University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Apartment in the Palace.
Fedrowitz and Orcan.
FEDROWITZ.
Such wrongs will force their way;—a sister's fame,
The honour of her son,—all—all conspire,
To pull down vengeance on him.

ORCAN.
Then do it bravely,
Not hunt him tamely with a common fate,
But front him in a war—proclaim his guilt,
Urge, and avow it.

FEDROWITZ.
Was it for this, the queen
Linger'd in absence,—yielded up her days
A prey to solitude,—cloister'd her charms
In barren expectation, cold suspense?
This her reward!—are these the fruits of virtue?
The Czar perhaps himself is nobly-minded,
But favourites trample on the wisest laws,
Whene'er ambition sets their wheels in motion;
With basest arts can undermine a state,
And pass those arts for virtues.

ORCAN.
Then you suspect
This Artamon?

FEDROWITZ.
Suspect!—suspect dost say?
I know and will unveil his dark designs;
He is the cause of all these hell-born mischiefs.

ORCAN.
But sure the Czar—

FEDROWITZ.
Is of himself right-noble,
But subject to the force of new impressions;
This Artamon has laid a snare before him,
And straight he's caught in the alluring toil.

ORCAN.
Who is this Artamon?

FEDROWITZ.
A Swedish captain,
Who can instruct the Czar;—he's prompt to learn,
Tho' oft from minds less-tutor'd than his own.

ORCAN.
'Tis strange,—what could he learn from him?

FEDROWITZ.
Nothing,
Unless by treachery to mine the strength
He boldly should oppose;—during the war
This Swede presented him a beauteous maid,
So killing fair, if you'll believe report,
That, like another Anthony, our Czar,
E'en from the summit of imperial sway,
Might wisely fall for love!—oh! such a maid
That rapture, borne upon the Eagle's wing,
Lags short of her perfections.

ORCAN.
What more of this?

FEDROWITZ.
This slave must blast the honour of my house,
He makes quick room, he drags a queen to death,
And dooms her son a captive.

ORCAN.
Where is the prince?

FEDROWITZ.
'Tis said, he's closely guarded near the camp;
But ere the Czar returns in triumph here,
Is convoy'd into banishment.

ORCAN.
Unhappy youth!

FEDROWITZ.
No Pity now!—think'st thou we'll not revenge
Such daring outrage? is there no fire, no zeal
In Russia left?—are men now authorized
To tread down truth and justice,—banish virtue,
And build upon the ruin one great fabrick,
And call that fabrick empire?

ORCAN.
And yet I fear
There's danger in the attempt.

FEDROWITZ.
There is in all,
And he, who rises not above his fears,
Should bleed their victim.

ORCAN.
The Czar will be inform'd,
And punish the deep arts of such a traitor.

FEDROWITZ.
Who can inform him?—is he not beset
With sycophants, who strew his treacherous way
With flowers for guilt to tread on?—dangerous baits;
Where novelty gives relish to opinion.
This woman's youthful charms from him conceals
Vice in a snare, and ambush in endearment.

ORCAN.
But you impeach the Czar by these suspicions,
And boldly frown on him who awes the world.

FEDROWITZ.
He awes not me:—I rise superior to him,
And should there be no means to crush this slave,
I'll shake the very throne;—I'll see the Queen,
And if loud Fame not errs in the report,
If by herself confirm'd, such wrongs assail,
I'll fall or I'll redress them.

ORCAN.
Lead on, my friend,
My hand, my heart is your's, and here I swear—

FEDROWITZ.
No oath! our cause be our best sacrament!
There's truth and virtue in't, and honest men
Will greatly dare for't.

[Exeunt.