The Power of Darkness

By
Leo Tolstoy.

Translated by
Louise Maude and Aylmer Maude.

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Dramatis Personae

  • Peter Ignátitch. A well-to-do peasant, fourty-two years old, married for the second time, and sickly

  • Anísya. His wife, thirty-two years old, fond of dress

  • Akoulína. Peter’s daughter by his first marriage, sixteen years old, hard of hearing, mentally undeveloped

  • Nan (Anna Petróvna). His daughter by his second marriage, ten years old

  • Nikíta. Their labourer, twenty-five years old, fond of dress

  • Akím. Nikíta’s father, fifty years old, a plain-looking, God-fearing peasant

  • Matryóna. His wife and Nikíta’s mother, fifty years old

  • Marína. An orphan girl, twenty-two years old

  • Martha. Peter’s sister

  • Mítritch. An old labourer, ex-soldier

  • Simon. Marína’s husband

  • Bridegroom. Engaged to Akoulína

  • Iván. His father

  • A neighbour

  • First girl

  • Second girl

  • Police officer

  • Driver

  • Best man

  • Matchmaker

  • Village elder

  • Visitors, women, girls, and people come to see the wedding

N.B.⁠—The “oven” mentioned is the usual large, brick, Russian baking-oven. The top of it outside is flat, so that more than one person can lie on it.

The Power of Darkness

Or, If a Claw Is Caught the Bird Is Lost

Act I

The Act takes place in autumn in a large village. The Scene represents Peter’s roomy hut. Peter is sitting on a wooden bench, mending a horse-collar. Anísya and Akoulína are spinning, and singing a part-song.

Peter Looking out of the window. The horses have got loose again. If we don’t look out they’ll be killing the colt. Nikíta! Hey, Nikíta! Is the fellow deaf? Listens. To the women. Shut up, one can’t hear anything.
Nikíta From outside. What?
Peter Drive the horses in.
Nikíta We’ll drive ’em in. All in good time.
Peter Shaking his head. Ah, these labourers! If I were well, I’d not keep one on no account. There’s nothing but bother with ’em. Rises and sits down again. Nikíta!⁠ ⁠… It’s no good shouting. One of you’d better go. Go, Akoúl, drive ’em in.
Akoulína What? The horses?
Peter What else?
Akoulína All right. Exit.
Peter Ah, but he’s a loafer, that lad⁠ ⁠… no good at all. Won’t stir a finger if he can help it.
Anísya You’re so mighty brisk yourself. When you’re not sprawling on the top of the oven you’re squatting on the bench. To goad others to work is all you’re fit for.
Peter If one weren’t to goad you on a bit, one’d have no roof left over one’s head before the year’s out. Oh what people!
Anísya You go shoving a dozen jobs on to one’s shoulders, and then do nothing but scold. It’s easy to lie on the oven and give orders.
Peter Sighing. Oh, if ’twere not for this sickness that’s got hold of me, I’d not keep him on another day.
Akoulína Off the scene. Gee up, gee, woo. A colt neighs, the stamping of horses’ feet and the creaking of the gate are heard.
Peter Bragging, that’s what he’s good at. I’d like to sack him, I would indeed.
Anísya Mimicking him. “Like to sack him.” You buckle to yourself, and then talk.
Akoulína Enters. It’s all I could do to drive ’em in. That piebald always will⁠ ⁠…
Peter And where’s Nikíta?
Akoulína Where’s Nikíta? Why, standing out there in the street.
Peter What’s he standing there for?
Akoulína What’s he standing there for? He stands there jabbering.
Peter One can’t get any sense out of her! Who’s he jabbering with?
Akoulína Does not hear. Eh, what?
Peter waves her off. She sits down to her spinning.
Nan Running in to her mother. Nikíta’s father and mother have come. They’re going to take him away. It’s true!
Anísya Nonsense!
Nan Yes. Blest if they’re not! Laughing. I was just going by, and Nikíta, he says, “Goodbye, Anna Petróvna,” he says, “you must come and dance at my wedding. I’m leaving you,” he says, and laughs.
Anísya To her husband. There now. Much he cares. You see, he wants to leave of himself. “Sack him” indeed!
Peter Well, let him go. Just as if I couldn’t find somebody else.
Anísya And what about the money he’s had in advance?
Nan stands listening at the door for awhile, and then exit.
Peter Frowning. The money? Well, he can work it off in summer, anyhow.
Anísya Well, of course you’ll be glad if he goes and you’ve not got to feed him. It’s only me as’ll have to work like a horse all the winter. That lass of yours isn’t over fond of work either. And you’ll be lying up on the oven. I know you.
Peter What’s the good of wearing out one’s tongue before one has the hang of the matter?
Anísya The yard’s full of cattle. You’ve not sold the cow, and have kept all the sheep for the winter: feeding and watering ’em alone takes all one’s time, and you want to sack the labourer. But I