A Hero of Our Time - Mikhail IUr'evich Lermontov [86]
After all this, how could one not become a fatalist? But who knows for sure if he is convinced of something or not? . . . And how often do we take a deception of feelings or a blunder of common sense for a conviction!
I love to doubt everything: this inclination of mind doesn’t hinder the decisiveness of a character—on the contrary, as far as I am concerned, I am always braver going forward when I don’t know what to expect. After all, nothing can happen that is worse than death—and you can’t avoid death!
Having returned to the fortress, I recounted to Maxim Maximych all that had happened to me and all that I had witnessed, and wanted to know his opinion on the count of predestination. At first he didn’t understand the word, but I explained it to him as best I could and then he said significantly, shaking his head:
“Yes, sir. Of course. Quite a wise old joke! . . . But those Asian cocking-pieces frequently misfire if they are badly greased or if you haven’t pressed hard enough with your finger. I admit I don’t much like Chechen rifles, either. They are somehow unbecoming to our brothers. The butt is small—look into them and you burn your nose! That said, their sabers demand respect, pure and simple!”
Then, having thought for a while, he added:
“Yes, I have pity for the wretch . . . The devil possessed him to talk to a drunk that night! But, clearly, it had been written for him in the sky at his birth . . . !”
I couldn’t get any more out of him; he doesn’t like metaphysical debates in general.
Notes
FOREWORD
1. Rus’: A term referring to an ancient people and their land, which are latterly represented by the Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Russian peoples and their territories.
I. BELA
1 dukhan: An inn in the Caucasus.
2 verst: An obsolete Russian measurement equal to about 3,500 feet.
3 troika: A carriage drawn by three horses harnessed side by side.
4 saklyas: Caucasian mountain huts.
5 Lermontov uses the word burka here, a felt cloak worn in the Caucasus.
6 bouza: A kind of fermented alcohol made from millet.
7 peaceable prince: The term for a local chieftain who took no sides in the war between the Caucasian tribes and the Russians.
8 peaceable prince: A tribal leader who cooperated with Russian forces in the Caucasus.
9 kunak: This means true friend, blood brother.
10 aul: A Caucasian village.
11 balalaika: A Russian stringed instrument with a triangular body and long neck.
12 dzhigits: Caucasian horsemen known for equestrian feats and trick-riding.
13 galloon: Braid or lace made of metal, typically used in military uniform.
14 chamois: A goatlike animal native to the Caucasus mountains.
15 abreks: A kind of freedom-fighter in the Caucasus. This word is also used to describe bandits and outcasts.
16 beshmet: A kind of quilted coat.
17 “Yakshi tkhe, chek yakshi!”: This means “A good horse, very good!”
18 gyaurs: Non-Muslims. The word is a Turkic version of the Persian word for infidel.
19 Karagyoz: A Turkic name, which literally means “black eyes,” but also refers to a Turkish shadow puppet, popular for many centuries in countries near Turkey.
20 Yok: This means “no” or “not.” It is said to be Tatar.
21 gurda: An expensive weapon made of high-quality steel.
22 Padishah: This was a title for the Sultan of Turkey.
23 There is a footnote here in Lermontov’s original: Я прошу прощения у читателей в том, что переложил в стихи песню Казбича, переданную мне, разумеется, прозой; но привычка—вторая натура. (Прим. Лермонтова.)
24 yashmak: A type of Turkish veil worn by women.
25 Urus—yaman, yaman!: This means “The Russian is bad, bad!”
26 peri: A term of endearment referring to fairylike creatures who are fallen angels.
27 muzhik: A male Russian peasant.
28 Russ: An older word meaning “Russian man.”
29 dear little: this refers to provincial Russian cities and has