MARINA. The hours

Are flitting fast, and time is precious to me.

I did not grant a meeting here to thee

To listen to a lover's tender speeches.

No need of words. I well believe thou lovest;

But listen; with thy stormy, doubtful fate

I have resolved to join my own; but one thing,

Dimitry, I require; I claim that thou

Disclose to me thy secret hopes, thy plans,

Even thy fears, that hand in hand with thee

I may confront life boldly - not in blindness

Of childlike ignorance, not as the slave

And plaything of my husband's light desires,

Thy speechless concubine, but as thy spouse,

And worthy helpmate of the tsar of Moscow.

PRETENDER. O, if it be only for one short hour,

Forget the cares and troubles of my fate!

Forget 'tis the tsarevich whom thou seest

Before thee. O, behold in me, Marina,

A lover, by thee chosen, happy only

In thy regard. O, listen to the prayers

Of love! Grant me to utter all wherewith

My heart is full.

MARINA. Prince, this is not the time;

Thou loiterest, and meanwhile the devotion

Of thine adherents cooleth. Hour by hour

Danger becomes more dangerous, difficulties

More difficult; already dubious rumours

Are current, novelty already takes

The place of novelty; and Godunov

Adopts his measures.

PRETENDER. What is Godunov?

Is thy sweet love, my only blessedness,

Swayed by Boris? Nay, nay. Indifferently