SORIN。Thepoorsoulisunhappy。
　　DORN。Thatisatrifle，yourhonour。
　　SORIN。Youjudgeherlikeamanwhohasobtainedallhewantsinlife。
　　ARKADINA。Oh，whatcouldbedullerthanthisdeartediumofthecountry？Theairishotandstill，nobodydoesanythingbutsitandphilosophiseaboutlife。Itispleasant，myfriends，tositandlistentoyouhere，butIhadratherathousandtimessitaloneintheroomofahotellearningarolebyheart。
　　NINA。[Withenthusiasm]Youarequiteright。Iunderstandhowyoufeel。
　　SORIN。Ofcourseitispleasantertoliveintown。Onecansitinone’slibrarywithatelephoneatone’selbow，noonecomesinwithoutbeingfirstannouncedbythefootman，thestreetsarefullofcabs，andall———
　　DORN。[Sings]
　　"Tellher，ohflowers———"
　　SHAMRAEFFcomesin，followedbyPAULINA。
　　SHAMRAEFF。Heretheyare。Howdoyoudo？[HekissesARKADINA’S
　　handandthenNINA’S]Iamdelightedtoseeyoulookingsowell。
　　[ToARKADINA]Mywifetellsmethatyoumeantogototownwithherto—day。Isthatso？
　　ARKADINA。Yes，thatiswhatIhadplannedtodo。
　　SHAMRAEFF。Hm——thatissplendid，buthowdoyouintendtogetthere，madam？Wearehaulingryeto—day，andallthemenarebusy。Whathorseswouldyoutake？
　　ARKADINA。Whathorses？HowdoIknowwhathorsesweshallhave？
　　SORIN。Why，wehavethecarriagehorses。
　　SHAMRAEFF。Thecarriagehorses！AndwhereamItofindtheharnessforthem？Thisisastonishing！Mydearmadam，Ihavethegreatestrespectforyourtalents，andwouldgladlysacrificetenyearsofmylifeforyou，butIcannotletyouhaveanyhorsesto—day。
　　ARKADINA。ButifImustgototown？Whatanextraordinarystateofaffairs！
　　SHAMRAEFF。Youdonotknow，madam，whatitistorunafarm。
　　ARKADINA。[Inaburstofanger]Thatisanoldstory！UnderthesecircumstancesIshallgobacktoMoscowthisveryday。Orderacarriageformefromthevillage，orIshallgotothestationonfoot。
　　SHAMRAEFF。[losinghistemper]UnderthesecircumstancesIresignmyposition。Youmustfindyourselfanothermanager。[Hegoesout。]
　　ARKADINA。Itislikethiseverysummer:everysummerIaminsultedhere。Ishallneversetfoothereagain。
　　Shegoesouttotheleft，inthedirectionofthewharf。Inafewminutessheisseenenteringthehouse，followedbyTRIGORIN，whocarriesabucketandfishing—rod。
　　SORIN。[Losinghistemper]Whatthedeucedidhemeanbyhisimpudence？Iwantallthehorsesbroughthereatonce！
　　NINA。[ToPAULINA]HowcouldherefuseanythingtoMadameArkadina，thefamousactress？Isnoteverywish，everycapriceeven，ofhers，moreimportantthananyfarmwork？Thisisincredible。
　　PAULINA。[Indespair]WhatcanIdoaboutit？PutyourselfinmyplaceandtellmewhatIcando。
　　SORIN。[ToNINA]Letusgoandfindmysister，andallbeghernottogo。[HelooksinthedirectioninwhichSHAMRAEFFwentout]Thatmanisinsufferable;aregulartyrant。
　　NINA。[Preventinghimfromgettingup]Sitstill，sitstill，andletuswheelyou。[SheandMEDVIEDENKOpushthechairbeforethem]Thisisterrible！
　　SORIN。Yes，yes，itisterrible;buthewon’tleave。Ishallhaveatalkwithhiminamoment。[Theygoout。OnlyDORNandPAULINA
　　areleft。]
　　DORN。Howtiresomepeopleare！Yourhusbanddeservestobethrownoutofhereneckandcrop，butitwillallendbythisoldgrannySorinandhissisteraskingtheman’spardon。Seeifitdoesn’t。
　　PAULINA。Hehassentthecarriagehorsesintothefieldstoo。
　　Thesemisunderstandingsoccureveryday。Ifyouonlyknewhowtheyexciteme！Iamill;see！Iamtremblingallover！Icannotendurehisroughways。[Imploringly]Eugene，mydarling，mybeloved，takemetoyou。Ourtimeisshort;wearenolongeryoung;letusenddeceptionandconcealment，eventhoughitisonlyattheendofourlives。[Apause。]
