Thursday, June 28, 2007

"I don't want to meet my new life without you"

My copy of The Idiot is out on loan, but I found this quote again recently thanks to the forward thinking of my good-natured friend Roland. I am posting it here for my birthday, which will be in a few days.
"Stop, and never speak of that again!" cried Myshkin. "Listen, Parfyon, just before you appeared I came here and suddenly began laughing -- I don't know what about. The only reason was that I remembered it was my birthday tomorrow. It seems to have come on purpose. It's almost twelve o'clock. Come, let us meet the day! I've got some wine. Let's drink some. Wish for me what I don't know how to wish for myself. You wish it, and I'll wish all happiness to you. If not, give back the cross. You didn't send the cross back to me the next day! You've got it on now, haven't you?"

"Yes," said Rogozhin.

"Well, then, come along. I don't want to meet my new life without you, for my new life has begun. You don't know, Parfyon, that my new life has begun today." [1]


[1] I believe this is the Constance Garnett translation.

3 comments:

Clement said...

Oops, I still have that book from you... I'm about halfway through it. Sorry!

Clement said...

You wrote two new posts but I cannot read them because I don't want to spoil these books! noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

mine joy hath turn`ed to despair

pajwceb is the word verification

Matthew said...

no worries. anyway, you have a good excuse.