In stormy times of insurrection,

To weigh so great a matter? Will men not say

That insolently we made of sacred things

A worldly instrument? Even now the people

Sway senselessly this way and that, even now

There are enough already of loud rumours;

This is no time to vex the people's minds

With aught so unexpected, grave, and strange.

I myself see 'tis needful to demolish

The rumour spread abroad by the unfrocked monk;

But for this end other and simpler means

Will serve. Therefore, when it shall please thee, Sire,

I will myself appear in public places,

I will persuade, exhort away this madness,

And will expose the vagabond's vile fraud.

TSAR. So be it! My lord Patriarch, I pray thee

Go with us to the palace, where today

I must converse with thee.

(Exeunt; all the boyars follow them.) 1ST BOYAR. (Sotto voce to another.) Didst mark how pale

Our sovereign turned, how from his face there poured

A mighty sweat?

2ND BOYAR. I durst not, I confess,

Uplift mine eyes, nor breathe, nor even stir.

1ST BOYAR. Prince Shuisky has pulled it through. A

splendid fellow!

A PLAIN NEAR NOVGOROD SEVERSK.

DECEMBER 21st, 1604 A BATTLE.

SOLDIERS. (Run in disorder.) Woe, woe! The Tsarevich!

The Poles! There they are! There they are!

(Captains enter: MARZHERET and WALTHER ROZEN.) MARZHERET. Whither, whither? Allons! Go back!

ONE OF THE FUGITIVES. You go back, if you like, cursed

infidel.

MARZHERET. Quoi, quoi?

ANOTHER. Kva! kva! You like, you frog from over the

sea, to croak at the Russian tsarevich; but we - we are