　　DORN。Iamfifty—fiveyearsold。Itistoolatenowformetochangemywaysofliving。
　　PAULINA。Iknowthatyourefusemebecausethereareotherwomenwhoareneartoyou，andyoucannottakeeverybody。Iunderstand。
　　Excuseme——IseeIamonlybotheringyou。
　　NINAisseennearthehousepickingabunchofflowers。
　　DORN。No，itisallright。
　　PAULINA。Iamtorturedbyjealousy。Ofcourseyouareadoctorandcannotescapefromwomen。Iunderstand。
　　DORN。[TONINA，whocomestowardhim]Howarethingsinthere？
　　NINA。MadameArkadinaiscrying，andSorinishavinganattackofasthma。
　　DORN。Letusgoandgivethembothsomecamomiletea。
　　NINA。[Handshimthebunchofflowers]Herearesomeflowersforyou。
　　DORN。Thankyou。[Hegoesintothehouse。]
　　PAULINA。[Followinghim]Whatprettyflowers！[Astheyreachthehouseshesaysinalowvoice]Givemethoseflowers！Givethemtome！
　　DORNhandshertheflowers;shetearsthemtopiecesandflingsthemaway。Theybothgointothehouse。
　　NINA。[Alone]Howstrangetoseeafamousactressweeping，andforsuchatrifle！Isitnotstrange，too，thatafamousauthorshouldsitfishingallday？Heistheidolofthepublic，thepapersarefullofhim，hisphotographisforsaleeverywhere，hisworkshavebeentranslatedintomanyforeignlanguages，andyetheisoverjoyedifhecatchesacoupleofminnows。Ialwaysthoughtfamouspeopleweredistantandproud;Ithoughttheydespisedthecommoncrowdwhichexaltsrichesandbirth，andavengedthemselvesonitbydazzlingitwiththeinextinguishablehonourandgloryoftheirfame。ButhereIseethemweepingandplayingcardsandflyingintopassionslikeeverybodyelse。
　　TREPLIEFFcomesinwithoutahaton，carryingagunandadeadseagull。
　　TREPLIEFF。Areyoualonehere？
　　NINA。Yes。
　　TREPLIEFFlaysthesea—gullatherfeet。
　　NINA。Whatdoyoumeanbythis？
　　TREPLIEFF。Iwasbaseenoughto—daytokillthisgull。Ilayitatyourfeet。
　　NINA。Whatishappeningtoyou？[Shepicksupthegullandstandslookingatit。]
　　TREPLIEFF。[Afterapause]SoshallIsoonendmyownlife。
　　NINA。YouhavechangedsothatIfailtorecogniseyou。
　　TREPLIEFF。Yes，IhavechangedsincethetimewhenIceasedtorecogniseyou。Youhavefailedme;yourlookiscold;youdonotliketohavemenearyou。
　　NINA。Youhavegrownsoirritablelately，andyoutalksodarklyandsymbolicallythatyoumustforgivemeifIfailtofollowyou。Iamtoosimpletounderstandyou。
　　TREPLIEFF。Allthisbeganwhenmyplayfailedsodismally。A
　　womannevercanforgivefailure。Ihaveburntthemanuscripttothelastpage。Oh，ifyoucouldonlyfathommyunhappiness！Yourestrangementistometerrible，incredible;itisasifIhadsuddenlywakedtofindthislakedriedupandsunkintotheearth。Yousayyouaretoosimpletounderstandme;but，oh，whatistheretounderstand？Youdislikedmyplay，youhavenofaithinmypowers，youalreadythinkofmeascommonplaceandworthless，asmanyare。[Stampinghisfoot]HowwellIcanunderstandyourfeelings！Andthatunderstandingistomelikeadaggerinthebrain。Mayitbeaccursed，togetherwithmystupidity，whichsucksmylife—bloodlikeasnake！[HeseesTRIGORIN，whoapproachesreadingabook]Therecomesrealgenius，stridingalonglikeanotherHamlet，andwithabook，too。
　　[Mockingly]"Words，words，words。"Youfeelthewarmthofthatsunalready，yousmile，youreyesmeltandglowliquidinitsrays。Ishallnotdisturbyou。[Hegoesout。]
