(The TSAR is carried in on a chair. All the Tsar's

household; all the boyars.)

TSAR. Let all depart - alone

Leave the tsarevich with me. (All withdraw.) I am dying;

Let us embrace. Farewell, my son; this hour

Thou wilt begin to reign. - O God, my God!

This hour I shall appear before Thy presence -

And have no time to purge my soul with shrift.

But yet, my son, I feel thou art dearer to me

Than is my soul's salvation - be it so!

A subject was I born; it seemed ordained

That I should die a subject in obscurity.

Yet I attained to sovereignty; but how?

Ask not. Enough that thou art innocent.

In justice now thou'lt reign; and I alone

Am answerable for all to God. Dear son,

Cherish no false delusion, of thy free will

Blind not thyself. Stormy the days wherein

Thou dost assume the crown. He is dangerous,

This strange pretender; with a fearful name

He is armed. For many a year experienced

In rule, I could restrain revolt and treason;

They quaked with fear before me; treachery

Dared not to raise its voice; but thou, a boy,

An inexperienced ruler, how wilt thou

Govern amid the tempests, quench revolt,

Shackle sedition? But God is great! He gives

Wisdom to youth, to weakness strength. - Give ear;

Firstly, select a steadfast counsellor,

Of cool, ripe years, loved of the people, honoured

Mid the boyars for birth and fame - even Shuisky.

The army craves today a skilful leader;

Basmanov send, and firmly bear the murmurs