ARKADINA。Ismellsulphur。Isthatdoneonpurpose？
　　TREPLIEFF。Yes。
　　ARKADINA。Oh，Isee;thatispartoftheeffect。
　　TREPLIEFF。Mother！
　　NINA。Helongsforman——
　　PAULINA。[ToDORN]Youhavetakenoffyourhatagain！Putiton，youwillcatchcold。
　　ARKADINA。ThedoctorhastakenoffhishattoSatanfatherofeternalmatter——
　　TREPLIEFF。[Loudlyandangrily]Enoughofthis！There’sanendtotheperformance。Downwiththecurtain！
　　ARKADINA。Why，whatareyousoangryabout？
　　TREPLIEFF。[Stampinghisfoot]Thecurtain;downwithit！[Thecurtainfalls]Excuseme，Iforgotthatonlyachosenfewmightwriteplaysoractthem。Ihaveinfringedthemonopoly。I——I———
　　Hewouldliketosaymore，butwaveshishandinstead，andgoesouttotheleft。
　　ARKADINA。Whatisthematterwithhim？
　　SORIN。Youshouldnothandleyouthfulegoismsoroughly，sister。
　　ARKADINA。WhatdidIsaytohim？
　　SORIN。Youhurthisfeelings。
　　ARKADINA。Buthetoldmehimselfthatthiswasallinfun，soI
　　treatedhisplayasifitwereacomedy。
　　SORIN。Nevertheless———
　　ARKADINA。Nowitappearsthathehasproducedamasterpiece，ifyouplease！Isupposeitwasnotmeanttoamuseusatall，butthathearrangedtheperformanceandfumigateduswithsulphurtodemonstratetoushowplaysshouldbewritten，andwhatisworthacting。Iamtiredofhim。Noonecouldstandhisconstantthrustsandsallies。Heisawilful，egotisticboy。
　　SORIN。Hehadhopedtogiveyoupleasure。
　　ARKADINA。Isthatso？Inotice，though，thathedidnotchooseanordinaryplay，butforcedhisdecadenttrashonus。Iamwillingtolistentoanyraving，solongasitisnotmeantseriously，butinshowingusthis，hepretendedtobeintroducingustoanewformofart，andinauguratinganewera。Inmyopinion，therewasnothingnewaboutit，itwassimplyanexhibitionofbadtemper。
　　TRIGORIN。Everybodymustwriteashefeels，andasbesthemay。
　　ARKADINA。Lethimwriteashefeelsandcan，butlethimsparemehisnonsense。
　　DORN。Thouartangry，OJove！
　　ARKADINA。Iamawoman，notJove。[Shelightsacigarette]AndI
　　amnotangry，Iamonlysorrytoseeayoungmanfoolishlywastinghistime。Ididnotmeantohurthim。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Noonehasanygroundforseparatinglifefrommatter，asthespiritmaywellconsistoftheunionofmaterialatoms。[Excitedly，toTRIGORIN]Somedayyoushouldwriteaplay，andputonthestagethelifeofaschoolmaster。Itisahard，hardlife。
　　ARKADINA。Iagreewithyou，butdonotletustalkaboutplaysoratomsnow。Thisissuchalovelyevening。Listentothesinging，friends，howsweetitsounds。
　　PAULINA。Yes，theyaresingingacrossthewater。[Apause。]
　　ARKADINA。[ToTRIGORIN]Sitdownbesidemehere。Tenorfifteenyearsagowehadmusicandsingingonthislakealmostallnight。
　　Therearesixhousesonitsshores。Allwasnoiseandlaughterandromancethen，suchromance！Theyoungstarandidolofthemallinthosedayswasthismanhere，[NodstowardDORN]DoctorEugeneDorn。Heisfascinatingnow，buthewasirresistiblethen。
　　Butmyconscienceisbeginningtoprickme。WhydidIhurtmypoorboy？Iamuneasyabouthim。[Loudly]Constantine！
