Tsar Fyodor Ivanovitch; a play in five acts

Front matter

THE MOSCOW ART THEATRE SERIES OF RUSSIAN PLAYS

VOLUME I

A PLAY IN FIFE ACTS BY

SCENE I. The Home of Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky

At the extreme left is a table around which are grouped all the members of the Shouisky household, except Ivan Petrovitch and Vassily Ivanovitch.

Next to the Shouiskys are grouped the Coadjutor of the Holy Synod, the Archimandrite of the Holy Synod, and several other clerics. A few noblemen are also seated at the table, while others stroll around, chatting, in the background. To the right is a group of merchants and tradespeople; and there is, too, another table with tumblers and dishes at which Starkoff, Prince Ivan Petrovitch' s Aide-de-Camp, stands waiting,

Andrei Shouisky [to the clerics] Yes, yes, Reverend Fathers. I place great hopes upon the outcome of this affair. Godunoif really reigns — reigns through his sister. By her alone he stands to-day greater and stronger than all the nobles of this land. Already he handles Russia, people and lands and Holy Church, as if it were his own domain. Get rid of his sister — and we can manage him.

Archimandrite. So Prince Ivan Petrovitch gave his consent ?

Andrei Shouisky. Very reluctantly! You see, he greatly pities the Tsarina. There will be a wedding in my family. My niece is going to be Prince Shakhovskoy's bride — with joy and laughter — while grief will stalk through the imperial palace when I shall tear apart Tsar and Tsarina.

Coadjutor. Prince Ivan is very soft-hearted.

Dimitry Shouisky. That's his nature. On the battlefield like a lion ! But let him take off his uniform, and you would not imagine him to be the same man!

Golovin. But how did he finally give his consent?

Andrei Shouisky. Thanks to Prince Vassily who made him give it.

Golovin. No good can come of it. My opinion is: if you do a thing, do it thoroughly — or not at all.

Andrei Shouisky. And what would you do?

Golovin. I would simplify matters. But this is not the time to talk of it. Shh ! Here he is now!

[Enter Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky referred to hereafter as Ivan who has a paper in his hand.~\

Ivan. Reverend Fathers! Princes! Nobles! My respects to you — and to you, too, merchants ! At last I have decided. No longer can we tolerate Godunoff. We of the faction of Shouisky are patriots. We are ready to fight for our fatherland, our church, the welfare and future of Russia, while Godunoffs success spells Russia's ruin. We shall not permit it. It is between him and us. Read, Vassily Ivanovitch.

Vassily Shouisky [reading] "To the Almighty Prince of All the Russias, our Ever- Victorious Tsar, the Emperor Fyodor Ivanovitch! We, the clerics, princes, nobles, and merchants of all Russia, address you, Majesty! Have mercy upon us, your subjects! Your Tsarina, a Godunoff by birth, has borne you no children, while a great misfortune has befallen your brother, Dimitry Ivanovitch. And should you, through the will of God, be taken from us, your dynasty would become extinct and your kingdom orphaned. Thus pity us, AU-Powerful Emperor ! Do not permit your father's throne to become empty! For the sake of your race and for the welfare of your people, Almighty Emperor, be graciously pleased to take another wife unto yourself. Take for your Tsarina — "

Ivan. We will write the name in later on, after we and His Holiness have come to a decision. Read on.

Vassily Shouisky [confirming] "Send your childless Tsarina into a convent, as your late father, the Almighty Prince Ivan Vassilitch, decreed. And to this, the humble prayer of All the Russias, we have to-day affixed our signatures."

Ivan [to the noblemen'] Are you all willing to sign?

The Nobles. Yes!

Ivan [to the clerics] And you, Reverend Fathers?

The Coadjutor. His Holiness sends his blessings and commands us to join forces with you.

Archimandrite. No longer shall Godunoff be permitted to overrule Our Lord's Holy Church.

Ivan [to the merchants] And you?

Merchants. Your Grace, who are we, not to follow where you lead ? We have been suffering under a great disadvantage ever since Godunoff exempted the English traders from paying taxes.

Ivan [takes his pen] Forgive me, Lord God! It is for the welfare of our people that I lay this crime upon my soul !

Vassily Shouisky. Come, come, uncle. Why call it a crime? It is not through enmity to Irina that you propose doing away with her, but to strengthen the throne of Russia.

Ivan. True! I shall do away with her to destroy Boris Godunoff. Why torture my soul about it? My path is not without thorns.

Vassily Shouisky. Why, uncle — ? What attraction can Irina find in worldly pomp? Compared to

Officers of the Skouisky faction, iv CAST OF CHARACTERS

Coadjutor of the Holy Synod.

