SORIN。Thepoorsoulisunhappy。
DORN。Thatisatrifle，yourhonour。
SORIN。Youjudgeherlikeamanwhohasobtainedallhewantsinlife。
ARKADINA。Oh，whatcouldbedullerthanthisdeartediumofthecountry？Theairishotandstill，nobodydoesanythingbutsitandphilosophiseaboutlife。Itispleasant，myfriends，tositandlistentoyouhere，butIhadratherathousandtimessitaloneintheroomofahotellearningarolebyheart。
NINA。[Withenthusiasm]Youarequiteright。Iunderstandhowyoufeel。
SORIN。Ofcourseitispleasantertoliveintown。Onecansitinone’slibrarywithatelephoneatone’selbow，noonecomesinwithoutbeingfirstannouncedbythefootman，thestreetsarefullofcabs，andall———
DORN。[Sings]
\"Tellher，ohflowers———\"
SHAMRAEFFcomesin，followedbyPAULINA。
SHAMRAEFF。Heretheyare。Howdoyoudo？[HekissesARKADINA’S
handandthenNINA’S]Iamdelightedtoseeyoulookingsowell。
[ToARKADINA]Mywifetellsmethatyoumeantogototownwithherto—day。Isthatso？
ARKADINA。Yes，thatiswhatIhadplannedtodo。
SHAMRAEFF。Hm——thatissplendid，buthowdoyouintendtogetthere，madam？Wearehaulingryeto—day，andallthemenarebusy。Whathorseswouldyoutake？
ARKADINA。Whathorses？HowdoIknowwhathorsesweshallhave？
SORIN。Why，wehavethecarriagehorses。
SHAMRAEFF。Thecarriagehorses！AndwhereamItofindtheharnessforthem？Thisisastonishing！Mydearmadam，Ihavethegreatestrespectforyourtalents，andwouldgladlysacrificetenyearsofmylifeforyou，butIcannotletyouhaveanyhorsesto—day。
ARKADINA。ButifImustgototown？Whatanextraordinarystateofaffairs！
SHAMRAEFF。Youdonotknow，madam，whatitistorunafarm。
ARKADINA。[Inaburstofanger]Thatisanoldstory！UnderthesecircumstancesIshallgobacktoMoscowthisveryday。Orderacarriageformefromthevillage，orIshallgotothestationonfoot。
SHAMRAEFF。[losinghistemper]UnderthesecircumstancesIresignmyposition。Youmustfindyourselfanothermanager。[Hegoesout。]
ARKADINA。Itislikethiseverysummer:everysummerIaminsultedhere。Ishallneversetfoothereagain。
Shegoesouttotheleft，inthedirectionofthewharf。Inafewminutessheisseenenteringthehouse，followedbyTRIGORIN，whocarriesabucketandfishing—rod。
SORIN。[Losinghistemper]Whatthedeucedidhemeanbyhisimpudence？Iwantallthehorsesbroughthereatonce！
NINA。[ToPAULINA]HowcouldherefuseanythingtoMadameArkadina，thefamousactress？Isnoteverywish，everycapriceeven，ofhers，moreimportantthananyfarmwork？Thisisincredible。
PAULINA。[Indespair]WhatcanIdoaboutit？PutyourselfinmyplaceandtellmewhatIcando。
SORIN。[ToNINA]Letusgoandfindmysister，andallbeghernottogo。[HelooksinthedirectioninwhichSHAMRAEFFwentout]Thatmanisinsufferable;aregulartyrant。
NINA。[Preventinghimfromgettingup]Sitstill，sitstill，andletuswheelyou。[SheandMEDVIEDENKOpushthechairbeforethem]Thisisterrible！
SORIN。Yes，yes，itisterrible;buthewon’tleave。Ishallhaveatalkwithhiminamoment。[Theygoout。OnlyDORNandPAULINA
areleft。]
DORN。Howtiresomepeopleare！Yourhusbanddeservestobethrownoutofhereneckandcrop，butitwillallendbythisoldgrannySorinandhissisteraskingtheman’spardon。Seeifitdoesn’t。
PAULINA。Hehassentthecarriagehorsesintothefieldstoo。
Thesemisunderstandingsoccureveryday。Ifyouonlyknewhowtheyexciteme！Iamill;see！Iamtremblingallover！Icannotendurehisroughways。[Imploringly]Eugene，mydarling，mybeloved，takemetoyou。Ourtimeisshort;wearenolongeryoung;letusenddeceptionandconcealment，eventhoughitisonlyattheendofourlives。[Apause。]
