Excerpt: ...too " "How good you are, Father," The black-eyed young lady Says sweetly, and strokes The white head of the Barin. The black-moustached footguards At this put their word in: "A fool cannot follow The words of his masters, 430 Especially those Like the words of our father, So noble and clever." And Klim-shameless rascal - Is wiping his eyes On the end of his coat-tails, Is sniffing and whining; "Our Fathers Our Fathers The sons of our Father They know how to punish, 440 But better they know How to pardon and pity " The old man is cheerful Again, and is asking For light frothing wine, And the corks begin popping And shoot in the air To fall down on the women, Who fly from them, shrieking. The Barin is laughing, 450 The ladies then laugh, And at them laugh their husbands, And next the old servant, Ipat, begins laughing, The wet-nurse, the dry-nurse, And then the whole party Laugh loudly together; The feast will be merry His daughters-in-law At the old Prince's order 460 Are pouring out vodka To give to the peasants, Hand cakes to the youths, To the girls some sweet syrup; The women drink also A small glass of vodka. The old Prince is drinking And toasting the peasants; And slyly he pinches The beautiful ladies. 470 "That's right That will do him More good than his physic," Says Vlasuchka, watching. "He drinks by the glassful, Since long he's lost measure In revel, or wrath...." The music comes floating To them from the Volga, The girls now already Are dancing and singing, 480 The old Prince is watching them, Snapping his fingers. He wants to be nearer The girls, and he rises. His legs will not bear him, His two sons support him; And standing between them He chuckles and whistles, And stamps with his feet To the time of the music; 490 The left eye begins On its own account working, It turns...