But there, I have forgotten what is most important: when you come to see me, gentlemen, take the high road straight to Dikanka. I have put the name on my title-page on purpose that our village may be more easily found. You have heard enough about Dikanka, I have no doubt, and indeed there is a house there finer than the beekeeper’s cottage: and, I need say nothing about the park: I don’t suppose you would find anything like it in your Petersburg. When you reach Dikanka you need only ask any little boy in a dirty shirt minding geese: ‘Where does the beekeeper, Rudy Panko, live?’ ‘Yonder,’ he will say, pointing with his finger, and if you like he will lead you to the village. But there is one thing I must ask you, not to walk here lost in thought, nor to be too clever, in fact, for our village roads are not so smooth as those before your mansions. The year before last Foma Grigoryevitch driving from Dikanka fell into a ditch, with his new trap and bay mare and all, though he was driving himself and put on a pair of spectacles too.
But, when you do arrive, we will give you melons such as you have never tasted in your life, I expect; and you will find no better honey in any village, I will take my oath on that. Just fancy, when you bring in the comb the scent in the room is something you can’t imagine; it is clear as a tear or a costly crystal such as you see in ear-rings. And what pies my old woman will feed you on! What pies, if only you knew: simply sugar, perfect sugar! And the butter fairly melts on your lips when you begin to eat them. Really, when one comes to think of it, what can’t these women do! Have you, friends, ever tasted pear kvass [5] flavoured with sloes, [6] or raisin and plum vodka? Or frumenty [7] with milk? Good heavens, what dainties there are in the world! As soon as you begin eating them, it is a treat and no mistake: too good for words! Last year . . . But how I am running on! Only come, make haste and come; and we will give you such good things that you will talk about them to every one you meet.
Rudy Panko