Chapter V: Act V

Disciplinary Battalion. A cell. Prisoners sitting and lying. Borís is reading the Gospel and explaining it. A man who has been flogged is brought in. "Ah, if there were but a Pugachev[41] to revenge us on such as you." The Princess bursts in, but is turned out. Conflict with an officer. Prisoners led to prayers. Borís sent to the Penitentiary Cell: "He shall be flogged!"

[41] Pugachev was the leader of a formidable rebellion in Russia in
the eighteenth century.

Scene changes.

The Tsar's Cabinet. Cigarettes; jokes; caresses. The Princess is announced. "Let her wait." Enter petitioners, flattery, then the Princess. Her request is refused. Exit.

Scene changes.

Mary Ivánovna talks about illness with the doctor. "He has changed, has become more gentle, but is dispirited." Enter Nicholas Ivánovich and speaks to Doctor about the uselessness of treatment. But for his wife's sake he agrees to it. Enter Tónya with Styópa. Lyúba with Starkóvsky. Conversation about land. Nicholas Ivánovich tries not to offend them. Exeunt all. Nicholas Ivánovich with Lisa. "I am always in doubt whether I have done right. I have accomplished nothing. Borís has perished, Vasíly Nikonórovich has recanted. I set an example of weakness. Evidently God does not wish me to be his servant. He has many other servants--and can accomplish his will without me, and he who realises this is at peace." Exit Lisa. He prays. The Princess rushes in and shoots him. Everybody comes running into the room. He says he did it himself by accident. He writes a petition to the Emperor. Enter Vasíly Nikonórovich with Doukhobors.[42] Dies rejoicing that the fraud of the Church is exposed, and that he has understood the meaning of his life.

[42] Tolstoy did not fully realise the facts (described in _A Peculiar
People_) of the Doukhobors' submission to their leader, or of their
belief in him as an incarnation of the Deity. In fact, when he wrote
this play, Tolstoy regarded the Doukhobors as a type of what all
Christians should be.

_This play was begun in the 'eighties, and continued in 1900 and 1902._

END OF "THE LIGHT SHINES IN DARKNESS."

[ Transcriber's Note:

The following is a list of corrections made to the original. The first
line is the original line, the second the corrected one.

forty-five; and her husband, Peter Semyónovich Kóhovstsef, a fat
forty-five; and her husband, Peter Semyónovich Kóhovtsef, a fat

on the verandah at a table with a samovar and coffee-pot. Mary
on the verandah at a table with a samovár and coffee-pot. Mary

[9] He was very nice, and like everybody else
[9] He was very nice, and like everybody else.

is your duty as a mother to _prendre tes mésures_.[11] is your duty as a mother to _prendre tes mesures_.[11]

MARY IVÁNOVNA. I'm coming, coming? [Rises and exit]. MARY IVÁNOVNA. I'm coming, coming! [Rises and exit].

for vodka, and abandon our own families. for vódka, and abandon our own families?

ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Re-heat the samovar, please. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Re-heat the samovár, please.

ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. I should think they also need this samovar. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. I should think they also need this samovár.

other 44,990 trees will very soon be cut down also.
There are 449,990 trees remaining. This might either be a typesetting
mistake or an error made by Styópa.

can be proved historically; there is but one irrefragible proof.... can be proved historically; there is but one irrefragable proof....

PRIEST. How can we trust in it, when there are contradictions. PRIEST. How can we trust in it, when there are contradictions?

[Enter Nurse].
Enter Nurse.

coming coming!

LYÚBA. Yes, do, and I'll go and wake Lisa and Tánya. LYÚBA. Yes, do, and I'll go and wake Lisa and Tónya.

what I feel. (To Tónya) If what I say should offend you--who are our what I feel. [To Tónya] If what I say should offend you--who are our

SCENE 2. [in ACT II] SCENE 2

STARKÓVSKY. And Lyubóv Nikoláyevna?[36] She proposed to dance a great STARKÓVSKY. And Lyúbov Nikoláyevna?[36] She proposed to dance a great

[36] Lyúbov Nikolávna (= Love daughter of Nicholas) is the courteous
[36] Lyúbov Nikoláyevna (= Love daughter of Nicholas) is the courteous
]

End of Project Gutenberg's The Light Shines in Darkness, by Leo Tolstoy