Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol

Author:Nikolai Gogol [Gogol, Nikolai]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-58836-273-5
Publisher: The Modern Library
Published: 2002-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

* The byname of the Dutch painter Gerrit van Honthorst (1590–1656).

7

Noise and commotion filled the Zaporozhian camp. At first nobody could explain how it had come to pass that enemy troops had managed to enter the town. Then it turned out that all the Cossacks of the Pereyaslav Company stationed by one of the town’s side gates had been roaring drunk, and before anyone realized what was happening half the company had been cut down and the other half thrown into irons. Before any of the other companies, awakened by the noise, had time to reach for their weapons, the enemy troops were already marching through the gates, their rear lines shooting themselves free of the rabble of befuddled and half-drunk Cossacks who came lunging at them.

The Ataman called an assembly, and when all the men stood in a circle and fell silent, he removed his hat and began to speak. “You are aware, Brother Cossacks, what took place last night, and you are aware what drink has led us to, and how our enemy has defiled us! No sooner are double rations of vodka granted, you all drink yourself so senseless that the enemy of our Christian army not only makes off with your trousers, but spits in your face without your even noticing! A fine Cossack custom indeed!”

The Cossacks lowered their heads in shame. Only Kukubenko, the captain of the Nezamaikov Company, spoke up.

“One moment, Ataman!” he said. “I know it is not lawful that one should utter an objection when the Ataman speaks before the army, but if things did not happen the way they are presented, one must speak out! Your reproach to our Christian army is not quite correct. The Cossacks would be guilty and deserving of death had they become drunk during a march, during battle, or during a difficult task. But we have been waiting outside the town without anything to do, and right now we are not in a time of fasting or other period of Christian abstinence. On cannot expect men not to get drunk when there is nothing to do! Under these conditions it is not a sin! What we should do is show the enemy what it means to attack innocent men the way they did! We have already given them a good beating in the past—now we should give them such a thrashing that they won’t be able to crawl home on all fours!”

The Cossacks liked Kukubenko’s speech. They raised their heads, which had sunk ever lower, and many of the Cossacks began to nod and mumble their approval.

“Well, what do you say, Ataman?” Taras Bulba, who was standing near him, called out. “It seems to me that Kukubenko is right. What do you say?”

“What do I say? I say that lucky is the father who sired a son like Kukubenko! It is not great wisdom to speak reproachful words. Yet it is great wisdom to speak words that do not scorn a man down on his luck, but give him spirit, the way spurs give spirit to a horse that has drunk its fill of water.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.