who it 2083 02:54:51.120 --> 02:54:58.040 was that was strangling you with his bony fingers. But 2084 02:54:58.280 --> 02:55:01.319 do I know, oh, oh, laugh at him who is 2085 02:55:01.440 --> 02:55:05.840 laughing at you? Comrade? I fear your turn is coming 2086 02:55:05.920 --> 02:55:09.920 to have some fun at my expense. Do I know 2087 02:55:10.959 --> 02:55:16.040 I came to you from the innermost depths, Mary and Serene, 2088 02:55:16.760 --> 02:55:21.600 blessed in the consciousness of my immortality. And I am 2089 02:55:21.680 --> 02:55:28.079 already hesitating. I am already trembling before this shaven monkey's face, 2090 02:55:28.719 --> 02:55:34.239 which dares to express its own low horror in such 2091 02:55:34.559 --> 02:55:40.600 audaciously grand style. Ah, and I have not even sold 2092 02:55:40.760 --> 02:55:46.120 my immorality. I have simply crushed it in my sleep, 2093 02:55:46.360 --> 02:55:51.879 as does a foolish mother her newborn babe. It has 2094 02:55:52.200 --> 02:55:57.920 simply faded beneath your sun and rains. It has become 2095 02:55:58.079 --> 02:56:03.479 a transparent cloth with without design, unfit to cover the 2096 02:56:03.600 --> 02:56:10.440 nakedness of a respectable gentleman. This wreaking, wonder good swamp 2097 02:56:10.719 --> 02:56:15.200 in which I am submerged to my eyes, envelops me 2098 02:56:15.399 --> 02:56:21.680 with mire, be fogs my consciousness, and stifles me with 2099 02:56:22.000 --> 02:56:28.000 the unbearable odors of decay. When do you usually begin 2100 02:56:28.159 --> 02:56:33.120 to decay, my friend, on the second the third day? 2101 02:56:33.479 --> 02:56:37.719 Or does it depend upon the climate. I am already 2102 02:56:37.760 --> 02:56:41.479 in the process of decay, and I am nauseated by 2103 02:56:41.520 --> 02:56:46.399 the odor of my entrails. Or are you so used 2104 02:56:46.639 --> 02:56:49.600 to the work of the worms that you take it 2105 02:56:49.639 --> 02:56:54.479 for the elevation of thought and inspiration. Oh my God, 2106 02:56:54.559 --> 02:56:57.079 I forgot that I may have some fair readers too. 2107 02:56:57.920 --> 02:57:02.440 I most humbly beg your pardon worthy folk for this 2108 02:57:02.719 --> 02:57:09.239 uncalled for discussion of odors. I am a most unpleasant conversationalist, 2109 02:57:09.479 --> 02:57:14.079 my lady, And as a perfumer, I am worse, no, 2110 02:57:14.479 --> 02:57:19.399 still worse. I am a disgusting mixture of Satan and 2111 02:57:19.479 --> 02:57:23.639 an American bear. And I know not how to appreciate 2112 02:57:23.840 --> 02:57:29.680 your good taste. Now I am still Satan. I still 2113 02:57:29.799 --> 02:57:34.000 know that I am immortal, and when my will shall 2114 02:57:34.079 --> 02:57:40.479 command me, I will strangle myself with my own bony fingers. 2115 02:57:41.040 --> 02:57:45.879 But if I should forget, then I shall distribute my 2116 02:57:46.000 --> 02:57:49.959 wealth among the poor. And with you, my friend, shall 2117 02:57:50.079 --> 02:57:55.120 crawl up to the old shaven monkey. I shall cling 2118 02:57:55.280 --> 02:58:01.360 with my American face to his soft slipper, in emitting blessings, 2119 02:58:02.040 --> 02:58:06.440 I shall weep. I shall rave with horror, save me 2120 02:58:06.559 --> 02:58:11.280 from death. And the old monkey, brushing the hair from 2121 02:58:11.319 --> 02:58:18.639 his face, reclining comfortably gleaming with the Holy light illuminating 2122 02:58:18.719 --> 02:58:23.799 all about it, and itself trembling with fear and horror, 2123 02:58:24.479 --> 02:58:29.600 will hastily continue to fool the world, the world which 2124 02:58:29.840 --> 02:58:35.079 so loves to be fooled, but I am jesting. I 2125 02:58:35.159 --> 02:58:39.200 wish to be serious now. I like cardinal eggs, and 2126 02:58:39.280 --> 02:58:42.799 I shall permit him to be guilt himself with gold. 2127 02:58:43.639 --> 02:58:48.239 I am weary. I must sleep my bed and wonder 2128 02:58:48.280 --> 02:58:52.760 good await me. I shall extinguish the light, and in 2129 02:58:52.799 --> 02:58:56.239 the darkness, I shall listen for a moment to the 2130 02:58:56.360 --> 02:59:01.280 clicking of the counting machine within my breast, And then 2131 02:59:01.680 --> 02:59:06.719 will come the great pianist, a drunken genius, and begin 2132 02:59:06.920 --> 02:59:12.440 drumming upon the black keys of my

brain. He knows 2133 02:59:12.479 --> 02:59:20.680 everything and has forgotten everything, this ingenuous drunkard, and confuses 2134 02:59:21.120 --> 02:59:30.159 the most inspiring landscapes with a swamp that is a dream. 2135 02:59:30.280 --> 02:59:40.159 End of section eight section nine of Satan's Diary by 2136 02:59:40.239 --> 02:59:46.920 Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is 2137 02:59:46.959 --> 02:59:53.799 in the public domain recording by Carolyn Section nine, February 2138 02:59:53.920 --> 03:00:01.360 twenty second, Rome Villa Orsini Magno was not at home. 2139 03:00:02.000 --> 03:00:07.600 I was received by Maria. A glorious peace has suddenly 2140 03:00:07.719 --> 03:00:12.879 descended upon me in wondrous calm. I breathe at this 2141 03:00:13.079 --> 03:00:19.840 moment like a schooner, its sails lowered. I doze in 2142 03:00:20.000 --> 03:00:24.959 the midday heat of the slumbering ocean, not a stir, 2143 03:00:25.520 --> 03:00:29.559 not a ripple. I feared to move or to open wide. 2144 03:00:29.680 --> 03:00:34.440 My eyes dazzled by the rays of the sun. I 2145 03:00:34.680 --> 03:00:40.200 breathe silently, and I would not rouse the slightest wave 2146 03:00:40.440 --> 03:00:47.399 upon the boundless smoothness of the sea. And quietly I 2147 03:00:47.600 --> 03:00:59.959 lay down my pen and of section nine, section ten 2148 03:01:00.200 --> 03:01:05.360 enough Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. 2149 03:01:06.040 --> 03:01:10.159 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by 2150 03:01:10.239 --> 03:01:19.520 Carolyn February twenty third. Villa Orsini. Thomas Magnus was not 2151 03:01:19.680 --> 03:01:24.360 at home, and to my great surprise I was received 2152 03:01:24.559 --> 03:01:29.000 by Maria. I do not suppose you would be interested 2153 03:01:29.040 --> 03:01:31.760 in how I greeted her and what I mumbled in 2154 03:01:31.840 --> 03:01:36.159 the first few moments of our meeting. I can only 2155 03:01:36.319 --> 03:01:39.719 say that I mumbled, and that I felt a strong 2156 03:01:39.879 --> 03:01:44.280 impulse to laugh. I could not lift my eyes to 2157 03:01:44.360 --> 03:01:49.680 gaze upon Maria until my thoughts cast off their soiled 2158 03:01:49.840 --> 03:01:55.280 garb and donned clean attire. As you see, I did 2159 03:01:55.319 --> 03:02:00.600 not lose consciousness altogether, but in vain did I take 2160 03:02:00.680 --> 03:02:08.399 these precautions that torture did not follow Maria's gaze was 2161 03:02:08.600 --> 03:02:14.680 clear and simple, and it contained neither searching, penetrating fire, 2162 03:02:15.239 --> 03:02:21.639 nor fatal forgiveness. It was calm and clear, like the 2163 03:02:21.840 --> 03:02:26.239 sky of the Campania. And I do not know how 2164 03:02:26.280 --> 03:02:32.440 it happened. It penetrated my entire being. She met me 2165 03:02:32.559 --> 03:02:36.799 in the garden. We sat down by the

gate, from 2166 03:02:37.000 --> 03:02:41.559 which vantage point we had a good view of the Campania. 2167 03:02:42.239 --> 03:02:47.719 When you gaze at the Campania, you cannot prattle nonsense. No, 2168 03:02:48.120 --> 03:02:52.200 it was she who gazed at the Campania, and I 2169 03:02:52.520 --> 03:02:58.360 gazed into her eyes, clear to the seventh sky, where 2170 03:02:58.399 --> 03:03:03.959 you end the count of your heavens. We were silent, or, 2171 03:03:04.200 --> 03:03:10.000 if you regard the following as conversation, we spoke. Are 2172 03:03:10.200 --> 03:03:16.000 those mountains? Yes, those are the mountains of Albania, And 2173 03:03:16.280 --> 03:03:21.559 there is Tivoli. She picked out little white houses in 2174 03:03:21.639 --> 03:03:25.479 the distance and pointed them out to me, and I 2175 03:03:25.639 --> 03:03:31.000 felt a peculiar calm and joy in Maria's gaze. The 2176 03:03:31.159 --> 03:03:36.200 suspicious resemblance of Maria to the Madonna no longer troubled me. 2177 03:03:37.040 --> 03:03:40.239 How can I possibly be troubled by the fact that 2178 03:03:40.319 --> 03:03:45.040 you resemble yourself? And came a moment when a great 2179 03:03:45.159 --> 03:03:50.000 peace of mind descended upon me. I have no words 2180 03:03:50.040 --> 03:03:54.559 of comparison, whereby to reveal to you that great and 2181 03:03:54.920 --> 03:03:59.840 bright calm I am forever conjuring up before me that 2182 03:04:00.280 --> 03:04:05.760 cursed schooner with its lowered sails, on which I never 2183 03:04:06.000 --> 03:04:11.200 really sailed, for I am afraid of sea sickness? Or 2184 03:04:11.440 --> 03:04:15.440 is it because on this night of my loneliness my 2185 03:04:15.719 --> 03:04:21.399 road is being illuminated by the star of the seas well? Yes, 2186 03:04:22.000 --> 03:04:25.799 I was a schooner, if you so desire it, and 2187 03:04:25.879 --> 03:04:30.600 if this is not agreeable to you, I was all. Besides, 2188 03:04:30.719 --> 03:04:34.920 I was nothing. You see what nonsense imagines out of 2189 03:04:34.959 --> 03:04:40.440 all this talk. When Wondergood begins to seek words and comparisons, 2190 03:04:41.840 --> 03:04:45.600 I was so calm that I even soon began to 2191 03:04:45.719 --> 03:04:52.159 gaze into Maria's eyes. I simply believed them. This is 2192 03:04:52.559 --> 03:04:58.520 deeper than mere gazing. When necessary, I shall find those 2193 03:04:58.680 --> 03:05:03.200 eyes again. In the meantime, I shall remain a schooner 2194 03:05:03.319 --> 03:05:08.200 with sails lowered. I shall be all and I shall 2195 03:05:08.239 --> 03:05:13.440 be nothing. Only once did a slight breeze stir my sails, 2196 03:05:13.879 --> 03:05:18.159 but only for a moment. That was when Maria pointed 2197 03:05:18.159 --> 03:05:23.319 out the Tiberian Road to me, cutting the green hills 2198 03:05:23.399 --> 03:05:26.840 like a white thread, and asked whether I had ever 2199 03:05:27.000 --> 03:05:34.719 traversed it before.

Yes, occasionally, Signorina. I often gaze upon 2200 03:05:34.760 --> 03:05:38.920 this road and think that it must be extremely pleasant 2201 03:05:39.079 --> 03:05:43.440 to traverse it by automobile. Have you a swift car? 2202 03:05:43.559 --> 03:05:51.040 Signor Oh? Yes, Signorina, very swift. But those I continued 2203 03:05:51.120 --> 03:05:56.840 in gentle reproach, who are themselves limitless distances and endlessness, 2204 03:05:57.319 --> 03:06:03.000 are in no need of any movement. Maria and an automobile, 2205 03:06:03.600 --> 03:06:07.680 a winged angel entering a trolley car for the sake 2206 03:06:07.719 --> 03:06:13.079 of speed, A swallow riding on a turtle, an arrow 2207 03:06:13.280 --> 03:06:16.920 on the humpy back of a hot carrier. Ah, all 2208 03:06:16.959 --> 03:06:22.280 comparisons lie. Why speak of swallows and arrows? Why speak 2209 03:06:22.319 --> 03:06:27.719 of any movement? For Maria, who embraces all distances. But 2210 03:06:27.920 --> 03:06:31.040 it is only now that I thought of the trolley 2211 03:06:31.079 --> 03:06:35.959 and the turtle. At that time I felt so calm 2212 03:06:36.000 --> 03:06:40.440 and peaceful. I was deep in such bliss that I 2213 03:06:40.479 --> 03:06:44.959 could think of nothing except that countenance of eternity and 2214 03:06:45.440 --> 03:06:51.399 undying light. A great calm came upon me on that day, 2215 03:06:51.920 --> 03:06:56.319 and nothing could disturb my endless bliss. It was not 2216 03:06:56.520 --> 03:07:02.280 long before Thomas Magnus returned, and a flying fish gleaming 2217 03:07:02.399 --> 03:07:06.600 for a moment above. The ocean could no more disturb 2218 03:07:06.799 --> 03:07:13.600 its blue smoothness than did Magnus disturb me. I received 2219 03:07:13.680 --> 03:07:19.200 him into my heart. I swallowed him calmly, and felt 2220 03:07:19.440 --> 03:07:23.760 no heavier burden in my stomach than a wail does 2221 03:07:24.079 --> 03:07:29.520 after swallowing a herring. It was gratifying to find Magnus 2222 03:07:29.559 --> 03:07:34.239 hospitable and mary. He pressed my hand, and his eyes 2223 03:07:34.319 --> 03:07:39.239 were bright and kind. Even his face seemed less pale 2224 03:07:39.680 --> 03:07:45.159 and not as weary as usual. I was invited to breakfast, 2225 03:07:45.799 --> 03:07:49.040 lest did worry you. Let me say right now that 2226 03:07:49.159 --> 03:07:54.760 I remained until late in the evening, when Maria had retired. 2227 03:07:55.200 --> 03:07:59.600 I told Magnus of the visit of Cardinal X. His 2228 03:08:00.079 --> 03:08:04.959 mery face darkened slightly, and in his eyes appeared his 2229 03:08:05.280 --> 03:08:12.000 former hostile flame. Cardinal X. He came to see you. 2230 03:08:13.799 --> 03:08:18.280 I narrated to him in detail my conversation with the 2231 03:08:18.319 --> 03:08:22.440 shaven monkey, and remarked that he had impressed me as 2232 03:08:22.479 --> 03:08:28.879 a scoundrel of no small caliber. Magnus frowned and

said, sternly, 2233 03:08:29.879 --> 03:08:33.319 you laugh in vain, mister wondergot. I have long known 2234 03:08:33.479 --> 03:08:37.600 Cardinal X, and I have been keeping a close eye 2235 03:08:37.639 --> 03:08:43.600 on him. He is evil cruel and dangerous. Despite his 2236 03:08:43.799 --> 03:08:50.120 ridiculous exterior, he is as cunning, merciless, and revengeful as Satan, 2237 03:08:51.760 --> 03:08:57.319 and you too, Magnus. Like Satan, this blue faced shaven orangutang, 2238 03:08:57.920 --> 03:09:03.879 this caressing gorilla, this monkey cavorting before a looking glass. 2239 03:09:04.440 --> 03:09:09.159 But I have exhausted my capacity for insult. Magnus's remark 2240 03:09:09.440 --> 03:09:12.280 fell like a stone to the bottom of my bliss. 2241 03:09:13.079 --> 03:09:19.319 I listened further. He is flirting with the socialists. His 2242 03:09:19.639 --> 03:09:24.600 jokes at the expense of Galilei are all lies. Just 2243 03:09:24.719 --> 03:09:28.920 as the enemies of Cromwell hanged him after his death, 2244 03:09:29.479 --> 03:09:33.680 so would Cardinal Eggs burn the bones of Galilei with 2245 03:09:33.879 --> 03:09:39.639 immense satisfaction. To this day he regards the movement of 2246 03:09:39.879 --> 03:09:44.120 the earth as a personal affront. It is an old school, 2247 03:09:44.239 --> 03:09:48.639 mister Wondergood. He will stop at nothing to overcome obstacles, 2248 03:09:49.120 --> 03:09:53.079 be it poison or murder, which he will take care 2249 03:09:53.159 --> 03:09:58.079 to attribute to the misfortune of accident. You smile, but 2250 03:09:58.200 --> 03:10:02.520 I cannot discuss the Vatican and smilingly, not so long 2251 03:10:02.600 --> 03:10:07.600 as it contains such and it will always produce someone 2252 03:10:07.840 --> 03:10:12.520 like Cardinal X. Look out, mister Wondergot, you have landed 2253 03:10:12.600 --> 03:10:16.559 within the sphere of his vision and interests. And let 2254 03:10:16.600 --> 03:10:21.479 me assure you that scores of eyes are now watching you, 2255 03:10:22.200 --> 03:10:28.000 perhaps me too, be on your guard. My friend Magnus 2256 03:10:28.120 --> 03:10:33.479 was quite excited. Fervently I shook his hand. Ah, Magnus, 2257 03:10:33.600 --> 03:10:37.920 but when will you agree to help me? But you 2258 03:10:38.120 --> 03:10:41.159 know that I do not like human beings. It is 2259 03:10:41.319 --> 03:10:46.959 you who loves them, mister Wondergoot, not I. A gleam 2260 03:10:47.040 --> 03:10:51.920 of irony appeared in his eyes. The Cardinal says that 2261 03:10:52.000 --> 03:10:54.479 it is not at all necessary to love people in 2262 03:10:54.600 --> 03:10:59.360 order to be happy. The contrary, he says, and who 2263 03:10:59.520 --> 03:11:03.239 told you that I want to make people happy again? 2264 03:11:03.440 --> 03:11:05.680 It is you who wants to do that, not I. 2265 03:11:06.440 --> 03:11:10.879 Hand over your billions to Cardinal X. His recipe for 2266 03:11:11.000 -->

03:11:16.200 happiness is not worse than other patent medicines. To be sure, 2267 03:11:16.280 --> 03:11:23.799 his recipe has one disadvantage. While dispensing happiness, it destroys people. 2268 03:11:24.600 --> 03:11:28.079 But is that important? You are too much of a 2269 03:11:28.120 --> 03:11:31.079 business man, mister Wondergood, And I see that you are 2270 03:11:31.120 --> 03:11:36.200 not sufficiently familiar with the world of our inventors of 2271 03:11:36.680 --> 03:11:41.319 the best means for the happiness of mankind. These means 2272 03:11:41.360 --> 03:11:45.120 are more numerous than the so called best tonics for 2273 03:11:45.200 --> 03:11:49.280 the growth of hair. I myself was a dreamer at 2274 03:11:49.319 --> 03:11:53.120 one time, and invented one or two in my youth, 2275 03:11:53.920 --> 03:11:58.280 but I was short on chemistry and badly singed my 2276 03:11:58.479 --> 03:12:01.799 hair in an explosion. I am very glad I did 2277 03:12:01.840 --> 03:12:06.440 not come across your billions in those days. I am joking, 2278 03:12:06.479 --> 03:12:10.040 mister Wondergood. But if you wish to be serious, here 2279 03:12:10.200 --> 03:12:15.040 is my answer. Keep on growing and multiplying your hogs, 2280 03:12:15.639 --> 03:12:20.879 make four of your three billions, continue selling your conserves, 2281 03:12:21.319 --> 03:12:26.079 provided they are not too rotten, and cease worrying about 2282 03:12:26.280 --> 03:12:30.920 the happiness of mankind. As long as the world likes 2283 03:12:31.079 --> 03:12:35.600 good ham, it will not deny you its love and admiration. 2284 03:12:37.520 --> 03:12:41.399 And how about those who have no means to buy ham? 2285 03:12:42.799 --> 03:12:46.319 What do you care about them? It is their belly. 2286 03:12:46.879 --> 03:12:50.840 Pardon me for the expression that is rumbling with hunger, 2287 03:12:51.159 --> 03:12:55.479 not yours. I congratulate you upon your new home. I 2288 03:12:55.520 --> 03:12:59.079 know the villa or see very well. It is a 2289 03:12:59.159 --> 03:13:05.360 magnificent of old Rome. I balked on the prospect of 2290 03:13:05.440 --> 03:13:10.559 another lecture on my palace. Yes, Magnus had again shoved 2291 03:13:10.639 --> 03:13:15.479 me aside. He did it brusquely and roughly, but his 2292 03:13:15.760 --> 03:13:22.520 voice lacked sternness, and he gazed at me softly and kindly. Well, 2293 03:13:22.840 --> 03:13:27.000 what of it to the devil? With humanity, its happiness 2294 03:13:27.040 --> 03:13:31.079 and its ham. I shall try later to bore an 2295 03:13:31.239 --> 03:13:36.799 entrance into Magnus's brain. In the meantime, leave me alone 2296 03:13:36.879 --> 03:13:44.719 with my great peace and Maria boundless peace and satan. 2297 03:13:45.440 --> 03:13:49.159 Isn't that a splendid touch in my play? And what 2298 03:13:49.319 --> 03:13:52.280 kind of a liar is he who can fool only 2299 03:13:52.479 --> 03:13:57.760 others to lie to oneself and believe it?

That is 2300 03:13:57.799 --> 03:14:03.399 an art? After breakfast, all three of us walked over 2301 03:14:03.479 --> 03:14:08.719 the dawny hills and slopes of the Campagna. It was 2302 03:14:09.040 --> 03:14:14.920 still early spring, and only little white flowers gently brightened 2303 03:14:15.040 --> 03:14:21.360 the young green earth. His soft brays diffused the scents 2304 03:14:21.399 --> 03:14:28.000 of the season, while little houses gleamed in distant Albano. 2305 03:14:28.280 --> 03:14:32.120 Maria walked in front of us, stopping now and then 2306 03:14:32.479 --> 03:14:37.879 and casting her heavenly eyes upon everything they could envisage. 2307 03:14:38.559 --> 03:14:41.799 When I returned to Rome, I shall order my brush 2308 03:14:41.879 --> 03:14:46.079 pusher to paint Madonna thus on a carpet of soft 2309 03:14:46.200 --> 03:14:51.920 green and little white flowers. Magnus was so frank and 2310 03:14:52.159 --> 03:14:57.159 merry that I again drew his attention to Maria's resemblance 2311 03:14:57.280 --> 03:15:01.319 to the Madonna and told him him of the miserable 2312 03:15:01.440 --> 03:15:06.600 brush pushes in search of a model. He laughed, agreat 2313 03:15:06.760 --> 03:15:11.319 with me in my opinion of the aforementioned resemblance, and 2314 03:15:11.639 --> 03:15:18.680 grew wistful. It is a fatal resemblance, mister Wondergood. You 2315 03:15:18.799 --> 03:15:22.879 remember that heavy moment when I spoke to you of blood. 2316 03:15:23.799 --> 03:15:28.520 Already there is blood at the feet of Maria, the 2317 03:15:28.520 --> 03:15:34.280 blood of one noble youth whose memory Maria and I cherish. 2318 03:15:34.520 --> 03:15:41.079 There are fatal faces, There are fatal resemblances, which confuse 2319 03:15:41.200 --> 03:15:45.879 our souls and lead to the abyss of self destruction. 2320 03:15:47.159 --> 03:15:51.280 I am the father of Maria, and yet I myself 2321 03:15:51.479 --> 03:15:56.120 hardly dared to touch her brow with my lips. What 2322 03:15:56.360 --> 03:16:01.920 insurmountable barriers does love race for its when it dares 2323 03:16:02.120 --> 03:16:07.799 to lift its eyes upon Maria. This was the only 2324 03:16:07.920 --> 03:16:11.920 moment of that happy day. When my ocean became overcast 2325 03:16:12.040 --> 03:16:16.559 with heavy clouds, as tangled as the beard of mad 2326 03:16:16.760 --> 03:16:21.479 king Lear, while a wild wind shook the sails of 2327 03:16:21.639 --> 03:16:26.879 my schooner. But I lifted my eyes to Maria. I 2328 03:16:26.959 --> 03:16:32.200 met her gaze. It was bright and calm like the 2329 03:16:32.360 --> 03:16:37.959 sky above us, and the wild wind disappeared without trace, 2330 03:16:38.600 --> 03:16:43.399 bearing away with it fragments of the darkness. I do 2331 03:16:43.479 --> 03:16:48.520 not know whether you understand these sea comparisons, which I 2332 03:16:48.680 --> 03:16:55.520 consider quite inadequate. Let me explain. I again grew quite calm. 2333 03:16:56.239 --> 03:17:01.120 What is that noble Roman youth to me, who himself 2334 03:17:01.280 --> 03:17:05.959 unable to find comparisons, was hurled over the head of 2335 03:17:06.040 --> 03:17:11.719 his pegasus. I am a white winged schooner, and beneath 2336 03:17:11.799 --> 03:17:15.360 me is an entire ocean. And was it not written 2337 03:17:15.440 --> 03:17:21.280 of her the incomparable? The day was long and quiet, 2338 03:17:21.719 --> 03:17:25.399 and I was charmed with the precision with which the 2339 03:17:25.440 --> 03:17:29.120 sun rolled down from its height to the rim of 2340 03:17:29.319 --> 03:17:33.840 the earth, with the measured pace with which the stars 2341 03:17:33.959 --> 03:17:40.200 covered the heavens, the large stars first, then the little ones, 2342 03:17:40.959 --> 03:17:48.280 until the whole sky sparkled and gleamed. Slowly grew the darkness. 2343 03:17:49.360 --> 03:17:56.040 Then came the rosy moon, at first somewhat rusty, then brilliant, 2344 03:17:56.680 --> 03:18:02.440 and swam majestically over the road, made free and warm 2345 03:18:02.639 --> 03:18:07.159 by the sun. But more than anything else did I 2346 03:18:07.399 --> 03:18:11.760 and Magnus feel charmed when we sat in the half 2347 03:18:11.879 --> 03:18:18.959 darkened room and heard Maria. She played the harp and sang, 2348 03:18:20.360 --> 03:18:24.760 and listening to the strains of the harp, I realized 2349 03:18:24.920 --> 03:18:30.399 why man likes music produced by taunt strings. I was 2350 03:18:30.520 --> 03:18:34.559 myself a taut string, and even when the finger no 2351 03:18:34.639 --> 03:18:40.879 longer touched me, the sound continued to vibrate and died 2352 03:18:41.360 --> 03:18:45.520 so slowly that I can still hear it in the 2353 03:18:45.559 --> 03:18:50.280 depth of my soul. And suddenly I saw that the 2354 03:18:50.479 --> 03:18:55.879 entire air was filled with tort and trembling strings. They 2355 03:18:56.120 --> 03:19:01.120 extend from star to star, scatter themselves over the earth, 2356 03:19:01.479 --> 03:19:06.600 and penetrate my heart like a network of telephone wires 2357 03:19:06.840 --> 03:19:11.760 through a central station. If you want more simple comparisons. 2358 03:19:12.799 --> 03:19:17.280 And there was something else I understood when I heard 2359 03:19:17.399 --> 03:19:23.200 Maria's voice. No, you are simply an animal. Wonder good 2360 03:19:23.840 --> 03:19:28.360 When I recall your loud complaints against love and its 2361 03:19:28.399 --> 03:19:33.879 songs cursed with the curse of monotony? Is that not 2362 03:19:34.079 --> 03:19:38.559 your own expression? I feel like sending you off to 2363 03:19:38.680 --> 03:19:43.440 a barn. You are a dull and dirty animal, and 2364 03:19:43.520 --> 03:19:46.760 I am ashamed that for a whole hour I listened 2365 03:19:46.840 --> 03:19:51.639 to your silly bellowing. You may hold words in contempt, 2366 03:19:52.120 --> 03:19:56.280 you may curse your

embraces, but do not touch love. 2367 03:19:56.440 --> 03:20:01.040 My friend, only through love, as it been given to you, 2368 03:20:01.200 --> 03:20:06.639 to obtain a glimpse into eternity. Away, my friend, leave 2369 03:20:06.879 --> 03:20:11.879 Satan to himself, he who, in the very blackest depth 2370 03:20:12.040 --> 03:20:18.559 of man has suddenly come upon new and unexpected flames. Away, 2371 03:20:19.200 --> 03:20:23.879 you must not see the joy and astonishment of Satan. 2372 03:20:26.200 --> 03:20:30.520 The hour was late, the moon indicated midnight. When I 2373 03:20:30.600 --> 03:20:35.280 left Magnus and ordered the chauffeur to drive by way 2374 03:20:35.319 --> 03:20:40.200 of the nu Mantinean road. I feared lest this great 2375 03:20:40.399 --> 03:20:44.920 calm might slip away from me, and I wanted to 2376 03:20:45.040 --> 03:20:49.879 overtake it in the depth of the Campania. But the 2377 03:20:50.000 --> 03:20:53.799 speed of the car broke the silence, and I left 2378 03:20:53.959 --> 03:20:58.959 my machine. It went to sleep at once beneath the 2379 03:20:59.079 --> 03:21:02.600 light of the moon, moon over its own shadow, and 2380 03:21:02.840 --> 03:21:08.479 looked like a huge gray stone bearing the road. For 2381 03:21:08.520 --> 03:21:12.399 the last time, its lights gleamed upon me, and it 2382 03:21:12.559 --> 03:21:18.840 became transformed into something invisible. I was left alone with 2383 03:21:19.040 --> 03:21:24.479 my shadow. We walked along the white road, I and 2384 03:21:24.639 --> 03:21:29.879 my shadow, stopping occasionally and then again resuming our march. 2385 03:21:30.600 --> 03:21:33.920 I sat down on a stone along the road, and 2386 03:21:34.159 --> 03:21:39.000 the black shadow hid behind my back. And here a 2387 03:21:39.120 --> 03:21:45.559 great quiet descended upon the earth. Upon the world. Upon 2388 03:21:45.680 --> 03:21:49.879 my chilled brow, I felt the cool touch of the 2389 03:21:50.000 --> 03:22:02.440 moon's kiss. End of section ten, Section eleven of Satan's 2390 03:22:02.440 --> 03:22:08.479 Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox 2391 03:22:08.479 --> 03:22:14.280 recording is in the public domain. Recording by Caroline March 2392 03:22:14.639 --> 03:22:22.600 Second Rome Villa Orsini. I pass my days in deep solitude. 2393 03:22:23.120 --> 03:22:28.440 My earthly existence is beginning to trouble me. With every hour, 2394 03:22:28.520 --> 03:22:31.280 I seem to forget what I have left behind the 2395 03:22:31.399 --> 03:22:37.040 wall of human things. My eyesight is weakening. I can 2396 03:22:37.079 --> 03:22:43.079 hardly see behind that wall. The shadows behind it scarcely move, 2397 03:22:43.559 --> 03:22:49.520 and I can no longer distinguish their outline. With every second, 2398 03:22:49.760 --> 03:22:54.479 my sense of hearing gross duller. I hear the quiet 2399 03:22:54.680 --> 03:22:59.559 squeak of a mouse fussing beneath the floor, but I 2400 03:22:59.600 --> 03:23:03.520 am dead if the thunders rolling above my head. The 2401 03:23:03.719 --> 03:23:08.879 silence of delusion envelops me, and I desperately strain my 2402 03:23:09.159 --> 03:23:14.559 ears to catch the voices of frankness. I left them 2403 03:23:14.600 --> 03:23:21.280 behind that impenetrable wall. With each moment, truth flees from 2404 03:23:21.399 --> 03:23:26.319 me in vain. My words try to overtake it. They 2405 03:23:26.479 --> 03:23:31.239 merely shoot by. In vain. I seek to surround it. 2406 03:23:31.360 --> 03:23:35.040 In the tight embraces of my thoughts, and rivet it 2407 03:23:35.159 --> 03:23:40.360 with chains. The prison disappears like air, and my embraces 2408 03:23:40.479 --> 03:23:45.719 envelop nothing but emptiness. Only yesterday it seemed to me 2409 03:23:46.319 --> 03:23:50.440 that I had caught my prey. I imprisoned it and 2410 03:23:50.639 --> 03:23:54.159 fastened it to the wall with a heavy chain. But 2411 03:23:54.360 --> 03:23:57.559 when I came to view it in the morning, I 2412 03:23:57.639 --> 03:24:03.600 found nothing but a shackled, scaled The rusty chains dangled 2413 03:24:03.760 --> 03:24:08.639 loosely from its neck, while the skull was nodding to 2414 03:24:08.799 --> 03:24:15.200 me in brazen laughter. You see, I am again seeking comparisons, 2415 03:24:15.760 --> 03:24:20.200 only to have the truth escape me. But what can 2416 03:24:20.239 --> 03:24:22.559 I do when I have left all my weapons at 2417 03:24:22.600 --> 03:24:28.559 home and must resort to your poor arsenal? Let guard 2418 03:24:28.719 --> 03:24:33.440 himself don this human form, and he will immediately begin 2419 03:24:33.559 --> 03:24:37.040 to speak to you an exquisite French or Yiddish, and 2420 03:24:37.159 --> 03:24:39.719 he will be unable to say more than it is 2421 03:24:39.840 --> 03:24:45.239 possible to say an exquisite French or Yiddish. God, And 2422 03:24:45.319 --> 03:24:50.799 I am only Satan, a modest, careless human devil. Of 2423 03:24:50.959 --> 03:24:54.440 course it was careless of me. But when I looked 2424 03:24:54.479 --> 03:25:00.280 upon your human life from beyond No wait, but I 2425 03:25:00.360 --> 03:25:03.959 have just been caught in a lie old man. When 2426 03:25:03.959 --> 03:25:08.000 I say from beyond, you understood at once it must 2427 03:25:08.079 --> 03:25:12.840 have been far away. Yes, you may have already determined 2428 03:25:12.920 --> 03:25:17.280 perhaps the approximate number of miles. Have you not at 2429 03:25:17.319 --> 03:25:21.959 your disposal a limitless number of zeros? Ah, it is 2430 03:25:22.079 --> 03:25:26.280 not true. My beyond is as close as you are here, 2431 03:25:26.879 --> 03:25:30.879 and it is not further away than this very spot. 2432 03:25:31.760 --> 03:25:35.719 You see, what nonsense, what a lie? You and I 2433 03:25:35.799 --> 03:25:40.959 are pirouetting about, cast away your meter and your scales, 2434 03:25:41.399 -->