　　Constantine！
　　MASHA。ShallIgoandfindhim？
　　ARKADINA。Ifyouplease，mydear。
　　MASHA。[Goesofftotheleft，calling]Mr。Constantine！Oh，Mr。
　　Constantine！
　　NINA。[Comesinfrombehindthestage]Iseethattheplaywillneverbefinished，sonowIcangohome。Goodevening。[ShekissesARKADINAandPAULINA。]
　　SORIN。Bravo！Bravo！
　　ARKADINA。Bravo！Bravo！Wewerequitecharmedbyyouracting。
　　Withyourlooksandsuchalovelyvoiceitisacrimeforyoutohideyourselfinthecountry。Youmustbeverytalented。Itisyourdutytogoonthestage，doyouhearme？
　　NINA。Itisthedreamofmylife，whichwillnevercometrue。
　　ARKADINA。Whoknows？Perhapsitwill。ButletmepresentMonsieurBorisTrigorin。
　　NINA。Iamdelightedtomeetyou。[Embarrassed]Ihavereadallyourbooks。
　　ARKADINA。[DrawingNINAdownbesideher]Don’tbeafraidofhim，dear。Heisasimple，good—naturedsoul，evenifheisacelebrity。See，heisembarrassedhimself。
　　DORN。Couldn’tthecurtainberaisednow？Itisdepressingtohaveitdown。
　　SHAMRAEFF。[Loudly]Jacob，myman！Raisethecurtain！
　　NINA。[ToTRIGORIN]Itwasacuriousplay，wasn’tit？
　　TRIGORIN。Very。Icouldn’tunderstanditatall，butIwatcheditwiththegreatestpleasurebecauseyouactedwithsuchsincerity，andthesettingwasbeautiful。[Apause]Theremustbealotoffishinthislake。
　　NINA。Yes，thereare。
　　TRIGORIN。Ilovefishing。Iknowofnothingpleasanterthantositonalakeshoreintheeveningwithone’seyesonafloatingcork。
　　NINA。Why，Ishouldthinkthatforonewhohastastedthejoysofcreation，nootherpleasurecouldexist。
　　ARKADINA。Don’ttalklikethat。Healwaysbeginstoflounderwhenpeoplesaynicethingstohim。
　　SHAMRAEFF。IrememberwhenthefamousSilvawassingingonceintheOperaHouseatMoscow，howdelightedweallwerewhenhetookthelowC。Well，youcanimagineourastonishmentwhenoneofthechurchcantors，whohappenedtobesittinginthegallery，suddenlyboomedout:
　　"Bravo，Silva！"awholeoctavelower。Likethis:[Inadeepbassvoice]"Bravo，Silva！"Theaudiencewasleftbreathless。[A
　　pause。]
　　DORN。Anangelofsilenceisflyingoverourheads。
　　NINA。Imustgo。Good—bye。
　　ARKADINA。Whereto？Wheremustyougosoearly？Weshan’tallowit。
　　NINA。Myfatheriswaitingforme。
　　ARKADINA。Howcruelheis，really。[Theykisseachother]ThenI
　　supposewecan’tkeepyou，butitisveryhardindeedtoletyougo。
　　NINA。Ifyouonlyknewhowharditisformetoleaveyouall。
　　ARKADINA。Somebodymustseeyouhome，mypet。
　　NINA。[Startled]No，no！
　　SORIN。[Imploringly]Don’tgo！
　　NINA。Imust。
　　SORIN。Stayjustonehourmore，andall。Comenow，really，youknow。
　　NINA。[Strugglingagainstherdesiretostay;throughhertears]
　　No，no，Ican’t。[Sheshakeshandswithhimandquicklygoesout。]
　　ARKADINA。Anunluckygirl！Theysaythathermotherleftthewholeofanimmensefortunetoherhusband，andnowthechildispennilessbecausethefatherhasalreadywilledeverythingawaytohissecondwife。Itispitiful。
　　DORN。Yes，herpapaisaperfectbeast，andIdon’tmindsayingso——itiswhathedeserves。
　　SORIN。[Rubbinghischilledhands]Come，letusgoin;thenightisdamp，andmylegsareaching。
