To N. N. Zlatovratsky, 8 August 1888. Sumy.
Н. Н. ЗЛАТОВРАТСКОМУ, 8 августа 1888 г. Сумы,
Headnote
1 Written from Sumy on 8 August 1888, just after Chekhov’s return from a month’s travel through the Crimea and the Caucasus, this short and unusually formal note answers an invitation from Nikolai Nikolaevich Zlatovratsky, a prominent populist ("narodnik") writer, editor, and one of the planned contributors to a new journal, "Epokha" ("The Epoch"). The letter opens with the stiff, old-fashioned salutation "Dear Sir" before turning, in its next line, to address Zlatovratsky directly by name and patronymic – a single continuous address to Zlatovratsky himself, not a greeting to one man followed by a reference to another.
VIII. 8.
VIII. 8.
Dear Sir,
Милостивый государь
Nikolai Nikolaevich – I received your letter only yesterday, on returning from the Caucasus. My delay in answering was not of my own choosing.
Николай Николаевич! Ваше письмо я получил только вчера, вернувшись из Кавказа. Невольно промедлил ответом.
I thank you for your kind invitation, and gladly answer it with a lively readiness to be of use to your journal. Such as I have, I offer gladly: if I manage to write something for one of the first issues, I shall not be slow in sending it along, and in the meantime allow me to wish "Epokha" every success, and to remain, sincerely, your respectful
Благодарю Вас за любезное приглашение и, конечно, отвечаю на него живою готовностью быть полезным Вашему журналу. Чем богат, тем и рад: если сумею написать что-нибудь для одной из первых книжек, то не замедлю прислать, а пока позвольте пожелать "Эпохе" успеха и оставаться искренно уважающим Вас