University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Cloisters.
Empress and Naritzin.
Emp.
My lord Naritzin, on thy faith I rest:
I shall pour forth, as truth and nature urge,
My secret soul before thee. Oh! I would
That I had never wielded in this hand
The sceptre reft from Ivan! Since that hour,
However outwardly I bear my pomp,
And arm my brow with confidence, within
Fear and suspicion that nor day nor night
Have rest, possess me. I, by violence
The empire seiz'd: declare what voice has pow'r
To say in accents that may win assent,
“Go, be at peace, repose thou in thy strength,
“Nor dread the avenger.”

Narit.
Whom have you to fear?

Emp.
My successor. I gave the dire example.
Yet more, I dread thy charge, the prisoner Ivan.
But yesterday I did despise the boy,
I rank'd him with the very herd that crop
The grassy clod—Thy voice—the senate heard it—
Profusely blazon'd forth his praise—The realm
Once hail'd him king, and I before him bow'd,
First of his titled slaves.

Narit.
You are his sovereign,
And on your word his weal or woe depends.
Give him to breathe the air that breathes on all,
And gaze upon the blessed light of heav'n.
Mistake me not, it is not my request
That you should rashly free him to the gaze
And shout of the capricious people. No:
Let him have commerce with religious men,
Where he may safely harbour: bind his soul
By rigid vows all dedicate to heav'n:
And to the general voice that shouts thy name,
Ivan will add his blessing.

Emp.
No, I dare not:
Young as he is, and beautiful, and mild,
Compassion for his fate would gather strength
That must o'erturn my throne. I dare not free him:
Yet I would fain that Ivan breath'd in peace.
Thou can'st secure it—

Narit.
How?

Emp.
'Tis in thy power
That he shall breathe the air that breathes on all,
And gaze upon the blessed light of heav'n;
And that his limbs bow not beneath their weight,
Wanting free space to move in. I dare trust
But thee alone. E'en in thy crime confest,
Thy treason, disobedience, I remark'd
A sense of duty that did shame the vaunt
Of smooth court flatterers—Is it thy desire
To lighten Ivan's misery?

Narit.
By my own—

Emp.
Naritzin, reassume the charge of Ivan:
Assuage his misery: where'er thou art,
Throughout the day, long as thou hold'st the rule
Of this dread fort, be at thy side the youth
E'en as a son most lov'd: yet, still at night-fall
Closely immure him in th'imprisoning cell.
This be his lot, so thou yon heav'n attest
That thy firm hand shall in his bosom plunge
This weapon, [presenting a dagger.]
if or fraud or force again
Attempt his rescue.

Narit.
I refuse the charge.

Emp.
This sacred dagger at Pultowa sav'd
My sire, thy lord, from death: this now shall save
His daughter, by thy patriot zeal enthron'd.

Narit.
Recall thy pardon, reassume thy honours,
Forget the vow that never blood should stain
Thy sceptre, be Naritzin's bold disloyalty
By death aveng'd—I will not touch that dagger.

Emp.
Reflect, a thousand arms, a thousand daggers
Will vindicate thy sovereign: force me not
On deeds of blood: fain would my soul avoid them.
Thy sovereign sues, commands thee. Take it, [the dagger.]
Ivan
Lives but to bless Naritzin: thy refusal
Is Ivan's instant death.

Narit.
Not on my head
Be innocent blood!

Emp.
[to a guard without.]
Bid Lord Rimuni hither.

Narit.
A moment's pause. I know his ruthless nature.

Emp.
Bid Lord Rimuni hither! Speed—

Narit.
Yet, stay—
Rimuni or Naritzin now shall perish.
Pledge but your word, and I accept the charge.

Emp.
What thy intent?

Narit.
Your fame, a nation's weal—
Swear, ere another sun shall light the world,
For ever from th'indignant realm to banish
Rimuni. Are you silent? Plunge the dagger,
Murd'ress, in Ivan's heart: so to your grave
Go down with charge of blood upon your brow:
So, in your sin, at heav'n's dread call, arise
Before the King of kings.

Emp.
Ere yonder sun
Resumes his course, Rimuni flies the realm.
Take thou this weapon. [he takes it.]


Narit.
Ivan shall not reign.

Emp.
Receive thy sovereign's thanks—o'er populous Ingria
Thy government extends.

