Arms and the Man, George Bernard Shaw [comprehension books txt] 📗

Bulgarian nation, and the whole Russian nation at its back. But he lets my groom thrash him, all the same. That’s your soldier all over! No, Louka, your poor men can cut throats; but they are afraid of their officers; they put up with insults and blows; they stand by and see one another punished like children⁠—aye, and help to do it when they are ordered. And the officers!⁠—well with a short, bitter laugh I am an officer. Oh, fervently give me the man who will defy to the death any power on earth or in heaven that sets itself up against his own will and conscience: he alone is the brave man. Louka How easy it is to talk! Men never seem to me to grow up: they all have schoolboy’s ideas. You don’t know what true courage is. Sergius Ironically. Indeed! I am willing to be instructed. Louka Look at me! how much am I allowed to have my own will? I have to get your room ready for you⁠—to sweep and dust, to fetch and carry. How could that degrade me if it did not degrade you to have it done for you? But with subdued passion if I were Empress of Russia, above everyone in the world, then⁠—ah, then, though according to you I could show no courage at all; you should see, you should see. Sergius What would you do, most noble Empress? Louka I would marry the man I loved, which no other queen in Europe has the courage to do. If I loved you, though you would be as far beneath me as I am beneath you, I would dare to be the equal of my inferior. Would you dare as much if you loved me? No: if you felt the beginnings of love for me you would not let it grow. You dare not: you would marry a rich man’s daughter because you would be afraid of what other people would say of you. Sergius Carried away. You lie: it is not so, by all the stars! If I loved you, and I were the Czar himself, I would set you on the throne by my side. You know that I love another woman, a woman as high above you as heaven is above earth. And you are jealous of her. Louka I have no reason to be. She will never marry you now. The man I told you of has come back. She will marry the Swiss. Sergius Recoiling. The Swiss! Louka A man worth ten of you. Then you can come to me; and I will refuse you. You are not good enough for me. She turns to the door. Sergius Springing after her and catching her fiercely in his arms. I will kill the Swiss; and afterwards I will do as I please with you. Louka In his arms, passive and steadfast. The Swiss will kill you, perhaps. He has beaten you in love. He may beat you in war. Sergius Tormentedly. Do you think I believe that she⁠—she! whose worst thoughts are higher than your best ones, is capable of trifling with another man behind my back? Louka Do you think she would believe the Swiss if he told her now that I am in your arms? Sergius Releasing her in despair. Damnation! Oh, damnation! Mockery, mockery everywhere: everything I think is mocked by everything I do. He strikes himself frantically on the breast. Coward, liar, fool! Shall I kill myself like a man, or live and pretend to laugh at myself? She again turns to go. Louka! She stops near the door. Remember: you belong to me. Louka Quietly. What does that mean⁠—an insult? Sergius Commandingly. It means that you love me, and that I have had you here in my arms, and will perhaps have you there again. Whether that is an insult I neither know nor care: take it as you please. But vehemently I will not be a coward and a trifler. If I choose to love you, I dare marry you, in spite of all Bulgaria. If these hands ever touch you again, they shall touch my affianced bride. Louka We shall see whether you dare keep your word. But take care. I will not wait long. Sergius Again folding his arms and standing motionless in the middle of the room. Yes, we shall see. And you shall wait my pleasure. Bluntschli, much preoccupied, with his papers still in his hand, enters, leaving the door open for Louka to go out. He goes across to the table, glancing at her as he passes. Sergius, without altering his resolute attitude, watches him steadily. Louka goes out, leaving the door open. Bluntschli Absently, sitting at the table as before, and putting down his papers. That’s a remarkable looking young woman. Sergius Gravely, without moving. Captain Bluntschli. Bluntschli Eh? Sergius You have deceived me. You are my rival. I brook no rivals. At six o’clock I shall be in the drilling-ground on the Klissoura road, alone, on horseback, with my sabre. Do you understand? Bluntschli Staring, but sitting quite at his ease. Oh, thank you: that’s a cavalry man’s proposal. I’m in the artillery; and I have the choice of weapons. If I go, I shall take a machine gun. And there shall be no mistake about the cartridges this time. Sergius Flushing, but with deadly coldness. Take care, sir. It is not our custom in Bulgaria to allow invitations of that kind to be trifled with. Bluntschli Warmly. Pooh! don’t talk to me about Bulgaria. You don’t know what fighting is. But have it your own way. Bring your sabre along. I’ll meet you. Sergius Fiercely delighted to find his opponent a man of spirit. Well said, Switzer. Shall I lend you my best horse? Bluntschli No: damn your horse!⁠—thank you all the same, my dear fellow. Raina comes in, and hears the next sentence. I shall fight you on foot. Horseback’s