Boris Godunov Part 15

BOYARS. We swear.

TSAR. I am content. Forgive me Both my temptations and my sins, my wilful And secret injuries.--Now, holy father, Approach thou; I am ready for the rite.

(The rite of the tonsure begins. The women are carried out swooning.)

A TENT

BASMANOV leads in PUSHKIN

BASMANOV. Here enter, and speak freely. So to me He sent thee.

PUSHKIN. He doth offer thee his friends.h.i.+p And the next place to his in the realm of Moscow.

BASMANOV. But even thus highly by Feodor am I Already raised; the army I command; For me he scorned n.o.bility of rank And the wrath of the boyars. I have sworn to him Allegiance.

PUSHKIN. To the throne's lawful successor Allegiance thou hast sworn; but what if one More lawful still be living?

BASMANOV. Listen, Pushkin: Enough of that; tell me no idle tales!

I know the man.

PUSHKIN. Russia and Lithuania Have long acknowledged him to be Dimitry; But, for the rest, I do not vouch for it.

Perchance he is indeed the real Dimitry; Perchance but a pretender; only this I know, that soon or late the son of Boris Will yield Moscow to him.

BASMANOV. So long as I Stand by the youthful tsar, so long he will not Forsake the throne. We have enough of troops, Thank G.o.d! With victory I will inspire them.

And whom will you against me send, the Cossack Karel or Mnishek? Are your numbers many?

In all, eight thousand.

PUSHKIN. You mistake; they will not Amount even to that. I say myself Our army is mere trash, the Cossacks only Rob villages, the Poles but brag and drink; The Russians--what shall I say?--with you I'll not Dissemble; but, Basmanov, dost thou know Wherein our strength lies? Not in the army, no.

Nor Polish aid, but in opinion--yes, In popular opinion. Dost remember The triumph of Dimitry, dost remember His peaceful conquests, when, without a blow The docile towns surrendered, and the mob Bound the recalcitrant leaders? Thou thyself Saw'st it; was it of their free-will our troops Fought with him? And when did they so? Boris Was then supreme. But would they now?--Nay, nay, It is too late to blow on the cold embers Of this dispute; with all thy wits and firmness Thou'lt not withstand him. Were't not better for thee To furnish to our chief a wise example, Proclaim Dimitry tsar, and by that act Bind him your friend for ever? How thinkest thou?

BASMANOV. Tomorrow thou shalt know.

PUSHKIN. Resolve.

BASMANOV. Farewell.

PUSHKIN. Ponder it well, Basmanov.

(Exit.)

BASMANOV. He is right.

Everywhere treason ripens; what shall I do?

Wait, that the rebels may deliver me In bonds to the Otrepiev? Had I not better Forestall the stormy onset of the flood, Myself to--ah! But to forswear mine oath!

Dishonour to deserve from age to age!

The trust of my young sovereign to requite With horrible betrayal! 'Tis a light thing For a disgraced exile to meditate Sedition and conspiracy; but I?

Is it for me, the favourite of my lord?-- But death--but power--the people's miseries...

(He ponders.)

Here! Who is there? (Whistles.) A horse here!

Sound the muster!

PUBLIC SQUARE IN MOSCOW

PUSHKIN enters, surrounded by the people

THE PEOPLE. The tsarevich a boyar hath sent to us.

Let's hear what the boyar will tell us. Hither!

Hither!

PUSHKIN. (On a platform.) Townsmen of Moscow! The tsarevich Bids me convey his greetings to you. (He bows.) Ye know How Divine Providence saved the tsarevich From out the murderer's hands; he went to punish His murderer, but G.o.d's judgment hath already Struck down Boris. All Russia hath submitted Unto Dimitry; with heartfelt repentance Basmanov hath himself led forth his troops To swear allegiance to him. In love, in peace Dimitry comes to you. Would ye, to please The house of G.o.dunov, uplift a hand Against the lawful tsar, against the grandson Of Monomakh?

THE PEOPLE. Not we.

PUSHKIN. Townsmen of Moscow!

The world well knows how much ye have endured Under the rule of the cruel stranger; ban, Dishonour, executions, taxes, hards.h.i.+ps, Hunger--all these ye have experienced.

Dimitry is disposed to show you favour, Courtiers, boyars, state-servants, soldiers, strangers, Merchants--and every honest man. Will ye Be stubborn without reason, and in pride Flee from his kindness? But he himself is coming To his ancestral throne with dreadful escort.

Provoke not ye the tsar to wrath, fear G.o.d, And swear allegiance to the lawful ruler; Humble yourselves; forthwith send to Dimitry The Metropolitan, deacons, boyars, And chosen men, that they may homage do To their lord and father.

(Exit. Clamour of the People.)

THE PEOPLE. What is to be said?

The boyar spake truth. Long live Dimitry, our father!

A PEASANT ON THE PLATFORM. People! To the Kremlin!

To the Royal palace!

The whelp of Boris go bind!

THE PEOPLE. (Rus.h.i.+ng in a crowd.) Bind, drown him! Hail Dimitry! Perish the race of G.o.dunov!

THE KREMLIN. HOUSE OF BORIS

A GUARD on the Staircase. FEODOR at a Window

BEGGAR. Give alms, for Christ's sake.

GUARD. Go away; it is forbidden to speak to the prisoners.

FEODOR. Go, old man, I am poorer than thou; thou art at liberty.