DORN。Iamfifty—fiveyearsold。Itistoolatenowformetochangemywaysofliving。
PAULINA。Iknowthatyourefusemebecausethereareotherwomenwhoareneartoyou，andyoucannottakeeverybody。Iunderstand。
Excuseme——IseeIamonlybotheringyou。
NINAisseennearthehousepickingabunchofflowers。
DORN。No，itisallright。
PAULINA。Iamtorturedbyjealousy。Ofcourseyouareadoctorandcannotescapefromwomen。Iunderstand。
DORN。[TONINA，whocomestowardhim]Howarethingsinthere？
NINA。MadameArkadinaiscrying，andSorinishavinganattackofasthma。
DORN。Letusgoandgivethembothsomecamomiletea。
NINA。[Handshimthebunchofflowers]Herearesomeflowersforyou。
DORN。Thankyou。[Hegoesintothehouse。]
PAULINA。[Followinghim]Whatprettyflowers！[Astheyreachthehouseshesaysinalowvoice]Givemethoseflowers！Givethemtome！
DORNhandshertheflowers;shetearsthemtopiecesandflingsthemaway。Theybothgointothehouse。
NINA。[Alone]Howstrangetoseeafamousactressweeping，andforsuchatrifle！Isitnotstrange，too，thatafamousauthorshouldsitfishingallday？Heistheidolofthepublic，thepapersarefullofhim，hisphotographisforsaleeverywhere，hisworkshavebeentranslatedintomanyforeignlanguages，andyetheisoverjoyedifhecatchesacoupleofminnows。Ialwaysthoughtfamouspeopleweredistantandproud;Ithoughttheydespisedthecommoncrowdwhichexaltsrichesandbirth，andavengedthemselvesonitbydazzlingitwiththeinextinguishablehonourandgloryoftheirfame。ButhereIseethemweepingandplayingcardsandflyingintopassionslikeeverybodyelse。
TREPLIEFFcomesinwithoutahaton，carryingagunandadeadseagull。
TREPLIEFF。Areyoualonehere？
NINA。Yes。
TREPLIEFFlaysthesea—gullatherfeet。
NINA。Whatdoyoumeanbythis？
TREPLIEFF。Iwasbaseenoughto—daytokillthisgull。Ilayitatyourfeet。
NINA。Whatishappeningtoyou？[Shepicksupthegullandstandslookingatit。]
TREPLIEFF。[Afterapause]SoshallIsoonendmyownlife。
NINA。YouhavechangedsothatIfailtorecogniseyou。
TREPLIEFF。Yes，IhavechangedsincethetimewhenIceasedtorecogniseyou。Youhavefailedme;yourlookiscold;youdonotliketohavemenearyou。
NINA。Youhavegrownsoirritablelately，andyoutalksodarklyandsymbolicallythatyoumustforgivemeifIfailtofollowyou。Iamtoosimpletounderstandyou。
TREPLIEFF。Allthisbeganwhenmyplayfailedsodismally。A
womannevercanforgivefailure。Ihaveburntthemanuscripttothelastpage。Oh，ifyoucouldonlyfathommyunhappiness！Yourestrangementistometerrible，incredible;itisasifIhadsuddenlywakedtofindthislakedriedupandsunkintotheearth。Yousayyouaretoosimpletounderstandme;but，oh，whatistheretounderstand？Youdislikedmyplay，youhavenofaithinmypowers，youalreadythinkofmeascommonplaceandworthless，asmanyare。[Stampinghisfoot]HowwellIcanunderstandyourfeelings！Andthatunderstandingistomelikeadaggerinthebrain。Mayitbeaccursed，togetherwithmystupidity，whichsucksmylife—bloodlikeasnake！[HeseesTRIGORIN，whoapproachesreadingabook]Therecomesrealgenius，stridingalonglikeanotherHamlet，andwithabook，too。
[Mockingly]\"Words，words，words。\"Youfeelthewarmthofthatsunalready，yousmile，youreyesmeltandglowliquidinitsrays。Ishallnotdisturbyou。[Hegoesout。]
