Boris Godounoff - Scene the Seventh
SCENE THE SEVENTH.
The Patriarch's Palace.
THE PATRIARCH. THE PRIOR OF TCHUDOFF MONASTERY .
PATRIARCH .
And he has run away, Father Prior?
PRIOR .
My lord, three days ago he disappeared.
PATRIARCH .
A rogue accursed! And who is he by birth?
PRIOR .
He is of the family of the Otrepieffs, Boyards of Galitch. In his youth he became a monk, I know not where; later, he lived at Sousdal, in the Euphemia Monastery, which he soon left, and for a while wandered from place to place, till he came to Tchudoff, and joined our brotherhood. As he was still young and inexperienced, I placed him under the care of Peamen, an old man, gentle by nature and kind in character: and he gave himself up to study, read our old chronicles, composed canons to the glory of the saints; but his learning, it is plain, came not from God.
PATRIARCH .
Again, these men of learning! What vain things has he not imagined! " I shall be the Tsar of Moscow! " Alas, he is a vile vessel of wrath, reserved for eternal damnation! We must not let the Tsar know aught of this: it would only vex and trouble him. Enough, if we officially report his flight to one of the Secretaries, to Smirnoff or Eupheme. A damnable heresy, this: I shall be the Tsar of Moscow! He must be forthwith pursued and arrested, and then we will send him to Slovetsky, and keep him there in close confinement for life, that he may repent. For it is a devilish heresy; is it not, Father Prior?
PRIOR .
Heresy, my lord, rank heresy!
The Patriarch's Palace.
THE PATRIARCH. THE PRIOR OF TCHUDOFF MONASTERY .
PATRIARCH .
And he has run away, Father Prior?
PRIOR .
My lord, three days ago he disappeared.
PATRIARCH .
A rogue accursed! And who is he by birth?
PRIOR .
He is of the family of the Otrepieffs, Boyards of Galitch. In his youth he became a monk, I know not where; later, he lived at Sousdal, in the Euphemia Monastery, which he soon left, and for a while wandered from place to place, till he came to Tchudoff, and joined our brotherhood. As he was still young and inexperienced, I placed him under the care of Peamen, an old man, gentle by nature and kind in character: and he gave himself up to study, read our old chronicles, composed canons to the glory of the saints; but his learning, it is plain, came not from God.
PATRIARCH .
Again, these men of learning! What vain things has he not imagined! " I shall be the Tsar of Moscow! " Alas, he is a vile vessel of wrath, reserved for eternal damnation! We must not let the Tsar know aught of this: it would only vex and trouble him. Enough, if we officially report his flight to one of the Secretaries, to Smirnoff or Eupheme. A damnable heresy, this: I shall be the Tsar of Moscow! He must be forthwith pursued and arrested, and then we will send him to Slovetsky, and keep him there in close confinement for life, that he may repent. For it is a devilish heresy; is it not, Father Prior?
PRIOR .
Heresy, my lord, rank heresy!
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