Narit.
I seek no honours.
As yet thou art unstain'd [drawing the dagger.]
with innocent blood.
Let me depart.

Emp.
Yet hear me—Stay—Thy sovereign
Ere sun-set quits the isle: but, ere I leave
These scenes for ever,
My lord, I must hold conference with Ivan—

Nar.
Not, I implore you, ere you have made known
Your purpose to Petrowna.

Emp.
Why?

Narit.
Her voice
Tempers at will his spirit: her fix'd glance
Holds magic influence o'er him.

Emp.
Say, her sov'reign
Commands her to her presence.

Narit.
I beseech you,
With tenderness, with pity, question Ivan.
And, I implore you, spare Petrowna's ear
The charge of murder: hide from her the vow
That past my lip. From Ivan's doom'd assassin,
Her eye would turn abhorrent.

Emp.
Trust my caution—
Haste! bid her hither. [Naritzin goes.]
—Ha! her voice, her glance
Hold magic influence o'er him! 'tis most palpable!
Tutor'd by her! and who but this Petrowna
Has Ivan's misery sooth'd? his weal, his woe,
Not mine, her spirit sways. My throne, my life,
Rests on this woman: 'tis most hazardous.
The boy now ripens into man, with manhood,
Ambition, vengeance, his acknowledg'd claim
To rule, will rouse ungovernable thoughts.
All must be plainly told; the husband's vow
Must yoke the wife; so shall Petrowna quench
Each latent spark that glows in Ivan's bosom,
And I in peace repose.

Petrowna enters.
Pet.
My lord Naritzin
Bade me attend your presence. Deign, accept
My thanks, how due! that once more on Naritzin
His sov'reign's favour rests.

Emp.
On his obedience,
My favour rests.

Pet.
Yet not th'entrusted charge,
Nor gifts, nor high rewards, nor added honours,
Have smooth'd his brow. Methought, unwonted gloom
Darken'd his cheek, as swift he hurried on
To hide in loneliness thoughts ill at ease.

Emp.
I know the cause: and it doth much import thee
To feel its force. His sov'reign to his pray'r
Bow'd gracious, when thy lord, at once to lighten
The doom of Ivan, and to drive Rimuni
For ever from this realm—

Pet.
[interrupting her.]
Belov'd Naritzin!
Heav'n on thy head its choicest treasures show'r!

Emp.
Vow'd—to prevent by death—the prisoner's flight,
If fraud or force should ere attempt his rescue.
You mark my words.

Pet.
Too plainly—murder Ivan.

Emp.
His vow is ratifi'd in heav'n.

Pet.
Say—rather—
Where demons howl in torture.

Emp.
Hear, Petrowna!
Thy sov'reign speaks.

Pet.
Naritzin murder Ivan!
It shall not be.

Emp.
Fain would I see the youth:
Hold converse with him: and myself observe
If rumour vilely has degraded him
To the low level of a senseless brute:
Or, as Naritzin vaunted it, if Ivan
Be grac'd with high endowments.

Pet.
[aside.]
Oh my soul!
'Tis as I fear'd. Her eye shall not glance on him.
If fear can curb, or pity melt the heart,
They shall not meet.
[To the Empress.]
You once did look on Ivan:
And—you remember—the wide realm yet dwells
On that heart-rending scene. The very soldiers
Wept, they who crown'd you, when their rude hands cast
The infant, sweetly lock'd in cradled slumber,
Beneath thy throne: they wept who heard the shout
Of thousands, at whose uproar, Ivan woke,
Stretch'd out his little hands, and oft-time clapt
In sign of transport. Then thy cheek was seen
To bow o'er his, and on his smiling lip
Thy tears perforce gush'd down, while round thy neck,
(As thine had been the breast that nurtur'd him,)
His innocent arms were twin'd.

Emp.
'Tis ever present,
It troubles my night-vision. Why recal it?

Pet.
Poor Ivan was not then a senseless brute.
Sore misery has marr'd the loveliest being
That ere kind heav'n gave birth to. Fell barbarians!
Fiends that they were to root out Nature's flow'r,
And plant their weeds envenom'd in its place!
Do not again look on him.

Emp.
Why dissuade me?

Pet.
By the remembrance of that moving scene,
By dread of horrors that may yet ensue,
If there be pow'r in words to change the will,
Thou shalt not look on Ivan.

Emp.
Not look on him!

Pet.
Where? on what spot of earth would'st thou confront him?