TRIGORIN。[Makingnotesinhisbook]Takessnuffanddrinksvodka;alwayswearsblackdresses;islovedbyaschoolteacher——
NINA。Howdoyoudo？
TRIGORIN。Howareyou，MissNina？Owingtoanunforeseendevelopmentofcircumstances，itseemsthatweareleavingheretoday。YouandIshallprobablyneverseeeachotheragain，andI
amsorryforit。Iseldommeetayoungandprettygirlnow;Icanhardlyrememberhowitfeelstobenineteen，andtheyounggirlsinmybooksareseldomlivingcharacters。Ishouldliketochangeplaceswithyou，ifbutforanhour，tolookoutattheworldthroughyoureyes，andsofindoutwhatsortofalittlepersonyouare。
NINA。AndIshouldliketochangeplaceswithyou。
TRIGORIN。Why？
NINA。Tofindouthowafamousgeniusfeels。Whatisitliketobefamous？Whatsensationsdoesitgiveyou？
TRIGORIN。Whatsensations？Idon’tbelieveitgivesany。
[Thoughtfully]Eitheryouexaggeratemyfame，orelse，ifitexists，allIcansayisthatonesimplydoesn’tfeelfameinanyway。
NINA。Butwhenyoureadaboutyourselfinthepapers？
TRIGORIN。Ifthecriticspraiseme，Iamhappy;iftheycondemnme，Iamoutofsortsforthenexttwodays。
NINA。Thisisawonderfulworld。IfyouonlyknewhowIenvyyou！
Menareborntodifferentdestinies。Somedullydragaweary，uselesslifebehindthem，lostinthecrowd，unhappy，whiletooneoutofamillion，astoyou，forinstance，comesabrightdestinyfullofinterestandmeaning。Youarelucky。
TRIGORIN。I，lucky？[Heshrugshisshoulders]H—m——Ihearyoutalkingaboutfame，andhappiness，andbrightdestinies，andthosefinewordsofyoursmeanasmuchtome——forgivemysayingso——assweetmeatsdo，whichInevereat。Youareveryyoung，andverykind。
NINA。Yourlifeisbeautiful。
TRIGORIN。Iseenothingespeciallylovelyaboutit。[Helooksathiswatch]Excuseme，Imustgoatonce，andbeginwritingagain。
Iaminahurry。[Helaughs]Youhavesteppedonmypetcorn，astheysay，andIamgettingexcited，andalittlecross。Letusdiscussthisbrightandbeautifullifeofmine，though。[Afterafewmoments’thought]Violentobsessionssometimeslayholdofaman:hemay，forinstance，thinkdayandnightofnothingbutthemoon。Ihavesuchamoon。DayandnightIamheldinthegripofonebesettingthought，towrite，write，write！HardlyhaveI
finishedonebookthansomethingurgesmetowriteanother，andthenathird，andthenafourth——Iwriteceaselessly。Iam，asitwere，onatreadmill。Ihurryforeverfromonestorytoanother，andcan’thelpmyself。Doyouseeanythingbrightandbeautifulinthat？Oh，itisawildlife！Evennow，thrilledasIambytalkingtoyou，Idonotforgetforaninstantthatanunfinishedstoryisawaitingme。Myeyefallsonthatcloudthere，whichhastheshapeofagrandpiano;IinstantlymakeamentalnotethatI
mustremembertomentioninmystoryacloudfloatingbythatlookedlikeagrandpiano。Ismellheliotrope;Imuttertomyself:asicklysmell，thecolourwornbywidows;Imustrememberthatinwritingmynextdescriptionofasummerevening。
Icatchanideaineverysentenceofyoursorofmyown，andhastentolockallthesetreasuresinmyliterarystore—room，thinkingthatsomedaytheymaybeusefultome。AssoonasI
stopworkingIrushofftothetheatreorgofishing，inthehopethatImayfindoblivionthere，butno！Somenewsubjectforastoryissuretocomerollingthroughmybrainlikeanironcannonball。Ihearmydeskcalling，andhavetogobacktoitandbegintowrite，write，write，oncemore。Andsoitgoesforeverlasting。Icannotescapemyself，thoughIfeelthatIamconsumingmylife。TopreparethehoneyIfeedtounknowncrowds，Iamdoomedtobrushthebloomfrommydearestflowers，totearthemfromtheirstems，andtrampletherootsthatborethemunderfoot。AmInotamadman？ShouldInotbetreatedbythosewhoknowmeasonementallydiseased？Yetitisalwaysthesame，sameoldstory，tillIbegintothinkthatallthispraiseandadmirationmustbeadeception，thatIambeinghoodwinkedbecausetheyknowIamcrazy，andIsometimestremblelestI
