TRIGORIN。[Glancingabouthim]GototheHotelSlavianskiBazar。
　　Letmeknowassoonasyougetthere。IshallbeattheGrosholskiHouseinMoltchanofkaStreet。Imustgonow。[A
　　pause。]
　　NINA。Justonemoreminute！
　　TRIGORIN。[Inalowvoice]Youaresobeautiful！WhatblisstothinkthatIshallseeyouagainsosoon！[Shesinksonhisbreast]Ishallseethosegloriouseyesagain，thatwonderful，ineffablytendersmile，thosegentlefeatureswiththeirexpressionofangelicpurity！Mydarling！[Aprolongedkiss。]
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　Twoyearselapsebetweenthethirdandfourthacts。
　　ACTIV
　　Asitting—roominSORIN’Shouse，whichhasbeenconvertedintoawriting—roomforTREPLIEFF。Totherightandleftaredoorsleadingintoinnerrooms，andinthecentreisaglassdooropeningontoaterrace。Besidestheusualfurnitureofasitting—roomthereisawriting—deskintheright—handcorneroftheroom。ThereisaTurkishdivannearthedoorontheleft，andshelvesfullofbooksstandagainstthewalls。Booksarelyingscatteredaboutonthewindowsillsandchairs。Itisevening。Theroomisdimlylightedbyashadedlamponatable。Thewindmoansinthetreetopsandwhistlesdownthechimney。Thewatchmaninthegardenisheardsoundinghisrattle。MEDVIEDENKOandMASHA
　　comein。
　　MASHA。[CallingTREPLIEFF]Mr。Constantine，whereareyou？
　　[Lookingabouther]Thereisnoonehere。HisolduncleisforeveraskingforConstantine，andcan’tlivewithouthimforaninstant。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Hedreadsbeingleftalone。[Listeningtothewind]
　　Thisisawildnight。Wehavehadthisstormfortwodays。
　　MASHA。[Turningupthelamp]Thewavesonthelakeareenormous。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Itisverydarkinthegarden。Doyouknow，Ithinkthatoldtheatreoughttobeknockeddown。Itisstillstandingthere，nakedandhideousasaskeleton，withthecurtainflappinginthewind。IthoughtIheardavoiceweepinginitasIpassedtherelastnight。
　　MASHA。Whatanidea！[Apause。]
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Comehomewithme，Masha。
　　MASHA。[Shakingherhead]Ishallspendthenighthere。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。[Imploringly]Docome，Masha。Thebabymustbehungry。
　　MASHA。Nonsense，Matrionawillfeedit。[Apause。]
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Itisapitytoleavehimthreenightswithouthismother。
　　MASHA。Youaregettingtootiresome。Youusedsometimestotalkofotherthingsbesideshomeandthebaby，homeandthebaby。
　　ThatisallIeverhearfromyounow。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Comehome，Masha。
　　MASHA。Youcangohomeifyouwantto。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Yourfatherwon’tgivemeahorse。
　　MASHA。Yes，hewill;askhim。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。IthinkIshall。Areyoucominghometo—morrow？
　　MASHA。Yes，yes，to—morrow。
　　Shetakessnuff。TREPLIEFFandPAULINAcomein。TREPLIEFFiscarryingsomepillowsandablanket，andPAULINAiscarryingsheetsandpillowcases。Theylaythemonthedivan，andTREPLIEFFgoesandsitsdownathisdesk。
　　MASHA。Whoisthatfor，mother？
　　PAULINA。Mr。SorinaskedtosleepinConstantine’sroomto—night。
　　MASHA。Letmemakethebed。
　　Shemakesthebed。PAULINAgoesuptothedeskandlooksatthemanuscriptslyingonit。[Apause。]
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Well，Iamgoing。Good—bye，Masha。[Hekisseshiswife’shand]Good—bye，mother。[Hetriestokisshismother—in—law’shand。]
　　PAULINA。[Crossly]Beoff，inGod’sname！
　　TREPLIEFFshakeshandswithhiminsilence，andMEDVIEDENKOgoesout。
　　PAULINA。[Lookingatthemanuscripts]Nooneeverdreamed，Constantine，thatyouwouldonedayturnintoarealauthor。Themagazinespayyouwellforyourstories。[Shestrokeshishair。]