　　ARKADINA。Yes，youactasiftheywereturnedtostone;youcanhardlymovethem。Come，youunfortunateoldman。[Shetakeshisarm。]
　　SHAMRAEFF。[Offeringhisarmtohiswife]Permitme，madame。
　　SORIN。Ihearthatdoghowlingagain。Won’tyoupleasehaveitunchained，Shamraeff？
　　SHAMRAEFF。No，Ireallycan’t，sir。Thegranaryisfullofmillet，andIamafraidthievesmightbreakinifthedogwerenotthere。[WalkingbesideMEDVIEDENKO]Yes，awholeoctavelower:"Bravo，Silva！"andhewasn’tasingereither，justasimplechurchcantor。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Whatsalarydoesthechurchpayitssingers？[AllgooutexceptDORN。]
　　DORN。Imayhavelostmyjudgmentandmywits，butImustconfessIlikedthatplay。Therewassomethinginit。WhenthegirlspokeofhersolitudeandtheDevil’seyesgleamedacrossthelake，I
　　feltmyhandsshakingwithexcitement。Itwassofreshandnaive。
　　Butherehecomes;letmesaysomethingpleasanttohim。
　　TREPLIEFFcomesin。
　　TREPLIEFF。Allgonealready？
　　DORN。Iamhere。
　　TREPLIEFF。Mashahasbeenyellingformealloverthepark。Aninsufferablecreature。
　　DORN。Constantine，yourplaydelightedme。Itwasstrange，ofcourse，andIdidnotheartheend，butitmadeadeepimpressiononme。Youhaveagreatdealoftalent，andmustpersevereinyourwork。
　　TREPLIEFFseizeshishandandsqueezesithard，thenkisseshimimpetuously。
　　DORN。Tut，tut！howexcitedyouare。Youreyesarefulloftears。
　　Listentome。Youchoseyoursubjectintherealmofabstractthought，andyoudidquiteright。Aworkofartshouldinvariablyembodysomeloftyidea。Onlythatwhichisseriouslymeantcaneverbebeautiful。Howpaleyouare！
　　TREPLIEFF。Soyouadvisemetopersevere？
　　DORN。Yes，butuseyourtalenttoexpressonlydeepandeternaltruths。Ihaveledaquietlife，asyouknow，andamacontentedman，butifIshouldeverexperiencetheexaltationthatanartistfeelsduringhismomentsofcreation，IthinkIshouldspurnthismaterialenvelopeofmysoulandeverythingconnectedwithit，andshouldsoarawayintoheightsabovethisearth。
　　TREPLIEFF。Ibegyourpardon，butwhereisNina？
　　DORN。Andyetanotherthing:everyworkofartshouldhaveadefiniteobjectinview。Youshouldknowwhyyouarewriting，forifyoufollowtheroadofartwithoutagoalbeforeyoureyes，youwillloseyourself，andyourgeniuswillbeyourruin。
　　TREPLIEFF。[Impetuously]WhereisNina？
　　DORN。Shehasgonehome。
　　TREPLIEFF。[Indespair]Gonehome？WhatshallIdo？Iwanttoseeher;Imustseeher！Ishallfollowher。
　　DORN。Mydearboy，keepquiet。
　　TREPLIEFF。Iamgoing。Imustgo。
　　MASHAcomesin。
　　MASHA。Yourmotherwantsyoutocomein，Mr。Constantine。Sheiswaitingforyou，andisveryuneasy。
　　TREPLIEFF。TellherIhavegoneaway。Andforheaven’ssake，allofyou，leavemealone！Goaway！Don’tfollowmeabout！
　　DORN。Come，come，oldchap，don’tactlikethis;itisn’tkindatall。
　　TREPLIEFF。[Throughhistears]Good—bye，doctor，andthankyou。
　　TREPLIEFFgoesout。
　　DORN。[Sighing]Ah，youth，youth！
　　MASHA。Itisalways"Youth，youth，"whenthereisnothingelsetobesaid。
