1837. February 21. S.A. Rayevsky's testimony on the case of "the inadmissible verses written by a cornet hussar Lermontov".
1837. February. Lermontov's explanation on the same matter.
1837. February 27. The royal order on the displacement a cornet Lermontov in the Nizhny Novgorod dragoon regiment as the ensign.
Quite natural question: why Pavel E. Shchegolev, who had access to archives, has evaded from the indication of exact dates?
Intense there was time! Here and Pushkin, here and Lermontov ... And in general, how not to be involved in all these events?..
However, dates are important, but dates - not the main thing ...
- Many were that opinion that it is work of the "leprosy of society". She, dissatisfied with my the noncommittal on a reception, early in the morning has sent the copy to the highest name to the Winter Palace, - the count von Benckendorff has specified from a portrait. - Anyway, the sovereign has been angered, has accepted a situation more seriously, than I represented, and ordered the grand duke Michael Pavlovich to send immediately to Tsarskoye Selo the chief of staff of guard Pyotr Fedorovich Veymarn for the work of a search in the apartment of a cornet of Lermontov.
- At first he didn't speak to them about me, - Rayevsky, Lermontov's friend, who was in group of visitors has added, - about my participation in distribution of verses . But then began to interrogate FROM (on behalf of) the SOVEREIGN: have told that to me, Rayevsky, nothing will be, and that if he doesn't admit, then "he will be given off" in a soldiers (he will be reduced to the rank of a soldier) ... He has remembered the grandmother... he couldn't resist ...
- The sovereign Imperator has deigned to enjoin: CornetLermontov, for the composition of the known verses, to send with the same rank, in the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon regiment; and the Provincial Secretary of Rayevsky, for distribution of these verses, and in particular, for intention to secretly deliver data to the Cornet Lermontov about the testimony made by him, to keep in custody within one month - and then to send to the Olonets Province, for the use to service - at the discretion of the local Civil Governor, - the tour guide has commented.
- I have almost recovered... There was a heavy minute, but has passed, - Lermontov has spoken from a self-portrait.
- The grandmother was in despair; - continued the story V.P. Burnashev, - she by all means thought that her Michel will be arrested that in fortress will seat; however everything was even without arrest, only he was told from the chief of staff to live in Tsarskoye Selo, being engaged by diligently imperial service, but not "mad verses".
- The testimony were done... He isn't dangerous ... - someone from number of participants of an excursion has expressed opinion.
- With the Caucasian uniform of Lermontov there was a very amusing and quite ridiculous. - V.P. Burnashev has added. - Lermontov went on the affairs around the city and has run into a trouble near the English shop where he bought something.
Lermontov met the grand duke Michael Pavlovich, who has stopped him and, brandishing by his finger from side to side, has told: "You have no right to active in this leyb-hussar form, when you ought to be dressed the Caucasian form: about you long ago there was an order".
- "Not Iam guilty, your highness, but that tailor, who deceives me. On urgent affairs, it was necessary for me to went out from my house", there was Lermontov's answer. - "Look, your tailor must hasten properly " - the grand duke has noticed: - "he is so careless. May be because he, like you, the varmint, is scribbling some poem or the ode? If something like that, I will reach him. But in any case, I will not must see you again in this not your form". - "I listen, your highness" - Lermontov reported: - "today I will seem as the Caucasian in the city". - "Today? so means the uniformis ready?", - the grand duke has asked. - "I will try, in execution of will of your highness, from impossible to make a possible," - Lermontov said, and his highness happy with the valiant answer have left away ...
- I was linked, was burdened a care concerning my brother-participant of revolt in December, 1825, released - by great Mercy - the Emperor to Paris. My brother lived in Paris, but received means from estates from Russia. The visits to Russia - I did them. The Emperor has charged to me to accompany Pushkin's body to the place of a funeral, - A.I. Turgenev has remembered from a portrait. - In my memory there my feelings. This burdensome mourning way ... I on February 2 and 12, 1827, O.S. have written down in the diary: "Lermontov's verses fine". "(Pr[ince] Gol[itsyn]) interrogated me about pension, about a buckle, about the list of state service's merits. [I] Have let know that I want only - freedom and Paris."
- Here, Alexander Sergeyevich! The young man, the orphan who was brought up by the grandmother, the person with literary abilities, has written verses outstanding. He "has almost recovered"... What's further?
- What in the following hall of art gallery? - Pushkin has taken an interest.
The group of visitors has passed into the following hall.
Visitors of an exhibition have approached Vasily Vereshchagin's picture 'Парламентеры. 'Сдавайся' - 'Убирайся к чёрту!'' ("The Parlimentaires. "Give up" - "Clean up to hell!"").
Pushkin, slightly smiling, silently drank orange juice.
March 13, 2018 22:48
Translation from Russian into English: March 14, 2018 - March 15, 2018
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о молодом человеке'.
5. The Fairy Tale of How Nikolai Gogol became the Great Dramaturge
Nikolai Gogol comes to Vasily Zhukovsky:
- Vasily Andreyevich, I want to serve the benefit. By my pen. All of us know that you are the talented poet, the patron, and the tutor of Crown Prince. Therefore I to you have come for council and support. I am going to devote the forces to collecting national legends and myths about "Тришкин кафтан" (a "Trishkin's Kaftan"). But will this be the right direction?
- The fatherland waits for talented people! - Vasily Andreyevich has answered. Also he have continued to write down the poem on the sheet of paper.
"It is necessary to wait", - Gogol has understood.
There has passed some time. Creative energy demands an exit. Again Nikolai Gogol to Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky comes. Vasily Andreyevich has smiled to Gogol and has continued to write on the sheet of paper.
"I'll wait," - thought Gogol. - "First of all, Vasily Andreyevich can recall my previous question. Secondly, the creative process comes first. Everything else is on the second place.'
The room was entered by the footman and has reported that the horse carriage for Zhukovsky is arrived. The important visit is required to be made.
Vasily Andreyevich has smiled to Gogol, has postponed sheets of paper and has gone to an exit.
"He smiles!" - Gogol has thought. - "Means, it is possible to make a request!"
- Vasily Andreyevich! I would like to devote the creativity to a benefit, and I intend to go deep into folk art: to collect in different areas versions of a saying "In a kitchen garden - a plant with berries, and in the Kiev - an uncle". I plan to compare different options, to analyse, write the book. Naturally, it would be desirable to know the mood ...