　　Youhavegrownhandsome，too。Dear，kindConstantine，bealittlenicertomyMasha。
　　MASHA。[Stillmakingthebed]Leavehimalone，mother。
　　PAULINA。Sheisasweetchild。[Apause]Awoman，Constantine，asksonlyforkindlooks。Iknowthatfromexperience。
　　TREPLIEFFgetsupfromhisdeskandgoesoutwithoutaword。
　　MASHA。Therenow！Youhavevexedhim。Itoldyounottobotherhim。
　　PAULINA。Iamsorryforyou，Masha。
　　MASHA。MuchIneedyourpity！
　　PAULINA。Myheartachesforyou。Iseehowthingsare，andunderstand。
　　MASHA。Youseewhatdoesn’texist。Hopelessloveisonlyfoundinnovels。Itisatrifle;allonehastodoistokeepatightreinononeself，andkeepone’sheadclear。Lovemustbepluckedoutthemomentitspringsupintheheart。Myhusbandhasbeenpromisedaschoolinanotherdistrict，andwhenwehaveonceleftthisplaceIshallforgetitall。Ishalltearmypassionoutbytheroots。[Thenotesofamelancholywaltzareheardinthedistance。]
　　PAULINA。Constantineisplaying。Thatmeansheissad。
　　MASHAsilentlywaltzesafewturnstothemusic。
　　MASHA。Thegreatthing，mother，isnottohavehimcontinuallyinsight。IfmySimoncouldonlygethisremoveIshouldforgetitallinamonthortwo。Itisatrifle。
　　DORNandMEDVIEDENKOcomeinthroughthedoorontheleft，wheelingSORINinanarm—chair。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Ihavesixmouthstofeednow，andflourisatseventykopecks。
　　DORN。Ahardriddletosolve！
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Itiseasyforyoutomakelightofit。Youarerichenoughtoscattermoneytoyourchickens，ifyouwantedto。
　　DORN。YouthinkIamrich？Myfriend，afterpractisingforthirtyyears，duringwhichIcouldnotcallmysoulmyownforoneminuteofthenightorday，Isucceededatlastinscrapingtogetheronethousandroubles，allofwhichwent，notlongago，inatripwhichItookabroad。Ihaven’tapenny。
　　MASHA。[Toherhusband]Soyoudidn’tgohomeafterall？
　　MEDVIEDENKO。[Apologetically]HowcanIgohomewhentheywon’tgivemeahorse？
　　MASHA。[Underherbreath，withbitteranger]WouldImightneverseeyourfaceagain！
　　SORINinhischairiswheeledtotheleft—handsideoftheroom。
　　PAULINA，MASHA，andDORNsitdownbesidehim。MEDVIEDENKOstandssadlyaside。
　　DORN。Whatalotofchangesyouhavemadehere！Youhaveturnedthissitting—roomintoalibrary。
　　MASHA。Constantinelikestoworkinthisroom，becausefromithecanstepoutintothegardentomeditatewheneverhefeelslikeit。[Thewatchman’srattleisheard。]
　　SORIN。Whereismysister？
　　DORN。ShehasgonetothestationtomeetTrigorin。Shewillsoonbeback。
　　SORIN。Imustbedangerouslyillifyouhadtosendformysister。[Hefallssilentforamoment]Anicebusinessthisis！
　　HereIamdangerouslyill，andyouwon’tevengivemeanymedicine。
　　DORN。WhatshallIprescribeforyou？Camomiletea？Soda？
　　Quinine？
　　SORIN。Don’tinflictanyofyourdiscussionsonmeagain。[Henodstowardthesofa]Isthatbedforme？
　　PAULINA。Yes，foryou，sir。
　　SORIN。Thankyou。
　　DORN。[Sings]"Themoonswimsintheskyto—night。"
　　SORIN。IamgoingtogiveConstantineanideaforastory。Itshallbecalled"TheManWhoWished——L’Hommequiavoulu。"WhenI
　　wasyoung，Iwishedtobecomeanauthor;Ifailed。Iwishedtobeanorator;Ispeakabominably，[Excitinghimself]withmyeternal"andall，andall，"draggingeachsentenceonandonuntilI
　　sometimesbreakoutintoasweatallover。Iwishedtomarry，andIdidn’t;Iwishedtoliveinthecity，andhereIamendingmydaysinthecountry，andall。
　　DORN。YouwishedtobecomeStateCouncillor，and——youareone！
　　SORIN。[Laughing]Ididn’ttryforthat，itcameofitsownaccord。
　　DORN。Come，youmustadmitthatitispettytocavilatlifeatsixty—twoyearsofage。
　　SORIN。Youarepig—headed！Can’tyouseeIwanttolive？
　　DORN。Thatisfutile。Naturehascommandedthateverylifeshallcometoanend。
