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struck by every horror of mans disillusionmentstill I should want to live and, having once tasted of the cup, I would not turn away from it till I had drained it! At thirty though, I shall be sure to leave the cup, even if Ive not emptied it, and turn awaywhere I dont know. But till I am thirty, I know that my youth will triumph over everythingevery disillusionment, every disgust with life. Ive asked myself many times whether there is in the world any despair that would overcome this frantic and perhaps unseemly thirst for life in me, and Ive come to the conclusion that there isnt, that is till I am thirty, and then I shall lose it of myself I fancy. Some drivelling consumptive moralistsand poets especiallyoften call that thirst for life base. Its a feature of the Karamazovs its true, that thirst for life regardless of everything; you have it no doubt too, but why is it base? The centripetal force on our planet is still fearfully strong, Alyosha. I have a longing for life, and I go on living in spite of logic. Though I may not believe in the order of the universe, yet I love the sticky little leaves as they open in spring. I love the blue sky, I love some people, whom one loves you know sometimes without knowing why. I love some great deeds done by men, though Ive long ceased perhaps to have faith in them, yet from old habit ones heart prizes them. Here they have brought the soup for you, eat it, it will do you good. Its first-rate soup, they know how to make it here. I want to travel in Europe, Alyosha, I shall set off from here. And yet I know that I am only going to a grave-yard, but its a most precious grave-yard, thats what it is! Precious are the dead that lie there, every stone over them speaks of such burning life in the past, of such passionate faith in their work their truth, their struggle and their science, that I know I shall fall on the ground and kiss those stones and weep over them; though Im convinced in my heart that its long been nothing but a grave-yard. And I shall not weep from despair, but simply because I shall be happy in my tears. I shall steep my soul in my emotion. I love the sticky leaves in spring. the blue skythats all it is. Its not a matter of intellect or logic, its loving with ones inside, with ones stomach. One loves the first strength of ones youth. Do you understand anything of my tirade, Alyosha? Ivan laughed suddenly. I understand too well, Ivan. One longs to love with ones inside, with ones stomach. You said that so well and I am awfully glad that you have such a longing for life, cried Alyosha. I think every one should love life above everything in the world. Love life more than the meaning of it? Certainly, love it, regardless of logic as you say, it must be regardless of logic, and its only then one will understand the meaning of it. I have thought so a long time. Half your work is done, Ivan, you love life, now youve only to try to do the second half and you are saved. You are trying to save me, but perhaps I am not lost! And what does your second half mean? Why, one has to raise up your dead, who perhaps have not died after all. Come, let me have tea. I am so glad of our talk, Ivan I see you are feeling inspired. I am awfully fond of such professions de foi from suchnovices. You are a steadfast person, Alexey. Is it true that you mean to leave the monastery? Yes, my elder sends me out into the world. We shall see each other then in the world. We shall meet before I am thirty, when I shall begin to turn aside from the cup. Father doesnt want to turn aside from his cup till he is seventy, he dreams of hanging on to eighty in fact, so he says. He means it only too seriously, though he is a buffoon. He stands on a firm rock, too, he stands on his sensualitythough after we are thirty, indeed, there may be nothing else to stand on. But to hang on to seventy is nasty, better only to thirty; one might retain a shadow of nobility by deceiving oneself. Have you seen Dmitri today? No, but I saw Smerdyakov, and Alyosha rapidly, though minutely, described his meeting with Smerdyakov. Ivan began listening anxiously and questioned him. |
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