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most amazing； of martyrs the strength。 Jesu most humble； of monks
the joy。 Jesu most merciful； of priests the sweetness。 Jesu most
charitable； of the fasting the continence。 Jesu most sweet； of
the just the joy。 Jesu most pure； of the celibates the chastity。
Jesu before all ages of sinners the salvation。 Jesu； son of God；
have mercy on me。〃
Every time he repeated the word 〃Jesu〃 his voice became more and
more wheezy。 At last he came to a stop； and holding up his
silk…lined cassock； and kneeling down on one knee； he stooped
down to the ground and the choir began to sing； repeating the
words； 〃Jesu； Son of God； have mercy on me；〃 and the convicts
fell down and rose again； shaking back the hair that was left on
their heads； and rattling with the chains that were bruising
their thin ankles。
This continued for a long time。 First came the glorification；
which ended with the words； 〃Have mercy on me。〃 Then more
glorifications； ending with 〃Alleluia！〃 And the convicts made the
sign of the cross； and bowed； first at each sentence； then after
every two and then after three； and all were very glad when the
glorification ended； and the priest shut the book with a sigh of
relief and retired behind the partition。 One last act remained。
The priest took a large； gilt cross； with enamel medallions at
the ends； from a table； and came out into the centre of the
church with it。 First the inspector came up and kissed the cross；
then the jailers； then the convicts； pushing and abusing each
other in whispers。 The priest； talking to the inspector； pushed
the cross and his hand now against the mouths and now against the
noses of the convicts； who were trying to kiss both the cross and
the hand of the priest。 And thus ended the Christian service；
intended for the comfort and the teaching of these strayed
brothers。
CHAPTER XL。
THE HUSKS OF RELIGION。
And none of those present； from the inspector down to Maslova；
seemed conscious of the fact that this Jesus； whose name the
priest repeated such a great number of times； and whom he praised
with all these curious expressions； had forbidden the very things
that were being done there； that He had prohibited not only this
meaningless much…speaking and the blasphemous incantation over
the bread and wine； but had also； in the clearest words；
forbidden men to call other men their master； and to pray in
temples； and had ordered that every one should pray in solitude；
had forbidden to erect temples； saying that He had come to
destroy them； and that one should worship； not in a temple； but
in spirit and in truth； and； above all； that He had forbidden not
only to judge； to imprison； to torment； to execute men； as was
being done here； but had prohibited any kind of violence； saying
that He had come to give freedom to the captives。
No one present seemed conscious that all that was going on here
was the greatest blasphemy and a supreme mockery of that same
Christ in whose name it was being done。 No one seemed to realise
that the gilt cross with the enamel medallions at the ends； which
the priest held out to the people to be kissed； was nothing but
the emblem of that gallows on which Christ had been executed for
denouncing just what was going on here。 That these priests； who
imagined they were eating and drinking the body and blood of
Christ in the form of bread and wine； did in reality eat and
drink His flesh and His blood； but not as wine and bits of bread；
but by ensnaring 〃these little ones〃 with whom He identified
Himself； by depriving them of the greatest blessings and
submitting them to most cruel torments； and by hiding from men
the tidings of great joy which He had brought。 That thought did
not enter into the mind of any one present。
The priest did his part with a quiet conscience； because he was
brought up from childhood to consider that the only true faith
was the faith which had been held by all the holy men of olden
times and was still held by the Church； and demanded by the State
authorities。 He did not believe that the bread turned into flesh；
that it was useful for the soul to repeat so many words； or that
he had actually swallowed a bit of God。 No one could believe
this； but he believed that one ought to hold this faith。 What
strengthened him most in this faith was the fact that； for
fulfilling the demands of this faith； he had for the last 15
years been able to draw an income； which enabled him to keep his
family； send his son to a gymnasium and his daughter to a school
for the daughters of the clergy。 The deacon believed in the same