　　SORIN。Youspeaklikeamanwhoissatiatedwithlife。Yourthirstforitisquenched，andsoyouarecalmandindifferent，butevenyoudreaddeath。
　　DORN。Thefearofdeathisananimalpassionwhichmustbeovercome。Onlythosewhobelieveinafuturelifeandtrembleforsinscommitted，canlogicallyfeardeath;butyou，foronething，don’tbelieveinafuturelife，andforanother，youhaven’tcommittedanysins。YouhaveservedasaCouncillorfortwenty—fiveyears，thatisall。
　　SORIN。[Laughing]Twenty—eightyears！
　　TREPLIEFFcomesinandsitsdownonastoolatSORIN’Sfeet。
　　MASHAfixeshereyesonhisfaceandneveroncetearsthemaway。
　　DORN。WearekeepingConstantinefromhiswork。
　　TREPLIEFF。Nomatter。[Apause。]
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Ofallthecitiesyouvisitedwhenyouwereabroad，Doctor，whichonedidyoulikethebest？
　　DORN。Genoa。
　　TREPLIEFF。WhyGenoa？
　　DORN。Becausethereissuchasplendidcrowdinitsstreets。Whenyouleavethehotelintheevening，andthrowyourselfintotheheartofthatthrong，andmovewithitwithoutaimorobject，sweptalong，hitherandthither，theirlifeseemstobeyours，theirsoulflowsintoyou，andyoubegintobelieveatlastinagreatworldspirit，liketheoneinyourplaythatNinaZarietchnayaacted。Bytheway，whereisNinanow？Isshewell？
　　TREPLIEFF。Ibelieveso。
　　DORN。Ihearshehasledratherastrangelife;whathappened？
　　TREPLIEFF。Itisalongstory，Doctor。
　　DORN。Tellitshortly。[Apause。]
　　TREPLIEFF。SheranawayfromhomeandjoinedTrigorin;youknowthat？
　　DORN。Yes。
　　TREPLIEFF。Shehadachildthatdied。Trigorinsoontiredofherandreturnedtohisformerties，asmighthavebeenexpected。Hehadneverbrokenthem，indeed，butoutofweaknessofcharacterhadalwaysvacillatedbetweenthetwo。AsfarasIcanmakeoutfromwhatIhaveheard，Nina’sdomesticlifehasnotbeenaltogetherasuccess。
　　DORN。Whataboutheracting？
　　TREPLIEFF。Ibelieveshemadeanevenworsefailureofthat。ShemadeherdebutonthestageoftheSummerTheatreinMoscow，andafterwardmadeatourofthecountrytowns。AtthattimeIneverletheroutofmysight，andwherevershewentIfollowed。Shealwaysattemptedgreatanddifficultparts，butherdeliverywasharshandmonotonous，andhergesturesheavyandcrude。Sheshriekedanddiedwellattimes，butthosewerebutmoments。
　　DORN。Thenshereallyhasatalentforacting？
　　TREPLIEFF。Inevercouldmakeout。Ibelieveshehas。Isawher，butsherefusedtoseeme，andherservantwouldneveradmitmetoherrooms。Iappreciatedherfeelings，anddidnotinsistuponameeting。[Apause]WhatmorecanItellyou？ShesometimeswritestomenowthatIhavecomehome，suchclever，sympatheticletters，fullofwarmfeeling。Shenevercomplains，butIcantellthatsheisprofoundlyunhappy;notalinebutspeakstomeofanaching，breakingnerve。Shehasonestrangefancy;shealwayssignsherself"TheSea—gull。"Themillerin"Rusalka"
　　calledhimself"TheCrow，"andsosherepeatsinallherlettersthatsheisasea—gull。Sheisherenow。
　　DORN。Whatdoyoumeanby"here？"
　　TREPLIEFF。Inthevillage，attheinn。Shehasbeenthereforfivedays。Ishouldhavegonetoseeher，butMashaherewent，andsherefusestoseeanyone。Someonetoldmeshehadbeenseenwanderinginthefieldsamilefromhereyesterdayevening。
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Yes，Isawher。Shewaswalkingawayfromhereinthedirectionofthevillage。Iaskedherwhyshehadnotbeentoseeus。Shesaidshewouldcome。
　　TREPLIEFF。Butshewon’t。[Apause]Herfatherandstepmotherhavedisownedher。Theyhaveevenputwatchmenallaroundtheirestatetokeepheraway。[Hegoeswiththedoctortowardthedesk]Howeasyitis，Doctor，tobeaphilosopheronpaper，andhowdifficultinreallife！
　　SORIN。Shewasabeautifulgirl。EventheStateCouncillorhimselfwasinlovewithherforatime。
　　DORN。YouoldLovelace，you！
　　SHAMRAEFF’Slaughisheard。
　　PAULINA。Theyarecomingbackfromthestation。