Emp.
I understand thee not: explain thy meaning.

Pet.
Where meet him? In the cell that drinks his groan?

Emp.
No—rather in the sepulchre of death.

Pet.
Here? In the light of day? Beneath heav'n's beam
Canst thou with still unswerving look, sustain
The light'ning of his eye when fix'd on thine?
Do not again behold him.

Emp.
Here conduct him.

Pet.
Oh never, never more thy tear will fall
As once upon his cheek.

Emp.
Oh!

Pet.
Thou hast reign'd
Triumphant; revelry, and joy, and feast,
Shouts of applause, and all that earth most envies,
Have made thy throne their dwelling. Think on Ivan.
Do your tears fall? turn not away: they fall,
Accepted offering to offended heav'n:
And every tear mingled with penitence,
Will wash and cleanse from off thy secret soul,
A spot of deep pollution. Nature form'd thee
Kind, gentle, generous.

Emp.
Presumptuous woman!
What prompts thee, rashly daring, to address
Thy sov'reign thus?

Pet.
At midnight, I have wept
O'er Ivan's flinty couch, and quak'd to hear,
When all was still, his shriek of agony:
'Tis this that makes me bold, and bids my voice
Thus warn you: hold not conference with Ivan.

Emp.
Hear, and obey my word. A secret mystery
Perplexes all. I will enquire and judge.

Petr.
[Aside.]
'Tis vain to move her.—Is then thy intent
That hapless Ivan should before thy senate
Appear, that those harsh men should probe his weakness:
Or thou alone confront him?

Emp.
I, alone—

Pet.
'Tis perilous—

Emp.
Unfold thy meaning—Say too,
(For thou no doubt hast aptly taught the boy,)
What are his rare endowments?

Pet.
Heavn's best gift,
The heart's warm sympathies that render back
Kindness for kindness, love for love—Not vainly
In fruitless lore I wasted the brief hour
Allotted to console him: yet, I taught him,
('Twas all I taught, for I did rate his life
But at a moment's hazard) to o'ercome
Calamity by patience, to repose
In confidence on heav'n, and to resign
Not unprepar'd, unwarn'd of violent death,
His soul without a murmur unto God.
So have I rear'd him. Yet, at times—

Emp.
Why silent?

Pet.
Are there not wrongs and dreadful sufferings
Whose very mention, in each human bosom
Stirs righteous indignation? Hence, I dread
What may ensue, Ivan and thou, alone—
At sight of her who from his temples reft
The crown his fathers wore, whose stern command
Has robb'd his day of light, whose ruthless ministers
Have rack'd his tender limbs, will not the fiend
Rouse him to madd'ning horror? Thou hast heard it—
If then instructed thus in Ivan's nature,
Thy will is fix'd to commune lonely with him,
I must not be far distant.

Emp.
I will see him.
[Petrowna goes.
Lead Ivan hither. Speed—away—reply not.
How is it with me? What strange fear appalls?
Where'er I turn, some victim of oppression
Starts up, methinks, before me, and aloud
Cries vengeance.—Ere yon westering sun descends
I will depart: I would not here be found
When nature seeks repose.—Hark, hark, a footstep!
No, 'twas my fear. Why did I wish to see
The injur'd Ivan? What is my intent?
That I myself should witness what his nature?
How judge, when terror fills my inmost soul?
I hear them: 'tis a footstep: it draws near—
Oh spirit of my father! be thou present,
Sustain thy drooping child!

Pet.
[behind the scenes.]
Ivan—

Emp.
I hear her:
It was Petrowna's voice: how mildly sweet!
So a fond mother welcomes in her child.

Pet.
[behind the scenes]
Lean on me—do not linger—Gaze no more
On yon bright orb.

Ivan enters, looking back, leaning on Petrowna.
Ivan.
Was that the blessed sun
That lights the spacious world? Yon orb of fire?
Say, can you stilly gaze on it, Petrowna,
With unaverted eye? Mine it o'erpow'rs:
All, all is darkling round me. Oh support me!

Pet.
Lean closer on me.

Ivan.
Tho' it pains my sight,
Let me again behold it!

Pet.
Turn not, Ivan!
The Empress is before you.

Emp.
[aside.]
Hapless youth!
How hast thou suffer'd!

