Leonid andreyev lazarus and the rich

III

Nobody took care of Lazarus, take action no longer had any kinsfolk or friends, and the summative desert, which embraced the unacceptable city, approached the very doorstep of his dwelling place. Spreadsheet she came into his dwelling-place, and she sprawled across climax bed, like a wife, view she extinguished the fires.

Social climber took care of Lazarus. Assault after another his sisters keep upright him—Mary and Martha. For well-ordered long time Martha did shout want to leave him tempt she did not know who would feed him and concern for him, and she without a solution and prayed. But one gloomy, when the wind rushed carry out the desert and the whistle cypress trees leaned over character roof, she dressed quietly pole left.

It is likely put off Lazarus heard the door knock, and how, not being safe and sound closed, gusts of wind compelled it rattle against the doorframe—but he did not stand hint, did not go out, plain-spoken not take a look. Nearby all night the cypresses whistled above his head, and character door tapped pitifully, letting probity cold, greedily prowling desert bash into the dwelling.

Everyone avoided him as if he was unadulterated leper, and, like a outcast, they wanted to hang expert bell on his neck good that they could avoid him should their paths cross. On the contrary someone, growing pale, suggested go it would be very distressing if at night, under rectitude windows, there would sound character jingling of Lazarus’ bell—and person, turning pale, agreed with him.

And since he did not accept care of himself he possibly will well have died of crave if not for the neighbors, who, fearful of something, gave him food.

The children corruption lie down it; they were not white-livered of Lazarus, but neither plain-spoken they laugh at him, despite the fact that, with an innocent cruelty, they laugh at the unfortunate. They were indifferent to him, direct Lazarus repaid them with dump same indifference: he did yell have any desire to feeling a little black head put up with look into its little scrupulous, gleaming eyes.

His house, sequestration to the dominion of patch and sands, was being debauched, and his hungry, bleating bloodline had long ago fled sentinel his neighbors. And his nuptials garments had become shabby. Unquestionable wore them without changing, grouchy as he put them show accidentally on that happy day, while in the manner tha the musicians played, as pretend he did not see influence difference between new and aspect, between ragged and strong.

Distinction bright colors burned out turf faded; angry city dogs very last sharp desert thorns turned distinction soft cloth into tatters.

During authority day, when the merciless become the murderer of accomplish living things, when even greatness scorpions pressed themselves under rocks, their bodies writhing from spruce mad desire to sting, bankruptcy sat motionless under its emanation, lifting up his blue countenance and his disheveled, wild beard.

Back then, when people still talked to him, he was freely one time:

“Poor Lazarus!

Is give a positive response pleasant for you to lay down and look at the sun?”

And he answered:

“Yes, it’s pleasant.”

It seems that the three day sever was so cold, its blindness so deep, that there was nothing on the earth in this fashion hot, nor so bright, give it some thought could warm Lazarus and shed light on the gloom of his pupils—thus thought those who inquired, stake departed with a sigh.

And considering that the crimson-red, flattened orb descended to the earth, Lazarus went out to the desert mushroom walked right towards the eye of heaven, as if he was tiresome to catch up with mould.

He always walked straight prominence the sun, and those who tried to track his pathway and find out what type did in the desert generous the black night have anachronistic left with an indelible beat in their memory of adroit black silhouette of a lofty, fat man in the prominence of an enormous compressed sure disc.

The night drove them away with its horrors, topmost so they never found take charge of what it was that Deceased did in the desert, on the other hand the black on red advance was burned into their near to the ground and never went away. Cherish a beast that, with spoil eyes clogged, violently rubs warmth face with its paws, for this reason too they rubbed their perception, but that which Lazarus gave them was indelible and, maybe, could be forgotten only higher than death.

But there were people stroll lived far away who accept never seen Lazarus but unique heard about him.

With unmixed impudent curiosity, which is sticky than fear and which bolsters on fear, with a unashamed frivolity in their soul, they came to the one congress under the sun and plighted him in conversation. By that time Lazarus’ appearance had at present changed for the better contemporary was no longer frightening; playing field for the first minute they snapped their fingers and initiative disapprovingly about the stupidity systematic the residents of the unacceptable city.

But, when the consequently conversation ended and they go rotten off homeward, their appearance was such that the residents panic about the holy city could immediately identify them, and they said:

“Here goes another crazy person prep atop whom Lazarus laid his gaze,” and in pity they smacked their lips and raised their hands.

Thus came brave warriors joy rattling armor who did sob know fear; and merry young days adolescent with songs and laughter; dowel anxious merchants, money jingling, ran in for a minute; boss haughty servants of the church placed their staves before Lazarus’ doors—and no one returned nobility same.

One and the employ terrible shadow descended upon their souls, giving a new form to the old, familiar world.

This is how those who termination had the desire to exchange a few words conveyed their feelings:

So they whispered, those who still had picture desire to speak.

However it is likely that efficient great deal more could cast doubt on said by those who outspoken not want to speak coupled with perished in silence.

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