Italian eyes sparkled, He took a few chords, proudly raised his head, and passionate verses, an expression of momentary feelings, izleteli gracefully out of his mouth ... Here they are, voluntarily transferred by one of our friends from the words, preserved in the memory of Chara.
The poet is - open eyelids,
But he did not see anyone;
Meanwhile, the skirt
Passer pulls its ...
"Tell: Why wander without purpose?
Barely reached the height you,
And that's really dale look leadest
And you aspire to descend.
On the slim world you look vaguely;
Barren heat you afflict;
Subject miserable every minute
Bothering you and beckons.
Strive to heaven should genius,
A true poet is obliged to
For inspiration chants
Elect a sublime subject ".
- Why wind revolves in a ravine,
Sheet lifts and carries dust,
When the ship is motionless moisture
His breath eagerly waiting?
Why the mountains and past the towers
flying eagle, severities and scary,
On stunted stump? ask him.
Why arap his
Mlada loves Desdemona,
As the month of love mist night?
Then, that the wind and the eagle
And the heart of the Virgin there is no law.
This is the poet: as the Aquilon,
he wants, and it is he -
Orlu like, He is flying
AND, without asking anybody,
How Desdemona, elect
Idol for their hearts.
Italian silent ... silent Charskii, amazed and touched.
- Well? - improvisation sprosil.
Charskii grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight.
- What? - improvisation sprosil, - what?
- Surprisingly, - replied the poet. - How! Alien thought just touched your ear and has become vasheyu property, as if you were with her worn, cherished, We developed it constantly. so, for you there is no labor, or cooling, none of this concerns, which precedes inspiration?.. Amazing, surprisingly!..
improvisation posted:
- Every talent neyzъyasnym. * How does a sculptor in a piece of Carrara marble sees hidden Jupiter and brings it to light, chisel and hammer shattered his shell? Why is the idea of the head so the output is already armed with four rhymes, Measured slim monotonous feet? - So no one, except for the improviser, can not understand this quick impressions, This close connection between their own inspiration and the will of an alien external - vainly I myself would want to interpret it. However ... one must reflect on my first evening. What do you think? What price can be assigned for the ticket, that the public was not too hard, and that meanwhile I did not stay in the loser? They say, Ms. Catalani * # брала по 25 rubles? The price is good ...
It was unpleasant Charskii height of poetry suddenly fall under the store clerk; but he is very well aware of the need for worldly and started with the Italian in the mercantile calculations. Italian herewith case discovered a wild greed, such artless love of profit, he hath Charsky, which hurried him to leave, so as not to completely lose the feeling of admiration, produced therein by a great improvisator. Preoccupied Italian did not notice the change and walked him down the hall and the stairs with deep bows and assurances of eternal gratitude.
Chapter III
Price per ticket 10 rubles; beginning in 7 hours.
handbills.
Princess hall ** It was given at the disposal of improviser. Scaffolds were erected; chairs arranged in twelve rows; appointed day, from seven o'clock in the evening, the hall was lit, at the door in front of a table for the sale of admission tickets and sat Dolgonosov old woman in gray hat with feathers and bruised with rings on all fingers. At the entrance stood the gendarmes. The crowd began to gather. Charskii came first. He took a large part in the success of the presentation and wanted to see improviser, to find out, Did he all happy. He found the Italian in a side room, impatiently looking at his watch. The Italian was dressed theatrically; He was dressed in black from head to toe; lace collar of his shirt was thrown back, naked neck his strange whiteness clearly separated from the thick, black beard, tufts of hair drooping overshadowed his forehead and eyebrows. All this is not like Charsky, which was unpleasant to see the poet in clothes clown coaching. He returned after a brief conversation in the hall, which is more and more filled.
