Say, you will not, when to his capital

Dimitry leads the queen of Moscow, say

You'll not forsake me?

MARINA. Dost thou truly think

I shall be queen?

ROUZYA. Who, if not you? Who here

Dares to compare in beauty with my mistress?

The race of Mnishek never yet has yielded

To any. In intellect you are beyond

All praise. - Happy the suitor whom your glance

Honours with its regard, who wins your heart -

Whoe'er he be, be he our king, the dauphin

Of France, or even this our poor tsarevich

God knows who, God knows whence!

MARINA. The very son

Of the tsar, and so confessed by the whole world.

ROUZYA. And yet last winter he was but a servant

In the house of Vishnevetsky.

MARINA. He was hiding.

ROUZYA. I do not question it: but still do you know

What people say about him? That perhaps

He is a deacon run away from Moscow,

In his own district a notorious rogue.

MARINA. What nonsense!

ROUZYA. O, I do not credit it!

I only say he ought to bless his fate

That you have so preferred him to the others.

WAITING-WOMAN. (Runs in.) The guests have come already.

MARINA. There you see;

You're ready to chatter silliness till daybreak.

Meanwhile I am not dressed -

ROUZYA. Within a moment

'Twill be quite ready.

(The Waiting-women bustle.) MARINA. (Aside.) I must find out all.

A SUITE OF LIGHTED ROOMS.

VISHNEVETSKY, MNISHEK.

MNISHEK. With none but my Marina doth he speak,