03:25:45.399 and only listen as if behind your back there were 2435 03:25:45.639 --> 03:25:49.479 no ticking of a clock, and in your breast there 2436 03:25:49.559 --> 03:25:54.319 were no counting machine. And so when I looked upon 2437 03:25:54.399 --> 03:25:58.479 your life from beyond, it appeared to me a great 2438 03:25:58.520 --> 03:26:03.600 and merry game of immortal fragments? Do you know what 2439 03:26:03.639 --> 03:26:08.879 a puppets show is? When one doll breaks, its place 2440 03:26:09.000 --> 03:26:13.239 is taken by another, but the play goes on, The 2441 03:26:13.399 --> 03:26:18.719 music is not silenced, The auditors continue to applaud, and 2442 03:26:18.799 --> 03:26:24.719 it is all very interesting. Does the spectator concern himself 2443 03:26:24.760 --> 03:26:29.719 about the fate of the fragments thrust upon the scrap heap? 2444 03:26:30.479 --> 03:26:34.600 He simply looks on in enjoyment. So it was with 2445 03:26:34.920 --> 03:26:39.719 me too. I heard the beat of the drums and 2446 03:26:39.920 --> 03:26:44.680 watched the antics of the clowns, and I so love 2447 03:26:44.760 --> 03:26:49.920 immortal play that I felt like becoming an actor myself. Ah, 2448 03:26:50.079 --> 03:26:52.239 I did not know then that it is not a 2449 03:26:52.280 --> 03:26:56.879 play at all, and that the scrap heap was terrible 2450 03:26:57.000 --> 03:27:00.920 when one becomes a puppet himself, and that the broken 2451 03:27:01.040 --> 03:27:08.120 fragments reeked with blood. You deceived me, my friend, but 2452 03:27:08.319 --> 03:27:12.000 you are astonished. You knit your brow in contempt and 2453 03:27:12.239 --> 03:27:16.479 ask who is this satan who does not know such 2454 03:27:16.719 --> 03:27:22.799 simple things? You are accustomed to respect the devil. You 2455 03:27:22.959 --> 03:27:26.479 listen to the commonest dog as if he were speaking 2456 03:27:26.680 --> 03:27:31.799 ex cathedra. You have surrendered to me your last dollar, 2457 03:27:32.280 --> 03:27:35.760 as if I were a professor of white and black magic. 2458 03:27:36.239 --> 03:27:40.680 And suddenly I reveal myself an ignoramus in the most 2459 03:27:40.719 --> 03:27:46.879 elementary matters. I understand your disappointment. I myself have grown 2460 03:27:46.959 --> 03:27:52.000 to respect mediums and cards. I am ashamed to confess 2461 03:27:52.159 --> 03:27:56.479 that I cannot perform a single trick or kill a 2462 03:27:56.600 --> 03:28:00.479 bid buck by simply casting my eye upon it, but 2463 03:28:00.600 --> 03:28:05.280 even with my finger. But what matters most to me 2464 03:28:05.600 --> 03:28:10.520 is truth. Yes, I did not know your simplest things. 2465 03:28:11.159 --> 03:28:15.440 Apparently the blame for this is for that divide which 2466 03:28:15.639 --> 03:28:19.799 separates us. Just as you do not know my real 2467 03:28:19.920 --> 03:28:24.600 name and cannot pronounce a simple thing like that, so 2468 03:28:24.799 --> 03:28:29.840 I did

not know yours, my earthly shadow. And only now, 2469 03:28:30.280 --> 03:28:34.200 in great ecstasy do I begin to grasp the wealth 2470 03:28:34.719 --> 03:28:39.000 that is in you. Think of it such a simple 2471 03:28:39.200 --> 03:28:43.000 matter as counting. I had to learn from Wonder Good. 2472 03:28:43.639 --> 03:28:46.159 I would not even be able to button my attire 2473 03:28:46.600 --> 03:28:50.399 if it were not for the experienced and dexterous fingers 2474 03:28:50.440 --> 03:28:55.360 of that fine chap Wonder Good. Now I am human 2475 03:28:55.920 --> 03:29:00.879 like you. The limited sensations of my being I regard 2476 03:29:00.920 --> 03:29:04.399 as my knowledge, and with respect, I now touch my 2477 03:29:04.600 --> 03:29:10.760 own nose when necessity arises. It is not merely a nose, 2478 03:29:11.440 --> 03:29:15.680 It is an axiom. I am now myself a struggling 2479 03:29:15.799 --> 03:29:21.520 doll in a theater of Marionette's. My porcelain head moves 2480 03:29:21.639 --> 03:29:25.200 to the right end to the left, my hands move 2481 03:29:25.319 --> 03:29:29.639 up and down. I am merry, I am gay, I 2482 03:29:29.680 --> 03:29:35.159 am at play. I know everything except whose hand is 2483 03:29:35.200 --> 03:29:40.120 it that pulls the string behind me? And in the 2484 03:29:40.280 --> 03:29:45.280 distance I can see the scrap heap from which protrude 2485 03:29:45.600 --> 03:29:51.559 two little feet clad in ball slippers. Now this is 2486 03:29:51.680 --> 03:29:56.000 not the play of the immortal that I sought it. 2487 03:29:56.239 --> 03:30:00.840 No more resembles merriment than do the convey indulsions of 2488 03:30:00.879 --> 03:30:06.479 an epileptic a good negro dance. Here anyone is what 2489 03:30:06.680 --> 03:30:11.159 he is, and here everyone seeks not to be what 2490 03:30:11.280 --> 03:30:15.639 he is. And it is an endless process of fraud 2491 03:30:16.159 --> 03:30:20.159 that I mistook for a merry theater. What a mistake, 2492 03:30:20.760 --> 03:30:28.600 how silly it was of Almighty immortal Satan. Here everyone 2493 03:30:28.719 --> 03:30:33.479 is dragging everyone else to court, the living, or dragging 2494 03:30:33.559 --> 03:30:37.879 the dead the dead the living. The history of the 2495 03:30:37.920 --> 03:30:42.520 former is the history of the letter, and God too 2496 03:30:42.799 --> 03:30:49.360 is his history. And this endless nonsense, this dirty stream 2497 03:30:49.440 --> 03:30:57.760 of false witnesses, of perjurers, of false judges and false scoundrels, 2498 03:30:58.200 --> 03:31:02.520 I mistook for the play of immortals. Or have I 2499 03:31:02.639 --> 03:31:08.079 landed in the wrong place? Tell me, stranger, whither does 2500 03:31:08.479 --> 03:31:14.360 this road lead? You are pale? Your trembling finger points 2501 03:31:14.399 --> 03:31:20.200 in the direction of Ah the scrap heap. Yesterday I 2502 03:31:20.319 --> 03:31:24.920 questioned Toppy about his former life the first time he 2503 03:31:25.079 --> 03:31:29.079 donned the human form. I wanted to know how a 2504 03:31:29.159 --> 03:31:33.639 doll feels when its head is cracking and the thread 2505 03:31:33.799 --> 03:31:38.399 which moves it is severed. We lit our pipes and 2506 03:31:38.600 --> 03:31:43.559 with stains of beer before us. Like two good Germans, 2507 03:31:44.200 --> 03:31:49.879 we ventured into the realm of philosophy. It developed, however, 2508 03:31:50.440 --> 03:31:56.959 that this numbskull has forgotten everything, and my questions only 2509 03:31:57.120 --> 03:32:03.159 confused him. Is it possible that you have really forgotten everything? Toppy? 2510 03:32:04.200 --> 03:32:07.159 Wait till you die, and you will learn all about 2511 03:32:07.200 --> 03:32:10.200 it yourself. I do not like to think of it. 2512 03:32:10.559 --> 03:32:15.959 What good is it? Then? It is not good? And 2513 03:32:16.079 --> 03:32:21.120 have you ever heard of anyone praising it? Quite true, 2514 03:32:21.799 --> 03:32:26.479 no one has yet showered praises upon it, and no 2515 03:32:26.559 --> 03:32:33.680 one will. I know. We sat silent. And do you remember, Toppy, 2516 03:32:33.719 --> 03:32:37.959 whence you have come from Illinois, the same place as 2517 03:32:38.000 --> 03:32:41.959 you come from. No I am speaking of something else. 2518 03:32:42.520 --> 03:32:46.520 Do you remember whence you came? Do you recollect your 2519 03:32:46.840 --> 03:32:54.479 real name? Toppy looked at me strangely, paled slightly, and 2520 03:32:54.719 --> 03:32:59.239 proceeded to clean his pipe. Then he arose, and, without 2521 03:32:59.319 --> 03:33:03.680 lifting his eyes, said, I beg you not to speak 2522 03:33:03.719 --> 03:33:07.479 to me. Thus, mister Wondergot, I am an honest citizen 2523 03:33:07.559 --> 03:33:12.520 of the United States, and I do not understand your insinuations. 2524 03:33:13.399 --> 03:33:17.639 But he remembers not in vain did he grow pale. 2525 03:33:18.319 --> 03:33:21.680 He is seeking to forget and will forget soon enough. 2526 03:33:22.520 --> 03:33:26.399 This double play of Earth and Heaven is too much 2527 03:33:26.520 --> 03:33:30.719 for him, and he has surrendered entirely to the Earth. 2528 03:33:31.680 --> 03:33:33.920 There will come a time when he will take me 2529 03:33:34.000 --> 03:33:37.840 off to an insane asylum, or betray me to Cardinal 2530 03:33:38.319 --> 03:33:41.000 X if I dare to speak to him of Satan, 2531 03:33:43.000 --> 03:33:47.639 I respect you, Toppy, you are quite a man, I said, 2532 03:33:48.079 --> 03:33:52.440 and kissed his brow. I always kiss the brow of 2533 03:33:52.680 --> 03:33:58.719 people I love. Again, I departed for the green Campagna desert. 2534 03:33:59.440 --> 03:34:02.879 I follow with the best models. When I am ill 2535 03:34:02.920 --> 03:34:06.520 at ease, I go into the desert. There I called 2536 03:34:06.639 --> 03:34:10.799 for Satan and cursed his name, but he would not 2537

03:34:11.120 --> 03:34:15.479 answer me. I lay there long in the dust, pleading, 2538 03:34:15.879 --> 03:34:19.879 When from somewhere in the depth of the desert, I 2539 03:34:19.959 --> 03:34:24.680 heard the muffled tread of feet, and a bright light 2540 03:34:24.840 --> 03:34:29.120 helped me arise. And again I saw the Eden I 2541 03:34:29.200 --> 03:34:35.600 had left behind, its green tents and unfading sunrise, its 2542 03:34:35.760 --> 03:34:40.719 quiet lights upon the placid waters. And again I heard 2543 03:34:40.959 --> 03:34:46.680 the silent murmurs of lips born of immaculate conception. While 2544 03:34:47.000 --> 03:34:52.120 toward my eyes I saw approaching truth, and I stretched 2545 03:34:52.159 --> 03:34:56.959 out my hands to her and pleaded, give me back 2546 03:34:57.120 --> 03:35:05.360 my liberty. Maria, who called Maria Satan again departed. The 2547 03:35:05.440 --> 03:35:11.840 lights upon the placid waters were extinguished, and truth, frightened, disappeared. 2548 03:35:12.319 --> 03:35:16.479 And again I sit upon the earth, wearing my human form, 2549 03:35:16.719 --> 03:35:21.760 and gazing dully upon the painted world, and on my 2550 03:35:22.000 --> 03:35:29.959 knees rested my shackled hands. Maria, it is painful for 2551 03:35:30.040 --> 03:35:33.680 me to admit that this is really an invention, the 2552 03:35:33.719 --> 03:35:38.280 coming of Satan with his lightened ringing step, the gardens 2553 03:35:38.280 --> 03:35:43.079 of Eden, and my shackled hands. But I needed your attention, 2554 03:35:43.559 --> 03:35:46.559 and I could not get it without these gardens of 2555 03:35:46.879 --> 03:35:52.200 Eden and these chains, the two extremes of your life. 2556 03:35:53.280 --> 03:35:59.959 The gardens of Eden, how beautiful, chains, how terrible. Moreover, 2557 03:36:00.079 --> 03:36:04.239 that all this talk is much more entertaining than merely 2558 03:36:04.399 --> 03:36:10.239 squatting on a hill, cigar in one's freehand, thinking lazily 2559 03:36:10.319 --> 03:36:16.200 and yawning while awaiting the arrival of the chauffeur. And 2560 03:36:16.280 --> 03:36:20.239 as far as Maria is concerned, I brought her into 2561 03:36:20.280 --> 03:36:24.559 the situation because from Afar I could see the black 2562 03:36:24.840 --> 03:36:32.280 cypress trace above the Magnus home, an involuntary association of ideas, 2563 03:36:32.600 --> 03:36:39.639 you understand, Can a man with such sight really see Satan? 2564 03:36:40.520 --> 03:36:44.079 Can a person of such dull ear hear the so 2565 03:36:44.399 --> 03:36:51.520 called murmurs born of immaculate conception nonsense, and please I 2566 03:36:51.600 --> 03:36:55.959 beg of you. Call me just wonder good. Call me 2567 03:36:56.239 --> 03:36:58.680 just wonder good. Until the day when I crack my 2568 03:36:58.879 --> 03:37:04.559 skull open with that plaything which opens the most narrow 2569 03:37:04.799 --> 03:37:10.920 door into limitless space. Call me just Henry Wondergot of Illinois. 2570 03:37:11.360 --> 03:37:15.479 You will find that I will respond promptly and obligingly. 2571 03:37:16.600 --> 03:37:20.440 But if some day you should find my head crushed, 2572 03:37:21.040 --> 03:37:27.079 examine carefully its fragments. There in red ink will be 2573 03:37:27.200 --> 03:37:33.159 engraved the proud name of Satan. Bend thy head in 2574 03:37:33.360 --> 03:37:38.280 reverence and bow to him. But do not do me 2575 03:37:38.440 --> 03:37:42.559 the honor of accompanying my fragments to the scrap heap. 2576 03:37:42.879 --> 03:37:47.600 One should never bow so respectfully to Jaine's cast off. 2577 03:37:49.879 --> 03:37:59.719 End of section eleven Section twelve of Satan's Diary by 2578 03:37:59.799 --> 03:38:05.399 Lee Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is 2579 03:38:05.399 --> 03:38:12.920 in the public domain. Recording by Carolyn Section twelve, March ninth, 2580 03:38:13.319 --> 03:38:20.280 nineteen fourteen, Rome Villa Orsini. Last night I had an 2581 03:38:20.280 --> 03:38:25.319 important conversation with Thomas Magnos. When Maria had retired. I 2582 03:38:25.399 --> 03:38:30.040 began as usual to prepare to return home, but Magnus 2583 03:38:30.040 --> 03:38:35.879 detained me. Why go, mister Wondergood, Stay here for the night, 2584 03:38:36.399 --> 03:38:41.000 Stay here and listen to the barking of Mars. For 2585 03:38:41.319 --> 03:38:46.120 several days, dense clouds had been gathering over Rome, and 2586 03:38:46.319 --> 03:38:49.559 a heavy rain had been beating down upon its walls 2587 03:38:49.600 --> 03:38:54.000 and ruins. This morning I read in a newspaper a 2588 03:38:54.200 --> 03:38:59.559 very portentous weather bulletin sie eleo nouvelo il vento forte 2589 03:39:00.120 --> 03:39:05.879 e mare molto agitato. Toward evening, the thread turned into 2590 03:39:05.920 --> 03:39:10.879 a storm, and the enraged sea hurled across a range 2591 03:39:10.920 --> 03:39:15.639 of ninety miles, its moist odors upon the walls of 2592 03:39:15.879 --> 03:39:23.040 Rome and the real Roman sea. The billowy Campania sang 2593 03:39:23.200 --> 03:39:28.319 forth with all the voices of the tempest, like the ocean, 2594 03:39:28.840 --> 03:39:33.319 and at moments it seemed that its immovable hills, its 2595 03:39:33.399 --> 03:39:38.520 ancient waves, long evaporated by the sun, had once more 2596 03:39:38.680 --> 03:39:42.799 come to life and moved forward upon the city walls. 2597 03:39:43.959 --> 03:39:49.680 Mad Mars, this creator of terror and tempest, flew like 2598 03:39:49.760 --> 03:39:54.879 an arrow across its wide spaces, crushed the head of 2599 03:39:55.120 --> 03:39:59.840 every blade of grass to the ground side, and pant 2600 03:40:00.200 --> 03:40:06.120 and hurled heavy gusts of wind into the whining cypress trees. 2601 03:40:07.319 --> 03:40:11.479 Occasionally he would seize and hurl the nearest objects he 2602 03:40:11.559 -->

03:40:15.520 could lay his hands upon. The brick roofs of the 2603 03:40:15.639 --> 03:40:21.559 houses shook beneath his blows, and their stone walls roared, 2604 03:40:21.719 --> 03:40:26.639 as if inside the very stones, the imprisoned wind was 2605 03:40:26.879 --> 03:40:32.120 gasping and seeking an escape. We listened to the storm 2606 03:40:32.280 --> 03:40:38.159 all evening. Maria was calm, but Magnus was visibly nervous. 2607 03:40:38.639 --> 03:40:44.360 Constantly rubbed his white hands and listened intently to the 2608 03:40:44.399 --> 03:40:49.559 antics of the wind, to its murderous whistles, its roar 2609 03:40:49.840 --> 03:40:55.719 and its signs, its laughter and its groans. The wild 2610 03:40:55.959 --> 03:41:00.000 haired artist was cunning enough to be slayer and victim, 2611 03:41:00.840 --> 03:41:04.760 to strangle, and to plead for mercy at one and 2612 03:41:04.959 --> 03:41:09.600 the same time. If Magnus had the moving ears of 2613 03:41:09.719 --> 03:41:16.479 an animal, they would have remained immovable. His thin nose trembled, 2614 03:41:17.040 --> 03:41:21.680 his dim eyes grew dark, as if they reflected the 2615 03:41:21.719 --> 03:41:26.920 shadows of the clouds. His thin lips were twisted into 2616 03:41:26.959 --> 03:41:32.239 a quick and strange smile. I too, was quite excited. 2617 03:41:32.719 --> 03:41:36.520 It was the first time since I became human I 2618 03:41:36.639 --> 03:41:40.360 had heard such a storm, and it raised in me 2619 03:41:40.479 --> 03:41:44.920 a white terror, almost with the horror of a child. 2620 03:41:45.319 --> 03:41:50.360 I avoided the windows beyond which lay the night. Why 2621 03:41:50.440 --> 03:41:54.520 does it not come here, I thought? Can the window 2622 03:41:54.719 --> 03:41:57.760 pane possibly keep it out if it should wish to 2623 03:41:57.840 --> 03:42:03.959 break through? Someone knocked at the iron gates several times, 2624 03:42:04.479 --> 03:42:08.520 the gates at which I and Toppy once knocked for admission. 2625 03:42:09.920 --> 03:42:12.360 That is my chauffeur, who has come to fetch me, 2626 03:42:12.879 --> 03:42:17.719 said I. We must admit him. Magnus glanced at me 2627 03:42:17.879 --> 03:42:22.719 from the corner of his eye and remarked, sadly, there 2628 03:42:22.840 --> 03:42:26.159 is no road on that side of the house. There 2629 03:42:26.280 --> 03:42:30.719 is nothing but field there. That is mad Mars, who 2630 03:42:30.799 --> 03:42:36.120 is begging for admittance. And as if he had actually 2631 03:42:36.200 --> 03:42:42.000 heard his words, mass broke out into laughter and disappeared whistling. 2632 03:42:42.879 --> 03:42:47.719 But the knocking was soon resumed. It seemed as if 2633 03:42:47.760 --> 03:42:53.040 someone were tearing off the iron gates, and several voices, 2634 03:42:53.719 --> 03:42:59.319 shouting and interrupting each other, were anxiously speaking. An infant 2635 03:42:59.479 --> 03:43:04.319 was heard. Those must be people who have lost their way. 2636 03:43:04.840 --> 03:43:10.000 You hear an infant. We must open the gates. Well 2637 03:43:10.120 --> 03:43:15.040 we'll see, said Magnus angrily. I will go with you. 2638 03:43:15.120 --> 03:43:20.559 Magnus sit still, wonder good. This friend of mine here 2639 03:43:20.840 --> 03:43:25.879 is quite enough. He quickly drew that revolver from the 2640 03:43:26.000 --> 03:43:30.200 table drawer, and with a peculiar expression of love and 2641 03:43:30.399 --> 03:43:35.239 even gentleness, he grasped it in his broad hand and 2642 03:43:35.479 --> 03:43:39.079 carefully hid it in his pocket. He walked out, and 2643 03:43:39.239 --> 03:43:42.159 we could hear the cry that met him at the gate. 2644 03:43:44.000 --> 03:43:48.920 On that evening, I somehow avoided Maria's eyes, and I 2645 03:43:49.079 --> 03:43:53.000 felt quite ill at ease when we were left alone, 2646 03:43:53.159 --> 03:43:57.319 And suddenly I felt like sinking to the floor and 2647 03:43:57.479 --> 03:44:01.520 kneeling before her. Saw that her her dress might touch 2648 03:44:01.680 --> 03:44:05.079 my face. I felt as if I had hair on 2649 03:44:05.200 --> 03:44:09.040 my back, that sparks would at any moment begin to 2650 03:44:09.120 --> 03:44:13.239 fly if someone were to touch it, and that this 2651 03:44:13.399 --> 03:44:18.600 would relieve me. Thus, in my mind, I moved closer 2652 03:44:18.680 --> 03:44:23.520 and closer to her. When Magnus returned and silently put 2653 03:44:23.719 --> 03:44:28.360 the revolver back into the drawer, the voices at the 2654 03:44:28.479 --> 03:44:34.079 door had ceased, and the knocking too. Who was that, 2655 03:44:34.879 --> 03:44:40.559 asked Maria. Magnus angrily shook off the drops of rain 2656 03:44:40.680 --> 03:44:45.559 upon his coat. Crazy mass, Who else did you expect? 2657 03:44:47.079 --> 03:44:50.559 But I thought I heard you speak to him, I jested, 2658 03:44:51.200 --> 03:44:55.159 trying to conceal the shiver produced by the cold brought 2659 03:44:55.200 --> 03:44:59.639 in by Magnus. Yes, I told him it was not 2660 03:45:00.120 --> 03:45:05.280 light to drag about with him such suspicious company. He 2661 03:45:05.399 --> 03:45:10.840 excused himself and said he would come no more. Magnus 2662 03:45:10.920 --> 03:45:15.520 laughed and added, I am convinced that all the murderers 2663 03:45:15.559 --> 03:45:19.879 of Rome and the Campagna are to night, threatening to 2664 03:45:19.959 --> 03:45:23.959 ambush people and hugging their stilettos as if they were 2665 03:45:24.040 --> 03:45:32.040 their sweethearts. Again came a muffled and timid knock. Again 2666 03:45:32.719 --> 03:45:38.280 cried Magnus angrily, as if mad Mars had really promised 2667 03:45:38.479 --> 03:45:43.360 to knock no more. But the knock was followed by 2668 03:45:43.399 --> 03:45:49.079 the ring of a bell. It was my chauffeur. Maria retired, 2669 03:45:49.399 --> 03:45:53.559 while I, as I have already said, had

been invited 2670 03:45:53.639 --> 03:45:57.040 by Magnus to remain over a night, to which I 2671 03:45:57.079 --> 03:46:01.319 agreed after some hesitation. I was not at all taken 2672 03:46:01.360 --> 03:46:06.040 by Magnus and his revolver, and still less was I 2673 03:46:06.159 --> 03:46:12.639 attracted by this silly darkness. The kind host himself went 2674 03:46:12.719 --> 03:46:17.000 out to dismiss the chauffeur. Through the window I could 2675 03:46:17.200 --> 03:46:20.920 see the bright lights of the lanterns of the machine, 2676 03:46:21.360 --> 03:46:24.440 and for a moment I yearned to return home. To 2677 03:46:24.559 --> 03:46:30.440 my pleasant sinners, who were probably imbibing their wine at 2678 03:46:30.559 --> 03:46:35.520 that moment in expectation of my return. Ah, I have 2679 03:46:35.719 --> 03:46:40.639 long since abandoned philanthropy and am now leading the life 2680 03:46:40.639 --> 03:46:45.200 of a drunkard and a gambler. And again, as on 2681 03:46:45.399 --> 03:46:50.879 that first night, the quiet little white house, this soul 2682 03:46:51.000 --> 03:46:59.440 of Maria looked terrible and suspicious, this revolver, these stains 2683 03:46:59.479 --> 03:47:04.360 of blue upon the white hands, and maybe there are 2684 03:47:04.479 --> 03:47:10.000 more stains like these here. But it was too late 2685 03:47:10.159 --> 03:47:14.360 to change my mind. The machine had gone, and Magnus, 2686 03:47:14.399 --> 03:47:18.559 by the light, had not a blue but a very 2687 03:47:18.760 --> 03:47:23.360 black and beautiful bed, and his eyes were smiling pleasantly. 2688 03:47:24.639 --> 03:47:28.719 In his broad hand he carried not a weapon but 2689 03:47:29.079 --> 03:47:33.760 two bottles of wine, and from afar, he shouted, merely, 2690 03:47:34.760 --> 03:47:38.120 on a night like this, there's but one thing to do, 2691 03:47:38.680 --> 03:47:42.559 to drink wine. Even mass when I spoke to him, 2692 03:47:42.600 --> 03:47:47.840 looked drunk. To me, the rogue your glass, mister wondergirt. 2693 03:47:49.399 --> 03:47:54.239 But when the glasses had been filled, this merry drunkard 2694 03:47:54.280 --> 03:47:58.559 hardly touched the wine, and, sitting deep in his chair, 2695 03:47:59.120 --> 03:48:04.799 asked me to drink and to talk without particular enthusiasm, 2696 03:48:05.360 --> 03:48:08.639 Listening to the noise of the wind, and thinking about 2697 03:48:08.760 --> 03:48:13.079 the length of the night before us, I told Magnus 2698 03:48:13.120 --> 03:48:18.200 of the new and insistent visits of Cardinal X. It 2699 03:48:18.479 --> 03:48:22.200 seemed to me that the Cardinal had actually put spice 2700 03:48:22.280 --> 03:48:26.879 on my trail. And what is more strange, he has 2701 03:48:27.040 --> 03:48:31.440 managed to gain quite an influence over the unbribable Topy. 2702 03:48:32.440 --> 03:48:36.399 Topy is still the same devoted friend of mine, but 2703 03:48:36.520 --> 03:48:41.639 he seems to have grown sad, goes to confessional every day, 2704 03:48:42.040 --> 03:48:48.319 and is trying to persuade me to accept Catholicism. Magnus 2705 03:48:48.360 --> 03:48:53.000 listened calmly to my story, and with still greater reluctance, 2706 03:48:53.120 --> 03:48:56.840 I told him of the many unsuccessful efforts to open 2707 03:48:56.879 --> 03:49:02.879 my purse, of the endless petitions badly written in which 2708 03:49:03.040 --> 03:49:07.959 the truth appears to be falsehood, because of the boarsome 2709 03:49:08.200 --> 03:49:15.840 monotony of tears, bows and naive flattery of crazy inventors, 2710 03:49:15.879 --> 03:49:20.399 of all sorts of people with hasty projects, gentlemen who 2711 03:49:20.440 --> 03:49:25.360 seek to utilize as quickly as possible their temporary absence 2712 03:49:25.479 --> 03:49:31.399 from jail, of all this hungry mass of humanity aroused 2713 03:49:31.479 --> 03:49:38.280 by the smell of weakly protected billions my secretaries. There 2714 03:49:38.319 --> 03:49:42.920 are six of them now hardly manage to handle all 2715 03:49:43.040 --> 03:49:48.280 this mess of tears on paper and the madly babbling 2716 03:49:48.479 --> 03:49:53.639 fools who fill the doors of my palace. I fear 2717 03:49:53.719 --> 03:49:56.360 that I will have to build me an underground exit. 2718 03:49:56.879 --> 03:50:00.440 They are watching me even at nights. They are aiming 2719 03:50:00.479 --> 03:50:04.239 at me with pigs and shovels, as if they were 2720 03:50:04.239 --> 03:50:09.280 in the Klondike. The nonsense published by these accursed newspapers 2721 03:50:09.600 --> 03:50:12.600 about the billions I'm ready to give away to every 2722 03:50:12.799 --> 03:50:16.719 fool displaying a wound in his leg or an empty 2723 03:50:16.840 --> 03:50:21.719 pocket has driven them out of their senses. I believe 2724 03:50:21.799 --> 03:50:25.200 that some night they will divide me into portions and 2725 03:50:25.239 --> 03:50:30.040 eat me. They are organizing regular pilgrimages to my palace 2726 03:50:30.360 --> 03:50:34.879 and come with huge bags. My ladies, who regard me 2727 03:50:34.959 --> 03:50:41.040 as their property, have found for me a little Dante Inferno, 2728 03:50:41.079 --> 03:50:45.159 where we take daily walks and company with the society 2729 03:50:45.840 --> 03:50:50.479 that storms my place. Yesterday we examined an old witch 2730 03:50:50.559 --> 03:50:54.440 whose entire worth consists in the fact that she has 2731 03:50:54.520 --> 03:51:00.159 outlived her husband, her children, and her grandchildren, and which 2732 03:51:00.159 --> 03:51:04.120 is now in need of snuff. And some angry old 2733 03:51:04.200 --> 03:51:08.200 man refused to be consoled, and even would not take 2734 03:51:08.319 --> 03:51:12.840 any money until all of us had smelled the old 2735 03:51:13.079 --> 03:51:17.639 putret wound in his foot. It was indeed a horrible odor. 2736 03:51:18.280 --> 03:51:21.959 This cross old fellow is the pride of my

ladies, 2737 03:51:22.440 --> 03:51:28.280 And like all favorites, he is capricious and temperamental. And 2738 03:51:29.079 --> 03:51:32.040 are you tired of listening to me? Magnus? I could 2739 03:51:32.280 --> 03:51:37.040 tell you of a whole flock of ragged father's, hungry children, 2740 03:51:37.559 --> 03:51:42.479 green and rotten like certain kinds of cheese, of noble 2741 03:51:42.639 --> 03:51:47.239 geniuses who despise me, like a negro, of clever drunkards 2742 03:51:47.280 --> 03:51:52.319 with merry red noses. My ladies are not very keen 2743 03:51:52.360 --> 03:51:56.280 on drunkards, but I love them better than any other 2744 03:51:56.440 --> 03:52:01.559 kind of goods. And how do you feel about it, son, Magnus? 2745 03:52:02.719 --> 03:52:08.120 Magnus was silent, I too was tired of talking. Mad 2746 03:52:08.280 --> 03:52:13.559 Mars alone continued his antics. He was now ensconced upon 2747 03:52:13.639 --> 03:52:17.040 the road, trying to bite a hole in the center 2748 03:52:17.520 --> 03:52:21.120 and crushing the tiles as he would a lump of sugar. 2749 03:52:22.079 --> 03:52:28.360 Magnus broke the silence. The newspapers seem to have little 2750 03:52:28.399 --> 03:52:33.479 to say about you recently. What is the matter? I 2751 03:52:33.600 --> 03:52:37.879 pay the interviewers not to write anything. At first I 2752 03:52:38.000 --> 03:52:42.639 drove them away, but they began interviewing my horses, and 2753 03:52:42.840 --> 03:52:46.040 now I pay them for their silence. By the line, 2754 03:52:46.760 --> 03:52:50.639 have you a customer for my villa, Magnus, I shall 2755 03:52:50.760 --> 03:52:54.879 sell it, together with the artists and the rest of 2756 03:52:54.959 --> 03:53:01.280 its parafernalia. We again grew silh lent and paced up 2757 03:53:01.319 --> 03:53:07.360 and down the room. Magnus rose first, and then sat down. 2758 03:53:08.239 --> 03:53:12.840 I followed and sat down too. In addition, I drank 2759 03:53:12.920 --> 03:53:18.479 two more glasses of wine, while Magnus drank none. His 2760 03:53:18.799 --> 03:53:25.000 nose is never read. Suddenly he said, with determination, do 2761 03:53:25.120 --> 03:53:30.000 not drink any more wine. Wander good, Oh, very well, 2762 03:53:30.239 --> 03:53:35.639 I want no more wine? Is that all? Magnus continued 2763 03:53:35.680 --> 03:53:40.479 to question me at long intervals. His voice was sharp 2764 03:53:40.520 --> 03:53:48.040 and stern, while mine was melodious. I would say, there 2765 03:53:48.079 --> 03:53:53.520 has been a great change in you. Wonder good, quite possible, 2766 03:53:53.760 --> 03:53:58.079 Thank you, Magnus. There used to be more life in you. 2767 03:53:58.799 --> 03:54:03.520 Now you rarely jest. You have become very more rose. 2768 03:54:03.680 --> 03:54:09.159 Wonder good. Oh, you have even grown thin, and your 2769 03:54:09.239 --> 03:54:13.159 brow is sallow. Is it true that you get drunk 2770 03:54:13.200 --> 03:54:19.159 every night

in the company of your friends. It seems 2771 03:54:19.360 --> 03:54:25.079 so that you play cards squander your gold, and that 2772 03:54:25.360 --> 03:54:30.879 recently someone had been nearly murdered at your table. I 2773 03:54:30.959 --> 03:54:35.479 fear that is true. I recollect that one gentleman actually 2774 03:54:35.520 --> 03:54:40.000 tried to pierce another gentleman with his fork. And how 2775 03:54:40.040 --> 03:54:46.719 do you know all about that? He replied sternly and significantly. 2776 03:54:48.200 --> 03:54:53.840 Toppy was here yesterday. He wanted to see Maria, but 2777 03:54:54.000 --> 03:54:58.600 I myself received him. With all due respect to you, 2778 03:54:58.840 --> 03:55:04.200 wonder good. I must say that your secretary is unusually stupid. 2779 03:55:05.680 --> 03:55:10.920 I acquiesced coldly. You are quite right. You should have 2780 03:55:11.079 --> 03:55:23.719 driven him out. End of section twelve. Section thirteen of 2781 03:55:23.879 --> 03:55:29.719 Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This 2782 03:55:29.920 --> 03:55:34.559 LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Caroline. 2783 03:55:35.760 --> 03:55:41.079 Section thirteen. I must say, for my part that my 2784 03:55:41.280 --> 03:55:45.920 last two glasses of wine evaporated from me at the 2785 03:55:46.079 --> 03:55:51.680 mention of Maria's name, and our attempted conversation was marked 2786 03:55:51.799 --> 03:55:56.920 by the continued evaporation of the wine I drank like 2787 03:55:57.079 --> 03:56:01.719 perfume out of a bottle. I have always regarded wine 2788 03:56:01.799 --> 03:56:07.920 as unreliable matter. We found ourselves again listening to the storm, 2789 03:56:08.360 --> 03:56:12.920 and I remarked, the wind seems to be growing more violent. 2790 03:56:13.200 --> 03:56:19.200 Signor magnos, Yes, the wind seems to be growing more violent, 2791 03:56:19.319 --> 03:56:23.639 mister wondergoot. But you must admit that I warned you beforehand. 2792 03:56:23.879 --> 03:56:30.600 Mister wondergirt, of what did you warn me beforehand? Signor Magnos. 2793 03:56:32.520 --> 03:56:37.280 He seized his knees with his white hands and directed 2794 03:56:37.360 --> 03:56:41.840 upon me the gaze of a snake charmer. Ah. He 2795 03:56:41.959 --> 03:56:46.079 did not know that I myself had extracted my poisoned 2796 03:56:46.239 --> 03:56:52.559 teeth and was quite harmless, like a mummy and a museum. Finally, 2797 03:56:52.959 --> 03:56:56.360 he realized that there was no use beating about the 2798 03:56:56.440 --> 03:57:01.879 bush and came straight to the point I warned you 2799 03:57:02.000 --> 03:57:07.600 in regard to Maria, he said, slowly, with peculiar in sinuation. 2800 03:57:08.719 --> 03:57:13.159 You remember that I did not desire your acquaintance, and 2801 03:57:13.280 --> 03:57:17.920 expressed it plainly enough. You have not forgotten what I 2802 03:57:18.079 --> 03:57:22.760 told you about