Ivan.
Oh that piercing air!
You said it would be pleasant to my sense:
But it comes shivering over me, keenly chill:
Yet is its breath most sweet. Aid me, Petrowna!
My limbs sink under me. I pray thee, hide me
In the dark dungeon. Let me not behold her.

Pet.
Remember thou thy promise; kneel, implore
Her mercy.

Ivan.
'Tis thy will—Lead, lead me to her.
Still on my sight the dazzling sun-beams flash.
Where is the Empress?

Emp.
[aside, as Ivan slowly advances.]
Fair indeed his form!
Most beautiful! of growth beyond his years!
Of port commanding!—Ivan!

Ivan.
Whose that voice?
'Tis harsh unto mine ear. Speak, speak, Petrowna!

Pet.
The Empress graciously extends her hand
In sign of kindness. I entreat you, Ivan,
Implore her pity—

Ivan.
I will kneel before her— [kneels.

Not for myself I sue thee. Hear my prayer!

Emp.
I am not of harsh mood. Witness these tears!

Pet.
[to the Empress.]
Must I retire?

Emp.
Leave me not lone with Ivan—
Yet his no brutal nature—

Ivan.
Scorn me not.

Emp.
I cannot longer gaze upon his face.
Lead him away.

Ivan.
No, not till thou hast heard me.

Emp.
What would'st thou?

Ivan.
And hast thou the heart to ask it?

Emp.
Take, take him hence.

Ivan.
No; to thy knees I cling.
None but thyself can give my bosom peace—
I do entreat thee, as thou lov'st the heav'ns
That on thy brow have show'rd felicity,
Vouchsafe reply!—Live they, my wretched parents?

Emp.
They live—

Ivan.
And is their life—

Pet.
[interrupting him.]
Oh, ask no more!

Ivan
Like Ivan's? How! you answer not! Have mercy!
Have mercy! 'Tis for me alone they suffer!
For me they are deprived of air, of light,
Of liberty. My crown is on thy brow:
Wear it, and to thy successor, at will,
Bequeath it.—But, if thou have hope for mercy,
Release poor Ivan's parents, and leave me
To heaven and to Petrowna.

Pet.
Oh! assuage
The anguish of his spirit!

Emp.
Hast thou, Ivan,
No other pray'r? None for thyself? Speak freely:
Nay, dread me not—

Ivan.
What should I dread? Behold me.

Emp.
[aside.]
Oh that the voice of truth had reach'd my throne!
That I had known his gentle nature! [to him.]
Ivan,
It may import thee much, the truth declare,
Has aught unwarranted by Lord Naritzin
Ere in thy cell found entrance?

Ivan.
Dark and deep
My dwelling, far from human sight and sound:
And the sepulchral roof that closes o'er me
The bound that parts the living from the dead.

Emp.
[aside.]
It wounds my soul.

Ivan.
The elements alone
In their illimitable sweep had pow'r
To interrupt my solitude: and oft
From unendurable loneliness arous'd,
I have giv'n answer to the voice of winds
That heav'd the roaring waves; and I have leapt
In transport from my flinty couch, to welcome
The thunder as it burst upon my roof,
And beckon'd, to the light'ning as it flash'd
And sparkled on these fetters: while in vain
I proffer'd, where the volley fiercely blaz'd,
My forehead to its death-stroke.

Emp.
'Tis too horrible!

Pet.
No; not the roar of winds, the thunder's crash,
The inward whisper of a guilty spirit
Alone is insupportable—

Ivan.
Yet, hear me!
Not for myself I sue thee, 'tis for them
My bosom bleeds, for them, my wretched parents,
Imprison'd for my crime: the crime, that Ivan
Was born to rule: waste not in vain lament,
Waste not on me unfruitful tears—I know
My hapless doom, and am prepar'd to suffer.
But, pity those who mourn the living Ivan,
And call the day accurst, which gave to light
Me, their first-born. Pause you? your silence kills—
Scorn not these tears!—

Pet.
I dread what may ensue.
You heeded not his pray'r. Rage knits his brow.

Ivan.
Thou call'd a God on earth, hast thou no mercy?

Pet.
His agitated bosom labours high
With violence unwonted. [To the Empress.]
I exhort you,
Avoid his sight.

Emp.
The voice of majesty
Shall curb his rage. Ivan!

Pet.
Not thus address him:
Not with loud voice of stern command! Hear, Ivan!
Withdraw. [To the Empress.]
His cheek is fire, his eye darts flame.
Ivan. [to the Empress.]
Withdraw!

