10 The Brothers Karamazov
hurry and worry yourself. There’s no need to hurry now.
Now the world has taken a new turning. Ah, Alyosha, what
a pity you can’t understand ecstasy. But what am I saying to
him? As though you didn’t understand it. What an ass I am!
What am I saying? ‘Be noble, O man!’- who says that?’
Alyosha made up his mind to wait. He felt that, perhaps,
indeed, his work lay here. Mitya sank into thought for a mo-
ment, with his elbow on the table and his head in his hand.
Both were silent.
‘Alyosha,’ said Mitya, ‘you’re the only one who won’t
laugh. I should like to begin — my confession — with Schil-
ler’s Hymn to Joy, An die Freude! I don’t know German, I
only know it’s called that. Don’t think I’m talking nonsense
because I’m drunk. I’m not a bit drunk. Brandy’s all very
well, but I need two bottles to make me drunk:
Silenus with his rosy phiz
Upon his stumbling ass.
But I’ve not drunk a quarter of a bottle, and I’m not Si-
lenus. I’m not Silenus, though I am strong,* for I’ve made a
decision once for all. Forgive me the pun; you’ll have to for-
give me a lot more than puns to-day. Don’t be uneasy. I’m
not spinning it out. I’m talking sense, and I’ll come to the
point in a minute. I won’t keep you in suspense. Stay, how
does it go?’
- In Russian, silen.
He raised his head, thought a minute, and began with
enthusiasm:
Wild and fearful in his cavern
Hid the naked troglodyte,