　　TRIGORIN。[Makingnotesinhisbook]Takessnuffanddrinksvodka;alwayswearsblackdresses;islovedbyaschoolteacher——
　　NINA。Howdoyoudo？
　　TRIGORIN。Howareyou，MissNina？Owingtoanunforeseendevelopmentofcircumstances，itseemsthatweareleavingheretoday。YouandIshallprobablyneverseeeachotheragain，andI
　　amsorryforit。Iseldommeetayoungandprettygirlnow;Icanhardlyrememberhowitfeelstobenineteen，andtheyounggirlsinmybooksareseldomlivingcharacters。Ishouldliketochangeplaceswithyou，ifbutforanhour，tolookoutattheworldthroughyoureyes，andsofindoutwhatsortofalittlepersonyouare。
　　NINA。AndIshouldliketochangeplaceswithyou。
　　TRIGORIN。Why？
　　NINA。Tofindouthowafamousgeniusfeels。Whatisitliketobefamous？Whatsensationsdoesitgiveyou？
　　TRIGORIN。Whatsensations？Idon’tbelieveitgivesany。
　　[Thoughtfully]Eitheryouexaggeratemyfame，orelse，ifitexists，allIcansayisthatonesimplydoesn’tfeelfameinanyway。
　　NINA。Butwhenyoureadaboutyourselfinthepapers？
　　TRIGORIN。Ifthecriticspraiseme，Iamhappy;iftheycondemnme，Iamoutofsortsforthenexttwodays。
　　NINA。Thisisawonderfulworld。IfyouonlyknewhowIenvyyou！
　　Menareborntodifferentdestinies。Somedullydragaweary，uselesslifebehindthem，lostinthecrowd，unhappy，whiletooneoutofamillion，astoyou，forinstance，comesabrightdestinyfullofinterestandmeaning。Youarelucky。
　　TRIGORIN。I，lucky？[Heshrugshisshoulders]H—m——Ihearyoutalkingaboutfame，andhappiness，andbrightdestinies，andthosefinewordsofyoursmeanasmuchtome——forgivemysayingso——assweetmeatsdo，whichInevereat。Youareveryyoung，andverykind。
　　NINA。Yourlifeisbeautiful。
　　TRIGORIN。Iseenothingespeciallylovelyaboutit。[Helooksathiswatch]Excuseme，Imustgoatonce，andbeginwritingagain。
　　Iaminahurry。[Helaughs]Youhavesteppedonmypetcorn，astheysay，andIamgettingexcited，andalittlecross。Letusdiscussthisbrightandbeautifullifeofmine，though。[Afterafewmoments’thought]Violentobsessionssometimeslayholdofaman:hemay，forinstance，thinkdayandnightofnothingbutthemoon。Ihavesuchamoon。DayandnightIamheldinthegripofonebesettingthought，towrite，write，write！HardlyhaveI
　　finishedonebookthansomethingurgesmetowriteanother，andthenathird，andthenafourth——Iwriteceaselessly。Iam，asitwere，onatreadmill。Ihurryforeverfromonestorytoanother，andcan’thelpmyself。Doyouseeanythingbrightandbeautifulinthat？Oh，itisawildlife！Evennow，thrilledasIambytalkingtoyou，Idonotforgetforaninstantthatanunfinishedstoryisawaitingme。Myeyefallsonthatcloudthere，whichhastheshapeofagrandpiano;IinstantlymakeamentalnotethatI
　　mustremembertomentioninmystoryacloudfloatingbythatlookedlikeagrandpiano。Ismellheliotrope;Imuttertomyself:asicklysmell，thecolourwornbywidows;Imustrememberthatinwritingmynextdescriptionofasummerevening。
　　Icatchanideaineverysentenceofyoursorofmyown，andhastentolockallthesetreasuresinmyliterarystore—room，thinkingthatsomedaytheymaybeusefultome。AssoonasI
　　stopworkingIrushofftothetheatreorgofishing，inthehopethatImayfindoblivionthere，butno！Somenewsubjectforastoryissuretocomerollingthroughmybrainlikeanironcannonball。Ihearmydeskcalling，andhavetogobacktoitandbegintowrite，write，write，oncemore。Andsoitgoesforeverlasting。Icannotescapemyself，thoughIfeelthatIamconsumingmylife。TopreparethehoneyIfeedtounknowncrowds，Iamdoomedtobrushthebloomfrommydearestflowers，totearthemfromtheirstems，andtrampletherootsthatborethemunderfoot。AmInotamadman？ShouldInotbetreatedbythosewhoknowmeasonementallydiseased？Yetitisalwaysthesame，sameoldstory，tillIbegintothinkthatallthispraiseandadmirationmustbeadeception，thatIambeinghoodwinkedbecausetheyknowIamcrazy，andIsometimestremblelestI
