Short Fiction by Leo Tolstoy (book reader for pc TXT) 📕

As to international politics, the devil of murder proposed the following scheme:

“We manage thus: We persuade each nation that it⁠—this nation⁠—is the very best of all nations on earth. ‘Deutschland über alles;’ France, England, Russia ‘über alles,’ and that this nation, whichever it be, ought to rule over all the others. As we inculcate the same idea into all nations, they continually feel themselves in danger from their neighbors⁠—are always preparing to defend themselves, and become exasperated against each other. The more one side prepares for defence, and, in consequence, becomes exasperated against its neighbors, the more all the others prepare for defence and hate each other. So, now all those who have accepted the teaching of him who called us murderers, are continually and chiefly occupied in preparation for murder and in murder itself.”

As to marriage, Beelzebub explained his mode of procedure as follows:

“We do this both according to the old method used by thee, our father and ruler, when yet in the garden of Eden, and which gave over all the human race into our power, but we do it also in a new ecclesiastical way. According to the new ecclesiastical method we proceed thus: We persuade men that true marriage consists not in what it really consists, the union of man and woman, but in dressing oneself up in one’s best clothes, going into a big building arranged for the purpose, and there putting on one’s head caps specially prepared for the occasion, walking round a little table three times to the sound of various songs. We teach men that this only is true marriage. Being persuaded of this, they naturally regard all unions between man and woman formed outside of these conditions as mere frolics binding one to nothing, or as the satisfaction of a hygienic necessity, and therefore they unrestrainedly give themselves up to this pleasure.⁠ ⁠…

“In this way, while not abandoning the former method of forbidden fruit and inquisitiveness practised in Eden, we attain the very best results, men imagining that they can arrange for themselves an honest ecclesiastical marriage even after a dissolute life: men change hundreds of wives and thus become so accustomed to vice that they go on doing the same after the Church marriage. If for any reason, any of the demands connected with their Church marriage appear to them cumbersome, then they arrange another walk round the little table, whilst the first is regarded as of no effect.”

In order to prevent people from investigating the real cause of all unhappiness on earth, Satan invented science and makes people investigate all kinds of physical laws, the descent of man, etc. He thus succeeds in covering up the important religious truth of the Golden Rule. For the sake of increasing the toil of man, machinery was introduced. The devil of the labor question says: “I persuade men that as articles can be produced better by machines than by men, it is therefore necessary to turn men into machines, and they do this, and the men turned into machines hate those who have done so unto them.”

Tolstoy winds up his statements as follows: “The devils encircled Beelzebub. At one end was the devil in the cape⁠—the inventor of the Church; at the other end the devil in the mantle⁠—the inventor of Science. These devils clasped each other’s paws, and the ring was complete.

“All the devils chuckling, yelping, whistling, cracking their heels and twisting their tails, spun and danced around Beelzebub. Beelzebub, himself flapping his unfolded wings, danced in the middle, kicking up high his legs.

“Above were heard cries, weeping, groans, and the gnashing of teeth.” ↩

In this story Tolstoy has used the names of real people. Esarhaddon (or Assur-akhi-iddina) is mentioned three times in the Bible (2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38, and Ezra 4:2), and is also alluded to in 2 Chronicles 33:11, as, “the King of Assyria, which took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” His son, Assur-bani-pal, whom he promoted to power before his own death, is once mentioned in the Bible, under the name of Asnapper (Ezra 4:10). Of Lailie history does not tell us much; but in Ernest A. Budge’s History of Esarhaddon we read: “A King, called Lailie, asked that the gods which Esarhaddon had captured from him might be restored. His request was granted, and Esarhaddon said, ‘I spoke to him of brotherhood, and entrusted to him the sovereignty of the districts of Bazu.’ ” ↩

1s. 2d. ↩

4s. ↩

£300. ↩

Not meant as a claim to relationship, but merely as a friendly form of greeting. ↩

A mineral water from the Caucasus. ↩

Brother of Alexander I and Nicholas I. He was in command in Poland from 1816, and provoked the insurrection of 1830 by his harsh military rule. ↩

“To make him sit up for it.” ↩

Between £4,000 and £5,000. ↩

About £30. The purchasing power of money at that time in Poland and Russia was very much greater than it now is. ↩

The Decembrists attempted, by a conspiracy, to secure Constitutional government for Russia after the death of Alexander I, in 1825. ↩

A strong conveyance, with poles for springs, specially adapted for rough travelling. ↩

The Russian equivalent to a cabman. ↩

The Cossack leader of a formidable peasant rising. He was executed in 1775. ↩

“Each man makes his bed, and must sleep on it.” ↩

The Tsar’s orders are so called, in official parlance. ↩

“I become savage when I think of that accursed brood!” ↩

That is to say, books and