Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/128

question, Did he know a wonderful poem of Dobrolyubov's beginning, 'Let me die—small cause for grief'?^[1] and thereupon read it to him—also not very well—in a rather childish manner.

Nezhdanov observed that it was bitter and painful to the last degree, and then added that he, Nezhdanov, could never have written such a poem, because he had no reason to be afraid of tears over his grave . . . there would be none.

'There will be, if I outlive you,' Marianna articulated slowly; and raising her eyes to the

1. ↑
   And let me die—small cause for grief;One thought alone frets my sick mind;That death may chance to playAn unkind jest with me.
   

   I dread lest over my cold corpseThe scalding tears should flow;And lest some one with stupid zealLay flowers upon my bier;
   

   Lest flocking round in unfeigned grief.My friends walk after it to the grave;Lest as I lie under the earth,I may become one loved and prized;
   

   Lest all so eagerly desired,And so in vain by me—in life,May smile on me consolinglyAbove the stone that marks my grave.Dobr., Works, vol. iv, p. 615,