The law of God is not to return evil for evil; indeed, if you try in this way to stamp out wickedness it will come upon you all the stronger.

It is not difficult for you to kill the man, but his blood will surely stain your own soul.

You may think you have killed a bad man--that you have gotten rid of evil--but you will soon find out that the seeds of still greater wickedness have been planted within you.

If you yield to misfortune it will surely come to you." As Peter was not without sympathizers among the peasants, the poor serfs were consequently divided into two groups: the followers of Vasili and those who held the views of Mikhayeff.
On Easter Sunday no work was done.

Toward the evening an elder came to the peasants from the nobleman's court and said: "Our superintendent, Michael Simeonovitch, orders you to go to-morrow to plough the field for the oats." Thus the official went through the village and directed the men to prepare for work the next day--some by the river and others by the roadway.