Maria, of her fatal influence upon the soul. 2803 03:57:23.719 --> 03:57:28.440 But you were bold and insisted, and I yielded. And 2804 03:57:28.639 --> 03:57:32.760 now you ask us, me and my daughter to view 2805 03:57:32.879 --> 03:57:37.959 the highly exhilarating spectacle of a gentleman in the process 2806 03:57:38.040 --> 03:57:43.959 of disintegration, one who asks nothing, who reproaches no one, 2807 03:57:44.360 --> 03:57:48.200 but who can find no solace until everyone has smelled 2808 03:57:48.280 --> 03:57:52.479 his wound. I do not want to repeat your expression, 2809 03:57:52.600 --> 03:57:57.120 mister wondergood, it has a bad odor. Yes, sir, you 2810 03:57:57.200 --> 03:58:02.520 have spoken quite frankly of your neighbors, and I am 2811 03:58:02.639 --> 03:58:07.440 sincerely glad you have finally abandoned this cheap play at 2812 03:58:07.520 --> 03:58:13.639 love and humanity you have so many other pastimes. I confess, however, 2813 03:58:13.719 --> 03:58:16.319 that I am not at all overjoyed at your intention 2814 03:58:16.520 --> 03:58:21.520 of presenting to us the sediment of a gentleman. It 2815 03:58:21.760 --> 03:58:24.600 seems to me, sir, that you made a mistake in 2816 03:58:24.760 --> 03:58:31.120 leaving America and your canning business. Dealing with people requires 2817 03:58:31.239 --> 03:58:36.639 quite a different sort of ability. He laughed. He was 2818 03:58:36.760 --> 03:58:41.120 almost driving me out, this little man, and I who 2819 03:58:41.159 --> 03:58:45.840 write my eye in a super capital. I listened to 2820 03:58:45.959 --> 03:58:52.559 him humbly and meekly. It was divinely ridiculous. Here is 2821 03:58:52.639 --> 03:58:57.120 another detail for those who love the ridiculous. Before his 2822 03:58:57.639 --> 03:59:02.479 tirard began, my eyes and the cigar between my teeth 2823 03:59:02.959 --> 03:59:08.799 were quite bravely and nonchalantly directed toward the ceiling. But 2824 03:59:09.319 --> 03:59:14.239 they changed their attitude before he had finished. To this 2825 03:59:14.719 --> 03:59:19.719 very moment, I feel the taste of that miserable, dangling, 2826 03:59:20.319 --> 03:59:26.559 extinguished cigar. I was choking with laughter. That is, I 2827 03:59:26.719 --> 03:59:30.319 did not yet know whether to choke with laughter or 2828 03:59:30.520 --> 03:59:35.120 with wrath, or without choking at all, to ask him 2829 03:59:35.159 --> 03:59:39.200 for an umbrella and leave. Ah. He was at home. 2830 03:59:39.680 --> 03:59:45.079 He was on his own ground. This angry black bearded man. 2831 03:59:45.799 --> 03:59:49.520 He knew how to manage himself in this situation. And 2832 03:59:49.639 --> 03:59:54.559 he sang a solo, not a duet, like the inseparable 2833 03:59:54.799 --> 04:00:01.520 Satan of Eternity and Wonder Good of Illinois. Sir, I said, 2834 04:00:01.559 --> 04:00:06.360 with dignity, there seems to be a misunderstanding here. You 2835 04:00:06.520 --> 04:00:11.719 see before you, Satan in human form. You understand he 2836 04:00:11.799 --> 04:00:14.799 went out for an evening stroll and was lost in 2837 04:00:14.879 --> 04:00:19.680 the forest. In the forest, sir, in the forest. Won't 2838 04:00:19.719 --> 04:00:22.440 you be good enough, sir, to direct him to the 2839 04:00:22.559 --> 04:00:28.319 nearest road to eternity? Ah ah, thank you, so I 2840 04:00:28.399 --> 04:00:34.680 thought myself. Farewell. Of course, I really did not say that. 2841 04:00:35.319 --> 04:00:38.760 I was silent and gave the floor to Wonder Good. 2842 04:00:39.440 --> 04:00:45.079 And this is what that respectable gentleman said, dropping his 2843 04:00:45.360 --> 04:00:51.879 wet dead cigar. The devil take it. You are quite right, magnos, 2844 04:00:52.360 --> 04:00:56.159 Thank you, old man. Yes, you want me, quite honestly, 2845 04:00:56.600 --> 04:01:00.719 but I preferred to play a lone hand. Now I 2846 04:01:00.760 --> 04:01:04.319 am bankrupt, and at your mercy I shall have no 2847 04:01:04.440 --> 04:01:08.000 objection if you should order the removal of the sediment 2848 04:01:08.120 --> 04:01:13.600 of the gentleman. I thought that, without waiting for a stretcher, 2849 04:01:14.000 --> 04:01:17.639 Magnus would simply throw the sediment out of the window, 2850 04:01:18.159 --> 04:01:23.280 but his generosity proved quite surprising. He looked at me 2851 04:01:23.479 --> 04:01:28.360 with pity and even stretched out his hand. You are 2852 04:01:28.399 --> 04:01:33.520 suffering very much, mister Wondergood, A question quite difficult to 2853 04:01:33.600 --> 04:01:38.520 answer for the celebrated duet. I blinked and shrugged my shoulders. 2854 04:01:39.079 --> 04:01:42.399 This appeared to satisfy Magnus, and for a few moments 2855 04:01:42.440 --> 04:01:46.120 we were both silent. I do not know of what 2856 04:01:46.319 --> 04:01:51.719 Magnus was thinking. I thought of nothing. I simply examined 2857 04:01:51.760 --> 04:01:57.959 with great interest the walls, the ceiling, books, pictures, all 2858 04:01:58.079 --> 04:02:03.840 the furnishings of this human inhabitation. I was particularly absorbed 2859 04:02:03.879 --> 04:02:07.000 in the electric light, upon which I fixed my attention. 2860 04:02:07.959 --> 04:02:12.799 Why does it burn and give light? I am waiting 2861 04:02:12.840 --> 04:02:18.639 for your answer, mister Wondergood. So he was really expecting 2862 04:02:18.680 --> 04:02:24.559 me to reply. Very well, it's very simple, Magnus, you 2863 04:02:24.680 --> 04:02:28.879 warned me. I admit. Tomorrow, Topy will pack my trunks 2864 04:02:28.920 --> 04:02:33.280 and I shall go back to America to resume my business. 2865 04:02:34.479 --> 04:02:39.559 And the Cardinal What Cardinal Ah, yes, Cardinal X, and 2866 04:02:39.680 --> 04:02:43.719 my billions I remember. But don't gaze at me in 2867 04:02:43.760 --> 04:02:48.000 such astonishment. Magnos, I am sick of it. What are 2868 04:02:48.040 --> 04:02:54.920 you sick of?

Mister wondergoot it? Six secretaries, brainless old women, 2869 04:02:55.399 --> 04:02:59.520 snuff and my Dante Inferno where they take me for 2870 04:02:59.680 --> 04:03:04.159 my walks. Don't look at me so sternly, Magnos. Probably 2871 04:03:04.319 --> 04:03:07.159 one could have made better. Why not of my billions, 2872 04:03:07.559 --> 04:03:11.799 but I managed to produce only sour beer? Why did 2873 04:03:11.840 --> 04:03:15.639 you refuse to help me? Oh? Of course you hate 2874 04:03:15.760 --> 04:03:22.200 human beings I forgot, but you love them. What shall 2875 04:03:22.200 --> 04:03:25.440 I say, Magnos? No, I am rather indifferent to them. 2876 04:03:26.000 --> 04:03:30.719 Don't look at me so pityingly. By God, it isn't 2877 04:03:30.760 --> 04:03:35.079 worth it. Yes, I am indifferent to them. There are, 2878 04:03:35.600 --> 04:03:39.200 there were, and there will be so many of them 2879 04:03:39.799 --> 04:03:43.920 that it isn't really worth while. So am I to 2880 04:03:44.000 --> 04:03:48.879 conclude that you lied? Look not at me but at 2881 04:03:48.920 --> 04:03:52.879 my packed trunks. No I did not lie, not entirely. 2882 04:03:53.559 --> 04:03:56.120 You know, I wanted to do something interesting for the 2883 04:03:56.239 --> 04:04:01.520 sake of amusement, and so I let loose this, this emotion, 2884 04:04:03.559 --> 04:04:09.760 so it was only play. I blinked again and shrugged 2885 04:04:09.799 --> 04:04:15.440 my shoulders. I like this method of reply to complex questions, 2886 04:04:16.200 --> 04:04:21.280 and this face of signor Thomas Magnus appealed to me too. 2887 04:04:22.200 --> 04:04:28.959 His long oval face recompensed me slightly for my theatrical failures. 2888 04:04:29.280 --> 04:04:35.200 And Maria, I must add that by this time there 2889 04:04:35.319 --> 04:04:40.440 was a fresh cigar in my mouth. You said that 2890 04:04:40.520 --> 04:04:45.239 in your past there are some dark pages. What's the trouble, 2891 04:04:45.319 --> 04:04:52.600 mister Wondergood. Oh it was a slight exaggeration, nothing in particular, Magnos. 2892 04:04:52.639 --> 04:04:57.159 I beg your pardon for disturbing you needlessly, But at 2893 04:04:57.280 --> 04:05:00.399 that time I thought I should have spoken the for 2894 04:05:00.440 --> 04:05:06.920 the sake of style. Style, Yes, and the laws of contrast. 2895 04:05:07.440 --> 04:05:11.360 The present is always brighter with the dark past as background, 2896 04:05:11.559 --> 04:05:15.120 you understand. But I have already told you, Magnus, that 2897 04:05:15.280 --> 04:05:19.280 my prank had little result. In the place I come from, 2898 04:05:19.399 --> 04:05:22.600 they have quite a mistaken conception of the pleasures of 2899 04:05:22.760 --> 04:05:26.520 the game here. I shall have to disabuse them when 2900 04:05:26.520 --> 04:05:29.440 I get back for a moment. I was taken in 2901 04:05:29.520 --> 04:05:33.719 by the old Monkey, but its methods of fleecing people 2902 04:05:34.239 --> 04:05:39.399 is rather ancient and too certain, like a counting house. 2903 04:05:40.040 --> 04:05:46.959 I prefer an element of risk fleecing people. Don't we 2904 04:05:47.079 --> 04:05:51.680 despise them, Magnus, And if the game has failed, let 2905 04:05:51.760 --> 04:05:56.920 us not at least deny ourselves the pleasure of speaking. Frankly, 2906 04:05:57.760 --> 04:06:01.520 I am very glad, but I am tied of this prattel, 2907 04:06:02.000 --> 04:06:05.840 and with your permission, I will take another glass of wine. 2908 04:06:07.559 --> 04:06:10.559 There was not even the resemblance of a smile on 2909 04:06:10.639 --> 04:06:15.079 Thomas Magnus's face. I mentioned the smile for the sake 2910 04:06:15.159 --> 04:06:20.600 of style. We passed the next half hour in silence, 2911 04:06:21.159 --> 04:06:25.200 broken only by the shrieks and yells of mad Mars 2912 04:06:25.760 --> 04:06:30.479 and the even pacing of Magnus, with his hands behind 2913 04:06:30.559 --> 04:06:34.879 him and disregarding me entirely. He paced the rim with 2914 04:06:35.159 --> 04:06:42.000 even step, eight steps forward, eight steps backward. Apparently he 2915 04:06:42.079 --> 04:06:44.520 must have been in jail at one time, and for 2916 04:06:44.600 --> 04:06:48.440 quite a while, for he had the neck of the 2917 04:06:48.520 --> 04:06:53.479 experienced prisoner of creating distances out of a few meters. 2918 04:06:54.280 --> 04:06:59.280 I permitted myself to yawn slightly, and thus drew the 2919 04:06:59.360 --> 04:07:04.760 attention of my host back to myself. But Magnus kept 2920 04:07:05.000 --> 04:07:10.360 quiet for another moment until the following words rang out 2921 04:07:10.719 --> 04:07:14.559 through the air, and well nigh hurled me out of 2922 04:07:14.680 --> 04:07:20.280 my seat. But Maria loves you, of course, you do 2923 04:07:20.360 --> 04:07:27.120 not know that I arose. Yes, that is the truth. 2924 04:07:27.760 --> 04:07:32.680 Maria loves you. I did not expect this misfortune. I 2925 04:07:32.799 --> 04:07:37.040 failed to kill you, mister Wondergood. I should have done 2926 04:07:37.200 --> 04:07:40.399 that at the very beginning. And now I do not 2927 04:07:40.639 --> 04:07:44.079 know what to do with you. What do you think 2928 04:07:44.120 --> 04:07:52.840 about it? I stretched, and Maria loves me. I once 2929 04:07:52.959 --> 04:07:58.639 witnessed in Philadelphia an unsuccessful electrocution of a prisoner. I 2930 04:07:58.680 --> 04:08:04.200 saw it Laska Gala in Milan, my colleague Mephisto cringing 2931 04:08:04.719 --> 04:08:09.159 and hopping all over the stage when the supers moved 2932 04:08:09.239 --> 04:08:13.760 upon him with their crosses. And my silent reply to 2933 04:08:13.920 --> 04:08:19.959 Magnus was an artistic improvisation of both the first and 2934 04:08:20.399 --> 04:08:24.719 the second trick. Ah. At that moment, I could think 2935 04:08:24.760 --> 04:08:29.760 of nothing better to imitate. I

swear by eternal salvation 2936 04:08:30.639 --> 04:08:34.639 that never before had I been permeated by so many 2937 04:08:34.760 --> 04:08:39.920 deadly currants. Never did I drink such bitter wine. Never 2938 04:08:40.159 --> 04:08:46.600 was my soul seized with such uncontrollable laughter. Now I 2939 04:08:46.680 --> 04:08:50.959 no longer laugh or cringe like a cheap actor. I 2940 04:08:51.000 --> 04:08:54.879 am alone, and only my own seriousness can hear and 2941 04:08:55.200 --> 04:08:59.879 see me. But in that moment of triumph, I needed 2942 04:09:00.120 --> 04:09:04.799 all my strength to control my laughter so that I 2943 04:09:04.920 --> 04:09:08.840 might not deal ringing blows to the face of this 2944 04:09:09.200 --> 04:09:15.600 stern and honest man, hurling the Madonna into the embraces 2945 04:09:15.600 --> 04:09:21.159 of the devil. Do you really think so? No? Or 2946 04:09:21.200 --> 04:09:25.200 are you merely thinking of wonder good the American with 2947 04:09:25.440 --> 04:09:31.159 his goaty and wet cigar between his gold teeth, Hatred 2948 04:09:31.239 --> 04:09:37.760 and contempt, love and anguish, wrath and laughter. These filled 2949 04:09:37.920 --> 04:09:43.000 to the brim the cup presented to me. No, still worse, 2950 04:09:43.360 --> 04:09:48.799 still more bitter, still more deadly. What do I care 2951 04:09:48.840 --> 04:09:53.360 about the deceived magnus or the stupidity of his eyes 2952 04:09:53.440 --> 04:09:57.920 and brain? But how could the pure eyes of Maria 2953 04:09:58.079 --> 04:10:02.479 have been deceived? Or am I really such a clever 2954 04:10:02.600 --> 04:10:05.479 don Juan that I can turn the head of an 2955 04:10:05.479 --> 04:10:12.079 innocent and trusting girl by a few simple, silent meetings? Madonna? 2956 04:10:12.159 --> 04:10:17.040 Where art thou or? Has she discovered a resemblance between 2957 04:10:17.079 --> 04:10:21.319 myself and one of her saints? Like toppies? But I 2958 04:10:21.360 --> 04:10:25.319 do not carry with me a traveling prayer book? Madonna? 2959 04:10:25.440 --> 04:10:30.479 Where art thou are thy lips stretching out to mine? Madonna? 2960 04:10:30.520 --> 04:10:35.200 Where art thou or? And yet I cringed like an 2961 04:10:35.280 --> 04:10:41.319 actor I sought to stifle and respectful mumbling my hatred 2962 04:10:41.440 --> 04:10:47.079 and my contempt, when this new or suddenly filled me 2963 04:10:47.239 --> 04:10:53.280 with new confusion and such love, Ah, such love or 2964 04:10:53.879 --> 04:11:01.399 thought I has thy immortality, Madonna echoed, the immortality of Satan. 2965 04:11:02.079 --> 04:11:06.680 And is it now stretching forth this gentle hand to 2966 04:11:06.760 --> 04:11:13.200 it from the realms of eternity. Thou, who art divine, 2967 04:11:13.760 --> 04:11:18.559 hast thou recognized a friend in him who has become human. 2968 04:11:19.440 --> 04:11:25.600 Thou who art above, dost thou pity him who is below? Oh, Madonna, 2969 04:11:26.000 --> 04:11:29.399 lay thy hand upon my dark head, that I may 2970 04:11:29.479 --> 04:11:35.920 recognize thee by thy touch. But hear what further transpired 2971 04:11:36.200 --> 04:11:48.959 that night? And of section thirteen Section fourteen of Satan's 2972 04:11:49.000 --> 04:11:54.959 Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox 2973 04:11:55.000 --> 04:12:01.120 recording is in the public domain recording by Caroline, Section fourteen. 2974 04:12:02.680 --> 04:12:06.280 I know not why Maria has fallen in love with you. 2975 04:12:07.159 --> 04:12:10.280 That is a secret of her soul too much for 2976 04:12:10.440 --> 04:12:15.280 my understanding. No, I do not know, but I bow 2977 04:12:15.399 --> 04:12:19.200 to her will as to her frankness. What are my 2978 04:12:19.680 --> 04:12:26.680 human eyes before her all penetrating gaze, Mister Wondergot. The 2979 04:12:26.799 --> 04:12:32.319 letter two was saying the same thing a moment ago. 2980 04:12:32.479 --> 04:12:37.799 In a fit of excitement, continued Magnus, I said something 2981 04:12:37.840 --> 04:12:42.520 about murder and death. No, mister Wondergot, you may rest 2982 04:12:42.719 --> 04:12:49.159 secure forever. The chosen one of Maria enjoys complete immunity. 2983 04:12:49.879 --> 04:12:53.600 As far as I am concerned, he is protected by 2984 04:12:53.680 --> 04:12:58.280 more than the law. Her pure love is his armor. 2985 04:12:59.159 --> 04:13:01.520 Of course, I shall have to ask you to leave 2986 04:13:01.600 --> 04:13:05.920 us at once, and I believe in your honest intention, 2987 04:13:06.280 --> 04:13:13.440 wonder good to place the ocean between us. But Magnus 2988 04:13:13.479 --> 04:13:18.479 moved forward towards me and shouted angrily, not another word. 2989 04:13:18.799 --> 04:13:21.040 I cannot kill you, but if you dare to mention 2990 04:13:21.200 --> 04:13:27.840 the word marriage, he slowly dropped his uplifted hand and 2991 04:13:28.040 --> 04:13:32.639 continued calmly. I see that I will have to beg 2992 04:13:32.719 --> 04:13:36.200 your pardon again for my fit of passion. But it 2993 04:13:36.280 --> 04:13:39.680 is better than falsehood, examples of which we have had 2994 04:13:39.799 --> 04:13:44.079 from you. Do you defend yourself, wonder good? It is 2995 04:13:44.239 --> 04:13:49.399 quite unnecessary, and of marriage. Let me speak. It will 2996 04:13:49.600 --> 04:13:54.840 ring less insulting to Maria than it would from your lips. 2997 04:13:55.360 --> 04:13:59.879 It is quite unthinkable. Remember that I am so ber real. 2998 04:14:00.760 --> 04:14:05.399 I see nothing but mere coincidence in that fatal resemblance 2999 04:14:05.479 --> 04:14:08.760 of Maria. And I am not at all taken aback 3000 04:14:08.799 --> 04:14:13.799 by the thought that my daughter, with all her unusual qualities, 3001 04:14:14.360 --> 04:14:20.159 may someday become a wife and mother. My categorical opposition 3002 04:14:20.360 -->

04:14:25.840 to this marriage was simply another means of warning you. Yes, 3003 04:14:26.040 --> 04:14:30.200 I am accustomed to look soberly upon things, mister Wondergood. 3004 04:14:30.760 --> 04:14:34.719 It is not you who is destined to be Maria's 3005 04:14:34.840 --> 04:14:38.920 life partner. You do not know me at all. And 3006 04:14:39.079 --> 04:14:43.639 now I am compelled to raise slightly the curtain behind 3007 04:14:43.680 --> 04:14:47.639 which I am hiding these many years. My idleness is 3008 04:14:47.840 --> 04:14:52.239 merely arrest. I am not at all a peaceful villager 3009 04:14:52.479 --> 04:14:56.159 or a book philosopher. I am a man of struggle. 3010 04:14:56.600 --> 04:14:59.760 I am a warrior on the battle field of life, 3011 04:15:00.319 --> 04:15:04.159 and my Maria will be the gift only of a hero, 3012 04:15:04.520 --> 04:15:11.040 if if I should ever find a hero, I said, 3013 04:15:11.520 --> 04:15:14.639 you may rest assured, Signor Magnus that I will not 3014 04:15:14.840 --> 04:15:18.159 permit myself to utter a single word in regard to 3015 04:15:18.280 --> 04:15:22.200 Signorina Maria. You know that I am not a hero, 3016 04:15:22.680 --> 04:15:25.479 but I should think it permissible to ask of you 3017 04:15:26.319 --> 04:15:30.120 how am I to reconcile your present remarks with your 3018 04:15:30.360 --> 04:15:34.680 former contempt for a man. I recollect that you spoke 3019 04:15:34.799 --> 04:15:42.520 seriously of gallows and prisons. Magnus laughed loudly, and do 3020 04:15:42.559 --> 04:15:47.680 you remember what you said about your love for a man? Ah, 3021 04:15:47.760 --> 04:15:51.280 My dear, wonta good. I would be a bad warrior 3022 04:15:51.399 --> 04:15:55.120 and politician if my education did not embrace the art 3023 04:15:55.200 --> 04:16:01.000 of lying a little. We were both playing, that's all. 3024 04:16:01.520 --> 04:16:07.799 You played better, I admitted, quite gloomily, and you played 3025 04:16:08.000 --> 04:16:12.120 very badly, my friend, Do not be offended. But what 3026 04:16:12.360 --> 04:16:15.600 am I to do when there suddenly appears before me 3027 04:16:16.360 --> 04:16:21.399 a gentleman, all loaded with gold, like like an ass 3028 04:16:21.639 --> 04:16:27.079 continue and begins to reveal to me his love for humanity, 3029 04:16:27.760 --> 04:16:32.280 while his confidence in his success is equal only to 3030 04:16:32.399 --> 04:16:36.760 the quantity of the dollars in his pocket. The main 3031 04:16:37.000 --> 04:16:40.760 fault of your play, mister Wondergood, is that you are 3032 04:16:40.879 --> 04:16:46.799 too eager for success and seek immediate results. This makes 3033 04:16:46.959 --> 04:16:51.879 the spectator cold and less credulous. To be sure, I 3034 04:16:52.079 --> 04:16:56.440 really did not think you were merely acting. The worst 3035 04:16:56.680 --> 04:17:01.079 play is better than sincere accinity, and I must again 3036 04:17:01.239 --> 04:17:05.440 crave

your pardon. You seemed to me just like one 3037 04:17:05.440 --> 04:17:11.239 of those foolish Yankees who really take their own bombastic 3038 04:17:11.280 --> 04:17:19.239 and contemptible tirades. Seriously, and you understand quite fully, I 3039 04:17:19.319 --> 04:17:25.120 beg you to continue only one phrase of yours, something 3040 04:17:25.159 --> 04:17:30.840 about war and revolution purchasable with your billions, seemed to 3041 04:17:30.920 --> 04:17:35.040 me to possess a modicum of interest. But the rest 3042 04:17:35.120 --> 04:17:39.760 of the drivel proved that that too was a mere 3043 04:17:39.840 --> 04:17:43.719 slip of the tongue, an accidental excerpt of some one 3044 04:17:43.840 --> 04:17:51.200 else's text. Your newspaper triumphs your flippancy and serious matters, Remember, 3045 04:17:51.280 --> 04:17:57.879 Cardinal X, your cheap philanthropy are of a quite different tone. No, 3046 04:17:58.040 --> 04:18:02.680 mister Vandergot, you are not fit for serious drama, and 3047 04:18:02.840 --> 04:18:08.520 your prattling today, despite its cynicism, made a better impression 3048 04:18:08.639 --> 04:18:14.440 than your flamboyant circus pathos. I say frankly, were it 3049 04:18:14.639 --> 04:18:18.280 not for Maria, I would gladly have had a good 3050 04:18:18.399 --> 04:18:23.000 love at your expense, and, without the slightest compunction, would 3051 04:18:23.000 --> 04:18:29.159 have raised the farewell cup. Just one correction, Magnus, I 3052 04:18:29.360 --> 04:18:34.879 earnestly desired that you should take part in what in 3053 04:18:34.959 --> 04:18:40.200 your play. Yes, your play lacked the creative factor, and 3054 04:18:40.360 --> 04:18:45.239 you earnestly desired to saddle me with your poverty of spirit, 3055 04:18:46.239 --> 04:18:49.879 just as you hire your artists to paint and decorate 3056 04:18:49.959 --> 04:18:53.799 your palaces. So you wanted to hire my will and 3057 04:18:53.959 --> 04:19:00.360 my imagination, my power, and my love, but your hatred 3058 04:19:00.600 --> 04:19:07.040 for man. Up to this point, Magnuossett maintained his tone 3059 04:19:07.079 --> 04:19:12.920 of irony and subtle ridicule. My remark, however, seemed to 3060 04:19:13.000 --> 04:19:18.120 change him entirely. He grew pale, His white hands moved 3061 04:19:18.239 --> 04:19:22.399 convulsively over his body, as if they were searching for 3062 04:19:22.479 --> 04:19:27.639 a weapon, and his face became threatening and even horrible, 3063 04:19:29.040 --> 04:19:32.920 As if fearing the power of his own voice. He 3064 04:19:33.000 --> 04:19:37.040 lowered it almost to a whisper, as if fearing that 3065 04:19:37.159 --> 04:19:41.239 his words would break their leash and run off at 3066 04:19:41.280 --> 04:19:47.000 a wild pace. He tried desperately to hold them in check, 3067 04:19:47.079 --> 04:19:53.120 and in order hatred be silent, sir, or have you 3068 04:19:53.319 --> 04:19:58.520 no conscience at all or any common sense? My contempt, 3069 04:19:58.680 --> 04:20:03.719 my hatred, they were my reply not to your theatrical love, 3070 04:20:04.399 --> 04:20:09.959 but to your sincere and dead indifference. You were insulting 3071 04:20:10.079 --> 04:20:13.600 me as a human being by your indifference. You were 3072 04:20:13.719 --> 04:20:18.600 insulting life by your indifference. It was in your voice. 3073 04:20:19.040 --> 04:20:23.639 It gleamed savagely out of your eyes, and more than 3074 04:20:23.760 --> 04:20:28.479 once was I seized by terror terror, sir, when I 3075 04:20:28.639 --> 04:20:34.440 pierced deeper the mysterious emptiness of your pupils. If your 3076 04:20:34.600 --> 04:20:39.399 past has no dark pages, which, as you say, HU 3077 04:20:39.399 --> 04:20:43.680 merely added for the sake of style, then there is 3078 04:20:43.879 --> 04:20:48.200 something worse than that in it. There are white pages 3079 04:20:48.399 --> 04:20:55.159 in it, and I cannot read them. Oh, oh, when 3080 04:20:55.200 --> 04:20:59.920 I look at your eternal cigar and see your self satisfy, 3081 04:21:00.079 --> 04:21:04.559 fight but handsome and energetic face. When I view your 3082 04:21:04.680 --> 04:21:09.319 unassuming manner, in which the simplicity of the grog shop 3083 04:21:09.479 --> 04:21:14.440 is elevated to the heights of puritanism, I fully understand 3084 04:21:14.520 --> 04:21:19.159 your naive game. But I need only meet the pupil 3085 04:21:19.239 --> 04:21:23.639 of your eye or its white rim, and I am 3086 04:21:23.799 --> 04:21:28.120 immediately hurled, And to avoid I am seized with alarm. 3087 04:21:28.520 --> 04:21:32.520 And I no longer see your cigar or your gold teeth, 3088 04:21:32.920 --> 04:21:36.000 And I am ready to exclaim who are you that 3089 04:21:36.120 --> 04:21:42.159 you dare to bear yourself with such indifference? This situation 3090 04:21:42.399 --> 04:21:47.680 was becoming interesting. Madonna loves me, and this creature is 3091 04:21:47.760 --> 04:21:51.399 about ready to utter my name at any moment. Is 3092 04:21:51.680 --> 04:21:56.040 he the son of my father? How could he unravel 3093 04:21:56.159 --> 04:22:00.799 the great mystery of my boundless indifference? I tried so 3094 04:22:01.000 --> 04:22:08.879 carefully to conceal it even from you. Here, here, shouted Magnus, 3095 04:22:08.959 --> 04:22:13.120 in great excitement. Again, there are two little tears in 3096 04:22:13.159 --> 04:22:17.000 your eyes. As I have noticed before, they are a lie, 3097 04:22:17.280 --> 04:22:21.680 wonder good. There is no source of tears behind them. 3098 04:22:22.319 --> 04:22:27.360 They have fallen from somewhere above, from the clouds like dew. 3099 04:22:28.319 --> 04:22:32.399 Rather laugh behind your laughter, I see merely a bad man. 3100 04:22:32.879 --> 04:22:38.239 But behind your tears there are white pages. White pages? 3101 04:22:39.159 --> 04:22:44.959 Or has Maria read them? Without taking his eyes off me, 3102