shouldbegrabbedfrombehindandwhiskedofftoalunaticasylum。Thebestyearsofmyyouthweremadeonecontinualagonyformebymywriting。Ayoungauthor，especiallyifatfirsthedoesnotmakeasuccess，feelsclumsy，ill—at—ease，andsuperfluousintheworld。Hisnervesareallonedgeandstretchedtothepointofbreaking;heisirresistiblyattractedtoliteraryandartisticpeople，andhoversaboutthemunknownandunnoticed，fearingtolookthembravelyintheeye，likeamanwithapassionforgambling，whosemoneyisallgone。Ididnotknowmyreaders，butforsomereasonIimaginedtheyweredistrustfulandunfriendly;Iwasmortallyafraidofthepublic，andwhenmyfirstplayappeared，itseemedtomeasifallthedarkeyesintheaudiencewerelookingatitwithenmity，andalltheblueoneswithcoldindifference。Oh，howterribleitwas！
Whatagony！
NINA。Butdon’tyourinspirationandtheactofcreationgiveyoumomentsofloftyhappiness？
TRIGORIN。Yes。Writingisapleasuretome，andsoisreadingtheproofs，butnosoonerdoesabookleavethepressthanitbecomesodioustome;itisnotwhatImeantittobe;Imadeamistaketowriteitatall;Iamprovokedanddiscouraged。Thenthepublicreadsitandsays:\"Yes，itiscleverandpretty，butnotnearlyasgoodasTolstoi，\"or\"Itisalovelything，butnotasgoodasTurgenieff’s’FathersandSons，’\"andsoitwillalwaysbe。TomydyingdayIshallhearpeoplesay:\"Cleverandpretty;
cleverandpretty，\"andnothingmore;andwhenIamgone，thosethatknewmewillsayastheypassmygrave:\"HereliesTrigorin，acleverwriter，buthewasnotasgoodasTurgenieff。\"
NINA。Youmustexcuseme，butIdeclinetounderstandwhatyouaretalkingabout。Thefactis，youhavebeenspoiltbyyoursuccess。
TRIGORIN。WhatsuccesshaveIhad？Ihaveneverpleasedmyself;
asawriter，Idonotlikemyselfatall。ThetroubleisthatI
ammadegiddy，asitwere，bythefumesofmybrain，andoftenhardlyknowwhatIamwriting。Ilovethislake，thesetrees，theblueheaven;nature’svoicespeakstomeandwakesafeelingofpassioninmyheart，andIamovercomebyanuncontrollabledesiretowrite。ButIamnotonlyapainteroflandscapes，Iamamanofthecitybesides。Ilovemycountry，too，andherpeople;Ifeelthat，asawriter，itismydutytospeakoftheirsorrows，oftheirfuture，alsoofscience，oftherightsofman，andsoforth。SoIwriteoneverysubject，andthepublichoundsmeonallsides，sometimesinanger，andIraceanddodgelikeafoxwithapackofhoundsonhistrail。Iseelifeandknowledgeflittingawaybeforeme。Iamleftbehindthemlikeapeasantwhohasmissedhistrainatastation，andfinallyIcomebacktotheconclusionthatallIamfitforistodescribelandscapes，andthatwhateverelseIattemptringsabominablyfalse。
NINA。Youworktoohardtorealisetheimportanceofyourwritings。Whatifyouarediscontentedwithyourself？Toothersyouappearagreatandsplendidman。IfIwereawriterlikeyouIshoulddevotemywholelifetotheserviceoftheRussianpeople，knowingatthesametimethattheirwelfaredependedontheirpowertorisetotheheightsIhadattained，andthepeopleshouldsendmebeforetheminachariotoftriumph。
