Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk-Act Three Scene Six

Katerina is standing near the cellar and gazing towards it. Enter Sergey. Both are dressed in fine clothes. SERGEY Why are you standing there? What are you staring at? KATERINA But, Seryozha, Zinoviy Borisych is lying there, that's where we buried him. SERGEY Not so loud! KATERINA When I think of it I feel afraid, Seryozha! SERGEY Don't be afraid of the dead, it's the living you should fear. KATERINA I know that. SERGEY Then if you know it, what's the point of standing there? People will notice. KATERINA All right. Seryozha, today's our wedding day, it's time to go to the church. Everything will be all right. SERGEY It's time to go to the church. KATERINA Let's go quickly, today is our day and tomorrow and always. Exit Katerina and Sergey. Enter the shabby peasant, drunk. SHABBY PEASANT Once a lady friend of mine crazy was on drinking wine, hic! Then I had a kindly mate, wine and vodka he drank straight, hic! And as for my godfather dear, his only interest was in beer, hic! Hic! Hic! Hic! That whole family of mine couldn't last a day without good wine, hic! Why should they then outstrip me? I drink vodka enough for three, hic! hic! I can drink the whole day through, nights and days and evenings too, summer, spring and winter deep, drink until I fall asleep, hic! I shall drink for evermore, I'm a jolly sort, for sure, hic! Hic! Hic! Hic! Singing's fine when there's something to drink, but when there's nothing to drink, then there's nothing to sing about. And why is there nothing to drink? Because I'm broke. I've got an unlucky star, other people have got lucky stars. That Sergey - he had absolutely nothing and now he can swim in vodka. Why did she choose Sergey for her husband and not me? What's he got that I haven't? Arms, legs, head, belly - all in the right place. I've just got an unlucky star. I like to have a good swig! Here's the cellar, the mistress often stands near it and keeps on staring, just staring ... Must be some good wine in there ... She stares and stares and stares ... Well, I'll just have a look. Ah, there must really be some good wines in there! He breaks the lock and enters the cellar, then quickly runs out again, holding his nose. Ugh, what a pong! Ugh, ugh, ugh! What a pong! What a frightful, frightful pong! What could cause such a pong? Has all the food gone bad? goes into the cellar again I'll have a look … God, what a pong! Oh! Noticing Zinoviy's body in the cellar, the shabby peasant runs out in horror. A corpse! The corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich, the corpse, the corpse of Zinoviy Borisovich. Oh! Oh! Get the police! runs away in horror