Eyeing a glass of wine, and in the end

Will humbly of his graciousness consent

To take the crown; and then - and then will rule us

Just as before.

VOROTINSKY. A month has flown already

Since, cloistered with his sister, he forsook

The world's affairs. None hitherto hath shaken

His purpose, not the patriarch, not the boyars

His counselors; their tears, their prayers he heeds not;

Deaf is he to the wail of Moscow, deaf

To the Great Council's voice; vainly they urged

The sorrowful nun-queen to consecrate

Boris to sovereignty; firm was his sister,

Inexorable as he; methinks Boris

Inspired her with this spirit. What if our ruler

Be sick in very deed of cares of state

And hath no strength to mount the throne? What

Say'st thou?

SHUISKY. I say that in that case the blood in vain

Flowed of the young tsarevich, that Dimitry

Might just as well be living.

VOROTINSKY. Fearful crime!

Is it beyond all doubt Boris contrived

The young boy's murder?

SHUISKY. Who besides? Who else

Bribed Chepchugov in vain? Who sent in secret

The brothers Bityagovsky with Kachalov?

Myself was sent to Uglich, there to probe

This matter on the spot; fresh traces there

I found; the whole town bore witness to the crime;

With one accord the burghers all affirmed it;

And with a single word, when I returned,

I could have proved the secret villain's guilt.