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inciting that animal to trot； and when； presently； the other two horses followed their companion's example； the light britchka moved forwards like a piece of thistledown。 Selifan flourished his whip and shouted； 〃Hi； hi！〃 as the inequalities of the road jerked him vertically on his seat； and meanwhile； reclining against the leather cushions of the vehicle's interior； Chichikov smiled with gratification at the sensation of driving fast。 For what Russian does not love to drive fast？ Which of us does not at times yearn to give his horses their head； and to let them go； and to cry； 〃To the devil with the world！〃？ At such moments a great force seems to uplift one as on wings； and one flies； and everything else flies； but contrariwiseboth the verst stones； and traders riding on the shafts of their waggons； and the forest with dark lines of spruce and fir amid which may be heard the axe of the woodcutter and the croaking of the raven。 Yes； out of a dim； remote distance the road comes towards one； and while nothing save the sky and the light clouds through which the moon is cleaving her way seem halted； the brief glimpses wherein one can discern nothing clearly have in them a pervading touch of mystery。 Ah； troika； troika； swift as a bird； who was it first invented you？ Only among a hardy race of folk can you have come to birthonly in a land which； though poor and rough； lies spread over half the world； and spans versts the counting whereof would leave one with aching eyes。 Nor are you a modishly…fashioned vehicle of the roada thing of clamps and iron。 Rather； you are a vehicle but shapen and fitted with the axe or chisel of some handy peasant of Yaroslav。 Nor are you driven by a coachman clothed in German livery； but by a man bearded and mittened。 See him as he mounts； and flourishes his whip； and breaks into a long…drawn song！ Away like the wind go the horses； and the wheels； with their spokes； become transparent circles； and the road seems to quiver beneath them； and a pedestrian； with a cry of astonishment； halts to watch the vehicle as it flies； flies； flies on its way until it becomes lost on the ultimate horizona speck amid a cloud of dust！
And you； Russia of mineare not you also speeding like a troika which nought can overtake？ Is not the road smoking beneath your wheels； and the bridges thundering as you cross them； and everything being left in the rear； and the spectators； struck with the portent； halting to wonder whether you be not a thunderbolt launched from heaven？ What does that awe…inspiring progress of yours foretell？ What is the unknown force which lies within your mysterious steeds？ Surely the winds themselves must abide in their manes； and every vein in their bodies be an ear stretched to catch the celestial message which bids them； with iron…girded breasts； and hooves which barely touch the earth as they gallop； fly forward on a mission of God？ Whither； then； are you speeding； O Russia of mine？ Whither？ Answer me！ But no answer comesonly the weird sound of your collar…bells。 Rent into a thousand shreds； the air roars past you； for you are overtaking the whole world； and shall one day force all nations； all empires to stand aside； to give you way！
1841。
PART II
CHAPTER I
Why do I so persistently paint the poverty； the imperfections of Russian life； and delve into the remotest depths； the most retired holes and corners； of our Empire for my subjects？ The answer is that there is nothing else to be done when an author's idiosyncrasy happens to incline him that way。 So again we find ourselves in a retired spot。 But what a spot！
Imagine； if you can； a mountain range like a gigantic fortress； with embrasures and bastions which appear to soar a thousand versts towards the heights of heaven； and； towering grandly over a boundless expanse of plain； are broken up into precipitous； overhanging limestone cliffs。 Here and there those cliffs are seamed with water…courses and gullies； while at other points they are rounded off into spurs of greenspurs now coated with fleece…like tufts of young undergrowth； now studded with the stumps of felled trees； now covered with timber which has； by some miracle； escaped the woodman's axe。 Also； a river winds awhile between its banks； then leaves the meadow land； divides into runlets （all flashing in the sun like fire）； plunges； re…united； into the midst of a thicket of elder； birth； and pine； and； lastly； speeds triumphantly past bridges and mills and weirs which seem to be lying in wait for it at every turn。
At one particular spot the steep flank of the mountain range is covered with billowy verdure of denser growth than the rest； and here the aid of skilful planting； added to the shelter afforded by a rugged ravine； has enabled the flora of north and south so to be brought together that； twined about with sinuous hop…tendrils； the oak； the spruce fir； the wild pear； the maple； the cherry； the thorn； and the mountain ash either assist or check one another's growth； and everywhere cover the declivity with their straggling profusion。 Also； at the edge of the summit there can be seen mingling with the green of the trees the red roofs of a manorial homestead； while behind the upper stories of the mansion proper and its carved balcony and a great semi…circular window there gleam the tiles and gables of some peasants' huts。 Lastly； over this combination of trees and roofs there risesovertopping everything with its gilded； sparkling steeplean old village church。 On each of its pinnacles a cross of carved gilt is stayed with supports of similar gilding and design； with the result that from a distance the gilded portions have the effect of hanging without visible agency in the air。 And the wholethe three successive tiers of woodland； roofs； and crosses wholelies exquisitely mirrored in the river below； where hollow willows； grotesquely shaped （some of them rooted on the river's banks； and some in the water itself； and all drooping their branches until their leaves have formed a tangle with the water lilies which float on the surface）； seem to be gazing at the marvellous reflection at their feet。
Thus the view from below is beautiful indeed。 But the view from above is even better。 No guest； no visitor； could stand on the balcony of the mansion and remain indifferent。 So boundless is the panorama revealed that surprise would cause him to catch at his breath； and exclaim： 〃Lord of Heaven； but what a prospect！〃 Beyond meadows studded with spinneys and water…mills lie forests belted with green； while beyond； again； there can be seen showing through the slightly misty air strips of yellow heath； and； again； wide…rolling forests （as blue as the sea or a cloud）； and more heath； paler than the first； but still yellow。 Finally； on the far horizon a range of chalk…topped hills gleams white； even in dull weather； as though it were lightened with perpetual sunshine； and here and there on the dazzling whiteness of its lower slopes some plaster…like； nebulous patches represent far…off villages which lie too remote for the eye to discern their details。 Indeed； only when the sunlight touches a steeple to gold does one