University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Hall of Council.
The Empress on her throne. Rimuni, Senators, Guards, &c.
Rimuni.
Rim.
Hear me, my royal mistress! I entreat you:
Add, I beseech you, lords! your voice to mine,
Let not Naritzin dare profane your presence,
Let not the traitor wound his sovereign's ear
With insolent speech!

Emp.
No more; my word is pledg'd:
A monarch's word is sacred. 'Tis the grace
Of sovereignty, its attribute, its blessing,
That Mercy's angel-hand should still incline
The scales by Justice pois'd—

Rim.
Naritzin never
Will sue for mercy.—I entreat you, hear us:
Recall your word—

Emp.
No; be his speech most harsh,
'Twill be less poignant far than self-reproach.
And, sir, his former services still live
Warm in my memory.—Be my will obey'd—
Summon Naritzin—
[Herald introduces Naritzin.
You, my lord Rimuni,
Search out his guilt.—Yet, first, Naritzin, hear me;
Deem not thy sovereign, one who in the hour
Of injur'd majesty, no more retains
The sense and memory of deeds long past
Of loyalty and love.—Say, “I have wrong'd you:
“Your mercy I implore, forgive th'offence:”
And thou shalt find that in this injur'd bosom
Mercy doth temper justice.

Narit.
Gracious sovereign,
For those whose conscience inwardly condemns them,
For guilt which dreads its doom, reserve thy mercy:
Justice alone I claim.—My lord Rimuni,
Of what am I accus'd?

Rim.
Thou didst project
Ivan's escape. Day after day, fresh rumours
Disturb the court with tales of Ivan's flight,
And Ivan's friends. For, never yet were wanting,
How light soe'er the scepter'd hand that rules,
Men prone to discontent, and prompt to fill
The realm with kindred slaughter. Such the charge:
To this make answer—

Narit.
What reports unvouch'd,
What slander's breath may circulate round courts,
I scorn to answer. Yet— [to the Empress.]
I pray your patience!
May I proceed?

Emp.
At pleasure—

Narit.
I must date
From years long past: and, if my speech, perforce,
Tracing time's course, and manifold events,
Should lightly touch on trivial services
Heav'n pleas'd that I should render to the state:
Pardon the mention—

Emp.
It shall aid thy cause—

Narit.
My ancestry is known unto you all;
My fathers, in their day, for pow'r, for valour,
For loyalty renown'd.—Scarce had I gain'd
My sixteenth year, when first, at glory's voice,
Fir'd by the Emperor's fame, I drew my sword.
There are, amid this senate, who beheld
What battles then I fought, what sieges serv'd,
Ere Nystadt seal'd our conquests.

Emp.
Your brave deeds
Enrich our country's annals.

Narit.
In those wars
I gain'd, not lightly won, the Emperor's love:
And his fam'd guards,—tho' then the manly down
Had scarce my cheek embrown'd—obey'd my word.
The Emperor, whose course was like yon sun
Illumining the world beneath its sway,
Died in his glory. I pass o'er untold
The sovereigns, each in turn, who held the sceptre,
Till Anne bore rule. Anne nam'd her successor
Her elder sister's grandson, then an infant,
The prisoner—Ivan—May it please your highness
To state what follow'd; what Naritzin's service?
My guilt, if such disloyalty be guilt,
I freely will disclose—

Emp.
[rising.]
No trivial service—
My glowing heart shall gratefully proclaim it—
When Ivan lay an infant in his cradle,
And the whole realm was tumult, Lord Naritzin
Felt all a patriot's zeal, a patriot's dread,
Lest this our glorious empire, by the toil
Of Peter rais'd, and by his blood cemented,
Should under foreign faction, and weak sway
Of those misguided rulers, Ivan's parents,
Be wreck'd, and crumbled to a petty state.
The public voice call'd Peter's offspring forth,
Call'd me to wield the sceptre: I obey'd:
And boldly to the throne my claim advanc'd.
At dead of night when I address'd the guard
To vindicate my rights, when round me clamor'd
Tumult and madd'ning fury, when in vain
I lifted up, to awe th'infuriate throng,
That consecrated cross, then, lord Naritzin
Dwelt on my father's fame, and crown'd my brow—
Why hast thou forc'd on me th'ungrateful office
To hear thy guilt? Does then thy heart no more
Glow at the name of my immortal sire,
Nor honour in the sovereign of thy choice
His living image?

Narit.
Still my soul adores
The memory of your sire, and thus [kneels]
in you,
Reveres his hallow'd image.

Emp.
[with warmth.]
On thy faith
I firmly rest. They falsely have accus'd thee;
Break up the senate.—Reassume thy honours:
Resume thy government—

Narit.
First, yield me hearing—

Rim.
It may import your throne, my royal mistress!