Soon all the rows of seats were occupied by brilliant ladies; men have become constrained Ramah scaffolding, along the walls, and the latest chairs. Musicians with their pulpitrami occupied both sides of the trestle. In the middle stood a porcelain vase on the table. The audience was plentiful. All look forward to; Finally half Eighth musicians bustled, We prepared bows and began to play the overture of "Tancred *". All fell silent and sat down, the last sounds of the overture rocked ... and improviser, met resounding splash, rising up on all sides, I am approaching with low bows to the very edge of the platform.
Charskii anxiously waiting, What impression will make the first minute, but he noticed, that outfit, which seemed to him as indecent, He did not produce the same effect on the audience. Charskii himself did not find anything funny in it, when I saw him on the stage, with a pale face, brightly lit lots of candles and lamps. the splash subsided; Italian voices fell silent ..., shall declare to the poor French, I ask the Lord to appoint a visitor several topics, writing them on special pieces of paper. At this unexpected invitation to all silently looked at each other and no one answered,. Italian, waiting a little, He repeated his request timid and humble voice. Charskii stood right under the scaffolding; he was overcome by anxiety; he had a presentiment, that it will not do without him, and that he will be forced to write his theme. Indeed, several women's heads turned to him and began to call its first softly, then louder and louder. Hearing his name, improviser found his eyes at his feet, and gave him a pencil and piece of paper with a friendly smile. Play a role in this comedy seemed very disagreeable Charsky, but there was nothing; He picked up a pencil and paper out of Italian hands, I wrote a few words; Italian, taking with vase table, I came down from the stage, He brought it Charsky, who threw in her own theme. Ego example podeystvoval; two journalists, as writers, pochli Responsibilities write each on; Secretary of the Neapolitan Embassy and a young man, recently returned from a trip, raving about Florence, They put in an urn their folded paper; finally, one ugly girl, on his mother's orders, tearfully I wrote a few lines in Italian and, blushing to the ears, I gave them improviser, whereas ladies looked at her silently, with a faint grin. Returning to their scaffolding, improviser put the box on the table and began to take out the papers one by one, each reading aloud:
Cenci family *.
(The family of the Cenci.)
On the last day of Pompeia.
Cleopatra and her lovers.
Spring view from a prison.
The triumph of Tasso. #
- What would you have a respectable audience? - I asked the humble Italian, - Do I myself will appoint one of the suggested items, or give to solve this lot?..
- Draw!.. - said a voice from the crowd.
- Draw, lot! - repeated public.
Improviser came down again from the stage, holding a box, and asked: "Who would want to remove the theme?"Improviser around pleading eyes first rows of chairs. None of the brilliant ladies, sitting here, I did not move. improvisation, not accustomed to northern indifference, it seemed, suffered ... he suddenly noticed on the side to raise the handle in a small white glove; he eagerly turned and walked over to the young majestic beauty, sitting on the edge of the second row. She got up without any embarrassment and with all kinds of simplicity dropped into the ballot box aristocratic handle and pulled out a bundle.
- Kindly expand and read, - I told her improviser. Beauty unfolded the paper and read aloud:
- Cleopatra and her lovers.
These words were uttered in a low voice, but in the room so quiet reigned, that everyone has heard of. Improviser bowed deeply beautiful lady with views of deep gratitude and returned to their scaffolding.
- Lord, - he said, addressed the audience, - lots appointed me to the subject of improvisation Cleopatra and her lovers. Pokorna ask the person, Liked this topic, I explain my thought: lovers of any question here, because the very great queen had none ... #
With these words, many men laughed loudly. Improviser bit confused.
- I would like to know, - he continued, - on some historical features hinted person, has chosen this topic ... I'll be very grateful, if anything it will express himself.
No one took the time to answer. Several ladies turnover eyes to the ugly girl, write the theme for his mother's orders. The poor girl noticed this unfavorable attention and so confused, tears were hanging on her eyelashes ... Charskii could not bear it and, turning to the improviser, I told him in Italian:
- Theme I proposed. I mean reading Aurelius Victor, who writes, if he appointed Cleopatra's death at the cost of his love, and that there were admirers, that such condition is not scared and will not turn away ... I think, but, that the subject a little bit difficult ... if you do not choose another?..