04:22:45.479 --> 04:22:49.600 as if fearing that I might run away, Magnus paced 3103 04:22:49.799 --> 04:22:55.719 the rim, finally seating himself opposite me. His face grew 3104 04:22:55.840 --> 04:23:02.399 dim and his voice seemed tired when he said, but 3105 04:23:02.600 --> 04:23:05.879 it seems to me that I am exciting myself in vain. 3106 04:23:07.559 --> 04:23:10.799 Do not forget, Magnus, that today I myself spoke to 3107 04:23:10.840 --> 04:23:18.399 you of indifference. He waved his hand wearily and carelessly. Yes, 3108 04:23:18.600 --> 04:23:22.840 you did speak, But there is something else involved here, 3109 04:23:23.000 --> 04:23:27.280 wanter good. There is nothing insulting in the indifference, but 3110 04:23:27.479 --> 04:23:31.680 in the other I sensed it immediately upon your appearance 3111 04:23:31.760 --> 04:23:35.280 with your billions. I do not know whether you will 3112 04:23:35.360 --> 04:23:39.760 understand what I mean, but I immediately felt like shouting 3113 04:23:39.799 --> 04:23:45.479 of hatred and to demand gallows and blood. The gallows 3114 04:23:45.639 --> 04:23:50.920 is a gloomy thing, but the curious jostling about the gallows, 3115 04:23:51.000 --> 04:23:55.440 mister Wondergood, are quite unbearable. I do not know what 3116 04:23:55.479 --> 04:23:58.520 they think of our game here in the place you 3117 04:23:58.760 --> 04:24:02.719 come from, but we pay for it with our lives. 3118 04:24:03.280 --> 04:24:08.280 And when there suddenly appears before us some curious gentleman 3119 04:24:08.440 --> 04:24:13.399 in a top hat, cigar in mouth, one fields you understand, 3120 04:24:13.959 --> 04:24:18.479 like seizing him by the back of his neck, and 3121 04:24:18.520 --> 04:24:22.120 he never stays to the end of the performance. Anyway, 3122 04:24:22.799 --> 04:24:27.159 Have you, too, mister Wondergood, dropped in on us for 3123 04:24:27.360 --> 04:24:33.319 a brief visit. With what a long sigh, I uttered 3124 04:24:33.520 --> 04:24:38.399 the name of Maria, and I no longer played, I 3125 04:24:38.559 --> 04:24:45.680 no longer lied when I replied to this gloomy man, Yes, 3126 04:24:45.840 --> 04:24:48.559 I have dropped in on you for a brief visit. 3127 04:24:48.879 --> 04:24:55.040 Signor magnus, you have guessed right for certain very valid reasons. 3128 04:24:55.120 --> 04:24:58.200 I can reveal nothing to you of the white pages 3129 04:24:58.280 --> 04:25:02.079 of my life, the existence of which behind my leather 3130 04:25:02.200 --> 04:25:06.959 binding you have likewise guessed. But on one of them 3131 04:25:07.200 --> 04:25:12.920 was written death departure. That was not a top hat 3132 04:25:12.959 --> 04:25:16.879 in the hands of the curious visitor, but a revolver 3133 04:25:17.559 --> 04:25:21.200 you understand. I look on as long as it is interesting, 3134 04:25:21.319 --> 04:25:25.559 and after that I make my bow and depart. Let 3135 04:25:25.639 --> 04:25:29.559 me put it clearer and simpler, out of deference to 3136 04:25:29.600 --> 04:25:34.520 your realism. In a few days, perhaps tomorrow, I depart 3137 04:25:34.680 --> 04:25:38.639 for the other world. No, that is not clear enough. 3138 04:25:39.280 --> 04:25:42.680 In a few days or tomorrow I shall shoot myself. 3139 04:25:43.280 --> 04:25:48.479 Kill myself with a revolver. I at first planned to 3140 04:25:48.639 --> 04:25:52.559 aim at my heart, but have decided that the brain 3141 04:25:52.639 --> 04:25:57.399 would be more reliable. I have planned all this long ago, 3142 04:25:57.600 --> 04:26:02.680 at the very beginning of my appearance before you. And 3143 04:26:03.040 --> 04:26:06.239 was it not in this readiness of mind to depart 3144 04:26:06.840 --> 04:26:12.120 that you have detected inhuman indifference? Isn't it true that 3145 04:26:12.239 --> 04:26:15.920 when one eye is directed upon the other world, it 3146 04:26:16.040 --> 04:26:21.280 is hardly possible to maintain any particularly bright flame in 3147 04:26:21.559 --> 04:26:26.000 the eye directed upon this world. I refer to the 3148 04:26:26.120 --> 04:26:29.840 kind of flame I see in your eyes. Oh, you 3149 04:26:29.959 --> 04:26:35.959 have wonderful eyes, Signor Magnus. Magnus remained silent for a 3150 04:26:36.000 --> 04:26:42.840 few moments, and then said, and Maria, permit me to reply. 3151 04:26:43.680 --> 04:26:48.280 I prize Signor Maria too highly not to regard her 3152 04:26:48.559 --> 04:26:53.719 love for me as a fatal mistake. But you wanted 3153 04:26:53.799 --> 04:26:58.639 that love. It is very difficult for me to answer 3154 04:26:58.680 --> 04:27:03.239 that question. At first, perhaps when I indulged in dreams 3155 04:27:03.319 --> 04:27:08.680 for a while. But the more I perceived this fatal resemblance, 3156 04:27:10.719 --> 04:27:16.040 that is mere resemblance, Magnus hastened to assure me. But 3157 04:27:16.200 --> 04:27:19.680 you mustn't be a child wonder good. Maria's soul is 3158 04:27:19.799 --> 04:27:24.159 lofty and beautiful, but she is human, made of flesh 3159 04:27:24.200 --> 04:27:28.040 and bone. She probably has her own little sins too. 3160 04:27:30.159 --> 04:27:33.360 And how about my top hat, Magnus, how about my 3161 04:27:33.520 --> 04:27:37.840 free departure. I need only buy a seat to gaze 3162 04:27:37.920 --> 04:27:42.479 upon Maria and her fatal resemblance, admitting that it is 3163 04:27:42.600 --> 04:27:50.399 only resemblance. But how must I pay for love? Magnus said, sternly, 3164 04:27:51.520 --> 04:27:57.120 Only with your life, you see, only with my life. 3165 04:27:57.719 --> 04:28:00.879 How then, did you expect me to desire such love? 3166 04:28:02.639 --> 04:28:08.520 But you have miscalculated. She already loves you. Oh, if 3167 04:28:08.639 --> 04:28:12.559 the Signorina Maria really loves me, then my death can 3168 04:28:12.600 --> 04:28:16.479 be no obstacle. However, I do not make myself clear. 3169 04:28:17.000 --> 04:28:20.799 I

wanted to say that my departure, No, I had 3170 04:28:20.840 --> 04:28:25.040 better say nothing. In short, signor Magnus, would you agree 3171 04:28:25.079 --> 04:28:28.799 to have me place my billions at your disposal? Now? 3172 04:28:30.760 --> 04:28:36.280 He looked at me quickly. Now, yes, Now, when we 3173 04:28:36.360 --> 04:28:41.799 are no longer playing, I at love and you at hatred. Now, 3174 04:28:41.959 --> 04:28:45.760 when I am about to disappear entirely, taking with me 3175 04:28:45.920 --> 04:28:50.200 the sediment of a gentleman, let me make it quite clear. 3176 04:28:50.719 --> 04:28:56.079 Would you like to be my heir? Magnus frowned and 3177 04:28:56.280 --> 04:28:59.600 looked at me in anger. Apparently he took my words 3178 04:28:59.639 --> 04:29:03.840 for a dad, But I was calm and serious. It 3179 04:29:04.079 --> 04:29:09.200 seemed to me that his large white hands were trembling slightly. 3180 04:29:10.159 --> 04:29:14.639 He turned away for a moment, and then, whirling about quickly, 3181 04:29:15.239 --> 04:29:22.760 he shouted loudly, no again, you want no. He stamped 3182 04:29:22.760 --> 04:29:29.360 his foot and cried once more. No. His hands were trembling. 3183 04:29:30.040 --> 04:29:35.280 His breathing was heavy and irregular. There followed a long silence, 3184 04:29:35.760 --> 04:29:39.879 the wailing of the tempest, the whistling and murmur of 3185 04:29:40.040 --> 04:29:47.120 the wind, And again, great calm, great dead, all embracing 3186 04:29:47.280 --> 04:29:53.479 peace descended upon me. Everything was turned within me. I 3187 04:29:53.600 --> 04:29:57.959 still could hear the earthly demons of the storm, but 3188 04:29:58.360 --> 04:30:03.440 their voices sounded far away and dull. I saw before 3189 04:30:03.520 --> 04:30:08.159 me a man, and he was strange and cold to me, 3190 04:30:08.920 --> 04:30:14.360 like a stone statute. One after another there floated by 3191 04:30:14.520 --> 04:30:19.399 me all the days of my human existence, there was 3192 04:30:19.639 --> 04:30:24.399 the gleam of faces, the weak sound of voices, and 3193 04:30:24.799 --> 04:30:32.079 curious laughter, And then again all was silent. I turned 3194 04:30:32.120 --> 04:30:35.760 my gaze to the other side, and there I was 3195 04:30:35.959 --> 04:30:40.200 met by dumbness. It was as if I were immrrored 3196 04:30:40.399 --> 04:30:46.520 between two dumb stone walls. Behind one was their human life, 3197 04:30:46.879 --> 04:30:51.159 which I had abandoned, and behind the other, in silence 3198 04:30:51.200 --> 04:30:56.319 and in darkness, stretched forth the world of eternal and 3199 04:30:56.559 --> 04:31:04.840 real being. Its silence was resounding, its darkness was gleaming, eternal, 3200 04:31:05.440 --> 04:31:11.000 joyous life beat constantly like breakers upon the hard rocks 3201 04:31:11.040 --> 04:31:16.559 of the impenetrable wall. But death was my consciousness, and 3202 04:31:16.879 --> 04:31:21.639 silent my thought. From beneath the weak legs of thought 3203 04:31:22.239 --> 04:31:28.440 there came memory, and it hung suspended in the void, immovable, 3204 04:31:28.840 --> 04:31:33.879 paralyzed for the moment. What did I leave behind the 3205 04:31:33.920 --> 04:31:41.559 wall of my unconsciousness? Thought made no reply. It was motionless, 3206 04:31:41.799 --> 04:31:49.680 empty and silent. Two silences surrounded me, Two darknesses enveloped me. 3207 04:31:50.520 --> 04:31:55.920 Two walls were burying me, and behind one in the 3208 04:31:56.000 --> 04:32:02.280 pale movement of shadows past their human life, while behind 3209 04:32:02.559 --> 04:32:08.159 the other, in silence and in darkness, stretched forth the 3210 04:32:08.200 --> 04:32:14.159 world of my real, eternal being. Whence shall I hear 3211 04:32:14.200 --> 04:32:18.879 the call? Whither can I take a step? And at 3212 04:32:19.000 --> 04:32:22.239 that moment I suddenly heard the voice of a man, 3213 04:32:22.959 --> 04:32:28.520 strange and distant. It grew closer and closer. There was 3214 04:32:28.559 --> 04:32:33.719 a gentle ring in it. It was Magnus, speaking with 3215 04:32:34.200 --> 04:32:39.559 great effort and concentration. I tried to catch the words, 3216 04:32:39.600 --> 04:32:44.559 and this was what I heard? And wouldn't you rather 3217 04:32:44.680 --> 04:32:57.879 continue living? Wonder good? End of section fourteen Section fifteen 3218 04:32:57.959 --> 04:33:02.760 of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. 3219 04:33:03.399 --> 04:33:07.319 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by 3220 04:33:07.360 --> 04:33:17.159 Carolyn March eighteenth, Rome Palazzo. See it is three days 3221 04:33:17.200 --> 04:33:21.279 now that Magnos and Maria are living in my palazzo 3222 04:33:21.400 --> 04:33:26.520 in Rome. It is empty and silent and really seems huge. 3223 04:33:27.279 --> 04:33:32.959 Last night, worn by insomnia, I wondered about its halls 3224 04:33:33.000 --> 04:33:37.520 and stairways, over rooms I had never seen before, and 3225 04:33:37.840 --> 04:33:44.119 their number astonished me. Maria's soul has expelled from it 3226 04:33:44.279 --> 04:33:49.479 all that was frivolous and impure, and only the saintly 3227 04:33:49.680 --> 04:33:54.159 toppy moves through its emptiness, like the pendulum of a 3228 04:33:54.319 --> 04:33:59.599 church clock. Ah, how saintly he looks. If not for 3229 04:33:59.720 --> 04:34:04.720 his brought back the broad folds of his coat and 3230 04:34:05.000 --> 04:34:09.040 the odor of fur in his head, I myself would 3231 04:34:09.240 --> 04:34:12.159 take him for one of the saints who have honored 3232 04:34:12.279 --> 04:34:19.560 me with their acquaintance. I rarely see my guests. I 3233 04:34:19.599 --> 04:34:24.000 am turning my entire estate into cash. And Magnus and 3234 04:34:24.279 --> 04:34:28.919 Toppy and all the secretaries are busy with this work. 3235 04:34:29.119 -->

04:34:36.000 From morning tonight. Our telegraph is constantly buzzing. Magnus has 3236 04:34:36.080 --> 04:34:41.119 little to say to me. He only talks business. Maria, 3237 04:34:42.119 --> 04:34:45.520 it seems as if I were avoiding her. I can 3238 04:34:45.599 --> 04:34:49.439 see her through my window, walking in the garden, and 3239 04:34:49.680 --> 04:34:54.560 this is quite enough for me. For her soul is here, 3240 04:34:55.040 --> 04:34:59.360 and every atom of the air is filled with her breath. 3241 04:35:00.159 --> 04:35:06.000 And as I have already remarked, I suffer with insomnia. 3242 04:35:06.319 --> 04:35:10.360 As you see, my friend, I have remained among the living. 3243 04:35:11.119 --> 04:35:14.919 A dead hand could not possibly write even the dead 3244 04:35:15.000 --> 04:35:19.880 words I am now setting down. Let us forget the past, 3245 04:35:20.520 --> 04:35:27.520 as sweethearts would who have just settled their differences. Let 3246 04:35:27.599 --> 04:35:31.479 us be friends. You and I give me your hand, 3247 04:35:31.639 --> 04:35:36.520 my friend, I vow by eternal salvation that never again 3248 04:35:36.599 --> 04:35:41.240 will I chase you hands or laugh at you if 3249 04:35:41.240 --> 04:35:44.240 I have lost the wisdom of the snake, I have 3250 04:35:44.360 --> 04:35:49.319 acquired the gentleness of the dove. I am rather sorry 3251 04:35:49.400 --> 04:35:53.400 that I have driven away my painters and my interviewers. 3252 04:35:54.040 --> 04:35:57.479 I have no one to inquire whom I resemble with 3253 04:35:57.720 --> 04:36:02.799 my radiant countenance. I personally feel that I remind one 3254 04:36:02.799 --> 04:36:07.279 of a powdered darkie who is afraid to rub the 3255 04:36:07.360 --> 04:36:14.319 powder off with his sleeve and thus reveal his black skin. Ah, 3256 04:36:14.439 --> 04:36:20.240 I still have a black skin. Yes, I have remained alive, 3257 04:36:20.799 --> 04:36:24.080 but I know not yet how far I shall succeed 3258 04:36:24.400 --> 04:36:29.080 in keeping up this state. Have you any idea how 3259 04:36:29.159 --> 04:36:34.119 hard are the transitions from a nomad to a settled life. 3260 04:36:35.119 --> 04:36:39.080 I was a redskin, a carefree nomad who folds up 3261 04:36:39.119 --> 04:36:43.959 and casts off all that is human, as he would attend. 3262 04:36:44.919 --> 04:36:49.400 Now I am laying a granite foundation for an earthly home, 3263 04:36:49.959 --> 04:36:55.840 and I, having little faith, am cold and trembling. Will 3264 04:36:55.880 --> 04:37:00.400 it be warm when the white snow covers my new home? 3265 04:37:01.200 --> 04:37:06.439 What do you think, my friend, is the best heating system. 3266 04:37:08.200 --> 04:37:11.400 I promised Thomas Magnus that night that I would not 3267 04:37:11.639 --> 04:37:17.000 kill myself. We sealed this agreement with a warm handshake. 3268 04:37:17.759 --> 04:37:21.159 We did not open our veins, or seal the pact 3269 04:37:21.360 --> 04:37:26.319 with our blood. We simply said yes, and that was 3270 04:37:26.479 --> 04:37:31.400 quite sufficient. As you know, only human beings break agreements. 3271 04:37:32.119 --> 04:37:38.479 Devils always keep them. You need only recall your horny, 3272 04:37:38.880 --> 04:37:46.720 hairy heroes and their spartan honesty. Fortunately, let us call 3273 04:37:46.799 --> 04:37:52.639 it fortunate. We had set no date. I swear by 3274 04:37:52.759 --> 04:37:57.599 eternal salvation. I would be a poor king and ruler if, 3275 04:37:58.119 --> 04:38:02.400 when building a palace I did not leave for myself 3276 04:38:02.479 --> 04:38:07.840 a secret exit, a little door, a modest loophole through 3277 04:38:07.919 --> 04:38:14.159 which wise kings disappear when their foolish subjects rise and 3278 04:38:14.439 --> 04:38:21.400 break into versailles. I will not kill myself tomorrow. Perhaps 3279 04:38:21.439 --> 04:38:25.479 I shall wait quite a while. I will not kill 3280 04:38:25.560 --> 04:38:30.880 myself off the two walls. I have chosen the lower one, 3281 04:38:31.400 --> 04:38:35.520 and I am quite human now, even as you, my friend, 3282 04:38:36.479 --> 04:38:40.919 My earthly experiment is not very thrilling as yet. But 3283 04:38:41.000 --> 04:38:46.759 who knows this human life may unexpectedly grow quite attractive. 3284 04:38:47.639 --> 04:38:52.080 Has not Toppy lived to grow gray and to a 3285 04:38:52.159 --> 04:38:57.799 peaceful end, Why should not I, traversing all the ages 3286 04:38:57.880 --> 04:39:02.240 of man like this season of the year, grow to 3287 04:39:02.360 --> 04:39:07.319 be a gray old siage, a wise guide and teacher, 3288 04:39:07.959 --> 04:39:13.560 the bearer of the Covenant and arterio sclerosis. Ah, this 3289 04:39:13.880 --> 04:39:20.560 ridiculous sclerosis, these ills of old age. It is only 3290 04:39:20.680 --> 04:39:24.279 now that they begin to seem terrible to me. But 3291 04:39:24.599 --> 04:39:27.759 can I not get used to them and even grow 3292 04:39:27.840 --> 04:39:31.520 to love them? Everyone says it is easy to get 3293 04:39:31.639 --> 04:39:35.959 used to life. Well, I too, will try to get 3294 04:39:36.040 --> 04:39:40.880 used to it. Everything here is so well ordered that 3295 04:39:41.200 --> 04:39:45.759 after rain comes sunshine and dries him who is wet, 3296 04:39:46.200 --> 04:39:48.639 if he has not been in too great a hurry 3297 04:39:48.720 --> 04:39:54.080 to die. Everything here is so well ordered that there 3298 04:39:54.159 --> 04:39:57.400 is not a single disease for which there is no cure. 3299 04:39:58.200 --> 04:40:02.840 This is so good one may be ill all the time, 3300 04:40:03.479 --> 04:40:08.639 provided there is a drug store near by. At any rate. 3301 04:40:08.959 --> 04:40:12.759 I have my little door, my secret exit, my narrow, 3302 04:40:13.000 --> 04:40:17.680 wet duck corridor, beyond which are the stars, and all 3303 04:40:17.880 --> 04:40:23.040 the breadth of

my illimitable space. My friend, I want 3304 04:40:23.159 --> 04:40:26.799 to be frank with you. There is a certain characteristic 3305 04:40:26.880 --> 04:40:31.319 of insubordination in me, and it is that I fear 3306 04:40:32.200 --> 04:40:35.360 what is a calf or a catar of the stomach. 3307 04:40:36.000 --> 04:40:39.319 But it is possible that I may suddenly refuse to 3308 04:40:39.479 --> 04:40:45.159 calugh for no reason at all, and for some trivial cause, 3309 04:40:45.759 --> 04:40:50.720 and run off. I like you. At this moment, I 3310 04:40:50.759 --> 04:40:54.159 am quite ready to conclude a long and fast alliance 3311 04:40:54.200 --> 04:40:59.919 with you. But something may suddenly gleam across your dear face, 3312 04:41:00.799 --> 04:41:05.279 which no, it is quite impossible to do without a 3313 04:41:05.279 --> 04:41:12.959 little secret door for him who is so capricious and insubordinate. Unfortunately, 3314 04:41:13.119 --> 04:41:18.040 I am proud too, an old and well known vice 3315 04:41:18.119 --> 04:41:22.799 of Satan. Like a fish struck in the head, I 3316 04:41:22.840 --> 04:41:28.200 am dazed by my human existence. A fatal unconsciousness is 3317 04:41:28.439 --> 04:41:32.319 driving me into your life. But of one thing I 3318 04:41:32.360 --> 04:41:37.479 am quite certain. I am of the race of the free. 3319 04:41:38.439 --> 04:41:43.159 I am of the tribe of the rulers. I come 3320 04:41:43.240 --> 04:41:49.240 from those who transform their will into laws. Conquered kings 3321 04:41:49.319 --> 04:41:54.520 are taken into captivity, but conquered kings never become slaves. 3322 04:41:55.279 --> 04:41:59.599 And when I shall perceive above my head the whip 3323 04:41:59.680 --> 04:42:04.080 of an dirty guard, and my fettered hands are helpless 3324 04:42:04.119 --> 04:42:09.319 to avert the blow, well, shall I remain living with 3325 04:42:09.479 --> 04:42:13.279 welts upon my back? Shall I bargain with my judges 3326 04:42:13.319 --> 04:42:16.840 about another blow of the whip? Shall I kiss the 3327 04:42:16.959 --> 04:42:20.880 hand of the executioner? Or shall I send to the 3328 04:42:21.000 --> 04:42:26.720 druggist for an eye lotion? No, let not magnus misjudge 3329 04:42:26.759 --> 04:42:30.040 me for a little slip in our agreement. I will 3330 04:42:30.119 --> 04:42:33.520 live only as long as I want to live. All 3331 04:42:33.680 --> 04:42:37.919 the blessings of the human existence which he offered me 3332 04:42:38.000 --> 04:42:42.919 on that night when Satan was tempted by man will 3333 04:42:43.000 --> 04:42:47.759 not strike the whapon from my hand. In it alone 3334 04:42:47.919 --> 04:42:53.240 is the assurance of my liberty, Oh man, What are 3335 04:42:53.520 --> 04:42:59.000 all your kingdoms and dukedoms, your knowledge and your nobility, 3336 04:42:59.639 --> 04:43:04.959 your gold, and your freedom beside this little free movement 3337 04:43:05.040 --> 04:43:08.919 of the finger, which in a moment carries

you up 3338 04:43:09.000 --> 04:43:15.000 to the throne of thrones? Maria, Yes, I am afraid 3339 04:43:15.040 --> 04:43:17.959 of her. The look in her eye is so clear 3340 04:43:18.040 --> 04:43:22.319 and commanding, the light of her love is so mighty, 3341 04:43:23.080 --> 04:43:27.279 enchanting and beautiful that I am all a tremble, And 3342 04:43:27.560 --> 04:43:32.479 everything in me is quivering and urging me to immediate flight, 3343 04:43:33.759 --> 04:43:41.000 with hitherto unknown happiness, with veiled promises, with singing dreams. 3344 04:43:41.200 --> 04:43:47.240 She tempts me. Shall I cry away? Or shall I 3345 04:43:47.319 --> 04:43:53.200 bend mine to her will and follow her where I 3346 04:43:53.279 --> 04:43:57.759 do not know? Or are there other worlds beside those 3347 04:43:57.880 --> 04:44:03.560 I know or have forgotten? Whence comes this motionless light 3348 04:44:03.720 --> 04:44:08.119 behind my back, It is growing ever broader and brighter, 3349 04:44:08.799 --> 04:44:13.520 its warm touch heats my soul so that its polar 3350 04:44:13.599 --> 04:44:18.479 ice crumbles and melts. But I am afraid to look back. 3351 04:44:19.040 --> 04:44:23.159 I may see Sodom on fire, and if I look, 3352 04:44:23.279 --> 04:44:26.759 I may turn into stone. Or is it a new 3353 04:44:26.880 --> 04:44:30.479 sun which I have not yet seen upon this earth, 3354 04:44:30.959 --> 04:44:34.840 that is rising behind my back? And I, like a fool, 3355 04:44:34.919 --> 04:44:39.119 am fleeing from it and bearing my back instead of 3356 04:44:39.240 --> 04:44:43.119 my breast to it, the low dumb neck of a 3357 04:44:43.240 --> 04:44:49.000 frightened animal, instead of my lofty brow. Maria, will you 3358 04:44:49.159 --> 04:44:53.439 give me my revolver? I paid ten dollars for it, 3359 04:44:53.840 --> 04:44:57.840 together with the holster to you. I will not give 3360 04:44:57.880 --> 04:45:01.560 it for a kingdom. Only y. Do not look at me, 3361 04:45:01.840 --> 04:45:07.639 oh queen, Otherwise otherwise I will give you everything, the 3362 04:45:07.759 --> 04:45:15.240 revolver and the hold star and Satan himself. End of 3363 04:45:15.360 --> 04:45:26.880 section fifteen. Section sixteen of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 3364 04:45:27.279 --> 04:45:31.360 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 3365 04:45:31.400 --> 04:45:39.840 public domain. Recording by Carolyn March twenty sixth Rome Palazzo Orsini. 3366 04:45:41.840 --> 04:45:45.119 It is the fifth night that I do not sleep. 3367 04:45:45.880 --> 04:45:49.880 When the last light is turned out in my silent palazza, 3368 04:45:50.479 --> 04:45:57.200 I quietly descend the stairs quietly order a machine somehow 3369 04:45:57.319 --> 04:46:00.319 or other. Even the noise of my own step sent 3370 04:46:00.400 --> 04:46:03.680 a voice to sturb me, and I go for the 3371 04:46:03.799 --> 04:46:09.080 night into the campania. There, leaving the automobile on the road, 3372 04:46:09.680 --> 04:46:14.400 I wonder about until daybreak. Or sit immovable upon some 3373 04:46:14.639 --> 04:46:19.240 dark ruins, I cannot be seen at all, and the 3374 04:46:19.400 --> 04:46:27.000 rare passerby, perhaps some peasants from Albano converse quite loudly 3375 04:46:27.159 --> 04:46:33.279 and without restraint. I like to remain unseen. It reminds 3376 04:46:33.319 --> 04:46:38.439 me of something I have forgotten. Once, as I sat 3377 04:46:38.599 --> 04:46:43.040 down on a stone, I disturbed a lizard. It may 3378 04:46:43.080 --> 04:46:46.759 have been that it lightly moved the grass beneath my 3379 04:46:46.919 --> 04:46:51.720 feet and disappeared. Perhaps it was a snake. I do 3380 04:46:51.799 --> 04:46:56.799 not know, but I wanted desperately to become a lizard 3381 04:46:56.959 --> 04:47:02.119 or a snake concealed beneath a st I am troubled 3382 04:47:02.240 --> 04:47:06.319 by my large stature, by the size of my feet 3383 04:47:06.360 --> 04:47:11.200 and arms. They make it very difficult to become invisible. 3384 04:47:12.240 --> 04:47:16.319 I likewise refrain from looking at my face in the mirror. 3385 04:47:16.959 --> 04:47:21.360 It is painful to think I have a face which 3386 04:47:21.599 --> 04:47:26.319 all can see. Why did I fear darkness so much 3387 04:47:26.400 --> 04:47:31.279 at the beginning it is so easy to conceal oneself 3388 04:47:31.360 --> 04:47:37.520 in it. Apparently all animals experience such subtle shame, fear 3389 04:47:37.720 --> 04:47:41.959 and worriment, and seek seclusion when they are changing their 3390 04:47:42.159 --> 04:47:48.400 skin or height. So I am changing my skin. Ah, 3391 04:47:48.479 --> 04:47:53.560 it is the same worthless prattle. The whole trouble is 3392 04:47:53.799 --> 04:47:58.799 that I have failed to escape Maria's gaze and am 3393 04:47:59.159 --> 04:48:04.759 apparently preparing to close the last door, the door I 3394 04:48:04.880 --> 04:48:09.880 guarded so well. But I am ashamed. I swear by 3395 04:48:09.919 --> 04:48:16.959 eternal salvation. I feel ashamed, like a girl before the altar. 3396 04:48:18.119 --> 04:48:25.360 I am almost blushing, blushing. Satan, No, quiet, Quiet, he 3397 04:48:25.560 --> 04:48:33.080 is not here. Quiet. Magnus told her everything. She did 3398 04:48:33.119 --> 04:48:36.840 not reiterate that she loves me, but looked at me 3399 04:48:37.000 --> 04:48:43.880 and said, promise me, you will not kill yourself. The 3400 04:48:44.040 --> 04:48:48.720 rest was in her gaze. You remember how bright it is. 3401 04:48:49.400 --> 04:48:53.200 But do not think that I hastily agreed. Like a 3402 04:48:53.279 --> 04:48:58.240 salamander in the fire, I quickly changed colors. I shall 3403 04:48:58.279 --> 04:49:02.680 not repeat to you all the flaming phrases I uttered. 3404 04:49:03.279 --> 04:49:07.720 I have forgotten them, but you remember how bright and 3405 04:49:08.080 --> 04:49:15.560 serene Maria's gaze is. I kissed her

hand and said, humbly, Madam, 3406 04:49:16.040 --> 04:49:19.560 I do not ask you for forty days and desert 3407 04:49:19.680 --> 04:49:24.959 for contemplation. The desert I will find myself, and a 3408 04:49:25.000 --> 04:49:28.279 week is quite enough for me to think the matter over. 3409 04:49:29.080 --> 04:49:34.080 But do give me a week, and please don't look 3410 04:49:34.119 --> 04:49:39.840 at me anymore. Otherwise, No, that wasn't what I said. 3411 04:49:40.599 --> 04:49:44.080 I said it in other words. But it's all the same. 3412 04:49:44.799 --> 04:49:49.279 I am now changing my skin. It hurts me. I 3413 04:49:49.319 --> 04:49:53.319 am frightened and ashamed, because any crow might see me 3414 04:49:53.959 --> 04:49:58.360 and come to pick my flesh. What use is there 3415 04:49:58.520 --> 04:50:01.799 in the fact that there is a revolver in my pocket. 3416 04:50:02.599 --> 04:50:05.759 It is only when you learn to hit yourself that 3417 04:50:05.840 --> 04:50:10.479 you can hit a crow. Crows know that, and consequently 3418 04:50:10.599 --> 04:50:16.360 do not fear tragically bulging pockets. Having become human and 3419 04:50:16.639 --> 04:50:21.240 descended from above, I have become but half a man. 3420 04:50:22.240 --> 04:50:26.159 I entered upon this human existence as if into a 3421 04:50:26.279 --> 04:50:30.919 strange element. But I have not lost myself in it entirely. 3422 04:50:31.919 --> 04:50:35.880 I still cling with one hand to my heaven, and 3423 04:50:36.000 --> 04:50:41.599 my eyes are still above the surface. But she commands 3424 04:50:41.639 --> 04:50:46.200 me to accept a man in its entirety. Only he 3425 04:50:46.520 --> 04:50:51.040 is a man who has said, never shall I kill myself, 3426 04:50:51.639 --> 04:50:55.520 Never shall I leave life of my own free will, 3427 04:50:56.400 --> 04:51:01.319 And What about the whip these curss It cuts upon 3428 04:51:01.400 --> 04:51:08.400 my back pride, Oh Maria, Maria, how terribly you tempt me. 3429 04:51:09.439 --> 04:51:13.840 I look into the past of this earth and serious 3430 04:51:14.119 --> 04:51:20.759 myriads of tragic shadows, floating slowly over climes and ages. 3431 04:51:22.560 --> 04:51:29.240 Their hands stretch hopelessly into space. Their bony ribs tear 3432 04:51:29.520 --> 04:51:35.680 through the lean thin skin. Their eyes are filled with tears, 3433 04:51:36.159 --> 04:51:41.680 and their sighs have dried up their throats. I see 3434 04:51:41.720 --> 04:51:48.319 blood and madness, violence and falsehood. I hear their oaths, 3435 04:51:48.799 --> 04:51:54.680 which they constantly betray, their prayers to God, in which 3436 04:51:55.040 --> 04:52:00.200 with every word of mercy and forgiveness, they curse their 3437 04:52:00.400 --> 04:52:05.639 own earth. Wherever I look, I see the earth smoking 3438 04:52:05.799 --> 04:52:11.319 in convulsion. No matter in which direction I strain my ear, 3439 04:52:12.040 --> 04:52:18.319 I hear everywhere unseizing moans. Or is the womb of 3440 04:52:18.479 --> 04:52:23.319 the earth itself filled with moaning? I see a myriad 3441 04:52:23.560 --> 04:52:27.639 cups about me, but no matter which of them my 3442 04:52:27.759 --> 04:52:31.240 lips may touch, I find it filled with a rust 3443 04:52:31.279 --> 04:52:36.959 and vinegar. Or has man no other drink? And this 3444 04:52:37.279 --> 04:52:43.159 is man. I knew them before, I have seen them before. 3445 04:52:43.840 --> 04:52:48.439 But I looked upon them as Augustus did from his books, 3446 04:52:48.520 --> 04:52:53.080 upon the galaxy of his victims. Ah, they says, are 3447 04:52:53.880 --> 04:52:58.119 these who are about to die? Salute you? And I 3448 04:52:58.200 --> 04:53:02.080 looked upon them with the eyes of an eagle, and 3449 04:53:02.319 --> 04:53:07.759 my wise, belorled hit did not disdain to take notice 3450 04:53:08.400 --> 04:53:13.319 of their groaning cries, even with so much as a nod. 3451 04:53:14.119 --> 04:53:19.439 They came and disappeared. They marched on in endless procession, 3452 04:53:20.080 --> 04:53:25.319 And endless was the indifference of my caesar like gaze. 3453 04:53:26.080 --> 04:53:31.080 And now is it really I who walks on so hastily, 3454 04:53:31.799 --> 04:53:36.439 playing with the sand of the arena? And am I 3455 04:53:36.720 --> 04:53:43.319 this dirty, emaciated, hungry slave who lifts his convict face 3456 04:53:43.400 --> 04:53:48.959 into the air, yelling hoarsely into the indifferent eyes of fate. 3457 04:53:49.799 --> 04:53:56.840 Ave Caesar, Ave Caesar. I feel a sharp whip upon 3458 04:53:56.880 --> 04:54:00.200 my back, and with a cry of pain, I all 3459 04:54:00.319 --> 04:54:05.840 to the ground. Is it some master who is beating me? No, 3460 04:54:06.279 --> 04:54:10.159 it is another slave who has been ordered to whip 3461 04:54:10.279 --> 04:54:15.080 a slave. Very soon his note will be in my hand, 3462 04:54:15.720 --> 04:54:19.599 and his back will be covered with blood, and he 3463 04:54:19.720 --> 04:54:24.400 will be chewing the sand, the sand which now grates 3464 04:54:24.520 --> 04:54:31.599 between my teeth. Oh, Maria, Maria, how terribly you tempt me? 3465 04:54:34.200 --> 04:54:45.639 End of section sixteen Section seventeen of Satan's diary by 3466 04:54:45.720 --> 04:54:51.880 Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is 3467 04:54:51.880 --> 04:54:59.720 in the public domain recording by Carolyn March twenty ninth Rome. 3468 04:55:01.880 --> 04:55:07.319 By the blackest paint available. Take the largest brush you 3469 04:55:07.439 --> 04:55:13.479 can find, and with a broad line, divide my life 3470 04:55:13.560 --> 04:55:18.919 into yesterday and today. Take the staff of Moses and 3471 04:55:19.279 --> 04:55:24.479 divide the stream of time and dry it up, clear 3472 04:55:24.599 --> 04:55:29.720 down to its bed. Then only will you sense my 3473 04:55:30.119 --> 04:55:46.599 today avecesa

morituros tissalutat end of section seventeen. Section eighteen 3474 04:55:46.759 --> 04:55:51.720 of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. 3475 04:55:52.360 --> 04:55:56.400 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by 3476 04:55:56.479 --> 04:56:05.799 Carolyn April second Rome Palazzorceni. I do not want to lie. 3477 04:56:06.400 --> 04:56:10.520 There is not yet in me, oh man, any love 3478 04:56:10.959 --> 04:56:14.520 for you. And if you have hastened to open your 3479 04:56:14.680 --> 04:56:19.279 arms to me, please close them. The time has not 3480 04:56:19.400 --> 04:56:24.840 yet come for passionate embraces. Later, at some other date, 3481 04:56:25.360 --> 04:56:31.200 we shall embrace. But meanwhile let us be cold and restrained, 3482 04:56:32.080 --> 04:56:37.200 like two gentlemen in misfortune. I cannot say that my 3483 04:56:37.360 --> 04:56:41.639 respect for you has grown to any extent, although your 3484 04:56:41.720 --> 04:56:45.439 life and your fate have become my life and my fate. 3485 04:56:46.360 --> 04:56:51.040 Let the facts suffice that I have voluntarily placed my 3486 04:56:51.319 --> 04:56:56.119 neck beneath the yoke, and that one and the same 3487 04:56:56.400 --> 04:57:02.240 whip are furrowing our backs. Yes, that is quite sufficient 3488 04:57:02.400 --> 04:57:05.479 for the present. You have observed that I no longer 3489 04:57:05.599 --> 04:57:09.799 use a super capital in writing the word I. I 3490 04:57:09.840 --> 04:57:14.840 have thrown it out together with the revolver. This is 3491 04:57:14.880 --> 04:57:20.520 a sign of submission and equality, you understand. Like a king, 3492 04:57:20.720 --> 04:57:24.759 I have taken the oath of allegiance to your constitution. 3493 04:57:25.799 --> 04:57:30.439 But I shall not, like a king, betray this vow. 3494 04:57:31.200 --> 04:57:36.319 I have preserved from my former life a respect for contracts. 3495 04:57:37.040 --> 04:57:40.439 I swear I will be true to your comrades at 3496 04:57:40.479 --> 04:57:45.799 hard labor, and will not make any attempt to escape alone. 3497 04:57:47.279 --> 04:57:51.119 For the last few nights, before I took this decision, 3498 04:57:51.799 --> 04:57:56.520 I thought much upon our life. It is wretched, don't 3499 04:57:56.599 --> 04:58:00.840 you think so? It is difficult and human ailiating to 3500 04:58:00.880 --> 04:58:05.680 be this little thing called man, The cunning and avaricious 3501 04:58:05.799 --> 04:58:12.959 little warm that crawls, hastily, multiplies itself, and lies, turning 3502 04:58:13.000 --> 04:58:17.560 away its hid from the final blow. The warm that, 3503 04:58:17.840 --> 04:58:22.479 no matter how much it lies, will perish just the 3504 04:58:22.560 --> 04:58:27.360 same at the appointed hour, But I will be a 3505 04:58:27.479 --> 04:58:33.560 warm Let me too beget children. Let the unthinking foot 3506 04:58:33.759 --> 04:58:39.919 also crush my unthinking hid

