PRINCE PAUL:

[(bitterly)] Your brothers, the people, Prince, are not content with their own lives, they always want to take their neighbours' too.

CZAR:

[(standing up)] I am tired 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 graveyard, 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 on 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 silent feet.

PRINCE PAUL:

Bah! the people are bad shots; they always miss one.

CZAREVITCH:

There are times when the people are the instruments of God.

CZAR:

Ay! and when kings are God's scourges for the people. 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.)] We will bring him to prison ourselves: prison! I trust no prison. He would escape and kill me. I will have him shot here, here in the open square by the soldiers. 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! [(to PRINCE PAUL)] I trust you, you have no mercy. [(Throws window open and goes out on balcony.)]

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:

[(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.)]

TABLEAU

ACT DROP ACT THREE

SCENE: same 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 months of liberty.

PRESIDENT:

What is our duty?

FOURTH CONSPIRATOR:

To obey.

PRESIDENT:

Our creed?

FIFTH CONSPIRATOR:

Parbleu, Monsieur 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.