_Fámusov._ Ah, Aleksándr Andréich, come nearer, take a seat!

_Chátski._ You are busy?

_Fámusov_ (_to the servant_). Go! (_Servant exit._) Yes, I have been entering various memoranda on business matters, not to forget them by any chance.

_Chátski._ You look disconcerted. Tell me, why? Is my arrival untimely? Has, perchance, some sorrow come to Sophia Pávlovna? There is disquiet in your face and movements.

_Fámusov._ What a riddle you have propounded, my friend! Not joyful! You would not expect me, at my age, to dance a jig.

_Chátski._ Nobody asks you to. I just asked two words about Sophia Pávlovna, fearing that she might be ill.

_Fámusov._ Pshaw, the Lord spare us! Five thousand times he repeats one and the same thing: now it is, there is no one fairer in the world than Sophia Pávlovna, now, Sophia Pávlovna is ill. Tell me, have you taken a liking to her? You have raced through the whole world,--don’t you want to get married?

_Chátski._ What is that to you?

_Fámusov._ It would not be bad to ask of me: I am, so to say, a near relative of hers; at least, they have not in vain been calling me her father.

_Chátski._ Suppose I should sue for her hand, what would you say?

_Fámusov._ I should say: First, do not make a fool of yourself, do not, my friend, neglect your estate; but above all, take a government position.

_Chátski._ I should gladly serve, but I hate to be subservient.

_Fámusov._ That ’s it! You are all a haughty lot! Ask how your fathers have done! Learn from your elders. Let us take, for example, my deceased uncle, Maksím Petróvich: he used to dine not upon silver, but upon gold; a hundred servants were at his beck; he was all covered with decorations; he travelled all the time in a procession, was all the time at Court, and at what Court! It was not then as now: he served under Empress Catherine! In those days there was some weight in dignity: bow all you please to them, they would not nod their heads. A dignitary was not an ordinary mortal: he drank and ate quite differently. And my uncle,--what is your prince, your count? He had such a serious look, such haughty mien,--but when it was necessary to be subservient, he knew how to limber up his joints. Once he by chance made a misstep during audience at Court: he fell, and almost hurt his occiput. The old man groaned,--his hoarse voice provoked her Majesty’s smile, she deigned to laugh. What did he do? He rose, arranged his clothes, wanted to make a bow, and fell down again, but this time on purpose. The laughter was louder than before,--he repeated his feat. Well, how is that according to your ideas? According to ours, he was shrewd: he fell down in pain, he rose quite well. Who was oftenest invited to whist? Who heard a kind word at Court? Maksím Petróvich! Who was honoured above all others at Court? Maksím Petróvich! That ’s no trifle! Who conferred ranks, and gave pensions? Maksím Petróvich! Ah, you of to-day are what?

_Chátski._ Truly, the world has grown more stupid--you may say so with a sigh! When we compare the present age with the one that ’s past, though the tradition is living, it is hard to believe: he was most famous whose neck was oftenest bent, and the brow took by assault in peace, not war; they mercilessly knocked their brows against the floor. He who needed it, took delight in grovelling in the dust; those who stood higher wove flattery like lace,--it was a sincere age of submission and terror! Under the mask of zeal for the Tsar--(I am not talking of your uncle: we will not disturb his ashes). But now, who would, even in the most ardent servility, undertake to amuse the people, and boldly to sacrifice his occiput? Though then, many an equal of his, or some old man who was falling to pieces in his ancient hide, seeing his capers, probably remarked: “Oh, if I could do the same!” There are even now some servile souls, but nowadays ridicule terrifies them and shame holds them in check. Kings, with good reason, are slow to favour them.

_Fámusov._ My God, he is a carbonaro!

_Chátski._ No, this is a different world!

_Fámusov._ Dangerous man!

_Chátski._ Everybody breathes more freely, and nobody hastens to inscribe himself in the army of fools.

_Fámusov._ How he talks! And he talks as he writes.

_Chátski._ To yawn at the ceiling in the house of your patrons, to make your appearance and sit in silence, to courtesy, dine, fetch a chair, lift up a handkerchief--

_Fámusov._ He wants to preach liberty!

_Chátski._ Who travels, who lives in the village--

_Fámusov._ He does not acknowledge the authorities!

_Chátski._ Who serves his office and not men--

_Fámusov._ I should most severely forbid such gentlemen to get within a gunshot of the capitals!

_Chátski._ I will not give you any rest!

_Fámusov._ My patience is all exhausted, I have had enough!

_Chátski._ I have unmercifully scolded your age; I leave it to you to reject part of it in favour of our times: I shall not contradict.

_Fámusov._ I do not wish to know you! I despise debauch!

_Chátski._ I have had my say.

_Fámusov._ Very well, I close my ears!

_Chátski._ What for? I shall not insult them.

_Fámusov_ (_rapidly_). Such are the people that race the world and waste their time. When they return, what order can you expect of them?

_Chátski._ I am done.

_Fámusov._ Please, spare me!

_Chátski._ It is not my desire to continue the dispute.

_Fámusov._ At least leave my soul to repentance.