Emp.
Do not detain me.

Narit.
I must pour before you
The anguish of my soul, and speak of Ivan,
That hapless prince—

Rim.
Prince!—Rebel!

Narit.
On thy head
That word, base traitor!—Thou, who hast misus'd
Thy sovereign's favour, else, Naritzin's claims,
And Ivan's piercing cry had reach'd the throne.
Oh miserable realm! whose ruler yields
Th'entrusted rights and duties of the sceptre
To smooth-voic'd sycophants! [addressing Rimuni.]
Behold our realm,
That once by Peter's god-like soul exalted
Towr'd proudly eminent, as stateliest pine,
That rooted on the ice-cleft rock, out-braves
The war of winds, and from its brow majestic
Show'rs into dust impalpable, the weight
Of winter's snows: now droops beneath the gloom
Of luxury and sloth!—Voluptuousness
Has mildew'd its fair growth, stern tyranny
Lopt each brave shoot, and foul corruption chang'd
Its sap and vital nutriment to poison
Circling thro' all its viens.—Rimuni, dread
An injur'd nation's vengeance—

Rim.
[to the Empress.]
If my zeal
Ere won thy favour, let my word confound
The traitor—

Emp.
No— [aside.]
His just rebuke—I feel it—
Plants daggers in my heart. You spake of Ivan;
Proceed—

Narit.
At this Rimuni's stern command,
When savage hands had rack'd the hapless Ivan,
When his dire wrongs rang loud on every tongue,
And the deep woe that fill'd each heart, in mine
Was guilt and condemnation, then, before me,
Like a tormenting spirit, day and night
The image of the unoffending victim,
The heir of empire, by my pow'r dethron'd,
Lone, in the unsunn'd dungeon, chain'd, in tortures,
Before me rose: nor ever ceas'd the sting
Of conscience here to lodge its gather'd venom,
Till the sharp goading of remorse compell'd me,
In expiation of th'offence, to claim
This dreadful charge, and here to dedicate
To solitude and sad obscurity,
The closing of a day whose dawn was glory—
Yet, wholly not unblest, so Heav'n vouchsaf'd me
To shield the helpless from the oppressor's wrong,
And, haply, soothe, if aught on earth might soothe,
The suff'rings of the wrong'd, the outrag'd Ivan.

Rim.
Wrong'd, outrag'd Ivan!

Lords.
Treason—

Emp.
Peace, be silent—
I too have human feelings, human pity.

Narit.
Outrag'd! I spake the word. Look at this charge,
[takes a paper from his bosom.
I would not, for thy sake, my gracious mistress,
Before the public eye produce this deed—
Once, when I claim'd the charge of Ivan, once
I by constraint perus'd it—

Emp.
Lord Rimuni:
Read it—

Rim.
Compel me not, my gracious Empress!
Bid me not speak what wisdom would conceal,
Nor deeds recal that after lapse of years
By seeming harshness, may too rudely wound
Thy gentle nature.

Emp.
Thou dost wrong thy sov'reign—
My lord Naritzin! this imports thy honour:
Proclaim aloud the charge, that all may judge,
Blame or applaud thy conduct.

Narit.
[reads the charge.]
“Guard this Ivan—
“Close fetter'd in a dungeon's cell immure him,
“Far from the light of day, and every eye,
“Save thine. Such food as nature craves, be his.
“His mind is brutalis'd: by means that tame
“The stubborn brute, subdue his savage mood.”

Emp.
It bears thy signature, thy name, Rimuni.

Narit.
Would that no other name that deed subscrib'd!

Emp.
My name! oh heav'n—
I will'd that Ivan should be close immur'd,
Not harshly tortur'd.

Narit.
[kneels.]
Hear me!

Emp.
Wherefore kneel?
Arise.

Narit.
Vouchsafe me audience. If this hand
First crown'd your brow, if first I hail'd you, Empress,
Have pity upon Ivan. From this scroll
Blot out the stain and character of blood.
Not of that fiend, of thy own heart take counsel:
Then, in the splendour of your sire's renown
His sceptre wield. And oh permit that Ivan—
The wrong'd—the outrag'd—unoffending Ivan,
May in some cloister's sanctuary pass
Life's tranquil day: the peace, the public weal,
The throne's stability, your sacred life,
Claim justly such restraint: but all beyond—
Ruthless oppression.

Rim.
Dar'st thou thus proclaim it
Before thy sov'reign's presence?

Narit.
Sir, I speak
Under the terror of no earthly pow'r:
[pointing up.]
There reigns my judge.

Emp.
My lord Rimuni, silence.

