The Inspector-General Act 3 Scene 10 by (Nikolai Gogol) Lyrics
The same and Osip. All rush to meet Osip, beckoning to him.
ANNA
Come here, my good man.
GOVERNOR
Hush! Tell me, tell me, is he asleep?
OSIP
No, not yet. He's stretching himself a little.
ANNA
What's your name?
OSIP
Osip, madam.
GOVERNOR
[to his wife and daughter] That'll do, that'll do. [To Osip.] Well, friend, did they give you a good meal?
OSIP
Yes, sir, very good. Thank you kindly.
ANNA
Your master has lots of counts and princes visiting him, hasn't he?
OSIP
[aside] What shall I say? Seeing as they've given me such good feed now, I s'pose they'll do even better later. [Aloud.] Yes, counts do visit him.
MARYA
Osip, darling, isn't your master just grand?
ANNA
Osip, please tell me, how is he—
GOVERNOR
Do stop now. You just interfere with your silly talk. Well, friend, how—
ANNA
What is your master's rank?
OSIP
The usual rank.
GOVERNOR
For God's sake, your stupid questions keep a person from getting down to business. Tell me, friend, what sort of a man is your master? Is he strict? Does he rag and bully a fellow—you know what I mean—does he or doesn't he?
OSIP
Yes, he likes things to be just so. He insists on things being just so.
GOVERNOR
I like your face. You must be a fine man, friend. What—?
ANNA
Listen, Osip, does your master wear uniform in St. Petersburg?
GOVERNOR
Enough of your tattle now, really. This is a serious matter, a matter of life and death. (To Osip.) Yes, friend, I like you very much. It's rather chilly now and when a man's travelling an extra glass of tea or so is rather welcome. So here's a couple of rubles for some tea.
OSIP
[taking the money] Thank you, much obliged to you, sir. God grant you health and long life. You've helped a poor man.
GOVERNOR. That's all right. I'm glad to do it. Now, friend—
ANNA
Listen, Osip, what kind of eyes does your master like most?
MARYA
Osip, darling, what a dear nose your master has!
GOVERNOR
Stop now, let me speak. [To Osip.] Tell me, what does your master care for most? I mean, when he travels what does he like?
OSIP
As for sights, he likes whatever happens to come along. But what he likes most of all is to be received well and entertained well.
GOVERNOR
Entertained well?
OSIP
Yes, for instance, I'm nothing but a serf and yet he sees to it that I should be treated well, too. S'help me God! Say we'd stop at some place and he'd ask, "Well, Osip, have they treated you well?" "No, badly, your Excellency." "Ah," he'd say, "Osip, he's not a good host. Remind me when we get home." "Oh, well," thinks I to myself [with a wave of his hand]. "I am a simple person. God be with them."
GOVERNOR
Very good. You talk sense. I've given you something for tea. Here's something for buns, too.
OSIP
You are too kind, your Excellency. [Puts the money in his pocket.] I'll sure drink your health, sir.
ANNA
Come to me, Osip, and I'll give you some, too.
MARYA
Osip, darling, kiss your master for me.
Khlestakov is heard to give a short cough in the next room.
GOVERNOR
Hush! [Rises on tip-toe. The rest of the conversation in the scene is carried on in an undertone.] Don't make a noise, for heaven's sake! Go, it's enough.
ANNA
Come, Mashenka, I'll tell you something I noticed about our guest that I can't tell you unless we are alone together. [They go out.]
GOVERNOR
Let them talk away. If you went and listened to them, you'd want to stop up your ears. [To Osip.] Well, friend—
ANNA
Come here, my good man.
GOVERNOR
Hush! Tell me, tell me, is he asleep?
OSIP
No, not yet. He's stretching himself a little.
ANNA
What's your name?
OSIP
Osip, madam.
GOVERNOR
[to his wife and daughter] That'll do, that'll do. [To Osip.] Well, friend, did they give you a good meal?
OSIP
Yes, sir, very good. Thank you kindly.
ANNA
Your master has lots of counts and princes visiting him, hasn't he?
OSIP
[aside] What shall I say? Seeing as they've given me such good feed now, I s'pose they'll do even better later. [Aloud.] Yes, counts do visit him.
MARYA
Osip, darling, isn't your master just grand?
ANNA
Osip, please tell me, how is he—
GOVERNOR
Do stop now. You just interfere with your silly talk. Well, friend, how—
ANNA
What is your master's rank?
OSIP
The usual rank.
GOVERNOR
For God's sake, your stupid questions keep a person from getting down to business. Tell me, friend, what sort of a man is your master? Is he strict? Does he rag and bully a fellow—you know what I mean—does he or doesn't he?
OSIP
Yes, he likes things to be just so. He insists on things being just so.
GOVERNOR
I like your face. You must be a fine man, friend. What—?
ANNA
Listen, Osip, does your master wear uniform in St. Petersburg?
GOVERNOR
Enough of your tattle now, really. This is a serious matter, a matter of life and death. (To Osip.) Yes, friend, I like you very much. It's rather chilly now and when a man's travelling an extra glass of tea or so is rather welcome. So here's a couple of rubles for some tea.
OSIP
[taking the money] Thank you, much obliged to you, sir. God grant you health and long life. You've helped a poor man.
GOVERNOR. That's all right. I'm glad to do it. Now, friend—
ANNA
Listen, Osip, what kind of eyes does your master like most?
MARYA
Osip, darling, what a dear nose your master has!
GOVERNOR
Stop now, let me speak. [To Osip.] Tell me, what does your master care for most? I mean, when he travels what does he like?
OSIP
As for sights, he likes whatever happens to come along. But what he likes most of all is to be received well and entertained well.
GOVERNOR
Entertained well?
OSIP
Yes, for instance, I'm nothing but a serf and yet he sees to it that I should be treated well, too. S'help me God! Say we'd stop at some place and he'd ask, "Well, Osip, have they treated you well?" "No, badly, your Excellency." "Ah," he'd say, "Osip, he's not a good host. Remind me when we get home." "Oh, well," thinks I to myself [with a wave of his hand]. "I am a simple person. God be with them."
GOVERNOR
Very good. You talk sense. I've given you something for tea. Here's something for buns, too.
OSIP
You are too kind, your Excellency. [Puts the money in his pocket.] I'll sure drink your health, sir.
ANNA
Come to me, Osip, and I'll give you some, too.
MARYA
Osip, darling, kiss your master for me.
Khlestakov is heard to give a short cough in the next room.
GOVERNOR
Hush! [Rises on tip-toe. The rest of the conversation in the scene is carried on in an undertone.] Don't make a noise, for heaven's sake! Go, it's enough.
ANNA
Come, Mashenka, I'll tell you something I noticed about our guest that I can't tell you unless we are alone together. [They go out.]
GOVERNOR
Let them talk away. If you went and listened to them, you'd want to stop up your ears. [To Osip.] Well, friend—