at the appointed hour, I 3507 04:58:40.080 --> 04:58:46.720 meekly accept all consequences. We are both of us humiliated, comrade, 3508 04:58:47.159 --> 04:58:51.799 And in this alone there is some consolation. You will 3509 04:58:51.799 --> 04:58:56.200 listen to my complaints, and I to yours. And if 3510 04:58:56.279 --> 04:59:01.319 the matter should ultimately reach this state of litigation, why 3511 04:59:01.799 --> 04:59:06.680 the witnesses will all be ready. That is well, when 3512 04:59:06.720 --> 04:59:12.080 one kills in the public square, there are always eyewitnesses. 3513 04:59:13.439 --> 04:59:16.959 I will lie if necessary. I will not lie in 3514 04:59:17.119 --> 04:59:22.479 that free play of lying with which even profits lie, 3515 04:59:22.919 --> 04:59:27.400 but in that enforced manner of lying employed by the rabbit, 3516 04:59:28.040 --> 04:59:32.520 which compels him to hide his ears, to be gray 3517 04:59:32.720 --> 04:59:37.119 in summer and white in winter. What can one do 3518 04:59:37.279 --> 04:59:41.639 when behind every tree a hunter with a rifle is concealed. 3519 04:59:42.680 --> 04:59:47.200 This lying may appear to be ignoble from one point 3520 04:59:47.240 --> 04:59:52.639 of view, and may well call forth condemnation upon us. 3521 04:59:53.159 --> 04:59:57.880 But you and I must live, my friend. Let bystanders 3522 04:59:57.919 --> 05:00:03.240 accuse us to their heart's con But when necessary we 3523 05:00:03.279 --> 05:00:09.279 will lie like wolves too. We will spring forward suddenly 3524 05:00:09.759 --> 05:00:14.720 and seize the enemy by the throat. One must live, brother, 3525 05:00:15.279 --> 05:00:19.840 One must live. And are we to be held responsible 3526 05:00:19.959 --> 05:00:23.360 for the fact that there is such great lure and 3527 05:00:23.720 --> 05:00:29.319 such fine taste in blood. In reality, neither you nor 3528 05:00:29.479 --> 05:00:34.119 I are proud of our lying, of our cowardice, or 3529 05:00:34.159 --> 05:00:39.560 our cruelty, and our bloodthirstiness is certainly not a matter 3530 05:00:39.639 --> 05:00:44.959 of conviction. But however hideous our life may be, it 3531 05:00:45.040 --> 05:00:50.919 is still more miserable. Do you agree with that? I 3532 05:00:50.959 --> 05:00:54.439 do not love you yet, oh man, But on these 3533 05:00:54.599 --> 05:00:57.639 nights I have been more than once on the verge 3534 05:00:57.720 --> 05:01:01.759 of tears when I thought of you, your suffering, of 3535 05:01:01.799 --> 05:01:08.400 your tortured body, and of your soul relinquished to eternal crucifixion. 3536 05:01:09.720 --> 05:01:12.279 It is well for a wolf to be a wolf, 3537 05:01:12.880 --> 05:01:15.439 It is well for a rabbit to be a rabbit. 3538 05:01:16.080 --> 05:01:21.159 But you, man, contain both God and Satan, And oh 3539 05:01:21.200 --> 05:01:26.360 how terrible is the imprisonment of both in that narrow 3540 05:01:26.400 --> 05:01:31.159 and dark cell of yours. Can God be a wolf 3541 05:01:31.639 --> 05:01:37.080 tearing throats and drinking blood? Can Satan be a rabbit 3542 05:01:37.560 --> 05:01:43.400 hiding his ears behind his humped back. No, that is intolerable. 3543 05:01:43.840 --> 05:01:49.319 I agree with you. That fills life with eternal confusion 3544 05:01:49.400 --> 05:01:54.439 and pain, and the sorrow of the soul becomes boundless. 3545 05:01:56.080 --> 05:02:00.599 Think of it. Of three children that you beget, one 3546 05:02:00.720 --> 05:02:05.119 becomes a murderer, the other the victim, and the third 3547 05:02:05.560 --> 05:02:11.119 the judge and executioner. And each day the murderers are murdered, 3548 05:02:11.479 --> 05:02:15.240 and still they continue to be born. And each day 3549 05:02:15.319 --> 05:02:21.119 the murderers kill conscience, and conscience kills the murderers, and 3550 05:02:21.360 --> 05:02:27.240 all are alive. The murderers and conscience. Oh what a 3551 05:02:27.479 --> 05:02:31.759 fog we live in. Give heed to all the words 3552 05:02:31.919 --> 05:02:35.479 spoken by man from the day of his birth, and 3553 05:02:35.680 --> 05:02:39.959 you will think this is God. Look at all the 3554 05:02:40.000 --> 05:02:43.919 deeds of man from his very first day, and you 3555 05:02:44.000 --> 05:02:49.319 will exclaim in disgust, this is a beast. Thus does 3556 05:02:49.479 --> 05:02:54.400 man struggle with himself for thousands of years, and the 3557 05:02:54.439 --> 05:02:58.759 sorrow of his soul is boundless, and the suffering of 3558 05:02:58.880 --> 05:03:04.240 his mind is horrible and horrible. While the final judge 3559 05:03:04.279 --> 05:03:08.959 is slow about his coming, but he will never come. 3560 05:03:09.799 --> 05:03:14.159 I say this to you, we are forever alone with 3561 05:03:14.360 --> 05:03:20.639 our life. But I accept this too. Not yet has 3562 05:03:20.759 --> 05:03:24.040 the earth endowed me with my name. And I know 3563 05:03:24.240 --> 05:03:29.319 not who I am, Cain or Abel, but I accept 3564 05:03:29.479 --> 05:03:33.599 the sacrifice as I do murder. I am everywhere with you, 3565 05:03:33.720 --> 05:03:39.159 and everywhere I follow you. Man, Let us weep together 3566 05:03:39.319 --> 05:03:43.040 in the desert, knowing that no one will give heed 3567 05:03:43.279 --> 05:03:48.560 to us, or perhaps someone will. You see you, and 3568 05:03:48.639 --> 05:03:52.560 I are beginning to have faith in someone's ear, and 3569 05:03:52.959 --> 05:03:56.520 soon I will begin to believe in a triangular eye. 3570 05:03:57.040 --> 05:04:00.880 It is really impossible that such a concert should have 3571 05:04:01.000 --> 05:04:05.799 no hero, that such a spectacle should be wasted on 3572 05:04:05.959 --> 05:04:10.520 the desert air. I think of the fact that no 3573 05:04:10.560 --> 05:04:14.759 one has yet beaten me, and I am afraid what 3574 05:04:15.080 --> 05:04:19.880 will become of my soul when someone's scrubby hand strikes 3575 05:04:19.919 -->

05:04:23.880 me on the face. What will become of me? For 3576 05:04:24.159 --> 05:04:27.840 I know that no earthly revenge could return my face 3577 05:04:27.919 --> 05:04:31.799 to me? And what will then become of my soul? 3578 05:04:33.119 --> 05:04:37.319 I swear I will become reconciled even to this. Everywhere 3579 05:04:37.319 --> 05:04:41.439 with you and after you, Man, what is my face 3580 05:04:41.599 --> 05:04:45.680 when you struck the face of your own Christ and 3581 05:04:46.119 --> 05:04:51.599 spat into his eyes? Everywhere with you, and if necessary, 3582 05:04:51.799 --> 05:04:55.959 I myself will strike at Christ with the hand with 3583 05:04:56.080 --> 05:05:01.240 which I now write, I go with you to all ends. Man, 3584 05:05:02.000 --> 05:05:05.639 they beat us, and they will continue to beat us. 3585 05:05:06.159 --> 05:05:11.159 We beat Christ and will still beat him. Ah, bitter 3586 05:05:11.240 --> 05:05:16.880 is our life almost unbearable. Only a while ago I 3587 05:05:16.959 --> 05:05:22.919 rejected your embraces. I said they were premature, But now 3588 05:05:22.959 --> 05:05:27.240 I say, let us embrace more firmly. Brother, let us 3589 05:05:27.400 --> 05:05:33.159 cling closely to each other. It is so painful, so terrible, 3590 05:05:33.279 --> 05:05:37.319 to be alone in this life, when all exits from 3591 05:05:37.400 --> 05:05:41.880 it are closed, and I know not yet wherein There 3592 05:05:42.000 --> 05:05:47.759 is more pride and liberty in going away voluntarily whenever 3593 05:05:47.880 --> 05:05:53.439 one wishes, or in accepting without resistance the hand of 3594 05:05:53.680 --> 05:05:59.799 the executioner, in calmly placing one's hand upon his breast, 3595 05:06:00.400 --> 05:06:06.119 putting one foot forward and with it proudly bent forward 3596 05:06:06.759 --> 05:06:15.279 to wait, calmly do thy duty, executioner or soldiers, here 3597 05:06:15.360 --> 05:06:21.919 is my breast fire. There is something plastic in this pose, 3598 05:06:22.159 --> 05:06:26.880 and it pleases me. But still more am I pleased 3599 05:06:27.040 --> 05:06:31.319 with the fact that once again my greater ego is 3600 05:06:31.520 --> 05:06:37.799 rising within me at the striking of this pose. Of course, 3601 05:06:38.159 --> 05:06:41.880 the executioner will not fail to do his duty, and 3602 05:06:42.279 --> 05:06:47.599 the soldiers will not lower their rifles. But the important 3603 05:06:47.799 --> 05:06:52.639 thing is the line, the moment when, before my very 3604 05:06:52.759 --> 05:06:58.720 death itself, I shall suddenly find myself immortal and broader 3605 05:06:58.720 --> 05:07:04.759 than life itself. It is strange, but with one turn 3606 05:07:04.840 --> 05:07:09.040 of the head, with one phrase expressed or conceived. At 3607 05:07:09.080 --> 05:07:13.720 the proper moment, I could, so to speak, halt the 3608 05:07:13.759 --> 05:07:19.000 function of my very spirit, and the entire operation would 3609 05:07:19.040 --> 05:07:23.959 be performed outside of me. And when death shall have 3610 05:07:24.400 --> 05:07:30.200 finally performed its role of redeemer, its darkness would not 3611 05:07:30.400 --> 05:07:35.119 eclipse the light, for the latter will have first separated 3612 05:07:35.159 --> 05:07:40.439 itself from me and scattered into space in order to 3613 05:07:40.520 --> 05:07:49.680 reassemble somewhere and blaze forth again. But where strange, strange? 3614 05:07:50.240 --> 05:07:55.279 I sought to escape from min and found myself at 3615 05:07:55.319 --> 05:08:01.200 that wall of unconsciousness known only to Satan. Important, indeed 3616 05:08:01.400 --> 05:08:04.959 is the pose. I must make a note of that. 3617 05:08:05.880 --> 05:08:10.000 But will the pose be as convincing? And will it 3618 05:08:10.119 --> 05:08:15.759 not lose in plasticity? If, instead of death, the executioner 3619 05:08:15.799 --> 05:08:19.599 and the firing squad I should be compelled to say 3620 05:08:19.680 --> 05:08:26.000 something else, well, something like, here is my face strike. 3621 05:08:27.479 --> 05:08:30.680 I do not know why I am so concerned about 3622 05:08:30.720 --> 05:08:36.040 my face, but it does concern me greatly. I confess 3623 05:08:36.159 --> 05:08:41.080 man that it worries me very much. Indeed, no a 3624 05:08:41.159 --> 05:08:46.080 mere trifle. I will it simply subdue my spirit. Let 3625 05:08:46.279 --> 05:08:51.200 them beat me When the spirit is crushed, The operation 3626 05:08:51.439 --> 05:08:54.840 is no more painful or humiliating than it would be 3627 05:08:55.240 --> 05:08:58.240 if I were to beat my overcoat on its hanger. 3628 05:08:59.400 --> 05:09:02.119 But I I have forgotten that I am not alone, 3629 05:09:02.560 --> 05:09:06.759 and being in your company, have fallen into impolite meditation. 3630 05:09:07.840 --> 05:09:10.919 For a half hour. I have been silent over this 3631 05:09:11.159 --> 05:09:15.599 sheet of paper, and it seemed all the time as 3632 05:09:15.639 --> 05:09:20.400 if I had been talking, and quite excitedly. I forgot 3633 05:09:20.439 --> 05:09:23.319 that it is not enough to think, that one must 3634 05:09:23.360 --> 05:09:27.720 also speak. What a shame it is man, that for 3635 05:09:27.880 --> 05:09:31.840 the exchange of thoughts we must resort to the service 3636 05:09:31.959 --> 05:09:36.919 of such a poor and stealthy broker as the word. 3637 05:09:37.759 --> 05:09:42.880 He steals all that is precious and defiles the best 3638 05:09:42.919 --> 05:09:48.840 thoughts with the chatter of the marketplace. In truth, this 3639 05:09:49.200 --> 05:09:53.959 pains me much more than death or the beating. I 3640 05:09:54.000 --> 05:09:58.279 am terrified by the necessity of silence. When I come 3641 05:09:58.400 --> 05:10:05.119 upon the extraordinary, which is inexpressible, like a rivulee, I 3642 05:10:05.319 --> 05:10:09.959 run and advance only as far as the ocean. In 3643 05:10:10.080

--> 05:10:13.479 the depth of the letter is the end of my 3644 05:10:13.799 --> 05:10:21.639 murmuring within me. However, motionless and omnipresent, rocking to and 3645 05:10:21.919 --> 05:10:27.759 fro is the ocean. It only hurls noise and surf 3646 05:10:27.919 --> 05:10:33.400 upon the earth, but its depths are dumb and motionless 3647 05:10:33.880 --> 05:10:37.759 and quite without any purpose? Are the ships sailing on 3648 05:10:37.840 --> 05:10:44.200 its surface? How shall I describe it? Before I resolved 3649 05:10:44.360 --> 05:10:48.439 to enroll myself as an earthly slave, I did not 3650 05:10:48.840 --> 05:10:53.759 speak to Maria or to Magnus. Why should I speak 3651 05:10:53.799 --> 05:10:57.959 to Maria when her beckoning is clear like her gaze? 3652 05:10:58.959 --> 05:11:02.720 But having becn come a slave, I went to Magnus 3653 05:11:02.759 --> 05:11:08.919 to complain and to seek advice. Apparently the human begins. 3654 05:11:09.279 --> 05:11:14.639 Thus Magnus hurt me in silence, and as it seemed 3655 05:11:14.720 --> 05:11:21.400 to me, with some inner excitement. He works day and night, virtually, 3656 05:11:21.599 --> 05:11:26.560 knowing no rest, and the complicated business of the liquidation 3657 05:11:26.720 --> 05:11:31.159 of my property is moving forward as rapidly in his 3658 05:11:31.319 --> 05:11:35.080 hands as if he had been engaged in such work 3659 05:11:35.319 --> 05:11:40.639 all his life. I like his heroic gestures and his 3660 05:11:40.919 --> 05:11:46.880 contempt for details. When he cannot unravel a situation, he 3661 05:11:47.000 --> 05:11:50.840 hurls millions out of the window with the grace of 3662 05:11:50.919 --> 05:11:55.319 a grandee. But he is weary, and his eyes seem 3663 05:11:55.520 --> 05:12:00.599 larger and darker on the background of his dim face. 3664 05:12:02.200 --> 05:12:06.000 Only now have I learned from Maria that he is 3665 05:12:06.119 --> 05:12:12.599 tortured by frequent headaches. My complaints against life, I fear, 3666 05:12:13.040 --> 05:12:17.560 have failed to arouse any particular sympathy on his part, 3667 05:12:18.279 --> 05:12:22.759 no matter what the accusations I brought against man and 3668 05:12:23.040 --> 05:12:29.360 the life he leads, Magnus would reply impatiently, Yes, yes, 3669 05:12:29.520 --> 05:12:33.599 wonder good. That is what being a man means. Your 3670 05:12:33.639 --> 05:12:37.439 misfortune is that you discovered this rather late, and are 3671 05:12:37.520 --> 05:12:42.560 now quite unnecessarily aroused. When you shall have experienced at 3672 05:12:42.680 --> 05:12:47.240 least a part of that which now terrifies you, you 3673 05:12:47.319 --> 05:12:51.799 will speak in quite a different tone. However, I am 3674 05:12:51.840 --> 05:12:56.319 glad that you have dropped your indifference. You have become 3675 05:12:56.479 --> 05:13:02.560 much more nervous and energetic. But whence comes this immeasurable 3676 05:13:02.759 --> 05:13:09.040 terror in your eyes, collect yourself. Want a good I laughed, 3677 05:13:10.159 --> 05:13:14.240 Thank you, I am quite collected. Apparently it is the 3678 05:13:14.400 --> 05:13:18.360 slave in expectation of the whip who peers at you 3679 05:13:18.599 --> 05:13:23.279 from within my eye. Have patience, Magnus, I am not 3680 05:13:23.639 --> 05:13:28.479 quite acclimated to the situation. Tell me, shall I or 3681 05:13:28.560 --> 05:13:34.799 shall I not be compelled to commit murder? Quite possibly? 3682 05:13:36.319 --> 05:13:41.200 And can you tell me how this happens? Both of 3683 05:13:41.279 --> 05:13:46.840 us looked simultaneously at his white hands, and Magnus replied, 3684 05:13:47.080 --> 05:13:52.439 somewhat ironically, No, I will not tell you that, but 3685 05:13:52.520 --> 05:13:55.680 if you wish, I will tell you something else. I 3686 05:13:55.880 --> 05:13:59.439 will tell you what it means to accept man to 3687 05:13:59.599 --> 05:14:04.560 the vis end. It is this that is really worrying you, 3688 05:14:04.959 --> 05:14:10.000 is it not, And with much coolness and a sort 3689 05:14:10.040 --> 05:14:15.560 of secret impatience, as if another thought were devouring his attention, 3690 05:14:16.439 --> 05:14:21.400 he told me briefly of a certain unwilling and terrible murderer. 3691 05:14:22.479 --> 05:14:25.200 I do not know whether he was telling me a 3692 05:14:25.319 --> 05:14:30.080 fact or a dark tale created for my personal benefit, 3693 05:14:30.680 --> 05:14:36.240 but this was the story. It happened long ago. A 3694 05:14:36.279 --> 05:14:41.479 certain Russian, a political exile, a man of wide education 3695 05:14:41.799 --> 05:14:48.520 yet deeply religious, as often happens in Russia, escaped from Katarigha, 3696 05:14:49.200 --> 05:14:54.479 and after a long and painful wandering over the Siberian forests, 3697 05:14:55.159 --> 05:15:03.000 he found refuge with some nonconformist secretarians, huge wooden fresh 3698 05:15:03.240 --> 05:15:08.919 huts in a thick forest, surrounded by tall fences, great 3699 05:15:09.040 --> 05:15:14.959 bearded people, large ugly dogs. Something on that order, and 3700 05:15:15.240 --> 05:15:20.400 in his very presence. Soon after his arrival, there was 3701 05:15:20.520 --> 05:15:26.439 to be performed a monstrous crime. The insane mystics, under 3702 05:15:26.479 --> 05:15:32.479 the influence of some wild religious fanaticism, were to sacrifice 3703 05:15:32.599 --> 05:15:37.799 an innocent lamb. It asked upon a home made altar, 3704 05:15:38.439 --> 05:15:42.840 to the accompaniment of hymns. They were to kill a child. 3705 05:15:44.240 --> 05:15:49.319 Magnus did not relate all the painful details, limiting himself 3706 05:15:49.400 --> 05:15:52.599 only to the fact that it was a seven year 3707 05:15:52.599 --> 05:15:56.959 old boy in a new shirt, and that his young 3708 05:15:57.080 --> 05:16:03.759 mother witnessed the ceremony, all the reasonable arguments, all the 3709

05:16:03.880 --> 05:16:07.880 objections of the exile, that they were about to perform 3710 05:16:07.919 --> 05:16:12.040 a great sacrilege, that not the mercy of the Lord 3711 05:16:12.200 --> 05:16:18.400 awaited them, but the terrible tortures of hell proved powerless 3712 05:16:18.439 --> 05:16:23.200 to overcome the fierce and dull, stubbornness of the fanatics. 3713 05:16:24.000 --> 05:16:28.639 He fell upon his knees, begged, wept, and tried to 3714 05:16:28.759 --> 05:16:35.119 seize the knife. At that moment the victim stripped was 3715 05:16:35.240 --> 05:16:40.479 already on the table, while the mother was trying desperately 3716 05:16:40.639 --> 05:16:46.159 to control her tears and cries. But he only succeeded 3717 05:16:46.200 --> 05:16:51.159 in rousing the mad anger of the fanatics. They threatened 3718 05:16:51.200 --> 05:16:57.000 to kill him too. Magnus looked at me and said, slowly, 3719 05:16:57.159 --> 05:17:01.959 with a peculiar calm, and how would you have acted 3720 05:17:02.080 --> 05:17:07.680 in that case, mister Wondergot, Well, I would have fought 3721 05:17:07.759 --> 05:17:14.040 until I was killed. Yes, he did better. He offered 3722 05:17:14.040 --> 05:17:19.400 his services, and with his own hand, with appropriate song, 3723 05:17:20.080 --> 05:17:25.680 he cut the boy's throat. You are astonished, but he said, 3724 05:17:26.439 --> 05:17:30.360 better for me to take this terrible sin and punishment 3725 05:17:30.439 --> 05:17:34.759 upon myself than to surrender into the arms of hell 3726 05:17:34.959 --> 05:17:41.959 these innocent fools. Of course, such things happen only with Russians, 3727 05:17:42.520 --> 05:17:47.599 and it seems to me he himself was somewhat deranged. 3728 05:17:48.360 --> 05:17:54.040 He died eventually in an insane asylum. Following a period 3729 05:17:54.119 --> 05:18:00.240 of silence, I asked, and how would you have acted, magnus, 3730 05:18:00.799 --> 05:18:05.840 And with still greater coolness, he replied, really, I do 3731 05:18:05.919 --> 05:18:09.520 not know. It would have depended on the moment. It 3732 05:18:09.599 --> 05:18:13.520 is quite possible I would have left those beasts. But 3733 05:18:13.720 --> 05:18:18.680 it is also possible that I too. Human madness is 3734 05:18:18.799 --> 05:18:25.680 extremely contagious. Mister wondergood, do you call it only madness? 3735 05:18:26.840 --> 05:18:30.840 I said, human madness? But it is you who are 3736 05:18:30.919 --> 05:18:34.680 concerned in this wonder good? How do you like it? 3737 05:18:35.240 --> 05:18:39.680 I am off to work in the meantime. Devote yourself 3738 05:18:39.759 --> 05:18:43.680 to discerning the boundary of the human which you are 3739 05:18:43.799 --> 05:18:48.560 now willing to accept in its entirety, and then tell 3740 05:18:48.599 --> 05:18:52.639 me about it. You have not changed your intention, I 3741 05:18:52.720 --> 05:18:58.000 hope of remaining with us. He laughed and went away 3742 05:18:58.479 --> 05:19:05.159 patronizingly polite, and I remained to think, And so I think, 3743 05:19:06.200 --> 05:19:11.360 where is the boundary? I confess that I have begun 3744 05:19:11.400 --> 05:19:16.720 to fear Magnus somewhat? Or is this fear one of 3745 05:19:16.759 --> 05:19:21.639 the gifts of my complete human existence? But when he 3746 05:19:21.720 --> 05:19:25.599 speaks to me in this fashion, I become animated with 3747 05:19:25.799 --> 05:19:32.240 a strange confusion. My eyes moved timidly, my will is bent, 3748 05:19:32.840 --> 05:19:36.759 as if too great and strange alerte had been put 3749 05:19:36.840 --> 05:19:41.959 upon it. Think, Man, I shake his big hand with 3750 05:19:42.200 --> 05:19:48.439 reverence and find joy in his caress. This is not 3751 05:19:48.799 --> 05:19:54.040 true of me before, But now in every conversation I 3752 05:19:54.200 --> 05:19:58.479 perceive that this man can go further than I in 3753 05:19:58.720 --> 05:20:04.240 everything I fear, I hate him. If I have not 3754 05:20:04.360 --> 05:20:09.400 yet experienced love, I know not hatred either, And it 3755 05:20:09.439 --> 05:20:13.119 will be strange. Indeed, if I should be compelled to 3756 05:20:13.240 --> 05:20:17.720 begin by hating the father of Maria, and what a 3757 05:20:17.799 --> 05:20:22.439 fog we do live? Man, I have just merely mentioned 3758 05:20:22.680 --> 05:20:26.919 the name of Maria. Her clear gaze has only touched 3759 05:20:27.000 --> 05:20:31.680 my soul, And already my hatred of Magnus is extinguished. 3760 05:20:32.400 --> 05:20:36.439 Or did I only conjure it up and extinguished? Also? 3761 05:20:36.680 --> 05:20:40.799 Is my fear of man and life? Or did I 3762 05:20:40.959 --> 05:20:46.599 merely invent it, and a great joy, great peace has 3763 05:20:46.799 --> 05:20:51.119 descended upon me. It is as if I were again 3764 05:20:51.200 --> 05:20:55.240 a white schooner on the glassy ocean, as if I 3765 05:20:55.319 --> 05:21:00.159 held all ances in my hand and were merely too 3766 05:21:00.240 --> 05:21:05.439 lazy to open it and read therein, As if immortality 3767 05:21:05.520 --> 05:21:10.840 had returned to me. Ah, I can speak no more, O, man, 3768 05:21:11.799 --> 05:21:25.200 let me press your hands. End of section eighteen, Section 3769 05:21:25.479 --> 05:21:31.560 nineteen of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. 3770 05:21:32.279 --> 05:21:36.680 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by 3771 05:21:36.720 --> 05:21:44.720 Carolyn April sixth, nineteen fourteen. The good Topy approves all 3772 05:21:44.959 --> 05:21:50.639 my actions. He amuses me greatly. This good Topy, as 3773 05:21:50.720 --> 05:21:56.240 I expected, he has completely forgotten his true origin. He 3774 05:21:56.360 --> 05:22:02.759 regards all my reminders of our past as. Sometimes he laughs, 3775 05:22:03.119 --> 05:22:06.000 but more often he frowns, as if he were hurt. 3776

05:22:06.720 --> 05:22:10.560 For he is religious and considers it an insult to 3777 05:22:10.639 --> 05:22:15.159 be compared with the horny devil. Even in jest. He 3778 05:22:15.319 --> 05:22:22.240 himself is now convinced that devils have horns. His Americanism, 3779 05:22:22.720 --> 05:22:27.479 at first pale and weak like a pencil sketch, has 3780 05:22:27.599 --> 05:22:32.119 now become filled with color, and I myself am ready 3781 05:22:32.159 --> 05:22:36.680 to believe all the nonsense given out by Toppy as 3782 05:22:36.720 --> 05:22:43.520 his life. It is so sincere and convincing. According to him, 3783 05:22:43.919 --> 05:22:48.400 he has been in my service about fifteen years, and 3784 05:22:48.680 --> 05:22:53.880 particularly amusing it is to hear his stories about his youth. 3785 05:22:55.360 --> 05:22:59.360 Apparently he too has been touched by the charms of 3786 05:22:59.520 --> 05:23:03.919 Marie Ah. My decision to surrender all my money to 3787 05:23:04.000 --> 05:23:09.560 her father astonished him much less than I expected. He 3788 05:23:09.680 --> 05:23:14.279 merely chewed his cigar for a moment and asked, and 3789 05:23:14.439 --> 05:23:19.479 what will he do with your money? I do not know, Toppy. 3790 05:23:20.959 --> 05:23:26.080 He raised his brow and frowned. You are joking, mister Wondergoot. 3791 05:23:27.479 --> 05:23:31.639 You see, Toppy just now we it as to Magnus 3792 05:23:31.799 --> 05:23:36.400 is occupied in converting my estate into gold and jamming 3793 05:23:36.439 --> 05:23:40.840 it into banks in his name. Of course you understand. 3794 05:23:42.439 --> 05:23:47.880 How can I fail to understand, mister Wondergoot. These are 3795 05:23:47.959 --> 05:23:52.959 all preliminary, essential steps. What may happen further, I do 3796 05:23:53.000 --> 05:23:58.919 not know yet. Oh, you are jesting again. You must remember, 3797 05:23:59.000 --> 05:24:02.439 old man, that I myself did not know what to 3798 05:24:02.560 --> 05:24:05.560 do with my money. It is not money that I 3799 05:24:05.599 --> 05:24:10.639 need but new activity, you understand. But Magnus knows I 3800 05:24:10.680 --> 05:24:13.880 do not know yet what his plans are, but it 3801 05:24:14.040 --> 05:24:18.200 is what Magnus said that is important to me. I 3802 05:24:18.240 --> 05:24:22.840 will compel you to work. Wonder Good. Oh, Magnus is 3803 05:24:22.880 --> 05:24:26.159 a great man. You will see that for yourself, Toppy. 3804 05:24:27.439 --> 05:24:32.479 Toppy frowned again and replied, you are master of your money, 3805 05:24:32.520 --> 05:24:38.000 mister wonder Good. Ah, you have forgotten everything, Toppy. Don't 3806 05:24:38.000 --> 05:24:44.000 you remember about that play that I wanted to play. Yes, 3807 05:24:44.319 --> 05:24:47.680 you did say something about it, but I thought you 3808 05:24:47.759 --> 05:24:53.400 were joking. No, I was not joking. I was only mistaken. 3809 05:24:54.119 --> 05:24:57.479 They do play here, but this is not a theater. 3810 05:24:58.040 --> 05:25:00.319 It is a gambling house. And so I he gave 3811 05:25:00.360 --> 05:25:04.119 all my money to Magnus. Let him break the bank. 3812 05:25:04.720 --> 05:25:10.000 You understand, he is the banker. He will manage the game, 3813 05:25:10.439 --> 05:25:14.720 and I shall simply do the betting. Quite a life 3814 05:25:14.799 --> 05:25:21.200 are Apparently the old fool understood nothing. He kept raising 3815 05:25:21.240 --> 05:25:26.360 and lowering his eyebrows, and again, inquiet, and how soon 3816 05:25:26.439 --> 05:25:31.680 may we expect your betrothal to Signorina Maria. I do 3817 05:25:31.759 --> 05:25:34.799 not know yet, Toppy, But that is not the thing 3818 05:25:35.400 --> 05:25:40.720 I see. You are dissatisfied. You do not trust Magnus, Oh, 3819 05:25:40.759 --> 05:25:44.040 signor Magnus is a worthy man. But one thing I 3820 05:25:44.080 --> 05:25:47.759 do fear, mister Wondergot, if you will permit me to 3821 05:25:47.799 --> 05:25:50.959 be frank, He is a man who does not believe. 3822 05:25:51.720 --> 05:25:56.040 This seems strange to me. How can the father of 3823 05:25:56.200 --> 05:26:00.479 Signorina Maria be a non believer? Is that not? So? 3824 05:26:01.360 --> 05:26:05.119 Permit me to ask, do you intend to give anything 3825 05:26:05.240 --> 05:26:12.439 to his eminence? That depends now on Magnus? Oh, on 3826 05:26:12.560 --> 05:26:16.840 Signor Magnus so so? And do you know that his 3827 05:26:17.000 --> 05:26:20.919 eminence has already been to see Signor Magnos He was 3828 05:26:20.959 --> 05:26:24.560 here a few days ago and spent several hours in 3829 05:26:24.639 --> 05:26:30.080 his study. You were not at home at that time. No, 3830 05:26:30.200 --> 05:26:33.000 I do not know. We have not spoken about that, 3831 05:26:33.599 --> 05:26:39.360 but have no fear. We will find something for the Cardinal. Confess, 3832 05:26:39.400 --> 05:26:43.720 old man, you are quite enchanted with that old monkey. 3833 05:26:45.720 --> 05:26:50.279 Toppy glanced at me sharply and sighed. Then he lapsed 3834 05:26:50.279 --> 05:26:55.319 into thought, and, strange as it may seem, something akin 3835 05:26:55.439 --> 05:27:01.520 to a monkey appeared in his countenance, as in the Cardinal. Later, 3836 05:27:01.959 --> 05:27:06.840 from somewhere deep within him there appeared a smile. It 3837 05:27:06.919 --> 05:27:12.000 illumined his hanging nose, rose to his eyes, and blazed 3838 05:27:12.080 --> 05:27:18.200 forth within them in two bright little flames, not devoid 3839 05:27:18.319 --> 05:27:22.479 of wanton malice, I looked at him in astonishment and 3840 05:27:22.639 --> 05:27:28.040 even with joy. Yes, that was my old Toppy risen 3841 05:27:28.159 --> 05:27:32.799 from his human grave. I am convinced that his hair 3842 05:27:32.959 --> 05:27:38.000 again has the smell of fur instead of oil. Gently 3843 05:27:38.080 --> 05:27:42.159 I kissed his brow old habits cannot

