Brothers, brothers, what have they done to me? They have spoilt a human body.
Dokoukin
He is the Antichrist. The beast feigns goodness that the people may worship him.
Cornelius
We must flee into the woods and the deserts.
(Sounds from the other side of the river. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great, Tsar of all the Russias.” Cannon fire.)
Cornelius
That is the last of his signs. Antichrist will be glorified. Night will be changed into day and day into night. (pause) The only salvation is in death. Fiery death. We cannot escape the dragon. He has empoisoned the earth; everything is defiled. Everything accursed. We must burn, burn together to escape the poisoning.
Ivan
Let us each go his separate way to preach redemption through the Red Death.
Cornelius
Be it so.
All
Amen.
Cornelius
In the fire, purity will be revealed. We will be saved.
(More Cannonades. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great.”)
(All cross themselves.)
Cornelius
Burn, rather than fall into the hands of Antichrist. One day, all Russia will burn with us. Women and children, too. All must burn to be saved.
Dokoukin
You are an old believer—A Raskolnik?
Cornelius
Yes. Already, I have preached the Red death for ten years. We have kindled many fires. Join us, God will bless our zeal and all Russia will blaze up.
Ivan
Then spake Christ, the Heavenly King. “Go tell my will to the faithful. Let them cast themselves into the fire for love of me.”
Cornelius (fervently)
We shall burn like candles, a living sacrifice to God.
Ivan
Are you with us, brother?
Dokoukin
I am.
(More noise from across the river. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great.”)
Ivan (low, keening)
A coffin of pinewood tree
Stands ready prepared for me
Within its narrow wall,
I wait the judgment call.
ACT I
SCENE 4
Princess Charlotte’s apartment.
Charlotte is pregnant. Alexis is speaking to her.
Alexis
I have meant to ask you for a long time, Charlotte: do you believe in the divinity of Christ?
Charlotte
What do you mean? All Lutherans profess—
Alexis
I am not speaking in generalities. I once had a talk with the philosopher, Leibnitz; he shifted and shuffled, but avoided a direct answer. I saw at once he did not truly believe in Christ. Do you?
Charlotte
I think that Christ was the best and wisest of the sons of men.
Alexis
And not God’s son?
Charlotte
We are all children of God.
Alexis
And Christ is no different from the rest?
Charlotte
Why are you tormenting me? You know I’m pregnant and shouldn’t be worried.
Alexis
Your people are wise, learned, strong, honorable, famous. You have everything, but you don’t possess Christ. We Russians are poor, stupid, naked, drunk, repulsive—we are worse than barbarians, worse than beasts: But we have our Christ with us. He saves us because we cannot save ourselves.
Charlotte
You think you’re better than all other Christians, don’t you? You profess the law of love, but you practice cruelties not met with anywhere else in the world.
Alexis
To our shame, that is true.
Charlotte
For example, the Assembly last night was just like one would meet in Paris or London. Count Tolstoi spoke to me in French and Italian. All very elegant. Yet, from the windows, you could see the heads of the Old Believers on poles.
Alexis
What you say is true. But, one day Russia will unite Europe and Asia in a true Christian Faith. I, I will do it.
Charlotte
You! If you’re so brave, why don’t you persuade your father to take down those heads?
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
