Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/104

98 strength is being vainly wasted: there is no war! Behold, our leaders have become altogether fat and sleepy; their eyes swim in fat! Yes, plainly, there is no justice in the world!" The other kazáks first listened, and then began to say to themselves, "Ah, that's the truth; there's no justice in the world! " Their leaders seemed surprised at these utterances. At last the Koshevói stepped forward: "Permit me, noble kazáks, to address you."

"Speak out!"

"Touching the matter in question, noble sirs, probably no one knows better than yourselves, that many Zaporozhtzi have run in debt to the Jews in the dram-shops, and to that sort of folks, so that now not even a devil would give them credit. Again, touching the matter in question, there are many young fellows who have no idea of what war is like, although, as you are aware, noble sirs, without war a young man cannot exist. How make a Zaporozhetz out of him if he has never slain a Mussulman?"

"He speaks well," said Bulba to himself.

"Think not, however, noble sirs, that I speak thus with a view of disturbing the peace: God forbid! I merely mention the fact. Moreover, the church we have for our God is too disgraceful for words: just consider for how many years the