be rooted out, 3844 05:27:42.639 --> 05:27:47.639 and exclaimed, you are enchanting, Toppy. But what was it 3845 05:27:47.840 --> 05:27:53.200 that gave you such joy? I waited to see whether 3846 05:27:53.240 --> 05:27:58.520 he would show Maria to the cardinal. Well, he did 3847 05:27:58.560 --> 05:28:05.759 not well, but Toppy remained silent, And as it had come, 3848 05:28:06.119 --> 05:28:11.720 so did the smile disappear. Slowly. At first, the hanging 3849 05:28:11.840 --> 05:28:17.720 nose grew pale and became quite indistinct. Then all at 3850 05:28:17.799 --> 05:28:22.040 once the flames within his eyes went out, and again 3851 05:28:22.200 --> 05:28:28.880 the old dejection, sourness, and odor of church hypocrisy buried him, 3852 05:28:29.400 --> 05:28:33.360 who had been resurrected for a moment. It would have 3853 05:28:33.439 --> 05:28:39.159 been useless to trouble the ashes with further questions. This 3854 05:28:39.319 --> 05:28:44.240 happened yesterday. A warm rain fell during the day, but 3855 05:28:44.400 --> 05:28:49.560 it cleared up towards evening, and Magnus, weary and apparently 3856 05:28:49.680 --> 05:28:54.240 suffering with headache, suggested that we take a ride into 3857 05:28:54.319 --> 05:29:00.000 the Campania. We left our chauffeur behind a practice pure 3858 05:29:00.000 --> 05:29:05.680 peculiar to all our intimate trips. His duties were performed 3859 05:29:05.759 --> 05:29:12.000 by Magnus with extraordinary skill and daring. On this occasion, 3860 05:29:12.439 --> 05:29:18.200 his usual daring reached the point of audacity. Despite the 3861 05:29:18.240 --> 05:29:23.840 ever thickening twilight and the muddy road, Magnus drove the 3862 05:29:23.919 --> 05:29:28.759 automobile at such mad speed that more than once did 3863 05:29:28.759 --> 05:29:34.200 I look up at his broad, motionless back. But that 3864 05:29:34.400 --> 05:29:38.279 was only at first. The presence of Maria, whom I 3865 05:29:38.319 --> 05:29:42.680 supported with my arm I do not dare to say embraced, 3866 05:29:43.479 --> 05:29:46.840 soon brought me to the loss of all my senses. 3867 05:29:47.799 --> 05:29:50.599 I cannot describe it all to you so that you 3868 05:29:50.599 --> 05:29:55.000 would really feel it. The aromatic air of the campania 3869 05:29:55.520 --> 05:30:00.319 which caressed my face, the magnificence and charm of our 3870 05:30:00.520 --> 05:30:05.240 arrow like speed, my virtual loss of all sensation, of 3871 05:30:05.400 --> 05:30:10.799 material weight, of the complete disappearance of buddy, when I 3872 05:30:10.840 --> 05:30:17.080 felt myself a speeding thought, a flying gaze. But still 3873 05:30:17.319 --> 05:30:21.880 less can I tell you of Maria, Her Madonna gaze 3874 05:30:22.040 --> 05:30:27.919 whitened in the twilight like marble, like the mysterious silence 3875 05:30:28.040 --> 05:30:33.360 and perfect beauty of marble. Was her gentle, sweet and 3876 05:30:33.599 --> 05:30:40.479 wise silence. I barely

touched her slender, supple figure. But 3877 05:30:40.840 --> 05:30:43.520 if I had been embracing within the hollow of my 3878 05:30:43.720 --> 05:30:49.560 hand the entire firmness of Earth and sky, I could 3879 05:30:49.639 --> 05:30:55.759 not have felt a more complete mastery of the whole world. 3880 05:30:57.119 --> 05:31:01.360 Do you know what a line is in measurement? Not? Much? 3881 05:31:01.520 --> 05:31:05.159 Is that? Not so? And it was only by the 3882 05:31:05.200 --> 05:31:09.159 measure of a line that Maria bent her divine form 3883 05:31:09.360 --> 05:31:14.200 to me. No, no more than that. But what would 3884 05:31:14.279 --> 05:31:18.200 you say, man, if the sun, coming down from its 3885 05:31:18.319 --> 05:31:22.759 course just one line, were to come closer to you 3886 05:31:22.919 --> 05:31:27.319 by that distance, would you not consider it a miracle? 3887 05:31:29.159 --> 05:31:35.040 My existence seemed unbounded, like the universe, which knows neither 3888 05:31:35.159 --> 05:31:40.479 your time nor distance. For a moment, there gleamed before 3889 05:31:40.560 --> 05:31:45.959 me the wall of my unconsciousness, that unconquerable barrier against 3890 05:31:46.000 --> 05:31:50.119 which the spirit of Him who has donned the human 3891 05:31:50.240 --> 05:31:55.680 form beats in vain. And as quickly did it disappear, 3892 05:31:56.279 --> 05:32:01.400 it was swallowed without sound or con inflict by the 3893 05:32:01.439 --> 05:32:07.720 waves of my new sea. Even higher they rose, enshrouding 3894 05:32:07.840 --> 05:32:12.040 the world. There was no longer anything to remember for 3895 05:32:12.240 --> 05:32:16.599 me or to know. My new human soul remembered all 3896 05:32:17.159 --> 05:32:23.919 and commanded all. I am a man. What gave me 3897 05:32:24.080 --> 05:32:29.279 the idea that I hate Magnus. I looked at this motionless, 3898 05:32:29.720 --> 05:32:34.400 erect and firm human back and thought that behind it 3899 05:32:34.479 --> 05:32:38.599 a heart was beating. I thought of how painful and 3900 05:32:38.919 --> 05:32:42.439 terrible it was for it to remain firm and erect, 3901 05:32:42.959 --> 05:32:47.279 and of how much pain and suffering had already fall 3902 05:32:47.360 --> 05:32:51.680 into the lot of this human creature, no matter how 3903 05:32:51.799 --> 05:32:57.400 proud it might appear or deject it. And suddenly I realized, 3904 05:32:57.520 --> 05:33:01.279 to the extent of pain and tears, how much I 3905 05:33:01.400 --> 05:33:09.240 loved Magnus, this very same Magnus. He speeds so wildly 3906 05:33:09.479 --> 05:33:14.119 and has no fear. And the very moment I sensed this, 3907 05:33:14.720 --> 05:33:19.439 Maria's eyes turned upon me. Ah, they are as bright 3908 05:33:19.479 --> 05:33:23.000 at night as they are by day, but at that 3909 05:33:23.279 --> 05:33:27.560 moment there was a trouble to look within them. They 3910 05:33:27.560 --> 05:33:33.680 were asking why these tears? What could I

say in reply? 3911 05:33:33.880 --> 05:33:39.279 With the aid of weak words, I silently took Maria's 3912 05:33:39.319 --> 05:33:44.000 hand and pressed it to my lips, and, without taking 3913 05:33:44.040 --> 05:33:49.319 her gaze off me, shining in cold marble luster, she 3914 05:33:49.479 --> 05:33:55.159 quietly withdrew her hand, and I became confused, and again 3915 05:33:55.319 --> 05:33:59.880 gave it to me, taking off her glove. Will you 3916 05:34:00.200 --> 05:34:04.279 permit me to discontinue. Man, I do not know who 3917 05:34:04.319 --> 05:34:08.400 you are, you who are reading these lines, and I 3918 05:34:08.599 --> 05:34:15.599 rather fear you your swift and daring imagination. Moreover, a 3919 05:34:15.680 --> 05:34:20.200 gentleman feels ill at ease in speaking of his successes 3920 05:34:20.360 --> 05:34:25.799 with the ladies. Besides, it was time to return on 3921 05:34:25.919 --> 05:34:30.279 the hills. The lights of Tivoli were already gleaming, and 3922 05:34:30.400 --> 05:34:36.560 Magnus reduced his speed. We were moving quite slowly on 3923 05:34:36.599 --> 05:34:41.959 the return trip, and Magnus grown mary, wiping his brow 3924 05:34:42.080 --> 05:34:47.319 with his handkerchief. Now and then addressed brave remarks to us. 3925 05:34:48.360 --> 05:34:53.000 There is one thing I will not conceal. Her unquestionable 3926 05:34:53.200 --> 05:35:00.880 womanliness emphasizes the completeness of my transformation. As we walked 3927 05:35:00.959 --> 05:35:05.439 up the broad stairs of my palazzo, emit its princely 3928 05:35:05.599 --> 05:35:11.159 wealth and beauty, I suddenly thought, why not send all 3929 05:35:11.279 --> 05:35:15.840 this adventure to the devil? Why not simply wed and 3930 05:35:16.080 --> 05:35:22.720 live like a prince in this palace? There will be freedom, children, laughter, 3931 05:35:23.680 --> 05:35:28.880 just earthly happiness and love. And again I looked at Magnus. 3932 05:35:29.479 --> 05:35:33.799 He seemed strange to me. I will take your money. 3933 05:35:35.080 --> 05:35:38.919 Then I saw the stern gaze of Maria and the 3934 05:35:39.000 --> 05:35:44.200 contradiction between her love and this plan of simple, modest 3935 05:35:44.319 --> 05:35:49.439 happiness was so great and emphatic that my thought did 3936 05:35:49.520 --> 05:35:55.319 not even require an answer. I now recollect this thought 3937 05:35:55.520 --> 05:36:01.400 accidentally as a curiosity of topism. Let me call it 3938 05:36:01.639 --> 05:36:09.000 topism in honor of my perfect Toppy. End of section nineteen, 3939 05:36:15.560 --> 05:36:21.119 Section twenty of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, translated by 3940 05:36:21.119 --> 05:36:25.639 Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. 3941 05:36:26.360 --> 05:36:33.720 Recording by Caroline. Section twenty. The evening was charming. At 3942 05:36:33.880 --> 05:36:39.520 Magnus's request, Maria sang, you cannot imagine the reverence with 3943 05:36:39.599 --> 05:36:44.439 which Toppy listened to her singing. He dared not utter 3944 05:36:44.520 --> 05:36:48.319 a word to Maria, but on leaving he shook my 3945 05:36:48.520 --> 05:36:54.919 hand long and with particular warmth. Then similarly he shook 3946 05:36:55.080 --> 05:37:01.240 the hand of Magnus. I also rose to retire. Do 3947 05:37:01.319 --> 05:37:07.400 you intend to do some work yet, Magnus? No, don't 3948 05:37:07.439 --> 05:37:10.520 you want to go to sleep? Wander good? Come to 3949 05:37:10.599 --> 05:37:14.520 my room, will chat a bit. Incidentally, there is a 3950 05:37:14.560 --> 05:37:19.880 paper for you to sign. Do you want any wine? Oh, 3951 05:37:19.919 --> 05:37:25.680 with great pleasure, Magnus, I love conversation. At night we 3952 05:37:25.840 --> 05:37:32.080 drank the wine. Magnus whistling something out of tune silently 3953 05:37:32.319 --> 05:37:37.840 walked the carpet, while I, as usual, reclined in a chair. 3954 05:37:38.759 --> 05:37:44.479 The palazzo was all silence, like a sarcophagus, and this 3955 05:37:44.840 --> 05:37:50.720 reminded me of that stirring night when mad Mars raved 3956 05:37:50.919 --> 05:37:59.360 behind the wall. Suddenly, Magnus exclaimed loudly, without hesitation, the 3957 05:37:59.439 --> 05:38:07.959 affair progressing splendidly. So in two weeks everything will be completed. 3958 05:38:08.520 --> 05:38:12.639 Your swollen, scattered wealth, in which one can be lost 3959 05:38:12.720 --> 05:38:16.400 as in a wood, will be transformed into a clear, 3960 05:38:16.840 --> 05:38:22.080 concise and exact sack of gold, to be more correct, 3961 05:38:22.599 --> 05:38:26.799 into a mountain. Do you know the exact estimate of 3962 05:38:26.880 --> 05:38:32.279 your money? Wonder good? Oh don't, Magnos, I don't want 3963 05:38:32.319 --> 05:38:37.840 to know it. Moreover, it's your money. Magnus looked at 3964 05:38:37.880 --> 05:38:44.439 me quickly and said sharply, no, it's yours. I shrugged 3965 05:38:44.479 --> 05:38:49.000 my shoulders. I did not want to argue. It was 3966 05:38:49.279 --> 05:38:53.959 so quiet, and I so enjoyed watching this strong man 3967 05:38:54.720 --> 05:39:00.080 silently pacing to and fro. I still remember that his 3968 05:39:00.200 --> 05:39:06.040 motionless stern back, behind which I could clearly see his heart. 3969 05:39:06.680 --> 05:39:11.080 He continued, after a pause, do you know, wonder good, 3970 05:39:11.240 --> 05:39:16.159 that the cardinal has been here? The old monkey yes, 3971 05:39:16.240 --> 05:39:21.479 I know what did he want the same thing? He 3972 05:39:21.560 --> 05:39:24.759 wanted to see you, but I did not feel like 3973 05:39:25.040 --> 05:39:30.560 taking you away from your thoughts. Thanks. Did you drive 3974 05:39:30.639 --> 05:39:36.639 him out? Magnus replied angrily. I am sorry to say no. 3975 05:39:37.479 --> 05:39:40.639 Don't put on airs. Wonder good. I have already told 3976 05:39:40.680 --> 05:39:43.119 you

that we must be careful of him as long 3977 05:39:43.159 --> 05:39:47.319 as we remain here. But you are quite right. He 3978 05:39:47.439 --> 05:39:54.319 is an old, shaven, useless, evil, gluttonous, cowardly monkey. Aha, 3979 05:39:55.080 --> 05:40:02.439 then why not show him the door? Impossible? I believe you, Magnus. 3980 05:40:02.680 --> 05:40:06.759 And what does this king I hear about want? Who 3981 05:40:06.799 --> 05:40:12.000 is to visit us some of these days? Ex King? 3982 05:40:12.840 --> 05:40:17.439 Probably the same thing. You should receive him yourself, of course, 3983 05:40:18.840 --> 05:40:23.479 but only in your presence. Otherwise I refuse. You must understand, 3984 05:40:23.560 --> 05:40:28.040 my friend, that from that memorable night on I have 3985 05:40:28.200 --> 05:40:32.880 been merely your disciple. You find it impossible to drive 3986 05:40:32.919 --> 05:40:37.799 out the old monkey. Very well, let him remain. You 3987 05:40:37.919 --> 05:40:43.000 say we must receive some ex King. Very well, receive him. 3988 05:40:43.520 --> 05:40:46.200 But I would rather be hanged on the first lamp 3989 05:40:46.279 --> 05:40:52.159 post than to do so without knowing your reason. You 3990 05:40:52.240 --> 05:40:57.919 are jesting again, wonder Good. No, I am quite serious, Magnus, 3991 05:40:58.360 --> 05:41:02.479 but I swear by its eternal salvation that I know 3992 05:41:02.720 --> 05:41:06.439 not what we are doing or intend to do. I 3993 05:41:06.479 --> 05:41:10.159 am not reproaching you. I am not even questioning you, 3994 05:41:10.919 --> 05:41:13.799 as I have already told you. I trust you and 3995 05:41:13.880 --> 05:41:17.439 am ready to follow your directions, that you may not 3996 05:41:17.560 --> 05:41:22.040 again reproach me with livity and impracticability. I may add 3997 05:41:22.080 --> 05:41:29.919 a little business detail. Maria and her love are my hostages. Moreover, 3998 05:41:30.479 --> 05:41:33.360 I do not yet note to what you intend to 3999 05:41:33.520 --> 05:41:38.400 devote your energy, of whose boundlessness I am becoming more 4000 05:41:38.520 --> 05:41:43.799 convinced each day what plans and iNTS your experience and 4001 05:41:44.040 --> 05:41:48.240 mind have set before you. But of one thing, I 4002 05:41:48.319 --> 05:41:54.279 have no doubt. They will be huge plans, great objects, 4003 05:41:55.040 --> 05:42:00.000 and I too shall always find something to do beside you. 4004 05:42:00.439 --> 05:42:03.639 At any rate, this will be much better than my 4005 05:42:03.919 --> 05:42:10.279 brainless old women and six secretaries. Why do you refuse 4006 05:42:10.439 --> 05:42:15.040 to believe in my modesty as I believe in your genius. 4007 05:42:15.680 --> 05:42:19.759 Imagine that I am come from some other planet, from us, 4008 05:42:19.799 --> 05:42:24.439 for instance, and wish in the most serious manner possible, 4009 05:42:24.919 --> 05:42:29.200 to pass through the experience of a man. It

is 4010 05:42:29.319 --> 05:42:34.880 all very simple, Magnus. Magnus frowned at me for a 4011 05:42:34.919 --> 05:42:41.159 few moments, and suddenly broke into laughter. You certainly are 4012 05:42:41.240 --> 05:42:45.279 a pilgrim from some other planet. Wonder good? And what 4013 05:42:45.319 --> 05:42:50.639 if I should devote your gold to doing evil? Why 4014 05:42:51.119 --> 05:42:56.200 is that so very interesting? Humph? You think that is 4015 05:42:56.319 --> 05:43:01.799 not interesting? Yes, and so do you. You are too 4016 05:43:01.840 --> 05:43:05.799 big a man to do little evil, just as billions 4017 05:43:05.919 --> 05:43:11.560 constitute too much money. While honestly, as far as great 4018 05:43:11.639 --> 05:43:16.439 evil is concerned, I know not yet what great evil is. 4019 05:43:17.360 --> 05:43:22.720 Perhaps it is really great good. In my recent contemplations 4020 05:43:23.040 --> 05:43:27.880 there came to me a strange thought. Who is of 4021 05:43:28.000 --> 05:43:32.639 greater use to man? He who hates or he who 4022 05:43:32.720 --> 05:43:37.080 loves him? You see, Magnus, how ignorant I still am 4023 05:43:37.159 --> 05:43:41.159 of human affairs, and how ready I am for almost 4024 05:43:41.319 --> 05:43:49.400 anything without laughter? And with what seemed to me extreme curiosity. 4025 05:43:50.119 --> 05:43:53.799 Magnus measured me with his eyes, as if he were 4026 05:43:53.919 --> 05:43:59.159 deciding the question, is this a fool I see before me? 4027 05:43:59.880 --> 05:44:04.720 Or where the foremost sage of America? Judging by his 4028 05:44:05.040 --> 05:44:11.680 subsequent question, he was nearer the second opinion. So, if 4029 05:44:11.720 --> 05:44:16.119 I have correctly understood your words, you are afraid of nothing, 4030 05:44:16.279 --> 05:44:25.240 mister Wondergood, I think not, and murder many murders. You 4031 05:44:25.279 --> 05:44:28.720 remember the point you made in your story about the 4032 05:44:28.759 --> 05:44:33.400 boy of the boundary and the human. In order that 4033 05:44:33.439 --> 05:44:37.119 there may be no mistake, I have moved it forward 4034 05:44:37.479 --> 05:44:44.159 several kilometers. Will that be enough? Something like a respect 4035 05:44:44.279 --> 05:44:48.919 arose in Magnus's eyes. The devil take him, though he 4036 05:44:49.080 --> 05:44:53.439 really considers me a clod. Continuing to pace the room, 4037 05:44:53.919 --> 05:44:57.799 he looked at me curiously several times, as if he 4038 05:44:57.840 --> 05:45:02.840 were trying to recall and vary if I my remark. Then, 4039 05:45:03.159 --> 05:45:08.919 with a quick movement, he touched my shoulders. You have 4040 05:45:09.040 --> 05:45:12.400 an active mind, wonder good. It is a pity I 4041 05:45:12.400 --> 05:45:18.479 did not come to know you before. Why just so 4042 05:45:19.279 --> 05:45:22.119 I am interested to know how you will speak to 4043 05:45:22.159 --> 05:45:27.159 the king. He will probably suggest something very evil to you, 4044 05:45:28.080 --> 05:45:32.680 and great evil is great good? Is that not so? 4045 05:45:34.119 --> 05:45:37.200 He again broke into laughed and shook his head in 4046 05:45:37.200 --> 05:45:41.759 a friendly fashion. I don't think so. The chances are 4047 05:45:41.799 --> 05:45:47.000 you will propose something very silly, hmm, and is that 4048 05:45:47.080 --> 05:45:53.759 not great wisdom? He laughed again, but frowned suddenly and added, seriously, 4049 05:45:54.720 --> 05:45:57.680 do not feel hurt, Wonder Good. I liked what you 4050 05:45:57.840 --> 05:46:00.479 said very much, and it is well you do not 4051 05:46:00.680 --> 05:46:04.479 put any questions to me At this time I could 4052 05:46:04.479 --> 05:46:08.639 not answer them. Just now. But there is something I 4053 05:46:08.680 --> 05:46:13.319 can say even now in general terms. Of course, are 4054 05:46:13.360 --> 05:46:20.400 you listening? I am all attention. Magnus seated himself opposite 4055 05:46:20.520 --> 05:46:24.880 to me, and, taking a sip of wine, asked, with 4056 05:46:25.400 --> 05:46:36.080 strange seriousness, how do you regard explosives with great respect? Yes? 4057 05:46:36.919 --> 05:46:41.479 That is cold praise, But I dare say they don't 4058 05:46:41.639 --> 05:46:45.880 deserve much more. Yet, there was a time when I 4059 05:46:46.000 --> 05:46:51.599 worshiped dynamite as I do frankness, This scar on my 4060 05:46:51.799 --> 05:46:57.479 brow is the result of my youthful enthusiasm. Since then 4061 05:46:57.599 --> 05:47:02.759 I have made great strides in chemistry and other things, 4062 05:47:03.240 --> 05:47:08.279 and this has called my zeal. The drawback of every explosive, 4063 05:47:08.759 --> 05:47:13.680 beginning with powder, is that the explosion is confined to 4064 05:47:13.759 --> 05:47:19.200 a limited space and strikes only the things near at hand. 4065 05:47:20.080 --> 05:47:23.639 It might do for war, of course, but it is 4066 05:47:23.799 --> 05:47:29.319 quite inadequate where bigger things are concerned. Besides being a 4067 05:47:29.400 --> 05:47:34.959 thing of material limitations, dynamite or powder demands a constantly 4068 05:47:35.159 --> 05:47:40.680 guiding hand. In itself. It is dumb, blind and deaf, 4069 05:47:41.040 --> 05:47:45.479 like a mole. To be sure, in Whitehead's mind we 4070 05:47:45.639 --> 05:47:50.599 find an attempt to create consciousness, giving the shell the 4071 05:47:50.720 --> 05:47:55.520 power to correct, so to speak. Certain mistakes and to 4072 05:47:55.720 --> 05:48:00.560 maintain a certain aim. But that is only a pitiful 4073 05:48:00.680 --> 05:48:06.040 parody on my sight. And you want your dynamite to 4074 05:48:06.119 --> 05:48:11.799 have consciousness, will and eyes. You are right, that is 4075 05:48:11.880 --> 05:48:21.279 what I want. And my new dynamite does have these attributes, will, consciousness, eyes, 4076 05:48:23.119 --> 05:48:29.360 and what is

your aim? But this sounds terrible, Magnus 4077 05:48:29.400 --> 05:48:35.080 smiled faintly. Terrible. I fear your terror will turn to 4078 05:48:35.159 --> 05:48:37.959 laughter when I give you the name of my dynamite. 4079 05:48:38.599 --> 05:48:42.279 It is man. Have you never looked at man from 4080 05:48:42.360 --> 05:48:48.040 this point of view? Wonder good? I confess, No. Does 4081 05:48:48.119 --> 05:48:52.319 dynamite too belong to the domain of psychology. This is 4082 05:48:52.400 --> 05:49:00.680 all very ridiculous chemistry psychology, cried Magnus angrily. That is 4083 05:49:00.759 --> 05:49:05.639 all because knowledge has been subdivided into so many different subjects, 4084 05:49:06.319 --> 05:49:09.599 just as a hand with ten fingers is now a rarity. 4085 05:49:10.439 --> 05:49:15.159 You and your topy, all of us are explosive shells, 4086 05:49:15.759 --> 05:49:20.119 some loaded and ready are this still to be loaded? 4087 05:49:20.799 --> 05:49:24.759 And the crux of the matter lies you understand in 4088 05:49:24.880 --> 05:49:29.759 how to load the shell, and what is still more important, 4089 05:49:30.319 --> 05:49:34.279 how to explode it. You know, of course, that the 4090 05:49:34.319 --> 05:49:41.759 method of exploding various preparations depends upon their respective compositions. 4091 05:49:43.240 --> 05:49:46.119 I am not going to repeat here the lecture on 4092 05:49:46.319 --> 05:49:52.759 explosives given me by Magnos with great zealand enthusiasm. It 4093 05:49:53.040 --> 05:49:55.919 was the first time I had seen him in such 4094 05:49:55.959 --> 05:50:01.000 a state of excitement. Despite the absorbing interest of the 4095 05:50:01.119 --> 05:50:06.080 subject as my friend's, the journalists would say, I heard 4096 05:50:06.159 --> 05:50:10.840 only half the things he was saying, and concentrated most 4097 05:50:10.880 --> 05:50:15.759 of my attention on his skull, the skull which contained 4098 05:50:16.080 --> 05:50:21.000 such wide and dangerous knowledge. Whether it was due to 4099 05:50:21.080 --> 05:50:26.599 the conviction carried in Magnus's words or to pure weariness, 4100 05:50:27.159 --> 05:50:32.439 I know not which. This round skull, blazing with the 4101 05:50:32.479 --> 05:50:37.000 flames of his eyes, gradually assumed the character of a 4102 05:50:37.200 --> 05:50:43.040 real explosive shell of a bomb with the fuse lid 4103 05:50:43.240 --> 05:50:48.319 for action. I trembled when Magnus carelessly threw upon the 4104 05:50:48.439 --> 05:50:53.680 table heavy object resembling a cake of grayish yellow soap, 4105 05:50:54.279 --> 05:51:02.080 and exclaimed, involuntarily, what's that? It looks like soap or wax, 4106 05:51:02.479 --> 05:51:05.479 But it has the force of a devil. One half 4107 05:51:05.560 --> 05:51:09.400 of this would be enough to blow Saint Peter's into bits. 4108 05:51:10.159 --> 05:51:13.799 It is a capricious devil. You may kick it about 4109 05:51:13.959 --> 05:51:17.000 or chop it into pieces. You may burn it in 4110 05:51:17.080 --> 05:51:22.279 your stove. It will remain ever silent. A dynamite shell 4111 05:51:22.599 --> 05:51:27.040 may tear it apart, yet it will not arouse its wrath. 4112 05:51:27.720 --> 05:51:31.479 I may throw it into the strait beneath the hoofs 4113 05:51:31.520 --> 05:51:36.319 of horses, the dogs may bite at it, and children 4114 05:51:36.439 --> 05:51:41.200 may play with it, and still it remains indifferent. But 4115 05:51:41.319 --> 05:51:45.240 I need only apply a current of high pressure to it, 4116 05:51:45.759 --> 05:51:51.040 and the force of the explosion will be monstrous, limitless. 4117 05:51:51.680 --> 05:51:59.720 A strong but silly devil, with equal carelessness, bordering almost 4118 05:52:00.040 --> 05:52:05.680 upon contempt. Magnus threw his devil back into the table 4119 05:52:05.840 --> 05:52:12.360 drawer and looked at me sternly. My eyebrows twitched slightly. 4120 05:52:13.880 --> 05:52:17.159 I see you know your subject to perfection. But I 4121 05:52:17.240 --> 05:52:21.599 rather like this capricious devil of yours. But I would 4122 05:52:21.680 --> 05:52:27.880 like to hear you discuss man. Magnus laughed, And was 4123 05:52:27.919 --> 05:52:31.119 it not of him I have just spoken? Is not 4124 05:52:31.319 --> 05:52:34.759 the history of this piece of soap? The history of 4125 05:52:34.959 --> 05:52:39.680 your man? Who can be beaten, burned, hacked to bits, 4126 05:52:40.119 --> 05:52:45.159 hurled beneath the hoofs of horses, thrown to the dogs, 4127 05:52:45.240 --> 05:52:50.400 torn into shreds, without rousing his consuming wrath or even 4128 05:52:50.479 --> 05:52:56.599 his anger. But prick him with something and the explosion 4129 05:52:56.680 --> 05:53:00.840 will be terrible, as you will learn, mister wonder Good. 4130 05:53:02.319 --> 05:53:06.360 He laughed again and rubbed his white hands with pleasure. 4131 05:53:07.040 --> 05:53:12.000 He scarcely remembered at that moment that human blood was 4132 05:53:12.080 --> 05:53:16.240 already upon them. And is it really necessary for a 4133 05:53:16.319 --> 05:53:21.319 man to remember that? After a pause commensurate with the 4134 05:53:21.439 --> 05:53:26.040 respect due to the subject, I asked, and do you 4135 05:53:26.200 --> 05:53:32.680 know how to make a man explode? Certainly? And would 4136 05:53:32.680 --> 05:53:38.799 you consider it permissible to give me this information? Unfortunately, 4137 05:53:39.279 --> 05:53:43.119 it is not so easy or convenient, because the current 4138 05:53:43.200 --> 05:53:48.880 of high pressure would require too much elucidation. Dear wonder Good, 4139 05:53:50.680 --> 05:53:56.439 can't you put it briefly? Oh? Briefly? Well, it is 4140 05:53:56.560 --> 05:54:06.439 necessary to promise man some miracle? Is that? All? That is? All? Lies? 4141 05:54:06.560 --> 05:54:12.919 Once more? The old monkey? Yes, lies again, But not 4142 05:54:13.240

--> 05:54:17.279 the old monkey. It is not that I have in mind, 4143 05:54:17.959 --> 05:54:23.119 neither crusades nor immortality in heaven. This is the period 4144 05:54:23.200 --> 05:54:28.439 of other miracles and other one DEAs he promised resurrection 4145 05:54:28.680 --> 05:54:34.200 to the dead, I promise resurrection to the living. His 4146 05:54:34.599 --> 05:54:42.360 followers were the dead, mine ours are the living. But 4147 05:54:42.759 --> 05:54:48.240 the dead did not arise, how but the living, who knows? 4148 05:54:49.040 --> 05:54:52.720 We must make an experiment. I cannot yet confide in 4149 05:54:52.799 --> 05:54:56.599 you the business and of the enterprise. But I warn 4150 05:54:56.759 --> 05:55:02.040 you the experiment must be conducted on a very large scale. 4151 05:55:02.479 --> 05:55:07.959 You are not afraid, mister Wondergood, I shrugged my shoulders, 4152 05:55:08.080 --> 05:55:13.720 indicating nothing definite. What could I answer? This gentleman, carrying 4153 05:55:13.799 --> 05:55:17.279 upon his shoulders a bomb instead of a head again 4154 05:55:17.400 --> 05:55:22.680 split me into two halves, of which man Alas was 4155 05:55:23.000 --> 05:55:28.080 the lesser one. As Wondergood, I confess without shame, I 4156 05:55:28.159 --> 05:55:32.439 felt cruel fear and even pain, just as if the 4157 05:55:32.520 --> 05:55:37.040 monstrous explosion had already touched my bones and were now 4158 05:55:37.200 --> 05:55:43.279 breaking them. Ah, but where is my endless happiness with Maria? 4159 05:55:43.520 --> 05:55:48.439 Where the boundless peace of mind? Where the devil is 4160 05:55:48.720 --> 05:55:55.720 that white schooner? No, as great immortal curiosity, as the 4161 05:55:55.840 --> 05:56:01.400 genius of play and eternal movement, and as the rapacious 4162 05:56:01.560 --> 05:56:07.119 gaze of unclosing eyes, I felt. I confess this too 4163 05:56:07.319 --> 05:56:14.119 without shame, great joy bordering upon ecstasy, and with a 4164 05:56:14.159 --> 05:56:18.400 shiver of delight, I mumbled, what a pity I did 4165 05:56:18.439 --> 05:56:24.279 not know that before? Why a pity? Oh, just so, 4166 05:56:24.919 --> 05:56:27.639 do not forget that I am come from another planet 4167 05:56:27.959 --> 05:56:33.000 and am only now getting acquainted with man. So what 4168 05:56:33.119 --> 05:56:39.040 shall we do with this planet, Magnos, He laughed again, 4169 05:56:40.119 --> 05:56:44.200 you are a strange fellow. Wonder good with this planet. 4170 05:56:44.720 --> 05:56:48.799 We'll give it a little holiday, But enough jesting. I 4171 05:56:48.840 --> 05:56:52.520 do not like it. He frowned angrily and looked at 4172 05:56:52.560 --> 05:56:57.439 me sternly, like an old professor. The manner of this 4173 05:56:57.639 --> 05:57:03.880 gentleman was not dis distinguished by flippancy. When it seemed 4174 05:57:03.959 --> 05:57:07.799 to him that I had grown sufficiently serious, he shook 4175 05:57:07.799 --> 05:57:12.000 his head in approval and asked, do you know, wonder Good, 4176 05:57:12.159 --> 05:57:14.439 that the whole of Europe is now in a very 4177 05:57:14.560 --> 05:57:23.639 uneasy state? War? Possibly war? Everybody is secretly expecting it. 4178 05:57:24.319 --> 05:57:28.680 But war precedes the belief in the Kingdom of miracles. 4179 05:57:29.279 --> 05:57:33.560 You understand, we have lived too long in simple faith 4180 05:57:33.680 --> 05:57:39.520 in the multiplication table. We are tighet of the multiplication table. 4181 05:57:40.119 --> 05:57:45.080 We are filled within nui and anxiety on this straight 4182 05:57:45.400 --> 05:57:50.959 road whose mire is lost in infinity. Just now all 4183 05:57:51.000 --> 05:57:55.080 of us are demanding some miracle, and soon the day 4184 05:57:55.119 --> 05:58:00.400 will come when we will demand the miracle immediately. It 4185 05:58:00.520 --> 05:58:03.040 is not I alone who wants an experiment on a 4186 05:58:03.159 --> 05:58:08.080 large scale. The whole world is preparing it. Ah On 4187 05:58:08.279 --> 05:58:12.639 the good. In truth, life would not be worth the candle, 4188 05:58:13.119 --> 05:58:20.159 if it were not for these highly interesting moments. Highly interesting, 4189 05:58:21.599 --> 05:58:28.400 he greedily rubbed his hands. You are pleased as a chemist, 4190 05:58:28.439 --> 05:58:32.959 I am in ecstasy. My shells are already loaded, without 4191 05:58:33.080 --> 05:58:37.119 being themselves conscious of the fact. But they will know 4192 05:58:37.240 --> 05:58:40.599 it well enough when I apply the torch. Can you 4193 05:58:40.720 --> 05:58:44.959 imagine the sight when my dynamite will begin to explode, 4194 05:58:45.520 --> 05:58:51.439 its consciousness, its will, its eyes directed straight upon its goal, 4195 05:58:53.119 --> 05:58:57.040 and blood. Perhaps my reminder is out of place, but 4196 05:58:57.119 --> 05:59:00.360 I remember an occasion when you spoke of blood with 4197 05:59:00.599 --> 05:59:07.240 much excitement. Magnus fixed his long gaze upon me. Something 4198 05:59:07.279 --> 05:59:11.799 akin to suffering appeared in his eyes. But this was 4199 05:59:11.959 --> 05:59:16.439 not the prick of conscience or pity. It was the 4200 05:59:16.479 --> 05:59:20.959 emotion of a mature and wise man whose thoughts had 4201 05:59:21.000 --> 05:59:27.159 been interrupted by the foolish question of a child blood. 4202 05:59:27.799 --> 05:59:33.319 He said, what blood? I recalled to him his words 4203 05:59:33.400 --> 05:59:37.119 on that occasion and told him of my strange and 4204 05:59:37.279 --> 05:59:43.439 extremely unpleasant dream about the bottles filled with blood instead 4205 05:59:43.479 --> 05:59:50.520 of wine, and so easily broken. Weary with his eyes closed, 4206 05:59:50.959 --> 05:59:58.919 he listened to my tail and sighed heavily. Blood. He murmured, blood, 4207 05:59:59.400 --> 06:00:03.159 that's none, Since I told you many trite things on