Emp.
[on Ivan's approach.]
He heeds thee not, Petrowna,
Stand thou between us: 'tis thy sov'reign calls
On thee for aid.

Pet.
Stay, Ivan!

Ivan.
[fronting the Empress.]
Thou, the usurper!
Is this the crowned brow? Let me behold it.
I will confront its terrors. Who art thou,
Mortal! that mock'st omnipotence? Who, thou,
That in the hollow of thy right hand grasp'st
Yon orb of light, and with thy left hast yok'd
The freedom of the winds; and criest aloud,
“Sun! shine not thou on that devoted head!
“Nor let thy pure breath, unimprison'd air!
“Make cool those fever'd temples!” Let me trace
The signature and majesty of heav'n
Stampt on thy front.

Emp.
[sinking on her seat.]
Help—I am faint—Support me.

Pet.
Ivan—He hears me not—I ne'er have witness'd
Such violence of rage—He knows me not—
'Tis past control—

Ivan.
[his passion gradually rises to frenzy.]
Turn not away—Behold me.
What trace I on that brow? Woe, terror, shame.
Where now thy pow'r, thy sov'reignty o'er Ivan?
Usurper! from thy temples lift the crown,
And fix it on my brow, and at my feet
Seek pardon. Give the sceptre to my wielding.
Mark its just use—Haste! ope the prison gates.
Lo! how they issue forth, faint, pale, afraid
To look upon the light! Lo! how they creep
Bow'd down on the strange earth, like beings unus'd
To gaze on heav'n with man's erected front!
[to the Empress.]
Art thou my mother? Oh! I knew thee not.
Let me kiss off those tears that bathe thy cheek:
They long have sever'd us. Come! to my arms!
Oh shield me from that torturer! [Petrowna.]
Shield thy chield!

Pet.
Ivan! it is Petrowna.

Ivan.
[struggling with her.]
Off, barbarian!
They ne'er shall part us more. [Embracing the Empress.]
Come: you shall hear
Strange tales of Ivan. To my prison stole
A monk, a wily man: long years of suffering
Have since toil'd by: and the swol'n wave—I saw it—
Foam'd o'er him. Mark how he allur'd my boyhood—
He told me I should wander in green fields,
And wreathe fresh flow'rs and garlands, where gay birds
Sing in their bow'rs, and gurgling streamlets wind
Thro' sun-shine glades their many-dimpled rills,
But—'twas to plunge me deeper, deeper-down,
In midnight darkness. [To Petrowna.]
Hence, thou fiend! away!
Why, why pursue me to this sunless cave?
Is this too thy doom'd haunt?

Emp.
[to Petrowna.]
Loose not thy hold—

Ivan.
[to the Empress.]
Weep not, dear mother? By thy tears I know thee;
Haply thou know'st not Ivan: not this flesh
So strangely mangled. 'Twas not thus, when first
Thy tear of joy gush'd on the new-born babe.
But—never shall the torturers vex us more.
Hush! hush! No ear must hear it—'Twas Petrowna,
Not that false monk, that spake of freedom, empire—
Hush! hush!

Emp.
Ha!

Pet.
Heed not! these are words of frenzy—

Emp.
[to Petrowna.]
Forget not the dread oath.

Ivan.
[to the Empress.]
Nay—be at rest.
Cloud not thy brow. The usurper shall implore
Forgiveness, and kneel prostrate at our foot-stool.
Off, off, fell fiend!

[to Petrowna.]
Emp.
Let him not 'scape thy arms.

Ivan.
I can no more resist. Strike not again.

Pet.
My son! He falls exhausted: [Ivan falls.]
prone on earth.

Ivan.
Once: twice: they murder me in prison. Help!
Strike at th'anointed brow. Beware, fell fiend!
The eye of heav'n is on you.

Pet.
Ivan, Ivan!
Hear, my beloved son! it is Petrowna,
It is thy mother clasps thee in her arms.
My voice has reach'd him.

Ivan.
[recovering.]
Is it thou, Petrowna?
A fearful vision had disturb'd my sense.

Emp.
Hide him from me for ever. From this isle
I haste—farewell. Think on Naritzin's oath.

[The Empress goes.
Ivan.
My limbs sink under me—support me.

Pet.
Ivan!
Lean on me. In these arms once more find peace.