What Men Live By (Чем Люди Живы?)

WHAT MEN LIVE BY

A shoemaker lived with his wife and children in a peasant's hut.

He had neither house nor land of his own.

And he earned his living by his shoemaking.

Bread was expensive, but work brought in little,

and what he earned he spent for food.

The man and his wife had one sheepskin coat between them,

and even that was torn to tatters.

And this was the second year he'd been wanting to buy sheep skins for a new coat.

By the fall the shoemaker saved up a little money:

a three-ruble note lay hidden in his wife's box,

and five rubles and twenty kopeks were owed him by customers in the village.

So one morning he prepared to go to the village to buy the sheep skins.

He took the three-ruble note in his pocket,

cut himself a stick to serve as a staff,

and started off after breakfast.

They died.

We just buried them both.

A tree crushed him in the forest,

and she gave birth to twins, then reposed.

What am I to do with his boots?

Here...

That's all I've got.

And...

...what am I to do with twenty kopeks?

I swear, that's all I've got.

The need is dire, as you know.

Your need is dire,

but mine isn't?

You have a house, and cattle, and everything.

I only have what I stand up in!

You have corn that you have grown;

I have to buy every grain.

So just pay up what you owe, and no nonsense about it!

I don't have anything at the moment.

I swear!

I'm quite warm, though I have no sheepskin coat.

I've had a drop, and it runs through all my veins.

I need no sheep skins.

I get along and don't worry about anything.

That's the sort of man I am!

What do I care? I can live without sheep skins.

I don't need them.

My wife will fret, to be sure.

And, it's a shame; one works all day long, and then does not get paid.

Stop a bit! If you don't bring that money along,

sure enough I'll skin you, blessed if I don't.

How's that?

He pays twenty kopeks at a time!

What can I do with twenty kopeks?

Drink it - that's all one can do!

I tried to buy the sheep skins on credit, but the dealer would not trust me.

"Bring your money," said he,

"then you may have your pick of the skins."

"We know what debt collecting is like."

I come home and find the bread all eaten up,

and I have to fork out another ruble and a half.

A stone? There was no white stone here before.

Can it be an ox? It's not like an ox.

It has a head like a man,

but it's too white;

and what could a man be doing there?

Someone has killed him, stripped him, and left him there.

If I meddle I shall surely get into trouble.

Shall I go back to him, or shall I go on?

If I go near him something dreadful may happen.

Who knows who the fellow is?

He has not come here for any good.

If I go near him he may jump up and throttle me,

and there will be no getting away.

Or if not, he'd still be a burden on my hands.

What could I do with a naked man?

I couldn't give him my last clothes.

Heaven only help me to get away!

What are you doing, Simon?

The man may be dying of want,

and you slip past afraid.

Have you grown so rich as to be afraid of robbers?

Ah, Simon, shame on you!

Hey...

...and where are you from?

I'm not from these parts.

I know all the folks hereabouts!

But, how did you come to be here by the road?

I cannot tell.

Has some one been ill-treating you?

No one has ill-treated me.

God has punished me.

Of course God rules all.

Still, you'll have to find shelter somewhere.

Where do you want to go to?

It is all the same to me.

Well then,

get dressed, will you?

Things will get sorted out eventually.

Can you walk?

Why don't you speak?

Come home with me, and at least warm yourself awhile.

You need shelter.

There now - talk about sheep skins!

I went out for sheep skins and come home without even a coat,

and what is more, I'm bringing a naked man along with me.

Matryona won't be pleased!

When should I make bread:

now or tomorrow?

There is still a large piece left.

If Simon has had some dinner in town, and does not eat much for supper,

the bread will last out another day.

I won't make any more today.

We have only enough flour left to bake one batch,

we can manage to make this last out till Friday.

If only the dealer does not cheat him.

My good man is much too simple;

he cheats nobody,

but any child can take him in.

Eight rubles...

...is a lot of money...

...he should get a good coat at that price.

Not tanned skins, but still a proper winter coat.

How difficult it was last winter to get on without a warm coat.

I could neither get down to the river, nor go out anywhere.

When he went out he put on all we had,

and there was nothing left for me.

He did not start very early today, but still it's time he was back.

I only hope he has not gone on a binge!

Come, Matryona; if supper is ready, let us have some.

Sit down, friend, and let us have some supper.

Haven't you cooked anything for us?

I've cooked,

but not for you.

It seems to me you have drunk your wits away.

You went to buy a sheepskin coat, but come home without the coat you had on,

and bring a naked vagabond home with you.

I have no supper for drunkards like you.

That's enough, Matryona.

Don't wag your tongue without reason.

You had better ask what sort of man -

And you tell me what you've done with the money?

Here is the money.

Trifonof did not pay, but promises to pay tomorrow.

I have no supper for you.

We can't feed all the naked drunkards in the world.

There now, Matryona, hold your tongue a bit. First hear what a man has to say -

Much wisdom I shall hear from a drunken fool.

I was right in not wanting to marry you - a drunkard.

The linen my mother gave me...

Matryona!

...you drank!

and now you've been to buy a coat - and have drunk it, too!

Give me my jacket!

It is the only one I have, and you have to wear it yourself!

You mangy dog!

May the devil take you!

Matryona!

Give it here!

If he were a good man he would not be naked.

I am trying to tell you!

As I was coming home I saw him by the road sitting all naked and frozen.

It isn't quite the weather to sit about naked!

God sent me to him,

or he would have perished.

What was I to do?

How do we know what may have happened to him?

So I took him, clothed him, and brought him along.

Don't be so angry,

It is a sin, Matryona!

Remember, we all must die one day.

Matryona,

have you no love of God?

Eat, if you want to.

What is your name?

Michael.

Did someone rob you?

God punished me.

And you were lying there naked?

Yes, naked and freezing.

Simon saw me and had pity on me.

He took off his coat, put it on me...

...and brought me here.

And you have fed me, given me drink, and shown pity on me.

God will reward you!

There, put this on.

I see you have no shirt.

Put this on, and lie down where you please.

Simon!

Yes?

You have had the last of the bread.

I have not put any to rise.

I don't know what we shall do tomorrow.

Perhaps I can borrow some from the neighbor.

If we're alive we shall find something to eat.

He seems to be a good man,

but why does he not tell us who he is?

I suppose he has his reasons.

Simon!

Ah?

We give; but why does nobody give us anything?

Day by day and week by week...

...the year went round.

Michael lived and worked with Simon.