4208 06:00:03.200 --> 06:00:06.159 that occasion wander good, and it is not worth the 4209 06:00:06.240 --> 06:00:11.240 while to recall them. However, if this gives you fear, 4210 06:00:11.759 --> 06:00:17.880 it is not too late, I replied resolutely. I fear nothing. 4211 06:00:18.400 --> 06:00:21.599 As I have already said, I shall follow you everywhere. 4212 06:00:22.240 --> 06:00:26.080 It is my blood that is protesting you understand, not 4213 06:00:26.240 --> 06:00:30.040 my consciousness or will. Apparently I shall be the first 4214 06:00:30.159 --> 06:00:33.720 to be fooled by you. I too seek a miracle. 4215 06:00:34.520 --> 06:00:38.439 Is not your Maria a miracle. I have been repeating 4216 06:00:38.479 --> 06:00:42.360 the multiplication table night and day, and I have grown 4217 06:00:42.479 --> 06:00:46.639 to hate it like the bars of a prison. From 4218 06:00:46.680 --> 06:00:50.840 the point of view of your chemistry. I am quite loaded, 4219 06:00:51.200 --> 06:00:55.040 and I ask but one thing. Blow me up as 4220 06:00:55.200 --> 06:01:02.840 quickly as possible. Macno cigarete, stan lee very well, in 4221 06:01:02.880 --> 06:01:09.000 about two weeks, are you satisfied? Thank you. I hope 4222 06:01:09.080 --> 06:01:17.959 that Signorina Maria will then become my wife. Magnus laughed. Madonna. Oh, 4223 06:01:18.040 --> 06:01:21.720 I don't understand your smile, and I must say my 4224 06:01:21.840 --> 06:01:25.560 hope is altogether in conformity with the regard I bear 4225 06:01:25.639 --> 06:01:32.200 for your daughter. Signor Magnus, don't excite yourself, wonder good. 4226 06:01:32.560 --> 06:01:36.040 My smile was not about Maria, but about your faith 4227 06:01:36.080 --> 06:01:40.560 and miracles. You are a splendid fellow, wonder good. I 4228 06:01:40.599 --> 06:01:44.159 am beginning to love you like a son. In two 4229 06:01:44.240 --> 06:01:49.040 weeks you will receive everything, and then we shall conclude 4230 06:01:49.200 --> 06:01:56.080 a new and strong pact. Your hand, comrade, for the 4231 06:01:56.080 --> 06:02:00.000 first time, he shook my hand in a strong, comrade 4232 06:02:00.000 --> 06:02:04.240 Bradley fashion. I would have kissed him if there had 4233 06:02:04.319 --> 06:02:08.000 been a simple human head instead of a bomb upon 4234 06:02:08.000 --> 06:02:13.279 his shoulders. But to touch a bomb, not even in 4235 06:02:13.360 --> 06:02:19.159 the face of my utmost respect for him. That was 4236 06:02:19.400 --> 06:02:23.759 the first night that I slept like one slain, and 4237 06:02:24.040 --> 06:02:28.040 the stone walls of the palace did not press upon me. 4238 06:02:29.200 --> 06:02:34.240 The walls were brushed by the explosive power of Magnus's speech, 4239 06:02:35.040 --> 06:02:40.520 while the roof melted away beneath the starry coverlet of Maria. 4240 06:02:41.560 --> 06:02:45.200 My soul departed into the realms of her calm, love 4241 06:02:45.799 --> 06:02:52.159 and refuge, the mountain Tivoli and its fires. That was 4242 06:02:52.279 --> 06:02:57.520 what I saw as I fell into slumber. End of 4243 06:02:57.680 --> 06:03:09.000 section twenty Section twenty one of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 4244 06:03:09.360 --> 06:03:13.680 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 4245 06:03:13.720 --> 06:03:22.319 public domain. Recording by Carolyn. Section twenty one April eighth, Rome. 4246 06:03:24.159 --> 06:03:28.520 Before knocking at my door, his Majesty, the ex King 4247 06:03:28.759 --> 06:03:34.000 E had knocked at no small number of entrances in Europe. 4248 06:03:34.759 --> 06:03:39.599 True to the example of his Apostolic ancestors, who believed 4249 06:03:39.680 --> 06:03:44.479 in the gold of Israel, he particularly liked to approach 4250 06:03:44.840 --> 06:03:49.119 Jewish bankers. I believe that the honor done me by 4251 06:03:49.159 --> 06:03:53.159 his visit was based upon his firm conviction that I 4252 06:03:53.400 --> 06:03:59.240 was a Jew. Although his Majesty was visiting Rome in Cognado, 4253 06:04:00.119 --> 06:04:04.720 I warned of his visit, met him at the foot 4254 06:04:04.720 --> 06:04:09.040 of the stairs, and bowed low to him. I think 4255 06:04:09.159 --> 06:04:14.680 that is the requirement of etiquette. Then, also in accordance 4256 06:04:14.759 --> 06:04:22.400 with etiquette, we introduced ourselves. He his adjutant, I Thomas Magnos. 4257 06:04:23.639 --> 06:04:26.959 I confess I had not a very flattering opinion of 4258 06:04:27.119 --> 06:04:31.200 the former king, and that is why he astonished me 4259 06:04:31.439 --> 06:04:36.759 all the more with his high opinion of himself. He 4260 06:04:36.840 --> 06:04:42.040 gave me his hand politely, but with such haughty indifference. 4261 06:04:42.639 --> 06:04:46.959 He looked at me with such complete self confidence, as 4262 06:04:47.000 --> 06:04:49.799 if he were gazing at a being of lower order. 4263 06:04:50.479 --> 06:04:55.840 He walked ahead of me, so naturally sat down without invitation, 4264 06:04:56.720 --> 06:05:01.080 gazed upon the walls and furniture in such which frankly 4265 06:05:01.560 --> 06:05:07.479 royal manner, that my entire uneasiness due to my unfamiliarity 4266 06:05:07.680 --> 06:05:14.200 with etiquette, disappeared immediately. It was only necessary to follow 4267 06:05:14.279 --> 06:05:20.639 this fellow, who appeared to know everything so well. In appearance, 4268 06:05:20.799 --> 06:05:24.959 he was quite a young man, with fresh complexion and 4269 06:05:25.360 --> 06:05:32.759 magnificent coiffure, somewhat worn out but sufficiently well preserved, with 4270 06:05:33.080 --> 06:05:39.880 colorless eyes and a calm brazenly protruding lower lip. His 4271 06:05:40.279 --> 06:05:45.000 hands were beautiful. He did not try to conceal that 4272 06:05:45.119 --> 06:05:49.759 he was bored by my American face, which appeared Jewish 4273 06:05:49.919 --> 06:05:54.439 to him, and by the necessity of

asking me for money. 4274 06:05:55.159 --> 06:06:01.840 He yawned slightly after seating himself, and said, sit down, gentlemen, 4275 06:06:02.799 --> 06:06:06.680 and with a slight command of the hand, he ordered 4276 06:06:06.840 --> 06:06:11.919 the adjutant to state the nature of his proposal. He 4277 06:06:12.000 --> 06:06:16.759 paid no attention to magnus atoll, and while the fat 4278 06:06:17.080 --> 06:06:22.639 red and obliging adjutant was stealthily narrating the story of 4279 06:06:23.080 --> 06:06:29.439 the misunderstanding which caused the departure of his majesty from 4280 06:06:29.479 --> 06:06:36.400 his country, his Majesty was nonchalantly examining his feet. Finally, 4281 06:06:36.799 --> 06:06:43.240 he interrupted his representative's speech with the impatient remark brief 4282 06:06:43.240 --> 06:06:48.400 a maquee, mister Wondergood is as well familiar with this 4283 06:06:48.720 --> 06:06:53.840 history as we are. In a word, these fools kicked 4284 06:06:53.880 --> 06:06:57.439 me out. How do you regard it, dear wonder good? 4285 06:06:59.080 --> 06:07:03.279 How do I regard guard it? I bowed low. I 4286 06:07:03.360 --> 06:07:08.799 am glad to be of service to your majesty. Well, yes, 4287 06:07:09.000 --> 06:07:11.360 that's what they all say. But will you give me 4288 06:07:11.400 --> 06:07:17.599 any money? Continued Marquis. The Marquis, smiling gently at me 4289 06:07:17.720 --> 06:07:23.840 and Magnus. Despite his obesity, he looked quite hungry, continued 4290 06:07:23.959 --> 06:07:29.479 to weave his thin, flimsy web about the misunderstanding, until 4291 06:07:29.560 --> 06:07:37.319 the board king again interrupted him. You understand, these fools 4292 06:07:37.639 --> 06:07:43.279 thought that I was responsible for all their misfortunes, Wasn't 4293 06:07:43.360 --> 06:07:47.439 that silly, mister Wondergood. And now they are worse off 4294 06:07:47.560 --> 06:07:52.040 than ever, and they write, come back, for God's sake, 4295 06:07:52.400 --> 06:07:58.880 we are perishing. Read the letters, Marquis. At first the 4296 06:07:59.000 --> 06:08:03.400 king spoke with a trace of excitement, but apparently any 4297 06:08:03.439 --> 06:08:09.000 effort soon wearied him. The Marquis obediently took a packet 4298 06:08:09.040 --> 06:08:14.080 of papers from the portfolio and tortured us with the 4299 06:08:14.119 --> 06:08:19.799 complaints of the orphaned subjects begging their lord to return. 4300 06:08:21.680 --> 06:08:25.040 I looked at the King. He was no less bored 4301 06:08:25.240 --> 06:08:28.840 than we were. It was so clear to him that 4302 06:08:28.880 --> 06:08:33.880 the people could not exist without him that all confirmations 4303 06:08:33.880 --> 06:08:41.599 of this seemed superfluous. And I felt so strange. Whence 4304 06:08:41.880 --> 06:08:47.119 does this miserable man get so much happy confidence? There 4305 06:08:47.240 --> 06:08:50.959 was no doubt that this bird, unable to find a 4306 06:08:51.040 --> 06:08:56.360 crumb for himself, sincerely believed in the peculiar qualities of 4307 06:08:56.439 --> 06:09:03.240 his personage, capable of bestowing upon a whole people marvelous benefactions, 4308 06:09:04.080 --> 06:09:10.520 stupidity training habit. At that moment the Marquis was reading 4309 06:09:10.560 --> 06:09:14.840 the plea of some correspondent, in which, through the whip 4310 06:09:14.880 --> 06:09:20.840 of official mediocrity and the lies of swollen phrases, gleamed 4311 06:09:21.159 --> 06:09:27.599 the very same confidence. And sincere call, was that too 4312 06:09:27.880 --> 06:09:33.639 stupidity and habit, and so forth and so forth, interrupted 4313 06:09:33.840 --> 06:09:39.240 the King listlessly. That will do, Marquis? You may close 4314 06:09:39.319 --> 06:09:43.080 your portfolio. Well what do you think of it, dear 4315 06:09:43.159 --> 06:09:47.520 mister Wondergood? I will be bold enough to say to 4316 06:09:47.599 --> 06:09:50.599 your majesty that I am a representative of an old 4317 06:09:50.799 --> 06:09:58.080 democratic republic, and stop wonder good republic democracy. That's nonsense, 4318 06:09:58.639 --> 06:10:01.119 you know, well enough, yours sulf that a king is 4319 06:10:01.159 --> 06:10:05.200 a necessity. You and America will have a king too someday. 4320 06:10:05.680 --> 06:10:08.360 How can you get along without a king who will 4321 06:10:08.400 --> 06:10:13.000 be responsible for them before a God. No, that's foolish. 4322 06:10:14.279 --> 06:10:17.639 This creature was actually getting ready to answer for the 4323 06:10:17.680 --> 06:10:23.560 people before God, and he continued with the same calm audacity. 4324 06:10:24.959 --> 06:10:28.080 The king can do everything, and what can a president 4325 06:10:28.240 --> 06:10:33.560 do nothing? Do you understand, wonder Good? Nothing? Why then, 4326 06:10:33.639 --> 06:10:37.479 do you want a president who can do nothing? He 4327 06:10:37.759 --> 06:10:42.119 deigned to twist his lower lip into a sarcastic smile. 4328 06:10:43.479 --> 06:10:47.799 It is all nonsense invented by the newspapers. Would you, 4329 06:10:48.000 --> 06:10:54.319 for example, take your president seriously, mister wonder Good, But 4330 06:10:54.680 --> 06:11:02.639 representative government? Pie? Excuse me, mister Undergod. He recalled my 4331 06:11:02.880 --> 06:11:08.240 name with great difficulty. But what fool will pay any 4332 06:11:08.279 --> 06:11:12.799 attention to the representatives of the people. Citizen A will 4333 06:11:12.840 --> 06:11:17.240 pay heed to citizen B, and citizen B will pay 4334 06:11:17.360 --> 06:11:22.319 heat to citizen A. Is that not so? But who 4335 06:11:22.439 --> 06:11:28.200 will compel their obedience if both of them are wise? No, 4336 06:11:28.479 --> 06:11:32.200 I too have studied logic, mister Wondergood, and you will 4337 06:11:32.200 --> 06:11:37.680 permit me to indulge in a laugh. He laughed, slightly, 4338

06:11:38.400 --> 06:11:44.200 and said, with his usual gesture, continue, Marquis, No, let 4339 06:11:44.279 --> 06:11:48.040 me do it. The king can do everything. Wonder Good, 4340 06:11:48.080 --> 06:11:54.639 you understand. But the law, Ah, this fellow too, speaks 4341 06:11:54.680 --> 06:11:58.840 of law. Do you hear, Marquis, No, I really can't 4342 06:11:58.959 --> 06:12:02.759 understand what you are this law for that all may 4343 06:12:02.880 --> 06:12:07.720 suffer equitably. However, if you are so keen on having law, 4344 06:12:08.159 --> 06:12:11.520 law you shall have. But who will give it to 4345 06:12:11.639 --> 06:12:17.119 you if not I but the representatives of the people. 4346 06:12:18.319 --> 06:12:25.439 The King directed his colorless eyes upon me, almost in despair. Ah, again, 4347 06:12:25.720 --> 06:12:28.880 it is an A and B. But can't you understand, 4348 06:12:29.080 --> 06:12:33.319 dear wonder Good, what kind of law is it? If 4349 06:12:33.360 --> 06:12:38.200 they themselves make it, what wise man will agree to 4350 06:12:38.279 --> 06:12:44.560 obey it? No, that's nonsense. Is it possible that you yourself 4351 06:12:44.560 --> 06:12:50.799 obey this law? Wonder Good? Not only I, your majesty, 4352 06:12:51.279 --> 06:12:57.400 but the whole of America? His eyes measured me with sympathy. 4353 06:12:58.520 --> 06:13:03.279 Pardon me, but I don't believe that the whole of America. Well, 4354 06:13:03.360 --> 06:13:07.159 in that case, they simply don't understand what law is, 4355 06:13:07.880 --> 06:13:12.319 do you hear, Marquis, the whole of America? But that's 4356 06:13:12.400 --> 06:13:16.919 not the thing. I must return, Wonder Good, you've heard 4357 06:13:17.040 --> 06:13:21.759 what the poor devils write. I am happy to see 4358 06:13:21.799 --> 06:13:25.799 that the road is open for you, my lord, open 4359 06:13:26.119 --> 06:13:29.880 you think so? Hm? No, I need money, some right 4360 06:13:29.919 --> 06:13:34.959 and others, don't you understand? Perhaps they don't know how 4361 06:13:35.000 --> 06:13:39.919 to write, my lord? They Oh, you should have seen 4362 06:13:39.959 --> 06:13:43.680 what they wrote against me. I was quite flustered. At 4363 06:13:44.159 --> 06:13:50.279 what they need is the firing squad, all of them? 4364 06:13:50.959 --> 06:13:53.720 Why all of them? Some of them will be enough. 4365 06:13:54.040 --> 06:13:56.919 The rest of them will simply be scared to death. 4366 06:13:57.479 --> 06:14:01.840 You understand, wonder good? They have simply stolen my power 4367 06:14:01.959 --> 06:14:06.159 from me, and now, of course, will simply refuse to 4368 06:14:06.279 --> 06:14:09.759 return it. You can't expect me to see to it 4369 06:14:09.919 --> 06:14:14.759 that no one robs me. And these gentlemen, he indicated 4370 06:14:14.919 --> 06:14:19.200 the blushing Marquis, to my sorrow, did not manage to 4371 06:14:19.319 --> 06:14:29.119 guard my interests. The marquis mumbled, confusedly, Sire, Now now 4372 06:14:29.200 --> 06:14:32.439 I know your devotion, But you were asleep at the 4373 06:14:32.520 --> 06:14:37.119 switch just the same. And now there's so much trouble, 4374 06:14:37.680 --> 06:14:43.720 so much trouble, he sighed lightly. Did not Cardinal Eggs 4375 06:14:43.759 --> 06:14:47.360 tell you I needed money, mister Wondergoult, he promised to. 4376 06:14:48.200 --> 06:14:52.319 Of course I will return it all, And however, you 4377 06:14:52.360 --> 06:14:55.880 should take this matter up with the marquis. I have 4378 06:14:56.119 --> 06:15:01.520 heard that you love people very much, mister wonderguirt. A 4379 06:15:01.560 --> 06:15:05.880 faint smile flitted over the dim face of magnos. I 4380 06:15:06.000 --> 06:15:12.360 bowed slightly. The cardinal told me, so, that is very praiseworthy, 4381 06:15:12.479 --> 06:15:16.319 mister Wondergood. But if you do love people, you will 4382 06:15:16.439 --> 06:15:20.880 certainly give me money. I don't doubt that in the least. 4383 06:15:21.479 --> 06:15:26.439 They must have a king. The newspapers are merely prattling nonsense. 4384 06:15:27.119 --> 06:15:29.680 Why do they have a king in Germany, a king 4385 06:15:29.720 --> 06:15:33.240 in England, a king in Italy, and a hundred other kings? 4386 06:15:33.680 --> 06:15:38.880 And don't we need a king too, The adjutant mumbled, 4387 06:15:39.560 --> 06:15:46.040 A misunderstanding, of course, a misunderstanding. The marquis is quite right. 4388 06:15:46.520 --> 06:15:49.959 The newspapers call it a revolution. But believe me, I 4389 06:15:50.119 --> 06:15:54.799 know my people, it is simply a misunderstanding. They are 4390 06:15:54.880 --> 06:15:59.560 now weeping themselves. How can they get along without a king? 4391 06:16:00.360 --> 06:16:04.040 There would be no kings at all. Then you understand 4392 06:16:04.400 --> 06:16:08.880 what nonsense they now talk of? No guard too. No, 4393 06:16:09.279 --> 06:16:14.279 we must do a little shooting, a little shooting. He 4394 06:16:14.439 --> 06:16:18.159 rose quickly, and this time shook my hand with a 4395 06:16:18.200 --> 06:16:23.880 patronizing smile, and bowed to magnos. Good bye, good bye, 4396 06:16:23.959 --> 06:16:28.080 my dear, wonder good you have a magnificent figure. Oh, 4397 06:16:28.080 --> 06:16:32.040 what a splendid fellow. The Marquis will drop in to 4398 06:16:32.119 --> 06:16:35.680 see you one of these days. There was something more 4399 06:16:35.799 --> 06:16:39.279 I wanted to say. Oh yes, I hope that you 4400 06:16:39.400 --> 06:16:42.959 in America will have a king too in the near future. 4401 06:16:43.599 --> 06:16:48.520 That is very essential, my friend. Moreover, that's bound to 4402 06:16:48.639 --> 06:16:54.200 be the end. Au revoir. We escorted his majesty with 4403 06:16:54.520 --> 06:16:59.319 the same ceremony. The marquis followed, and his bowed hid 4404 06:16:59.759 --> 06:17:02.959 dear divided into two halves by the

part in his 4405 06:17:03.200 --> 06:17:08.080 reddish hair, and his red face bore the expression of 4406 06:17:08.200 --> 06:17:14.599 hunger and constant failure. Ah, he has so frequently and 4407 06:17:14.919 --> 06:17:22.200 so fruitlessly orated about that misunderstanding. The king apparently also 4408 06:17:22.360 --> 06:17:27.439 recalled at that moment his vain knocking about at other thresholds, 4409 06:17:28.159 --> 06:17:33.599 his bloodless face again filled with grayish ennui, And in 4410 06:17:33.720 --> 06:17:38.200 reply to my parting bow, he opened white his eyes, 4411 06:17:38.759 --> 06:17:43.720 as if in astonishment, with the expression what more does 4412 06:17:43.919 --> 06:17:49.680 this fool want? Ah? Yes he has money, and lazily 4413 06:17:49.759 --> 06:17:57.000 he asked, and so you'll not forget, mister friend. And 4414 06:17:57.119 --> 06:18:02.680 his automobile was magnificent and just as magnificent was the 4415 06:18:02.880 --> 06:18:09.240 huge chauffeur resembling a gendarmes at tiet for the new role. 4416 06:18:10.279 --> 06:18:16.400 When we had reascended the stairs, our respectful luckys meanwhile 4417 06:18:16.520 --> 06:18:20.720 gazing upon me as on a royal personage, and entered 4418 06:18:20.759 --> 06:18:28.040 our apartments. Magnus fell into a long ironic silence. I asked, 4419 06:18:28.840 --> 06:18:33.119 how old is this creature? Didn't you know one's a 4420 06:18:33.200 --> 06:18:39.439 good that's bad? He is thirty two years old, perhaps less. 4421 06:18:40.799 --> 06:18:43.959 Did the cardinal really speak of him and ask you 4422 06:18:44.040 --> 06:18:48.119 to give him money? Yes, from what you may have 4423 06:18:48.360 --> 06:18:53.720 left after the cardinals once are attended to. That is 4424 06:18:53.919 --> 06:18:57.560 probably due to the fact that the monarchy'st form of 4425 06:18:57.759 --> 06:19:02.599 government is also invoking heaven. Can you conceive of a 4426 06:19:02.639 --> 06:19:06.880 republic of saints and the administration of the world on 4427 06:19:07.040 --> 06:19:13.119 basis of popular representation? Think of it? Even devils will 4428 06:19:13.200 --> 06:19:17.880 then receive the vote. A king is most necessary one, digod. 4429 06:19:18.119 --> 06:19:23.880 Believe me, nonsense. This is not worthy even of a jest. 4430 06:19:24.680 --> 06:19:28.479 I am not jesting. You are mistaken, and pardon me 4431 06:19:28.560 --> 06:19:32.360 for being so direct. My friend, in his discussion about 4432 06:19:32.560 --> 06:19:37.919 the kings, he was above you. This time you saw 4433 06:19:38.119 --> 06:19:44.840 only a creature, a countenance of purely material limitations and ridiculous. 4434 06:19:45.520 --> 06:19:49.439 He conceived himself to be a symbol. That's why he 4435 06:19:49.560 --> 06:19:53.360 is so calm. And there is no doubt that he 4436 06:19:53.439 --> 06:19:58.639 will return to his beloved people and will do a 4437 06:19:58.639 --> 06:20:04.319 little shooting, And we'll do a little shooting, and will 4438 06:20:04.319 --> 06:20:08.240 throw a little scared into them. Ah, wonder good, how 4439 06:20:08.279 --> 06:20:11.520 stubborn you are in your refusal to part with the 4440 06:20:11.639 --> 06:20:17.919 multiplication table. Your republic is a simple table, while a king. 4441 06:20:18.520 --> 06:20:22.720 Do you realize it is a miracle? What can there 4442 06:20:22.799 --> 06:20:27.880 be simpler, sillier, and more hopeless than a million bearded 4443 06:20:28.040 --> 06:20:33.639 men governing themselves? And how wonderful, how miraculous, when this 4444 06:20:33.919 --> 06:20:39.400 million of bearded fellows are governed by a creature that 4445 06:20:39.799 --> 06:20:44.479 is a miracle, And what possibilities it gives rise to. 4446 06:20:45.759 --> 06:20:49.000 It seemed very funny to me when you spoke with 4447 06:20:49.319 --> 06:20:53.240 so much warmth about the law. This dream of the 4448 06:20:53.439 --> 06:20:58.560 devil a king is necessary for the precise purpose of 4449 06:20:58.840 --> 06:21:03.119 breaking the law in order that the will may be 4450 06:21:03.319 --> 06:21:10.880 above the law. But laws change, magnus. To change is 4451 06:21:11.000 --> 06:21:15.319 only to submit to necessity and to new law, which 4452 06:21:15.479 --> 06:21:19.720 was unknown to you before. Only by breaking the law 4453 06:21:19.880 --> 06:21:23.720 do you elevate the will prove to me that God 4454 06:21:23.799 --> 06:21:28.639 himself is subject to his own laws. It asked to 4455 06:21:28.759 --> 06:21:34.439 put it simply, that he cannot perform miracles, and tomorrow 4456 06:21:34.959 --> 06:21:40.000 your shaven monkey will share the fate of loneliness, and 4457 06:21:40.319 --> 06:21:45.680 all the churches will be turned into horse stables. The 4458 06:21:45.759 --> 06:21:50.599 miracle wants a good, the miracle that is what holds 4459 06:21:50.880 --> 06:21:57.520 human beings on this cuset earth. Magnus emphasized these words 4460 06:21:57.959 --> 06:22:03.759 by banging the table with his fist. His face was gloomy. 4461 06:22:04.479 --> 06:22:10.319 In his dark eyes there flickered unusual excitement, speaking as 4462 06:22:10.400 --> 06:22:16.639 if he were threatening someone. He continued, he believes in miracles, 4463 06:22:16.720 --> 06:22:21.599 and I envy him. He is insignificant. He is really 4464 06:22:21.639 --> 06:22:25.720 what you might call a creature. But he believes in miracles, 4465 06:22:26.080 --> 06:22:28.919 and he has already been a king and will be 4466 06:22:29.040 --> 06:22:35.080 a king again. And we He waved his hand contemptuously 4467 06:22:35.639 --> 06:22:39.799 and began to pace the carpet like an angry captain 4468 06:22:40.040 --> 06:22:44.799 the deck of his vessel. With much respect. I gazed 4469 06:22:44.880 --> 06:22:51.279 upon his heavy, explosive hid and blazing eyes. For the 4470 06:22:51.360 --> 06:22:58.119 first time, I realized what

satanic ambitions there were concealed 4471 06:22:58.400 --> 06:23:05.520 in this strain. Gentlemen and we. Magnus noticed my gaze 4472 06:23:05.599 --> 06:23:10.319 and shouted angrily, why do you look at me like that, 4473 06:23:10.560 --> 06:23:14.319 wonder good, It's silly you are thinking of my ambition. 4474 06:23:14.919 --> 06:23:19.360 That's foolish, wonder good, would not you a gentleman of 4475 06:23:19.400 --> 06:23:25.520 Illinois also like to be well, at least emperor of Russia, 4476 06:23:26.040 --> 06:23:31.560 where the will is still above the law. And on 4477 06:23:31.680 --> 06:23:37.119 what particular throne have you your i, Magnos, I replied, 4478 06:23:37.680 --> 06:23:42.599 no longer concealing my irony. If you are pleased to 4479 06:23:42.720 --> 06:23:46.200 think of me so flatteringly, wonder good, I will tell 4480 06:23:46.240 --> 06:23:51.599 you that I aim much higher. Nonsense, my friend, Only 4481 06:23:51.799 --> 06:23:56.680 bloodless monarchists have ever dreamt of a crown, just as 4482 06:23:56.880 --> 06:24:01.439 only eunuchs have ever tempted themselves elves with the thought 4483 06:24:01.479 --> 06:24:06.080 of woman. Nonsense. But I do not seek a throne, 4484 06:24:06.439 --> 06:24:12.439 not even the Russian throne. It is too cramping. But 4485 06:24:12.799 --> 06:24:17.720 there is another throne, sennor Magnus, the throne of God. 4486 06:24:19.599 --> 06:24:22.959 But why only the throne of God? And have you 4487 06:24:23.040 --> 06:24:29.400 forgotten Satan's mister Wondergood? And this he said to me, 4488 06:24:30.240 --> 06:24:34.200 or did the whole street know that my throne was vacant? 4489 06:24:35.159 --> 06:24:39.799 I bowed my head respectfully and said, permit me to 4490 06:24:39.880 --> 06:24:46.000 be the first to greet you, your majesty. Magnus stanned 4491 06:24:46.040 --> 06:24:50.639 on me in wild wrath, gnushing his teeth like a 4492 06:24:50.720 --> 06:24:56.720 dog over a contested bone. And this angry atom wants 4493 06:24:56.799 --> 06:25:02.319 to be satan. This handful of of earth, hardly enough 4494 06:25:02.560 --> 06:25:06.720 for one whiff of the devil, is dreaming to be 4495 06:25:06.959 --> 06:25:12.439 crowned with my crown. I bowed my head still lower 4496 06:25:12.880 --> 06:25:17.200 and dropped my eyes. I felt the gleaming flame of 4497 06:25:17.400 --> 06:25:24.319 contempt and divine laughter blazing forth within them. I realized 4498 06:25:24.520 --> 06:25:27.680 that it must not be given to my honored ward 4499 06:25:28.240 --> 06:25:32.439 to know this laughter. I do not know how long 4500 06:25:32.520 --> 06:25:37.279 we remained silent, but when our eyes met again, they 4501 06:25:37.319 --> 06:25:43.240 were clear, pure and innocent, like two bright rays in 4502 06:25:43.360 --> 06:25:49.919 the shade. Magnus was the first to speak, And so 4503 06:25:50.720 --> 06:25:57.080 he said, And so I replied, will you order money 4504 06:25:57.080 --> 06:26:01.599 for the king? The money, yes, at your disposal. My 4505 06:26:01.799 --> 06:26:08.479 friend Magnus looked at me thoughtfully. It's not worth while, 4506 06:26:08.799 --> 06:26:14.080 he decided. This miracle is old stuff. It requires too 4507 06:26:14.119 --> 06:26:21.240 many police to compel. Believe we shall perform a better miracle. Oh, 4508 06:26:21.360 --> 06:26:28.759 undoubtedly we shall contrive a better device in two weeks. Yes, 4509 06:26:29.040 --> 06:26:36.599 about that, replied Magnus cordially. We shook hands warmly in parting, 4510 06:26:37.040 --> 06:26:41.799 and in about two hours the gracious King sent each 4511 06:26:41.959 --> 06:26:46.319 of us a decoration, some sort of stuff for me 4512 06:26:46.880 --> 06:26:52.119 and something else for Magnus. I rather pitied the poor 4513 06:26:52.240 --> 06:26:58.000 idiot who continued to play his lone hand and of 4514 06:26:58.159 --> 06:27:08.360 Section twenty one Section twenty two of Satan's Diary by 4515 06:27:08.439 --> 06:27:14.240 Leonid Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is 4516 06:27:14.279 --> 06:27:21.720 in the public domain. Recording by Carolyn Section twenty two, 4517 06:27:21.880 --> 06:27:29.759 April sixteenth Rome. Maria is somewhat indisposed, and I hardly 4518 06:27:29.919 --> 06:27:35.400 see her. Magnusenfoned me of her illness and lied about it. 4519 06:27:35.959 --> 06:27:38.599 For some reason, he does not want me to see her. 4520 06:27:39.200 --> 06:27:45.040 Does he fear anything again? Cardinal X called on him 4521 06:27:45.080 --> 06:27:49.400 in my absence. Nothing is being said to me about 4522 06:27:49.639 --> 06:27:53.759 the miracle, but I am patient and I wait. At 4523 06:27:53.799 --> 06:27:59.200 first this was rather boresome, But recently I have found 4524 06:27:59.240 --> 06:28:03.479 a new pass time, and now I am quite content. 4525 06:28:04.479 --> 06:28:08.799 It is the Roman museums where I spend my mornings 4526 06:28:09.360 --> 06:28:14.799 like a conscientious American who has just learned to distinguish 4527 06:28:15.200 --> 06:28:20.680 between a painting and a piece of sculpture. But I 4528 06:28:20.799 --> 06:28:24.919 have no bedica with me, and I am strangely happy 4529 06:28:25.000 --> 06:28:29.080 that I don't understand a thing about it. All marble 4530 06:28:29.159 --> 06:28:35.279 and painting. I merely like it. I like the odor 4531 06:28:35.360 --> 06:28:39.639 of the sea and the museums. Why the sea, I 4532 06:28:39.680 --> 06:28:43.479 don't know. The sea is far away, and I rather 4533 06:28:43.599 --> 06:28:49.599 expected the odor of decay. And it is so spacious here, 4534 06:28:50.279 --> 06:28:55.560 much more spacious than the Campania. In the Campania, I 4535 06:28:55.639 --> 06:29:00.759 see only space over which run trains and out mobiles. 4536 06:29:01.479 --> 06:29:07.759 Here I swim in time. There is so much time here, 4537 06:29:08.799 --> 06:29:13.200 then too, I rather