　　TREPLIEFF。Yes，Ihearmymother’svoice。
　　ARKADINAandTRIGORINcomein，followedbySHAMRAEFF。
　　SHAMRAEFF。Weallgrowoldandwither，mylady，whileyoualone，withyourlightdress，yourgayspirits，andyourgrace，keepthesecretofeternalyouth。
　　ARKADINA。Youarestilltryingtoturnmyhead，youtiresomeoldman。
　　TRIGORIN。[ToSORIN]Howdoyoudo，Peter？What，stillill？Howsillyofyou！[Withevidentpleasure，ashecatchessightofMASHA]Howareyou，MissMasha？
　　MASHA。Soyourecognisedme？[Sheshakeshandswithhim。
　　TRIGORIN。Didyoumarryhim？
　　MASHA。Longago。
　　TRIGORIN。Youarehappynow？[HebowstoDORNandMEDVIEDENKO，andthengoeshesitatinglytowardTREPLIEFF]Yourmothersaysyouhaveforgottenthepastandarenolongerangrywithme。
　　TREPLIEFFgiveshimhishand。
　　ARKADINA。[Toherson]HereisamagazinethatBorishasbroughtyouwithyourlateststoryinit。
　　TREPLIEFF。[ToTRIGORIN，ashetakesthemagazine]Manythanks;
　　youareverykind。
　　TRIGORIN。Youradmirersallsendyoutheirregards。EveryoneinMoscowandSt。Petersburgisinterestedinyou，andallplymewithquestionsaboutyou。Theyaskmewhatyoulooklike，howoldyouare，whetheryouarefairordark。Forsomereasontheyallthinkthatyouarenolongeryoung，andnooneknowswhoyouare，asyoualwayswriteunderanassumedname。YouareasgreatamysteryastheManintheIronMask。
　　TREPLIEFF。Doyouexpecttobeherelong？
　　TRIGORIN。No，ImustgobacktoMoscowto—morrow。Iamfinishinganothernovel，andhavepromisedsomethingtoamagazinebesides。
　　Infact，itisthesameoldbusiness。
　　DuringtheirconversationARKADINAandPAULINAhaveputupacard—tableinthecentreoftheroom;SHAMRAEFFlightsthecandlesandarrangesthechairs，thenfetchesaboxoflottofromthecupboard。
　　TRIGORIN。Theweatherhasgivenmearoughwelcome。Thewindisfrightful。IfitgoesdownbymorningIshallgofishinginthelake，andshallhavealookatthegardenandthespot——doyouremember？——whereyourplaywasgiven。Irememberthepieceverywell，butshouldliketoseeagainwherethescenewaslaid。
　　MASHA。[Toherfather]Father，dopleaseletmyhusbandhaveahorse。Heoughttogohome。
　　SHAMRAEFF。[Angrily]Ahorsetogohomewith！[Sternly]Youknowthehorseshavejustbeentothestation。Ican’tsendthemoutagain。
　　MASHA。Butthereareotherhorses。[Seeingthatherfatherremainssilent]Youareimpossible！
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Ishallgoonfoot，Masha。
　　PAULINA。[Withasigh]Onfootinthisweather？[Shetakesaseatatthecard—table]Shallwebegin？
　　MEDVIEDENKO。Itisonlysixmiles。Good—bye。[Hekisseshiswife’shand;]Good—bye，mother。[Hismother—in—lawgiveshimherhandunwillingly]Ishouldnothavetroubledyouall，butthebaby——[Hebowstoeveryone]Good—bye。[Hegoesoutwithanapologeticair。]
　　SHAMRAEFF。Hewillgetthereallright，heisnotamajor—general。
　　PAULINA。Come，letusbegin。Don’tletuswastetime，weshallsoonbecalledtosupper。
　　SHAMRAEFF，MASHA，andDORNsitdownatthecard—table。
　　ARKADINA。[ToTRIGORIN]Whenthelongautumneveningsdescendonuswewhileawaythetimeherebyplayinglotto。Lookatthisoldset;weuseditwhenourmotherplayedwithusaschildren。Don’tyouwanttotakeahandinthegamewithusuntilsuppertime？
　　[SheandTRIGORINsitdownatthetable]Itisamonotonousgame，butitisallrightwhenonegetsusedtoit。[Shedealsthreecardstoeachoftheplayers。]
　　TREPLIEFF。[Lookingthroughthepagesofthemagazine]Hehasreadhisownstory，andhasn’tevencutthepagesofmine。
　　Helaysthemagazineonhisdeskandgoestowardthedoorontheright，stoppingashepasseshismothertogiveherakiss。
　　ARKADINA。Won’tyouplay，Constantine？
　　TREPLIEFF。No，excusemeplease，Idon’tfeellikeit。Iamgoingtotakeaturnthroughtherooms。[Hegoesout。]
　　MASHA。Areyouallready？Ishallbegin:twenty—two。
　　ARKADINA。Hereitis。
　　MASHA。Three。