Page:Five Russian plays and one Ukrainian.pdf/79

 of those you hate)—one was good, learned, diligent. The other was—(how I adore him!)—the other was evil, all-evil and unlearned and lazy. They were crowded, of course, but—Fate did not let them live apart. They wanted to develop, but each was a huge hindrance to the other. And the one that passed for learned and good and diligent drugged the other with the potion of science; sat at his bedside and sang this lullaby: “Sleep, dear master: sleep, covering over your eyes! Your glorious age is past! Sleep; the golden age is past! Now we only mock your noble mien. We need learning and work. The polish of the grandee does not tempt us: the fair ladies are ever less and less that count a well-kept above a horny hand.”—So sang he that was learned and closed the beautiful eyelids of him that was unlearned with irresistible sleep. Only he did not reign long, not long did he rule. It is hard to break a master’s strength, real strength, even with a drowsy poison. One! and he suddenly awoke.—Two! he stretched agreeably.—Three! and from laziness he had already forgotten to think. “No” he cried, “it shall not be as you wish! I will hear no more