like the fact that here they 4538 06:29:13.360 --> 06:29:17.479 preserve with great care a chip of a marble foot, 4539 06:29:18.200 --> 06:29:22.720 or a stony's soul, with a bit of the heel, 4540 06:29:22.799 --> 06:29:27.599 like an ass from Illinois. I simply cannot understand what 4541 06:29:27.840 --> 06:29:32.240 value there is in this, but I already believe that 4542 06:29:32.319 --> 06:29:37.520 it is valuable, and I am touched by your careful thrift, 4543 06:29:37.720 --> 06:29:42.680 little man. Preserve it, go on breaking the feet of 4544 06:29:42.880 --> 06:29:48.720 live men. That is nothing but these you must preserve. 4545 06:29:49.479 --> 06:29:55.159 It is good. Indeed, when living, dying, ever changing men 4546 06:29:55.759 --> 06:30:00.159 for the space of two thousand years, take such good 4547 06:30:00.439 --> 06:30:05.319 care of a chip of marble foot. When I enter 4548 06:30:05.479 --> 06:30:10.840 the narrow museum from the Roman Strait, where every stone 4549 06:30:10.959 --> 06:30:15.080 is drowned in the light of the april sun. It 4550 06:30:15.200 --> 06:30:20.159 is transparent, and even shadow seems to me a peculiar light, 4551 06:30:20.880 --> 06:30:26.360 more durable than the expensive rays of the sun, as 4552 06:30:26.439 --> 06:30:31.560 far as I recollect. It is thus that eternity dove shine, 4553 06:30:32.479 --> 06:30:37.520 and these marbles they have swallowed as much sunlight as 4554 06:30:37.560 --> 06:30:42.520 an englishman whiskey before they were driven into this place. 4555 06:30:43.080 --> 06:30:47.240 That they do not fear a night at all, And 4556 06:30:47.400 --> 06:30:50.360 I too do not fear the night when I am 4557 06:30:50.479 --> 06:30:56.720 near them. Take care of them. Man, if this is 4558 06:30:56.759 --> 06:31:01.080 what you call art, what an ass? You are? Wonder good? 4559 06:31:01.759 --> 06:31:05.520 Of course you are cultured. You look upon art with 4560 06:31:05.799 --> 06:31:10.439 reverence as upon religion, and you have understood as much 4561 06:31:10.439 --> 06:31:14.919 of it as that ass did on which the Messiah 4562 06:31:15.279 --> 06:31:21.400 entered Jerusalem. And what if there should be a fire yesterday? 4563 06:31:21.520 --> 06:31:25.840 This thought troubled me all day, and I went with 4564 06:31:25.919 --> 06:31:31.279 it to Magnos, But he seemed extremely occupied with something 4565 06:31:31.680 --> 06:31:36.520 and could not at first understand what I was striving at. 4566 06:31:38.040 --> 06:31:42.040 What's the trouble? Wonder good? You want to ensure the 4567 06:31:42.159 --> 06:31:49.680 Vatican or something else? Make it clearer, Oh, to ensure, 4568 06:31:50.279 --> 06:31:55.560 I exclaimed in anger, You are a barbarian Thomas Magnos. 4569 06:31:56.439 --> 06:32:02.520 At last he understood smiling cord, he stretched, yawned, and 4570 06:32:02.759 --> 06:32:08.159 laid some paper before me. You really are a gentleman 4571 06:32:08.319 --> 06:32:14.240 from Mars, dear wonder good. Don't contradict and sign this paper. 4572 06:32:14.880 --> 06:32:19.880 It is the last one I will sign. But under 4573 06:32:19.919 --> 06:32:26.919 one condition. Your explosion must not touch the Vatican, he 4574 06:32:27.040 --> 06:32:31.279 laughed again. Would you be sorry, then you had better 4575 06:32:31.319 --> 06:32:35.279 not sign in general, if you are sorry about anything, 4576 06:32:35.720 --> 06:32:39.599 about anything at all, it would be better for us 4577 06:32:39.639 --> 06:32:42.799 to part before it is too late. There is no 4578 06:32:43.040 --> 06:32:46.680 room for pity in my game, and my play is 4579 06:32:46.759 --> 06:32:54.360 not for sentimental American girls. If you please, I signed 4580 06:32:54.520 --> 06:32:58.799 the paper and threw it aside. But it seems as 4581 06:32:58.840 --> 06:33:02.360 if you have earnestly he entered upon the duties of Satan, 4582 06:33:02.520 --> 06:33:09.720 dear Magnus, And does Satan have duties? Poor Satan? Then 4583 06:33:09.759 --> 06:33:16.119 I don't want to be Satan, neither duties nor obligations. 4584 06:33:17.799 --> 06:33:25.799 Neither duties nor obligations. And what then? He glanced at 4585 06:33:25.919 --> 06:33:30.520 me quickly with his gleaming eyes, and replied with one 4586 06:33:30.560 --> 06:33:37.479 short word which cut the air before my face will 4587 06:33:39.240 --> 06:33:46.479 and the current of high pressure. Magnus smiled patronizingly. I 4588 06:33:46.520 --> 06:33:50.000 am very glad that you remember my words so well. 4589 06:33:50.240 --> 06:33:54.200 Want a good? They may be of use to you someday, 4590 06:33:56.040 --> 06:34:00.279 cursed dog. I felt so much like striking him that 4591 06:34:00.360 --> 06:34:07.080 I bowed particularly low and politely, but he restrained me 4592 06:34:07.240 --> 06:34:12.639 with a gracious gesture, pointing to a chair. Where are 4593 06:34:12.680 --> 06:34:16.479 you going? Once a good sit down? We have seen 4594 06:34:16.599 --> 06:34:19.520 so little of each other of late. How is your 4595 06:34:19.560 --> 06:34:24.720 health fine? Thank you? And how is the health of 4596 06:34:24.880 --> 06:34:31.880 Signorina Maria? Not particularly good? But it's a trifle. A 4597 06:34:31.919 --> 06:34:35.680 few more days of waiting, and you so you like 4598 06:34:35.840 --> 06:34:39.119 the museum's want a good? There was a time when 4599 06:34:39.159 --> 06:34:44.720 I too gave them much time and feeling. Yes, I remember, 4600 06:34:44.959 --> 06:34:49.720 I remember. Don't you find wonder good? That man in 4601 06:34:50.040 --> 06:34:57.080 mass is a repulsive being? I raised my eyes in astonishment. 4602 06:34:58.159 --> 06:35:02.520 I do not quite understand this change of subject. Magnus. 4603 06:35:02.560 --> 06:35:06.240 On the contrary, the museums have revealed to me a 4604 06:35:06.360 --> 06:35:13.639 new and more attractive side of man, He laughed, love 4605 06:35:13.880 --> 06:35:18.919

for mankind. Well, well, do not take offense at the jest. 4606 06:35:19.040 --> 06:35:24.400 Wonder good? You see? Everything that man does in crayon 4607 06:35:24.599 --> 06:35:31.919 is wonderful, but repulsive in painting. Take the sketch of Christianity, 4608 06:35:32.479 --> 06:35:36.360 with its sermon on the Mount, its lilies, and its 4609 06:35:36.479 --> 06:35:41.400 ears of corn. How marvelous it is, and how ugly 4610 06:35:41.560 --> 06:35:46.720 is the picture, with its sextens, its funeral pyres, and 4611 06:35:46.759 --> 06:35:52.319 its cardinal X. A genius begins the work, and an idiot, 4612 06:35:52.720 --> 06:35:57.880 an animal, completes it. The pure and fresh wave of 4613 06:35:57.919 --> 06:36:04.279 the ocean tide, it strikes the dirty shore and returns dirty, 4614 06:36:05.040 --> 06:36:10.319 bearing back with it corks and shells. The beginning of love, 4615 06:36:10.840 --> 06:36:15.360 the beginning of the Roman Empire, and the Great Revolution? 4616 06:36:16.240 --> 06:36:21.159 How good are all beginnings and their end? And even 4617 06:36:21.200 --> 06:36:24.680 if a man here and there has managed to die 4618 06:36:24.759 --> 06:36:29.759 as beautifully as he was born, the masses, the masses 4619 06:36:29.959 --> 06:36:37.279 wonder good invariably end the liturgy and shamelessness. Oh, but 4620 06:36:37.479 --> 06:36:44.200 what about the causes? Magnos? The causes, apparently we find 4621 06:36:44.319 --> 06:36:50.200 concealed here the very substance of man, of animal evil, 4622 06:36:50.319 --> 06:36:56.319 and limited in the mass, inclined to madness, easily inoculated 4623 06:36:56.400 --> 06:37:01.799 with all sorts of disease, and crowning the widest possible 4624 06:37:02.040 --> 06:37:07.040 road with the standstill. And that is why art is 4625 06:37:07.439 --> 06:37:14.919 so much above man. I do not understand what is 4626 06:37:15.119 --> 06:37:19.479 then comprehensible about it. In art, it is the genius 4627 06:37:19.520 --> 06:37:26.119 who begins, and the genius completes. You understand, the genius, 4628 06:37:26.799 --> 06:37:31.319 the fool, the imitator, or the critic, is quite powerless 4629 06:37:31.360 --> 06:37:36.520 to change or mar the paintings of Velasquez, the sculpture 4630 06:37:36.680 --> 06:37:43.919 of Angelo, or the verse of Homer. He can destroy, smash, break, burn, 4631 06:37:44.159 --> 06:37:48.439 or deface, but he is quite powerless to bring them 4632 06:37:48.560 --> 06:37:53.080 down to his own level. And that is why he 4633 06:37:53.279 --> 06:38:00.240 so detests real art. You understand, wonder good his poor 4634 06:38:00.400 --> 06:38:08.040 is helpless. Magnus waved his white hand and laughed. But 4635 06:38:08.159 --> 06:38:13.880 why does he guard and protect it so assiduously? It 4636 06:38:13.959 --> 06:38:18.400 is not he who guards and protects. This is done 4637 06:38:18.520 --> 06:38:26.439 by a special species of faithful watchmen. Magnus laughed again, 4638 06:38:27.680 --> 06:38:32.520 And did you observe how uncomfortable they feel in the museum? 4639 06:38:34.000 --> 06:38:39.720 Who they? Well, those who came to view the things. 4640 06:38:40.319 --> 06:38:44.040 But the most ridiculous face of the whole business is 4641 06:38:44.080 --> 06:38:47.360 not that the fool is a fool, but that the 4642 06:38:47.479 --> 06:38:54.319 genius unswervedly worships the fool as a neighbor and fellow being, 4643 06:38:55.040 --> 06:39:00.000 and anxiously seeks his devastating love. And if he were 4644 06:39:00.000 --> 06:39:04.520 where as savage himself, the genius does not understand that 4645 06:39:04.680 --> 06:39:09.919 his true neighbor is a genius similar to himself and 4646 06:39:10.000 --> 06:39:14.400 he is eternally opening his embraces to the near human, 4647 06:39:15.159 --> 06:39:19.840 who eagerly crawls into them in order to abstract the 4648 06:39:20.000 --> 06:39:25.040 watch from his vest pocket. Yes, my dear wonder good, 4649 06:39:25.479 --> 06:39:30.680 it is a most laughable point. And I fear he 4650 06:39:30.799 --> 06:39:35.400 lapsed into thought, fixing his eyes upon the floor. Thus, 4651 06:39:35.479 --> 06:39:39.680 apparently do human beings gaze into the depth of their 4652 06:39:39.840 --> 06:39:45.639 own graves. And I understood just what this genius feared. 4653 06:39:46.279 --> 06:39:50.840 And once again I bowed before the Satanic mind, which 4654 06:39:51.080 --> 06:39:56.720 in all the world recognizes only itself and its own will. 4655 06:39:57.680 --> 06:40:00.159 Here was a god who would not share him his 4656 06:40:00.360 --> 06:40:05.880 power with Olympus. And what a contempt for mankind, and 4657 06:40:05.959 --> 06:40:10.319 what open contempt for me? Here was a grain of 4658 06:40:10.520 --> 06:40:17.400 earth that could make the devil himself sneeze. And do 4659 06:40:17.439 --> 06:40:21.799 you know how I concluded that evening I took my 4660 06:40:21.959 --> 06:40:26.479 pious toppy by the neck and threatened to shoot him 4661 06:40:26.479 --> 06:40:30.520 if he did not get drunk with me. And drunk 4662 06:40:30.639 --> 06:40:34.400 we did get. We began in some dirty little cafe 4663 06:40:34.919 --> 06:40:40.560 and continued in some night taverns, where I generously filled 4664 06:40:40.759 --> 06:40:47.119 some black eyed bandits with liquor, mandolin players and singers 4665 06:40:47.520 --> 06:40:51.560 who sang to me of Maria I drank like a 4666 06:40:51.599 --> 06:40:55.639 farm hand who had just arrived in the city after 4667 06:40:55.680 --> 06:41:01.119 a year of sober labor. Away with the music. I 4668 06:41:01.159 --> 06:41:05.279 remember that I shouted much and waved my hands. But 4669 06:41:05.520 --> 06:41:10.520 never did I love my Maria so tenderly, so sweetly, 4670 06:41:10.680 --> 06:41:16.639 and so painfully as in that smoke of drink, permeated 4671 06:41:16.759 --> 06:41:22.279 with the odor of wine, oranges and some burning fat, 4672

06:41:22.919 --> 06:41:29.599 in this white circle of black bearded, stealthy faces and 4673 06:41:29.880 --> 06:41:37.279 rapaciously gleaming eyes emid the melodious strains of mandolins, which 4674 06:41:37.400 --> 06:41:41.959 opened for me the very vestibules of heaven and Hell. 4675 06:41:43.400 --> 06:41:49.240 I vaguely remember some very accommodating but pompuous murderers whom 4676 06:41:49.400 --> 06:41:54.360 I kissed and forgave in the name of Maria. I 4677 06:41:54.479 --> 06:41:57.919 remember that I proposed that all of us go to 4678 06:41:58.080 --> 06:42:03.040 drink in the Colisseum, in the very place where martyrs 4679 06:42:03.200 --> 06:42:06.759 used to die. But I do not know why we 4680 06:42:06.880 --> 06:42:11.680 did not do it. I believe there were technical difficulties, 4681 06:42:12.439 --> 06:42:17.360 and how splendid top he was. At first he drank 4682 06:42:17.639 --> 06:42:23.479 long and silently, like an archbishop. Then he suddenly began 4683 06:42:23.560 --> 06:42:28.400 to perform interesting feats. He put a bottle of kianti 4684 06:42:28.560 --> 06:42:33.599 on his nose. The wine running all over him. He 4685 06:42:33.759 --> 06:42:38.880 tried to perform some tricks with cards, but was immediately 4686 06:42:38.959 --> 06:42:44.720 caught by the affable bandits, who brilliantly repeated the same trick. 4687 06:42:45.639 --> 06:42:50.479 He walked on all fours and sang some religious verses 4688 06:42:50.759 --> 06:42:57.000 through his nose. He cried and suddenly announced frankly that 4689 06:42:57.159 --> 06:43:03.319 he was a devil. We walked home, staggering along the strait, 4690 06:43:03.880 --> 06:43:10.560 bumping into walls and lamp posts, and hilariously enjoying ourselves 4691 06:43:11.159 --> 06:43:15.880 like two students. Top he tried to pick a quarrel 4692 06:43:16.080 --> 06:43:21.840 with some policemen, but touched by their politeness, he ended 4693 06:43:21.959 --> 06:43:28.360 by conferring his stern blessing upon them, saying, gloomily, go 4694 06:43:28.599 --> 06:43:34.720 and sin no more. Then he confessed, with tears that 4695 06:43:34.840 --> 06:43:38.439 he was in love with a certain Signorina, that his 4696 06:43:38.680 --> 06:43:43.360 love was requitted, and that he must therefore resign his 4697 06:43:43.720 --> 06:43:49.560 spiritual calling. Saying this, he lay down upon a stony 4698 06:43:49.720 --> 06:43:55.959 threshold and fell into a stubborn sleep. And thus I 4699 06:43:56.119 --> 06:44:04.799 left him. Maria, Maria, how you tempt me? Not once? 4700 06:44:04.880 --> 06:44:10.880 Have I touched your lips? Yesterday? I kissed only red wine. 4701 06:44:11.639 --> 06:44:17.560 But whence come these burning traces on my lips? But 4702 06:44:17.799 --> 06:44:22.400 yesterday I stood upon my knees, Madonna, and covered you 4703 06:44:22.599 --> 06:44:27.720 with flowers. But yesterday I timidly laid hands upon the 4704 06:44:27.799 --> 06:44:33.080 hem of your garment. And today you are only a woman, 4705 06:44:33.279 --> 06:44:39.159 and I want you. My hands are trembling. The obstacles, 4706 06:44:39.599 --> 06:44:46.240 the holes, the paces, and the thresholds separating us. Drive me, 4707 06:44:46.720 --> 06:44:51.720 mad I want you. I did not recognize my own 4708 06:44:51.840 --> 06:44:57.119 eyes in the mirror. There is a thick shadow upon them. 4709 06:44:57.520 --> 06:45:02.720 I breathe heavily and irregular, and all day long, my 4710 06:45:02.959 --> 06:45:08.200 thoughts are wondering lustfully about your naked breast. I have 4711 06:45:08.560 --> 06:45:14.639 forgotten everything. In whose power am i? It bends me 4712 06:45:14.880 --> 06:45:20.799 like soft heated iron. I am deafened. I am blinded 4713 06:45:20.919 --> 06:45:25.080 by my own heat and sparks. What do you do, man, 4714 06:45:25.520 --> 06:45:29.400 when that happens to you? Do you simply go and 4715 06:45:29.599 --> 06:45:34.479 take the woman? Do you violate her? Think? It is 4716 06:45:34.799 --> 06:45:39.360 night now, and Maria is so close by. I can 4717 06:45:39.439 --> 06:45:43.520 approach her rim without a sound, and I want to 4718 06:45:43.759 --> 06:45:48.919 hear her cries. But suppose Magnus buss the road for me, 4719 06:45:50.040 --> 06:45:56.439 I will kill Magnus. Nonsense. Now tell me in whose 4720 06:45:56.599 --> 06:46:01.840 power am i? You ought to know? That? Man? Today, 4721 06:46:02.439 --> 06:46:06.919 just before evening, as I was seeking to escape from 4722 06:46:06.959 --> 06:46:12.000 myself and Maria. I wondered about the straits, but it 4723 06:46:12.119 --> 06:46:16.919 was worse there. Everywhere I saw men and women, men 4724 06:46:17.080 --> 06:46:20.919 and women as if I had never seen them before. 4725 06:46:21.680 --> 06:46:26.319 They all appeared naked to me. I stood long at 4726 06:46:26.319 --> 06:46:32.159 Montepicicio and tried to grasp what a sunset was, but 4727 06:46:32.360 --> 06:46:37.639 could not. Before me, there passed by an endless procession, 4728 06:46:37.840 --> 06:46:42.919 those men and women gazing into each other's eyes. Tell 4729 06:46:43.000 --> 06:46:49.000 me what is woman? I saw one very beautiful in 4730 06:46:49.040 --> 06:46:53.919 an automobile. The sunset threw a rosy glow upon her 4731 06:46:54.080 --> 06:46:59.759 pale face, and in her ears there glistened two diamond spa. 4732 06:47:01.200 --> 06:47:05.479 She gazed upon this sunset, and the sunset gazed on her. 4733 06:47:06.200 --> 06:47:11.119 But I could not endure it. Sorrow and love gripped 4734 06:47:11.240 --> 06:47:16.240 my heart as if I were dying. There behind her 4735 06:47:16.439 --> 06:47:26.880 were trees green, almost black. Maria Maria end of section 4736 06:47:27.040 --> 06:47:38.080 twenty two Section twenty three of Satan's Diary by Leonid Andreyev, 4737 06:47:38.560 --> 06:47:43.080 translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is in the 4738 06:47:43.080 --> 06:47:51.599 public

domain. Recording by Carolyn Section twenty three, April nineteenth 4739 06:47:52.200 --> 06:47:59.319 I Love, capri perfect calm reigned upon the sea from 4740 06:47:59.560 --> 06:48:04.200 a huh, precipice. I gazed long upon a little schooner, 4741 06:48:05.000 --> 06:48:11.680 motionless in the blue expanse. Its white sails were rigidly still, 4742 06:48:12.279 --> 06:48:15.520 and it seemed as happy as on that memorable day. 4743 06:48:16.599 --> 06:48:22.520 And again great calm descended upon me, while the Holy 4744 06:48:22.799 --> 06:48:30.240 name of Maria resounded purely and peacefully like the Sabbath 4745 06:48:30.400 --> 06:48:36.759 bells on the distant shore. There I lay upon the grass, 4746 06:48:37.319 --> 06:48:42.720 my face towards the sky. The good earth warmed my back, 4747 06:48:43.360 --> 06:48:47.959 while my eyes were pierced with warm light, as if 4748 06:48:48.000 --> 06:48:52.599 I had thrust my face into the sun. Not more 4749 06:48:52.680 --> 06:48:58.000 than three paces away there lay an abyss, a steep 4750 06:48:58.240 --> 06:49:04.720 precipice seeing wall, and it was delightful to imbibe the 4751 06:49:04.759 --> 06:49:11.040 odor of grass and the spring flowers of Capri. There 4752 06:49:11.119 --> 06:49:15.599 was also the odor of Toppy, who was lying beside me. 4753 06:49:16.560 --> 06:49:20.200 When he is heated by the sun, he emits the 4754 06:49:20.240 --> 06:49:25.479 smell of fair He was all sunburned, just as if 4755 06:49:25.520 --> 06:49:29.880 he had been smeared with coal. In general, he is 4756 06:49:29.919 --> 06:49:35.439 a very amiable old devil. The place where we lay 4757 06:49:35.639 --> 06:49:40.639 is called Anna Capri, and constitutes the elevated part of 4758 06:49:40.680 --> 06:49:45.479 the island. The sun had already set when we began 4759 06:49:45.639 --> 06:49:49.799 our trip, downward, and a half moon had risen in 4760 06:49:49.880 --> 06:49:54.959 the sky. But there was the same quiet and warmth, 4761 06:49:55.520 --> 06:50:00.720 And from somewhere came the strains of mandolins in love, 4762 06:50:01.479 --> 06:50:08.400 calling to Maria. Maria everywhere, but my love breathed with 4763 06:50:08.759 --> 06:50:14.799 great calm, bathed in the pure moonlight rays like the 4764 06:50:14.880 --> 06:50:19.319 little white houses below, in such a house at one 4765 06:50:19.400 --> 06:50:24.319 time did Maria live, And into just such a house 4766 06:50:24.400 --> 06:50:30.200 I will take her in about four days. A high 4767 06:50:30.319 --> 06:50:36.080 wall along which the road ran concealed the moon from us, 4768 06:50:36.639 --> 06:50:41.040 And here we beheld the statute of an old madonna, 4769 06:50:41.720 --> 06:50:46.080 standing in a niche high above the road, and the 4770 06:50:46.200 --> 06:50:52.880 surrounding bushes before her burnt with the weak flame the 4771 06:50:53.000 --> 06:50:57.319 light of an image lamp. And she seemed so alive 4772 06:50:57.520 --> 06:51:02.880 in her watchful silence, that my heart grew cold with 4773 06:51:03.319 --> 06:51:08.560 sweet terror. Toppy bowed his head and mumbled a prayer, 4774 06:51:09.240 --> 06:51:15.159 while I removed my hat and thought, how high above 4775 06:51:15.400 --> 06:51:22.279 this earthly vessel, filled with moonlit twilight and mysterious charms 4776 06:51:22.520 --> 06:51:31.319 you stand. Thus does Maria stand above my soul? Enough, 4777 06:51:32.119 --> 06:51:37.360 here again the extraordinary begins, and I must pause. We 4778 06:51:37.439 --> 06:51:42.080 shall soon drink some champagne, and then we shall go 4779 06:51:42.200 --> 06:51:47.759 to the cafe. I understand they expect some mandolin players 4780 06:51:47.880 --> 06:51:52.759 from Naples here today. Toppy would rather be shot than 4781 06:51:52.840 --> 06:51:58.599 follow me. His conscience troubles him to this day. But 4782 06:51:58.959 --> 06:52:03.520 it is good that I will be alone. End of 4783 06:52:03.639 --> 06:52:14.360 section twenty three Section twenty four of Satan's Diary by 4784 06:52:14.400 --> 06:52:20.840 Leonit Andreyev, translated by Hermann Bernstein. This LibriVox recording is 4785 06:52:20.880 --> 06:52:27.119 in the public domain. Recording by Caroline. Section twenty four, 4786 06:52:28.000 --> 06:52:37.240 April twenty third, Rome, palazz Orsini night. My palace is 4787 06:52:37.520 --> 06:52:40.919 dead and silent, as if it were one of the 4788 06:52:41.000 --> 06:52:47.200 ruins of ancient Rome. Beyond the large window lies the garden. 4789 06:52:48.159 --> 06:52:53.240 It is transparent and white with the rays of the moon, 4790 06:52:54.000 --> 06:52:59.400 and the vaporous pole of the fountain resembles hitless vision. 4791 06:53:00.840 --> 06:53:07.200 Beyond the large window lies the garden. It is transparent 4792 06:53:07.319 --> 06:53:11.720 and white with the rays of the moon, and the 4793 06:53:11.840 --> 06:53:17.200 vaporous pole of the fountain resembles a hitless vision in 4794 06:53:17.279 --> 06:53:24.479 a silver veil. Its splashes scarcely heard through the thick 4795 06:53:24.599 --> 06:53:28.959 window pane, as if it were the sleepy mumbling of 4796 06:53:29.159 --> 06:53:36.080 the night guard. Yes, this is all beautiful, and how 4797 06:53:36.119 --> 06:53:41.799 do you put it? It breathes with love, of course, 4798 06:53:41.880 --> 06:53:45.319 it would be good to walk beside Maria over the 4799 06:53:45.319 --> 06:53:49.919 blue sand of the garden path, and to trample upon 4800 06:53:49.959 --> 06:53:54.599 her shadow. But I am disturbed, and my disquiet is 4801 06:53:54.759 --> 06:53:59.799 wider than love. In my attempts to walk lightly, I 4802 06:54:00.360 --> 06:54:05.799 about the rim, lean against the wall, recline in silence 4803 06:54:05.919 --> 06:54:09.639 in the corners, And all the time I seemed to 4804 06:54:09.759 --> 06:54:16.639 hear something, something far away, a thousand kilometers from here? 4805 06:54:17.520 -->

06:54:21.680 Or is this all lodged in my memory, that which 4806 06:54:21.720 --> 06:54:28.119 I strain my ear to catch? And the thousand kilometers 4807 06:54:28.759 --> 06:54:34.119 are they the thousand years of my life? You would 4808 06:54:34.119 --> 06:54:38.040 be astonished if you saw how I was dressed. My 4809 06:54:38.200 --> 06:54:44.040 fine American costume had suddenly become unbearably heavy, so I 4810 06:54:44.119 --> 06:54:49.639 put on my bathing suit. This made me appear thin, tall, 4811 06:54:49.720 --> 06:54:55.959 and wiry. I tried to test my nimbleness by crawling 4812 06:54:56.000 --> 06:55:02.240 about the floor, suddenly changing the direction like a noiseless bat. 4813 06:55:03.080 --> 06:55:06.479 But it is not I who am restless. It is 4814 06:55:06.599 --> 06:55:10.840 my muscles that are filled with this unrest, and I 4815 06:55:10.919 --> 06:55:15.319 know not what they want. Then I began to feel cold. 4816 06:55:15.840 --> 06:55:20.720 I dressed and sat down to write. I drank some 4817 06:55:20.919 --> 06:55:25.080 wine and drew down the curtains to shut the white 4818 06:55:25.240 --> 06:55:30.680 garden from my eyes. Then I examined and fixed my browning. 4819 06:55:31.639 --> 06:55:35.279 I intended to take it with me tomorrow for a 4820 06:55:35.360 --> 06:55:43.080 friendly chat with Magnos. You see, Thomas Magnus has some collaborators. 4821 06:55:44.040 --> 06:55:47.639 That is what he calls those gentlemen unknown to me, 4822 06:55:48.319 --> 06:55:51.919 who respectfully get out of my way when we meet, 4823 06:55:52.520 --> 06:55:55.880 but never greet me, as if we were meeting in 4824 06:55:56.000 --> 06:56:00.279 the street and not in my house. There word of 4825 06:56:00.520 --> 06:56:04.560 them when I went to Capri. Now they are six, 4826 06:56:05.040 --> 06:56:09.159 according to what TOPPI tells me, and they live here. 4827 06:56:10.279 --> 06:56:14.840 Toppy does not like them, neither do I. They seem 4828 06:56:14.919 --> 06:56:19.200 to have no faces. I could not see them. I 4829 06:56:19.319 --> 06:56:22.639 happened to think of that just now when I tried 4830 06:56:22.759 --> 06:56:30.240 to recall them. These are my assistants, Magnus told me today, 4831 06:56:30.279 --> 06:56:36.319 without trying in the least to conceal his ridicule. Well, 4832 06:56:36.400 --> 06:56:41.759 I must say, Magnus, they have had bad training. They 4833 06:56:41.799 --> 06:56:46.520 never greet me when we meet. On the contrary, dear, 4834 06:56:46.639 --> 06:56:51.279 wonder good, they are very well mannered. They simply cannot 4835 06:56:51.439 --> 06:56:56.360 bring themselves to greet you without a proper introduction. They 4836 06:56:56.400 --> 06:57:03.240 are extremely correct people. However, you will learn all tomorrow. 4837 06:57:03.919 --> 06:57:08.919 Don't frown, be patient, wonder good, Just one more night. 4838 06:57:11.000 --> 06:57:17.119 How is Signorina Maria's health? Tomorrow she will be well.

4839 06:57:18.680 --> 06:57:24.080 He placed his hand upon my shoulder and brought his dark, evil, 4840 06:57:24.479 --> 06:57:30.000 brazen eyes closer to my face the passion of love. 4841 06:57:31.639 --> 06:57:37.319 I shook off his hand and shouted, Signor Magnus, I you. 4842 06:57:38.479 --> 06:57:42.720 He frowned at me and calmly turned his back upon me. 4843 06:57:44.000 --> 06:57:49.959 Till tomorrow, mister wonder Good. That is why I loaded 4844 06:57:50.040 --> 06:57:54.040 my revolver. In the evening I was handed a letter 4845 06:57:54.200 --> 06:57:59.360 from Magnos. He begged my pardon, said his conduct was 4846 06:57:59.560 --> 06:58:04.599 due to unusual excitement, and he sincerely sought my friendship 4847 06:58:04.639 --> 06:58:10.520 and confidence. He also agreed that his collaborators were really 4848 06:58:10.720 --> 06:58:16.840 ill mannered folk. I gazed along upon these hasty, illegible lines, 4849 06:58:17.360 --> 06:58:22.200 and felt like taking with me not my revolver but 4850 06:58:22.400 --> 06:58:28.319 a cannon. One more night. But how long it is? 4851 06:58:30.040 --> 06:58:35.279 There is danger facing me. I feel it, and my 4852 06:58:35.400 --> 06:58:39.360 muscles know it too. Do you think that I am 4853 06:58:39.439 --> 06:58:46.680 merely afraid? I swear by eternal salvation. No. I know 4854 06:58:46.880 --> 06:58:51.080 not where my fear has disappeared. But only a short 4855 06:58:51.159 --> 06:58:56.279 while ago I was afraid of everything, of darkness, death, 4856 06:58:56.400 --> 06:59:02.840 and the most inconsequential pain, and now I fear nothing. 4857 06:59:03.720 --> 06:59:09.319 I only feel strange, is that how you put it? Strange? 4858 06:59:11.200 --> 06:59:14.680 Here I am on your earth, man, and I am 4859 06:59:14.799 --> 06:59:18.680 thinking of another person who is dangerous to me, and 4860 06:59:18.720 --> 06:59:25.759 I myself am man. And there's the moon and the fountain, 4861 06:59:26.520 --> 06:59:31.119 and there is Maria, whom I love, And here is 4862 06:59:31.159 --> 06:59:37.159 a glass and wine, and this is my and your life? 4863 06:59:38.520 --> 06:59:42.360 Or did I simply imagine that I was satan? Once 4864 06:59:43.520 --> 06:59:47.680 I see it is all an invention, the fountain and 4865 06:59:47.880 --> 06:59:53.119 Maria and my very thoughts on the man Magnus. But 4866 06:59:53.599 --> 07:00:00.360 the real my mind can neither unravel nor understand. I 4867 07:00:00.439 --> 07:00:06.080 assiduously examine my memory, and it is silent, like a 4868 07:00:06.159 --> 07:00:09.919 closed book, and I have no power to open this 4869 07:00:10.319 --> 07:00:18.119 enchanted volume, concealing the whole past of my being. Straining 4870 07:00:18.240 --> 07:00:22.759 my eyesight, I gaze into the bright and distant depth 4871 07:00:23.240 --> 07:00:28.319 from which I came upon the pasteboard earth, But I 4872 07:00:28.439 --> 07:00:33.040 see nothing in the painful ebb and flow of the 4873 07:00:33.200 --> 07:00:39.959 boundless fog. There behind the fog is my country. But 4874 07:00:40.080 --> 07:00:43.959 it seems it seems I have quite forgotten the road. 4875 07:00:46.040 --> 07:00:49.560 I have again returned to wonder Good's bad habit of 4876 07:00:49.720 --> 07:00:55.400 getting drunk, alone, and I am slightly drunk now, no matter, 4877 07:00:56.000 --> 07:01:01.240 it is the last time I have just seen something 4878 07:01:01.360 --> 07:01:05.479 after which I wished to see nothing else. I felt 4879 07:01:05.720 --> 07:01:09.479 like taking a look at the white garden, and to 4880 07:01:09.639 --> 07:01:14.360 imagine how it would feel to walk beside Maria over 4881 07:01:14.439 --> 07:01:19.119 the path of blue sand. I turned off the light 4882 07:01:19.240 --> 07:01:25.240 in the rim and opened wide the draperies, and the 4883 07:01:25.279 --> 07:01:30.880 white garden arose before me like a dream. And think 4884 07:01:30.919 --> 07:01:35.639 of it. Over the path of blue sand there walked 4885 07:01:35.759 --> 07:01:40.319 a man and a woman, and the woman was Maria. 4886 07:01:41.599 --> 07:01:47.439 They walked quietly, trampling upon their own shadows, and the 4887 07:01:47.599 --> 07:01:53.040 man embraced her. The little counting machine in my breast 4888 07:01:53.279 --> 07:01:58.919 beat madly, fell to the floor and broke. When finally 4889 07:01:59.479 --> 07:02:07.560 I reckonedgnized the man. It was Magnus, Only Magnus, dear Magnus, 4890 07:02:08.279 --> 07:02:16.119 the father. May he be cursed with his fatherly embraces. Ah, 4891 07:02:16.119 --> 07:02:20.439 how my love for Maria searched up again within me. 4892 07:02:21.639 --> 07:02:26.599 I fell on my knees before the window and stretched 4893 07:02:26.720 --> 07:02:30.919 out my hands to her. To be sure. I had 4894 07:02:30.959 --> 07:02:35.240 already seen something of that kind in the theater. But 4895 07:02:35.319 --> 07:02:40.200 it's all the same to me. I stretched out my hands. 4896 07:02:41.000 --> 07:02:44.639 Was I not alone and drunk. Why should I not 4897 07:02:45.000 --> 07:02:51.159 do what I want to do? Madonna? Then I suddenly 4898 07:02:51.319 --> 07:02:57.279 drew down the curtain, quietly, like a web, like a 4899 07:02:57.319 --> 07:03:02.400 handful of moonlight. I will take this vision and weave 4900 07:03:02.479 --> 07:03:12.279 it into night dreams, quietly, quietly. End of section twenty 4901 07:03:12.400 --> 07:03:12.720 four