Classic Poem

SCENE THE FOURTH

The Kremlin Palace.

BORIS. THE PATRIARCH. BOYARDS .

BORIS

To thee, most holy Father, and to you,
Boyards, I have disclosed my inmost soul;
Yourselves know how I have the power supreme
With trembling fear and humbleness assumed;
So hard the post that fate reserves for me!
Fate calls me to succeed Ivan the Great,
Fate calls me to succeed the Angel-Tsar!
O spirit just, of sov'reigns father blest,
From thy high throne above behold thy slave,
Thy grace confer on him, whom thou didst love,
And whom with such rare honours thou didst load,
And give him strength to wield thy sacred sway!
Oh, may I rule my people to their glory,
Like thee, may I be ever true and just!
In this my work I pray your aid, Boyards,
Serve me as truly as you well served him,
When I your labours and your toils did share,
As yet unchosen by the people's will.

BOYARDS

We swear that to our oaths we'll ne'er prove false.

BORIS .

Now, let us forth, and pray before the tombs
Of mighty Tsars whom Russia loves to greet:
Then will we meet and solemn banquet hold
Our subjects all, both high and low, we bid;
To one and all we give our welcome free!

VOROTINSKY .

Thou hast well guessed.

SHOUISKY .

Guessed what?

VOROTINSKY

But yesterday,
Rememb'rest thou?

SHOUISKY .

I know not what thou sayst.

VOROTINSKY .

Why, when the crowds were from the Convent trooping,
Thou saidst...

SHOUISKY

The hour forbids such things recall:
I counsel you forget them too, while time
Allows Besides, with cunning venomed speech
I would but try to probe thy inmost soul,
And slily ferret out thy secret thoughts.
But see, the people throng to greet the Tsar;
My absence may be noted, do me harm:
I think, I'll join the crowd.

VOROTINSKY .

A fawning slave!