　　shouldbegrabbedfrombehindandwhiskedofftoalunaticasylum。Thebestyearsofmyyouthweremadeonecontinualagonyformebymywriting。Ayoungauthor，especiallyifatfirsthedoesnotmakeasuccess，feelsclumsy，ill—at—ease，andsuperfluousintheworld。Hisnervesareallonedgeandstretchedtothepointofbreaking;heisirresistiblyattractedtoliteraryandartisticpeople，andhoversaboutthemunknownandunnoticed，fearingtolookthembravelyintheeye，likeamanwithapassionforgambling，whosemoneyisallgone。Ididnotknowmyreaders，butforsomereasonIimaginedtheyweredistrustfulandunfriendly;Iwasmortallyafraidofthepublic，andwhenmyfirstplayappeared，itseemedtomeasifallthedarkeyesintheaudiencewerelookingatitwithenmity，andalltheblueoneswithcoldindifference。Oh，howterribleitwas！
　　Whatagony！
　　NINA。Butdon’tyourinspirationandtheactofcreationgiveyoumomentsofloftyhappiness？
　　TRIGORIN。Yes。Writingisapleasuretome，andsoisreadingtheproofs，butnosoonerdoesabookleavethepressthanitbecomesodioustome;itisnotwhatImeantittobe;Imadeamistaketowriteitatall;Iamprovokedanddiscouraged。Thenthepublicreadsitandsays:"Yes，itiscleverandpretty，butnotnearlyasgoodasTolstoi，"or"Itisalovelything，butnotasgoodasTurgenieff’s’FathersandSons，’"andsoitwillalwaysbe。TomydyingdayIshallhearpeoplesay:"Cleverandpretty;
　　cleverandpretty，"andnothingmore;andwhenIamgone，thosethatknewmewillsayastheypassmygrave:"HereliesTrigorin，acleverwriter，buthewasnotasgoodasTurgenieff。"
　　NINA。Youmustexcuseme，butIdeclinetounderstandwhatyouaretalkingabout。Thefactis，youhavebeenspoiltbyyoursuccess。
　　TRIGORIN。WhatsuccesshaveIhad？Ihaveneverpleasedmyself;
　　asawriter，Idonotlikemyselfatall。ThetroubleisthatI
　　ammadegiddy，asitwere，bythefumesofmybrain，andoftenhardlyknowwhatIamwriting。Ilovethislake，thesetrees，theblueheaven;nature’svoicespeakstomeandwakesafeelingofpassioninmyheart，andIamovercomebyanuncontrollabledesiretowrite。ButIamnotonlyapainteroflandscapes，Iamamanofthecitybesides。Ilovemycountry，too，andherpeople;Ifeelthat，asawriter，itismydutytospeakoftheirsorrows，oftheirfuture，alsoofscience，oftherightsofman，andsoforth。SoIwriteoneverysubject，andthepublichoundsmeonallsides，sometimesinanger，andIraceanddodgelikeafoxwithapackofhoundsonhistrail。Iseelifeandknowledgeflittingawaybeforeme。Iamleftbehindthemlikeapeasantwhohasmissedhistrainatastation，andfinallyIcomebacktotheconclusionthatallIamfitforistodescribelandscapes，andthatwhateverelseIattemptringsabominablyfalse。
　　NINA。Youworktoohardtorealisetheimportanceofyourwritings。Whatifyouarediscontentedwithyourself？Toothersyouappearagreatandsplendidman。IfIwereawriterlikeyouIshoulddevotemywholelifetotheserviceoftheRussianpeople，knowingatthesametimethattheirwelfaredependedontheirpowertorisetotheheightsIhadattained，andthepeopleshouldsendmebeforetheminachariotoftriumph。
　　TRIGORIN。Inachariot？DoyouthinkIamAgamemnon？[Theybothsmile。]
