You, brother Gavryl, did wrong to strike a woman who was in delicate health.

It was a lucky thing for you that God had mercy on you and that the woman did not die, for if she had I know not what dire misfortune might have overtaken you! It will not do either of you any good to go on living as you are at present.

Go, Gavryl, and make friends with Ivan; I am sure he will forgive you, and we will set aside the verdict just given." The secretary on hearing this said: "It is impossible to do this on the present case.

According to Article 117 this matter has gone too far to be settled peaceably now, as the verdict has been rendered and must be enforced." But the judges would not listen to the secretary, saying to him: "You talk altogether too much.

You must remember that the first thing is to fulfill God's command to 'Love thy neighbor as thyself,' and all will be well with you." Thus with kind words the judges tried to reconcile the two peasants.
Their words fell on stony ground, however, for Gavryl would not listen to them.
"I am fifty years old," said Gavryl, "and have a son married, and never from my birth has the lash been applied to my back; but now this bear Ivan has secured a verdict against me which condemns me to receive twenty lashes, and I am forced to bow to this decision and suffer the shame of a public beating.