　　Shetakessnuff。DORNtakesthesnuff—boxoutofherhandsandflingsitintothebushes。
　　DORN。Don’tdothat，itishorrid。[Apause]Ihearmusicinthehouse。Imustgoin。
　　MASHA。Waitamoment。
　　DORN。Whatdoyouwant？
　　MASHA。Letmetellyouagain。Ifeelliketalking。[Shegrowsmoreandmoreexcited]Idonotlovemyfather，butmyheartturnstoyou。Forsomereason，Ifeelwithallmysoulthatyouareneartome。Helpme！Helpme，orIshalldosomethingfoolishandmockatmylife，andruinit。Iamattheendofmystrength。
　　DORN。Whatisthematter？HowcanIhelpyou？
　　MASHA。Iaminagony。Noone，noonecanimaginehowIsuffer。
　　[Shelaysherheadonhisshoulderandspeakssoftly]IloveConstantine。
　　DORN。Oh，howexcitableyouallare！Andhowmuchlovethereisaboutthislakeofspells！[Tenderly]ButwhatcanIdoforyou，mychild？What？What？
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　ACTII
　　ThelawninfrontofSORIN’Shouse。Thehousestandsinthebackground，onabroadterrace。Thelake，brightlyreflectingtheraysofthesun，liestotheleft。Thereareflower—bedshereandthere。Itisnoon;thedayishot。ARKADINA，DORN，andMASHAaresittingonabenchonthelawn，intheshadeofanoldlinden。AnopenbookislyingonDORN’Sknees。
　　ARKADINA。[ToMASHA]Come，getup。[Theybothgetup]Standbesideme。Youaretwenty—twoandIamalmosttwiceyourage。
　　Tellme，Doctor，whichofusistheyoungerlooking？
　　DORN。Youare，ofcourse。
　　ARKADINA。Yousee！Nowwhyisit？BecauseIwork;myheartandmindarealwaysbusy，whereasyounevermoveoffthesamespot。
　　Youdon’tlive。Itisamaximofminenevertolookintothefuture。Ineveradmitthethoughtofoldageordeath，andjustacceptwhatcomestome。
　　MASHA。IfeelasifIhadbeenintheworldathousandyears，andItrailmylifebehindmelikeanendlessscarf。OftenIhavenodesiretoliveatall。Ofcoursethatisfoolish。Oneoughttopulloneselftogetherandshakeoffsuchnonsense。
　　DORN。[Singssoftly]
　　"Tellher，ohflowers——"
　　ARKADINA。AndthenIkeepmyselfascorrect—lookingasanEnglishman。Iamalwayswell—groomed，asthesayingis，andcarefullydressed，withmyhairneatlyarranged。DoyouthinkI
　　shouldeverpermitmyselftoleavethehousehalf—dressed，withuntidyhair？Certainlynot！Ihavekeptmylooksbyneverlettingmyselfslumpassomewomendo。[Sheputsherarmsakimbo，andwalksupanddownonthelawn]Seeme，trippingontiptoelikeafifteen—year—oldgirl。
　　DORN。Isee。Nevertheless，Ishallcontinuemyreading。[Hetakesuphisbook]Letmesee，wehadcometothegrain—dealerandtherats。
　　ARKADINA。Andtherats。Goon。[Shesitsdown]No，givemethebook，itismyturntoread。[Shetakesthebookandlooksfortheplace]Andtherats。Ah，hereitis。[Shereads]"Itisasdangerousforsocietytoattractandindulgeauthorsasitisforgrain—dealerstoraiseratsintheirgranaries。Yetsocietylovesauthors。Andso，whenawomanhasfoundonewhomshewishestomakeherown，shelayssiegetohimbyindulgingandflatteringhim。"ThatmaybesoinFrance，butitcertainlyisnotsoinRussia。Wedonotcarryoutaprogrammelikethat。Withus，awomanisusuallyheadoverearsinlovewithanauthorbeforesheattemptstolaysiegetohim。Youhaveanexamplebeforeyoureyes，inmeandTrigorin。