　　NINA。FortheblissofbeingawriteroranactressIcouldendurewant，anddisillusionment，andthehatredofmyfriends，andthepangsofmyowndissatisfactionwithmyself;butIshoulddemandinreturnfame，real，resoundingfame！[Shecoversherfacewithherhands]Whew！Myheadreels！
　　THEVOICEOFARKADINA。[Frominsidethehouse]Boris！Boris！
　　TRIGORIN。Sheiscallingme，probablytocomeandpack，butI
　　don’twanttoleavethisplace。[Hiseyesrestonthelake]Whatablessingsuchbeautyis！
　　NINA。Doyouseethathousethere，onthefarshore？
　　TRIGORIN。Yes。
　　NINA。Thatwasmydeadmother’shome。Iwasbornthere，andhavelivedallmylifebesidethislake。Iknoweverylittleislandinit。
　　TRIGORIN。Thisisabeautifulplacetolive。[Hecatchessightofthedeadsea—gull]Whatisthat？
　　NINA。Agull。Constantineshotit。
　　TRIGORIN。Whatalovelybird！Really，Ican’tbeartogoaway。
　　Can’tyoupersuadeIrinatostay？[Hewritessomethinginhisnote—book。]
　　NINA。Whatareyouwriting？
　　TRIGORIN。Nothingmuch，onlyanideathatoccurredtome。[Heputsthebookbackinhispocket]Anideaforashortstory。A
　　younggirlgrowsupontheshoresofalake，asyouhave。Shelovesthelakeasthegullsdo，andisashappyandfreeasthey。
　　Butamanseesherwhochancestocomethatway，andhedestroysheroutofidleness，asthisgullherehasbeendestroyed。[A
　　pause。ARKADINAappearsatoneofthewindows。]
　　ARKADINA。Boris！Whereareyou？
　　TRIGORIN。Iamcomingthisminute。
　　Hegoestowardthehouse，lookingbackatNINA。ARKADINAremainsatthewindow。
　　TRIGORIN。Whatdoyouwant？
　　ARKADINA。Wearenotgoingaway，afterall。
　　TRIGORINgoesintothehouse。NINAcomesforwardandstandslostinthought。
　　NINA。Itisadream！
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　ACTIII
　　Thedining—roomofSORIN’Shouse。Doorsopenoutofittotherightandleft。Atablestandsinthecentreoftheroom。Trunksandboxesencumberthefloor，andpreparationsfordepartureareevident。TRIGORINissittingatatableeatinghisbreakfast，andMASHAisstandingbesidehim。
　　MASHA。Iamtellingyouallthesethingsbecauseyouwritebooksandtheymaybeusefultoyou。Itellyouhonestly，Ishouldnothavelivedanotherdayifhehadwoundedhimselffatally。YetI
　　amcourageous;Ihavedecidedtotearthisloveofmineoutofmyheartbytheroots。
　　TRIGORIN。Howwillyoudoit？
　　MASHA。BymarryingMedviedenko。
　　TRIGORIN。Theschool—teacher？
　　MASHA。Yes。
　　TRIGORIN。Idon’tseethenecessityforthat。
　　MASHA。Oh，ifyouknewwhatitistolovewithouthopeforyearsandyears，towaitforeverforsomethingthatwillnevercome！I
　　shallnotmarryforlove，butmarriagewillatleastbeachange，andwillbringnewcarestodeadenthememoriesofthepast。
　　Shallwehaveanotherdrink？
　　TRIGORIN。Haven’tyouhadenough？
　　MASHA。Fiddlesticks！[Shefillsaglass]Don’tlookatmewiththatexpressiononyourface。Womendrinkoftenerthanyouimagine，butmostofthemdoitinsecret，andnotopenly，asI
　　do。Theydoindeed，anditisalwayseithervodkaorbrandy。
　　[Theytouchglasses]Toyourgoodhealth！YouaresoeasytogetonwiththatIamsorrytoseeyougo。[Theydrink。]
　　TRIGORIN。AndIamsorrytoleave。
　　MASHA。Youshouldaskhertostay。
　　TRIGORIN。Shewouldnotdothatnow。Hersonhasbeenbehavingoutrageously。Firstheattemptedsuicide，andnowIhearheisgoingtochallengemetoaduel，thoughwhathisprovocationmaybeIcan’timagine。Heisalwayssulkingandsneeringandpreachingaboutanewformofart，asifthefieldofartwerenotlargeenoughtoaccommodatebotholdandnewwithoutthenecessityofjostling。