In any case Dimitry has appeared.

SHUISKY. It cannot be.

PUSHKIN. Pushkin himself beheld him

When first he reached the court, and through the ranks

Of Lithuanian gentlemen went straight

Into the secret chamber of the king.

SHUISKY. What kind of man? Whence comes he?

PUSHKIN. No one knows.

'Tis known that he was Vishnevetsky's servant;

That to a ghostly father on a bed

Of sickness he disclosed himself; possessed

Of this strange secret, his proud master nursed him,

From his sick bed upraised him, and straightway

Took him to Sigismund.

SHUISKY. And what say men

Of this bold fellow?

PUSHKIN. 'Tis said that he is wise,

Affable, cunning, popular with all men.

He has bewitched the fugitives from Moscow,

The Catholic priests see eye to eye with him.

The King caresses him, and, it is said,

Has promised help.

SHUISKY. All this is such a medley

That my head whirls. Brother, beyond all doubt

This man is a pretender, but the danger

Is, I confess, not slight. This is grave news!

And if it reach the people, then there'll be

A mighty tempest.

PUSHKIN. Such a storm that hardly

Will Tsar Boris contrive to keep the crown

Upon his clever head; and losing it

Will get but his deserts! He governs us

As did the tsar Ivan of evil memory.

What profits it that public executions