Well, people are satisfied with this petrification, they accommodate themselves to it, make the most of it, conduct business on it, and live as usual.

Society goes on, and plenty of worthy folk are well pleased with this state of things.

Why do you want to change it, to put an end to it?
Don't deceive yourselves, it is all solid, all firm; it is the present and the future." We are in Russia.

The Neva is frozen over.

Houses are built on the ice, and heavy chariots roll over it.