die!
prince petrovitch
Die!
czar
A plague on all sons, I say! There should be no more marriages in Russia when one can breed such vipers as you are! Arrest the Czarevitch, I say!
prince paul
Czarevitch! by order of the Emperor, I demand your sword. [Czarevitch gives up sword; Prince Paul places it on the table.] Foolish boy! you are not made for a conspirator; you have not learned to hold your tongue. Heroics are out of place in a palace.
·81· czar
[Sinks into his chair with his eyes fixed on the Czarevitch.] O God!
czarevitch
If I am to die for the people, I am ready; one Nihilist more or less in Russia, what does that matter?
prince paul
[Aside.] A good deal I should say to the one Nihilist.
czarevitch
The mighty brotherhood to which I belong has a thousand such as I am, ten thousand better still! [The Czar starts in his seat.] The star of freedom has risen already, and far off I hear the mighty wave democracy break on these cursed shores.
prince paul
[To Prince Petrovitch.] In that case you and I had better learn how to swim.
czarevitch
Father, Emperor, Imperial Master, I plead not for my own life, but for the lives of my brothers, the people.
·82· prince paul
[Bitterly.] Your brothers, the people, Prince, are not content with their own lives, they always want to take their neighbour’s too.
czar
[Standing up.] I am sick of being afraid. I have done with terror now. From this day I proclaim war against the people—war to their annihilation. As they have dealt with me, so shall I deal with them. I shall grind them to powder, and strew their dust upon the air. There shall be a spy in every man’s house, a traitor on every hearth, a hangman in every village, a gibbet in every square. Plague, leprosy, or fever shall be less deadly than my wrath; I will make every frontier a grave-yard, every province a lazar-house, and cure the sick by the sword. I shall have peace in Russia, though it be the peace of the dead. Who said I was a coward? Who said I was afraid? See, thus shall I crush this people beneath my feet? [Takes up sword of Czarevitch off table and tramples on it.]
czarevitch
Father, beware the sword you tread on may turn and wound you. The people suffer long, but vengeance comes at last, vengeance with red hands and bloody purpose.
·83· prince paul
Bah! the people are bad shots; they always miss one.
czarevitch
There are times when the people are instruments of God.
czar
Ay! and when kings are God’s scourges for the people. Oh, my own son, in my own house! My own flesh and blood against me! Take him away! Take him away! Bring in my guards. [Enter the Imperial Guard. Czar points to Czarevitch, who stands alone at the side of the stage.] To the blackest prison in Moscow! Let me never see his face again. [Czarevitch is being led out.] No, no, leave him! I don’t trust guards. They are all Nihilists! They would let him escape and he would kill me, kill me! No, I’ll bring him to prison myself, you and I [to Prince Paul.] I trust you, you have no mercy. I shall have no mercy. Oh, my own son against me! How hot it is! The air stifles me! I feel as if I were going to faint, as if something were at my throat. Open the windows I say! Out of my sight! Out of my sight! I can’t bear his eyes. Wait, wait for me. [Throws windows open and goes out on balcony.]
·84· prince paul
[Looking at his watch.] The dinner is sure to be spoiled. How annoying politics are and eldest sons!
voice
[Outside, in the street.] God save the people! [Czar is shot, and staggers back into the room.]
czarevitch
[Breaking from the guards and rushing over.] Father!
czar
Murderer! Murderer! You did it! Murderer! [Dies.]
Act-Drop.
·85· Third Act.
Same scene and business as Act I.
Man in yellow dress, with drawn sword, at the door.
Password outside: Væ tyrannis.
Answer: Væ victis [repeated three times].
[Enter Conspirators, who form a semicircle, masked and cloaked.]
president
What hour is it?
first conspirator
The hour to strike.
president
What day?
second conspirator
The day of Marat.
president
In what month?
third conspirator
The month of liberty.
·86· president
What is our duty?
fourth conspirator
To obey.
president
Our creed?
fifth conspirator
Parbleu, Mons. le President, I never knew you had one.
conspirators
A spy! A spy! Unmask! Unmask! A spy!
president
Let the doors be shut. There are others but Nihilists present.
conspirators
Unmask! Unmask! Kill him! kill him! [Masked Conspirator unmasks.] Prince Paul!
