The great Ivans; succeed the angel tsar! -

O Righteous Father, King Of kings, look down

From Heaven upon the tears of Thy true servants,

And send on him whom Thou hast loved, whom Thou

Exalted hast on earth so wondrously,

Thy holy blessing. May I rule my people

In glory, and like Thee be good and righteous!

To you, boyars, I look for help. Serve me

As ye served him, what time I shared your labours,

Ere I was chosen by the people's will.

BOYARS. We will not from our plighted oath depart.

BORIS. Now let us go to kneel before the tombs

Of Russia's great departed rulers. Then

Bid summon all our people to a feast,

All, from the noble to the poor blind beggar.

To all free entrance, all most welcome guests.

(Exit, the Boyars following.) PRINCE VOROTINSKY. (Stopping Shuisky.)

You rightly guessed.

SHUISKY. Guessed what?

VOROTINSKY. Why, you remember -

The other day, here on this very spot.

SHUISKY. No, I remember nothing.

VOROTINSKY. When the people

Flocked to the Virgin's Field, thou said'st -

SHUISKY. 'Tis not

The time for recollection. There are times

When I should counsel you not to remember,

But even to forget. And for the rest,

I sought but by feigned calumny to prove thee,

The truelier to discern thy secret thoughts.

But see! The people hail the tsar - my absence

May be remarked. I'll join them.

VOROTINSKY. Wily courtier!

NIGHT.

Cell in the Monastery of Chudov (A.D. 1603) FATHER PIMEN, GREGORY (sleeping) PIMEN (Writing in front of a sacred lamp.)

One more, the final record, and my annals

Are ended, and fulfilled the duty laid