Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk-Act Three Scene Eight

In the garden the tables are set our to form three sides of a rectangle; the guests, already drunk, are celebrating the wedding of Katerina and Sergey. The bridal pair are in the centre. The feast is coming to an end. Nearby is the cellar where Zinoviy's body lies. Katerina is very restless and on edge. The guests are toasting the bridal pair. GUESTS Long live the happy pair, Katerina and Sergey, long life to you! Long live the happy pair, may they live long in love and harmony! Long live the happy pair, Katerina and Sergey, long life to you! We wish you health and happiness and a life of harmony. Long life! PRIEST Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss! GUESTS Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss! Katerina and Sergey kiss. GUESTS Ha, ha, ha!... PRIEST That's fine! Kiss her again! GUESTS Give her a kiss! Give her a kiss! They kiss again. KATERINA Dear friends, help yourselves, please! GUESTS Thank you, thank you. PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky, who is fairer than the sun in the sky? Eh! GUESTS Is there none fairer than the sun in the sky, is there none fairer than the sun in the sky? Yes there is! PRIEST Indeed there is! Indeed there is one fairer than the sun in the sky, there is! There is! Indeed there is one fairer fairer than the sun in the sky! Who is it? GUESTS We know of none fairer than the sun in the sky we know of none fairer than the sun in the sky! PRIEST Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky, mm ... ah ... really lovely! Mm ... her hand... Give her a kiss! GUESTS Give her a kiss, give her a kiss! PRIEST He, he, he!... Have they gone all shy? GUESTS He, he, he! The guests are drunk and almost asleep. Long live Katerina Lvovna, she's fairer than the sun in the sky, long may she live! PRIEST Give her a kiss! Katerina notices that the lock on the cellar door is broken. KATERINA Oh! PRIEST Give her a kiss! SERGEY What's the matter? GUESTS He, he, he! KATERINA The lock's broken. SERGEY Well? KATERINA That's where Zinoviy is, look, it's terrifying. Oh! When they all go home we'll make a run for it! SERGEY It can't be. It's true, it's broken; hush,hush. PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky. Who is fairer … Where are the happy pair, having it off together? Bit early isn't it, it's not yet night, he, he, he! GUESTS Long life! KATERINA to the guests Help yourselves, please. GUESTS Katerina Lvovna is fairer than the sun in the sky! They fall asleep. PRIEST Who is fairer than the sun in the sky, eh? DRUNKEN GUEST Give her a kiss! The guests are asleep. Katerina and Sergey are very agitated. KATERINA Sergey, we must escape, someone's broken the lock, they must have seen the body there. SERGEY What about the household? And the business? KATERINA We'll have to drop everything. Let's take all the money, it'll be enough for us to live on; we might just have time. Go and get the money quickly, there's not a moment to lose! Sergey runs into the house. Oh, where's he got to, where's he got to? SERGEY Coming, coming! Sergey returns. Katerina hears footsteps and sees the policemen approaching, led by the sergeant. Katerina is distraught and rushes about the stage trying to escape. KATERINA What's this? It's too late... Oh, Sergey, we're done for... SERGEY What do you mean, done for? Let's run for it! KATERINA Wherever to? A knock is heard at the gate. SERGEY Who's there? POLICEMEN The police! The gate opens. Enter the police. SERGEANT How do you do? KATERINA outwardly calm How do you do? SERGEANT You didn't invite us, aren't we good enough for you? But here we are anyway! A little matter has arisen! So, what a lot of guests! Looks as if a lot of wine's been drunk! Hasn't it? There's a little matter of a certain kind, to put it bluntly, there's a little matter! Katerina embraces Sergey KATERINA Don't keep beating about the bush, put the handcuffs on, then! Oh, Sergey, forgive me, forgive me, Seryozha! Seryozha! She holds out her hands to the policemen. They handcuff her. SERGEANT Get the handcuffs on! Look sharp! Sergey tries to escape. SERGEY Let me go, you swine. POLICEMEN Get him, get him, get him, get him! They immediately get hold of him. He resists and they beat him. Katerina in handcuffs rushe to defend Sergey. They are both securely handcuffed. SERGEY Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! SERGEANT No you don't! You won t get away! You won't get away! Take that, and that, and that, and that! POLICEMEN No you don't! Ha, ha, ha! … That's what he needs, just what he needs! That's what he needs, just what he needs! KATERINA Don't you dare! Don't you dare! SERGEANT Keep a tight hold of him! Off to prison with him! He is led away. KATERINA Oh, Sergey, forgive me, forgive me.