TRIGORIN。Inachariot？DoyouthinkIamAgamemnon？[Theybothsmile。]
NINA。FortheblissofbeingawriteroranactressIcouldendurewant，anddisillusionment，andthehatredofmyfriends，andthepangsofmyowndissatisfactionwithmyself;butIshoulddemandinreturnfame，real，resoundingfame！[Shecoversherfacewithherhands]Whew！Myheadreels！
THEVOICEOFARKADINA。[Frominsidethehouse]Boris！Boris！
TRIGORIN。Sheiscallingme，probablytocomeandpack，butI
don’twanttoleavethisplace。[Hiseyesrestonthelake]Whatablessingsuchbeautyis！
NINA。Doyouseethathousethere，onthefarshore？
TRIGORIN。Yes。
NINA。Thatwasmydeadmother’shome。Iwasbornthere，andhavelivedallmylifebesidethislake。Iknoweverylittleislandinit。
TRIGORIN。Thisisabeautifulplacetolive。[Hecatchessightofthedeadsea—gull]Whatisthat？
NINA。Agull。Constantineshotit。
TRIGORIN。Whatalovelybird！Really，Ican’tbeartogoaway。
Can’tyoupersuadeIrinatostay？[Hewritessomethinginhisnote—book。]
NINA。Whatareyouwriting？
TRIGORIN。Nothingmuch，onlyanideathatoccurredtome。[Heputsthebookbackinhispocket]Anideaforashortstory。A
younggirlgrowsupontheshoresofalake，asyouhave。Shelovesthelakeasthegullsdo，andisashappyandfreeasthey。
Butamanseesherwhochancestocomethatway，andhedestroysheroutofidleness，asthisgullherehasbeendestroyed。[A
pause。ARKADINAappearsatoneofthewindows。]
ARKADINA。Boris！Whereareyou？
TRIGORIN。Iamcomingthisminute。
Hegoestowardthehouse，lookingbackatNINA。ARKADINAremainsatthewindow。
TRIGORIN。Whatdoyouwant？
ARKADINA。Wearenotgoingaway，afterall。
TRIGORINgoesintothehouse。NINAcomesforwardandstandslostinthought。
NINA。Itisadream！
Thecurtainfalls。
ACTIII
Thedining—roomofSORIN’Shouse。Doorsopenoutofittotherightandleft。Atablestandsinthecentreoftheroom。Trunksandboxesencumberthefloor，andpreparationsfordepartureareevident。TRIGORINissittingatatableeatinghisbreakfast，andMASHAisstandingbesidehim。
MASHA。Iamtellingyouallthesethingsbecauseyouwritebooksandtheymaybeusefultoyou。Itellyouhonestly，Ishouldnothavelivedanotherdayifhehadwoundedhimselffatally。YetI
amcourageous;Ihavedecidedtotearthisloveofmineoutofmyheartbytheroots。
TRIGORIN。Howwillyoudoit？
MASHA。BymarryingMedviedenko。
TRIGORIN。Theschool—teacher？
MASHA。Yes。
TRIGORIN。Idon’tseethenecessityforthat。
MASHA。Oh，ifyouknewwhatitistolovewithouthopeforyearsandyears，towaitforeverforsomethingthatwillnevercome！I
shallnotmarryforlove，butmarriagewillatleastbeachange，andwillbringnewcarestodeadenthememoriesofthepast。
Shallwehaveanotherdrink？
TRIGORIN。Haven’tyouhadenough？
MASHA。Fiddlesticks！[Shefillsaglass]Don’tlookatmewiththatexpressiononyourface。Womendrinkoftenerthanyouimagine，butmostofthemdoitinsecret，andnotopenly，asI
do。Theydoindeed，anditisalwayseithervodkaorbrandy。
[Theytouchglasses]Toyourgoodhealth！YouaresoeasytogetonwiththatIamsorrytoseeyougo。[Theydrink。]
TRIGORIN。AndIamsorrytoleave。
MASHA。Youshouldaskhertostay。
TRIGORIN。Shewouldnotdothatnow。Hersonhasbeenbehavingoutrageously。Firstheattemptedsuicide，andnowIhearheisgoingtochallengemetoaduel，thoughwhathisprovocationmaybeIcan’timagine。Heisalwayssulkingandsneeringandpreachingaboutanewformofart，asifthefieldofartwerenotlargeenoughtoaccommodatebotholdandnewwithoutthenecessityofjostling。