Page 290 - the-idiot

She forbids his name to be mentioned before her, and they
only meet when unavoidable. He understands, well enough!
But it must be gone through She is restless, mocking, deceit-
ful, violent....’
‘Deceitful and violent?’
‘Yes, violent. I can give you a proof of it. A few days ago
she tried to pull my hair because I said something that an-
noyed her. I tried to soothe her by reading the Apocalypse
aloud.’
‘What?’ exclaimed the prince, thinking he had not heard
aright.
‘By reading the Apocalypse. The lady has a restless imag-
ination, he-he! She has a liking for conversation on serious
subjects, of any kind; in fact they please her so much, that
it flatters her to discuss them. Now for fifteen years at least
I have studied the Apocalypse, and she agrees with me in
thinking that the present is the epoch represented by the
third horse, the black one whose rider holds a measure in
his hand. It seems to me that everything is ruled by mea-
sure in our century; all men are clamouring for their rights;
‘a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of bar-
ley for a penny.’ But, added to this, men desire freedom of
mind and body, a pure heart, a healthy life, and all God’s
good gifts. Now by pleading their rights alone, they will
never attain all this, so the white horse, with his rider Death,
comes next, and is followed by Hell. We talked about this
matter when we met, and it impressed her very much.’
‘Do you believe all this?’ asked Muishkin, looking curi-
ously at his companion.