University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Palace.
Artamon and Desna.
ARTAMON.
All now succeeds, e'en to my utmost wish;
Alexis seiz'd in the broad act of treason,
The father hesitates no more on death;
This clears us too of Ottokesa's vengeance,
And fixes Catharine on the Russian throne.

DESNA.
The Czar, enamour'd of his blooming bride,
Thinks not of Ottokesa;—in her dark cell
She wails her woes to the relentless walls,
And beats in vain the air.

ARTAMON.
Her date is short;
The doom her son shall meet with soon will fix
The period of her griefs.

DESNA.
Alas! poor Queen!
Methinks I mourn her fate.

ARTAMON.
Dost thou relent?
We've plung'd too far in guilt, and should thy tongue
Proclaim the secret cause, reveal my shame,
Her fate shall soon be thine.

DESNA.
I shrink not now,
But on the wings of speed will force my way
To execute your orders.

ARTAMON.
This moment, then;
For see the Czar is hast'ning to the trial;—
Catharine's meek nature must not guess our process;—
In the short compass of this busy night
Our all is at a stake;—straight to the prison;
There use your utmost arts,—create delays
To stop the Queen's arrival;—should she appear,
Before her son receives his final doom,
I know the Czar would waver;—fly, begone;
Serve me but now, and fortune pants to yield
Her every bright reward.

[Exeunt.