manner； and even more firmly than the priest； for he had
forgotten the substance of the dogmas of this faith； and knew
only that the prayers for the dead； the masses； with and without
the acathistus； all had a definite price； which real Christians
readily paid； and； therefore； he called out his 〃have mercy； have
mercy；〃 very willingly； and read and said what was appointed；
with the same quiet certainty of its being necessary to do so
with which other men sell faggots； flour； or potatoes。 The prison
inspector and the warders； though they had never understood or
gone into the meaning of these dogmas and of all that went on in
church； believed that they must believe； because the higher
authorities and the Tsar himself believed in it。 Besides； though
faintly （and themselves unable to explain why）； they felt that
this faith defended their cruel occupations。 If this faith did
not exist it would have been more difficult； perhaps impossible；
for them to use all their powers to torment people； as they were
now doing； with a quiet conscience。 The inspector was such a
kind…hearted man that he could not have lived as he was now
living unsupported by his faith。 Therefore； he stood motionless；
bowed and crossed himself zealously； tried to feel touched when
the song about the cherubims was being sung； and when the
children received communion he lifted one of them； and held him
up to the priest with his own hands。
The great majority of the prisoners believed that there lay a
mystic power in these gilt images； these vestments； candles；
cups； crosses； and this repetition of incomprehensible words；
〃Jesu sweetest〃 and 〃have mercy〃a power through which might be
obtained much convenience in this and in the future life。 Only a
few clearly saw the deception that was practised on the people
who adhered to this faith； and laughed at it in their hearts； but
the majority； having made several attempts to get the
conveniences they desired； by means of prayers； masses； and
candles； and not having got them （their prayers remaining
unanswered）； were each of them convinced that their want of
success was accidental； and that this organisation； approved by
the educated and by archbishops； is very important and necessary；
if not for this； at any rate for the next life。
Maslova also believed in this way。 She felt； like the rest； a
mixed sensation of piety and dulness。 She stood at first in a
crowd behind a railing； so that she could see no one but her
companions； but when those to receive communion moved on； she
and Theodosia stepped to the front； and they saw the inspector；
and； behind him； standing among the warders； a little peasant；
with a very light beard and fair hair。 This was Theodosia's
husband； and he was gazing with fixed eyes at his wife。 During
the acathistus Maslova occupied herself in scrutinising him and
talking to Theodosia in whispers； and bowed and made the sign of
the cross only when every one else did。
CHAPTER XLI。
VISITING DAYTHE MEN'S WARD。
Nekhludoff left home early。 A peasant from the country was still
driving along the side street and calling out in a voice peculiar
to his trade； 〃Milk！ milk！ milk！〃
The first warm spring rain had fallen the day before； and now
wherever the ground was not paved the grass shone green。 The
birch trees in the gardens looked as if they were strewn with
green fluff； the wild cherry and the poplars unrolled their long；
balmy buds； and in shops and dwelling…houses the double
window…frames were being removed and the windows cleaned。
In the Tolkoochi ＇literally； jostling market； where second…hand
clothes and all sorts of cheap goods are sold＇ market； which
Nekhludoff had to pass on his way； a dense crowd was surging
along the row of booths； and tattered men walked about selling
top…boots； which they carried under their arms； and renovated
trousers and waistcoats； which hung over their shoulders。
Men in clean coats and shining boots； liberated from the
factories； it being Sunday； and women with bright silk kerchiefs
on their heads and cloth jackets trimmed with jet； were already
thronging at the door of the traktir。 Policemen； with yellow
cords to their uniforms and carrying pistols； were on duty；
looking out for some disorder which might distract the ennui that
oppressed them。 On the paths of the boulevards and on the
newly…revived grass； children and dogs ran about； playing； and
the nurses sat merrily chattering on the benches。 Along the
streets； still fresh and damp on the shady side； but dry in the
middle； heavy carts rumbled unceasingly； cabs rattled and
tramcars passed ringing by。 The a