　　SORINcomesinleaningonacane，withNINAbesidehim。
　　MEDVIEDENKOfollows，pushinganarm—chair。
　　SORIN。[Inacaressingvoice，asifspeakingtoachild]Sowearehappynow，eh？Weareenjoyingourselvesto—day，arewe？
　　FatherandstepmotherhavegoneawaytoTver，andwearefreeforthreewholedays！
　　NINA。[SitsdownbesideARKADINA，andembracesher]Iamsohappy。Ibelongtoyounow。
　　SORIN。[Sitsdowninhisarm—chair]Shelookslovelyto—day。
　　ARKADINA。Yes，shehasputonherprettiestdress，andlookssweet。Thatwasniceofyou。[ShekissesNINA]Butwemustn’tpraisehertoomuch;weshallspoilher。WhereisTrigorin？
　　NINA。Heisfishingoffthewharf。
　　ARKADINA。Iwonderheisn’tbored。[Shebeginstoreadagain。]
　　NINA。Whatareyoureading？
　　ARKADINA。"OntheWater，"byMaupassant。[Shereadsafewlinestoherself]Buttherestisneithertruenorinteresting。[Shelaysdownthebook]Iamuneasyaboutmyson。Tellme，whatisthematterwithhim？Whyishesodullanddepressedlately？Hespendsallhisdaysonthelake，andIscarcelyeverseehimanymore。
　　MASHA。Hisheartisheavy。[Timidly，toNINA]Pleaserecitesomethingfromhisplay。
　　NINA。[Shrugginghershoulders]ShallI？Isitsointeresting？
　　MASHA。[Withsuppressedrapture]Whenherecites，hiseyesshineandhisfacegrowspale。Hisvoiceisbeautifulandsad，andhehasthewaysofapoet。
　　SORINbeginstosnore。
　　DORN。Pleasantdreams！
　　ARKADINA。Peter！
　　SORIN。Eh？
　　ARKADINA。Areyouasleep？
　　SORIN。Notabitofit。[Apause。]
　　ARKADINA。Youdon’tdoathingforyourhealth，brother，butyoureallyoughtto。
　　DORN。Theideaofdoinganythingforone’shealthatsixty—five！
　　SORIN。Onestillwantstoliveatsixty—five。
　　DORN。[Crossly]Ho！Takesomecamomiletea。
　　ARKADINA。Ithinkajourneytosomewatering—placewouldbegoodforhim。
　　DORN。Why，yes;hemightgoaswellasnot。
　　ARKADINA。Youdon’tunderstand。
　　DORN。Thereisnothingtounderstandinthiscase;itisquiteclear。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Heoughttogiveupsmoking。
　　SORIN。Whatnonsense！[Apause。]
　　DORN。No，thatisnotnonsense。Wineandtobaccodestroytheindividuality。AfteracigaroraglassofvodkayouarenolongerPeterSorin，butPeterSorinplussomebodyelse。Youregobreaksintwo:youbegintothinkofyourselfinthethirdperson。
　　SORIN。Itiseasyforyoutocondemnsmokinganddrinking;youhaveknownwhatlifeis，butwhataboutme？IhaveservedintheDepartmentofJusticefortwenty—eightyears，butIhaveneverlived，Ihaveneverhadanyexperiences。Youaresatiatedwithlife，andthatiswhyyouhaveaninclinationforphilosophy，butIwanttolive，andthatiswhyIdrinkmywinefordinnerandsmokecigars，andall。
　　DORN。Onemusttakelifeseriously，andtotakeacureatsixty—fiveandregretthatonedidnothavemorepleasureinyouthis，forgivemysayingso，trifling。
　　MASHA。Itmustbelunch—time。[Shewalksawaylanguidly，withadraggingstep]Myfoothasgonetosleep。
　　DORN。Sheisgoingtohaveacoupleofdrinksbeforelunch。