Narit.
If, haply to have sooth'd by tenderest cares
Him whom my pow'r dethron'd, be deem'd a crime,
Be on my head that guilt! the blest offence
Will whisper peace to my departing soul.
The cell, 'tis true, has Ivan's dwelling been,
Nor other eye than mine, save one on earth,
Has ever glanc'd upon him.

Rim.
Ha! another—
Mark'd you his word, dread sov'reign?

Emp.
[to Naritzin.]
Who? declare it.

Narit.
Petrowna. From her lip, day after day,
E'en in the tomb that sepulchres the living,
Ivan has learnt the words of wisdom, learnt
How best to temper passion, and imbib'd
The balm of heav'nly solace which religion
Mingles in misery's chalice—

Rim.
[interrupting him. Aside to the Empress.]
The brute Ivan,
Of cultured reason! 'Tis most perilous.
Not vain the warning. Were this widely rumour'd,
Were it but whisper'd in the public ear,
The realm would rise in arms. My gracious Sov'reign!
Bid hence the senate. I beseech you, hear me.

Emp.
My spirit is sore troubled.

Rim.
I entreat you,
Let me dismiss them. Loyal tho' they seem,
They must not share this counsel.

Emp.
Bid them hence.

Rim.
My lords! awhile retire.

[The Senate and Naritzin depart.
Emp.
What now thy counsel?

Rim.
It was no idle rumour reach'd your throne
Of Ivan's followers, and projected rescue—
All is confirm'd. And—but you do not heed me—

Emp.
Be brief.

Rim.
Your throne, your sacred life's at hazard.
Be judge yourself: before you, face to face,
Bid forth the boy, and witness what his nature.
His nature! Who can doubt it? Aptly tutor'd:
All mildness! All submission! But beware!
Sudden, in full-grown strength, mature for vengeance
The lion from his secret lair will spring,
And crush you in his fury—

Emp.
Yes—I dread him.

Rim.
Were the boy dead, then would your soul know peace!
There are—I know the man, whose loyal zeal
Would rid you of that fear.

Emp.
By murder? Never—

Rim.
You—or the boy.

Emp.
Oh heap not on my soul
That added guilt.

Rim.
Think not Rimuni's nature
Inclines to deeds of blood. The sacred duty
To guard your life compels me.

Emp.
Spare me—spare me.

Rim.
I wish not Ivan's death: but say, where breathes
On earth—I do not know that living man—
On whom my soul in fearless confidence
Can rest such perilous charge.

Emp.
Yes. One I know
In whom I firmly trust.

Rim.
Then I conjure you,
Bind on his soul by heav'n-attested vows,
This solemn charge, to stab without remorse
The boy, if fraud or force attempt his rescue.
Till then, as wont, within th'imprisoning cell
Closely immure him.

Emp.
'Tis most wisely counsell'd.
Bid lord Naritzin in yon cloister's cell
Attend my summons.

Rim.
Lord Naritzin!

Emp.
Speed.
Bid him there wait my presence. And, I charge you,
At hazard of my deep displeasure charge you,
Let none approach the spot. My will is fix'd:
Reply not: be thy sov'reign's word obey'd.

[Exeunt.
Scene changes to the Cave of the Conspirators.
Conspirators. Mirovitz. Feodor.
Con.
[to Mirovitz.]
Detain us not. Most dangerous this delay.
Now fix the hour: give each his separate charge.
But—if you doubt our word—

Miro.
[interrupting him.]
I doubt you not.

Con.
On—to the altar lead us:
There pledge our souls to Ivan's cause, there bind us
To slay whoe'er withstands his sov'reign's rescue.
Behold us fix'd.

Miro.
Hear then my last resolve.
You know the tyrannous custom of this fort,
Month after month, fresh troops the isle surround,
And night by night, new guards keep watch and ward
Round Ivan's cell. This night that charge is ours.
I, when the hour strikes twelve, relieve the watch.
Now, one by one, pledge your brave hands with mine.
You, [selecting two in turn.]
guard the outward draw-bridge: you, the gates
Of the first tow'r: the iron draw-bridge, yours:
Your charge, the inner fort: you, guard the vaults
That wind thro' ways obscure to Ivan's cell:
You, bold Truwarotz, and brave Voronetz,
You, at his cell take station: thine, my brother,
The eastern turret: o'er its crested brow—
Be watchful—If all favour our design,
At stroke of one, a lighted beacon raise;
Wave it distinctly thrice:—at the third signal
We rush to Ivan's cave, and force our entrance
If aught our way oppose. A sail now waits
My summons, o'er Ladoga's lake, to waft us
To liberty, to wealth, to fame, to honour.

[Exeunt.