Archimandrite of the Holy Synod.

Court Chaplain.

Prince Vassily Ivanovitch Shouisky —

Nephew of Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky. Prince Andrei

Prince Dimitry VOf the Shouisky family. Prince Ivan Prince Mstislavsky Prince Khvorostinin Prince Shakhovskoy

MlKHAILO GOLOVIN

Andrei Petrovitch Loup-Kleshnin —

Tsar Fyodors former tutor, of the Godunoff faction. Prince Tureynin — Of the Godunoff faction. Princess Mstislavskaya —

Niece of Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky, fiancee of Prince Shakhovskoy.

Vassilisa Volokhova — Marriage-broker.

BOGDAN KURIUKOFF

Ivan Krassilnikoff Delegates from Moscow, of the

Golub, Senior Shouisky faction.

Golub, Junior

Fediuk Starkoff —

Aide-de-camp of Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky.

Lute-Player.

Imperial Groom.

A Servant of Boris Godunoff.

Courier — from the village of Tieskloff.

Courier — from the village of U glitch.

Man-of-Arms.

Noblemen, Noblewomen, Chambermaids, Stewards, Deacons, Popes, Priests, Merchants, Country People, Archers, Servants, Beggars, and crowds.

ACTION : — The action takes place at Moscow, at the end of the Sixteenth Century.

Act One. Scene I

The Home of Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky.

At the extreme left is a table around which are grouped all the members of the Shouisky household, except Ivan Petrovitch and Vassily Ivanovitch.

Next to the Shouiskys are grouped the Coadjutor of the Holy Synod, the Archimandrite of the Holy Synod, and several other clerics. A few noblemen are also seated at the table, while others stroll around, chatting, in the background. To the right is a group of merchants and tradespeople; and there is, too, another table with tumblers and dishes at which Starkoff, Prince Ivan Petrovitch' s Aide-de-Camp, stands waiting.

Andrei Shouisky [to the clerics] Yes, yes, Reverend Fathers. I place great hopes upon the outcome of this affair. Godunoff really reigns — reigns through his sister. By her alone he stands to-day greater and stronger than all the nobles of this land. Already he handles Russia, people and lands and Holy Church, as if it were his own domain. Get rid of his sister — and we can manage him.

Archimandrite. So Prince Ivan Petrovitch gave his consent ?

Andrei Shouisky. Very reluctantly! You see, he greatly pities the Tsarina. There will be a wedding in my family. My niece is going to be Prince Shakhovskoy's bride — with joy and laughter — while grief will stalk through the imperial palace when I shall tear apart Tsar and Tsarina.

Coadjutor. Prince Ivan is very soft-hearted.

Dimitry Shouisky. That's his nature. On the battlefield like a lion ! But let him take off his uniform, and you would not imagine him to be the same man!

Golovin. But how did he finally give his consent?

Andrei Shouisky. Thanks to Prince Vassily who made him give it.

Golovin. No good can come of it. My opinion is: if you do a thing, do it thoroughly — or not at all.

Andrei Shouisky. And what would you do?

Golovin. I would simplify matters. But this is not the time to talk of it. Shh ! Here he is now!

[Enter Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky referred to hereafter as Ivan who has a paper in his hand.]

Ivan. Reverend Fathers! Princes! Nobles! My respects to you — and to you, too, merchants ! At last I have decided. No longer can we tolerate Godunoff. We of the faction of Shouisky are patriots. We are ready to fight for our fatherland, our church, the welfare and future of Russia, while Godunoffs success spells Russia's ruin. We shall not permit it. It is between him and us. Read, Vassily Ivanovitch.

Vassily Shouisky [reading] "To the Almighty Prince of All the Russias, our Ever-Victorious Tsar, the Emperor Fyodor Ivanovitch! We, the clerics, princes, nobles, and merchants of all Russia, address you, Majesty! Have mercy upon us, your subjects! Your Tsarina, a Godunoff by birth, has borne you no children, while a great misfortune has befallen your brother, Dimitry Ivanovitch. And should you, through the will of God, be taken from us, your dynasty would become extinct and your kingdom orphaned. Thus pity us, All-Powerful Emperor ! Do not permit your father's throne to become empty! For the sake of your race and for the welfare of your people, Almighty Emperor, be graciously pleased to take another wife unto yourself. Take for your Tsarina — "

Ivan. We will write the name in later on, after we and His Holiness have come to a decision. Read on.

Vassily Shouisky [continuing] "Send your childless Tsarina into a convent, as your late father, the Almighty Prince Ivan Vassilitch, decreed. And to this, the humble prayer of All the Russias, we have to-day affixed our signatures. ,,

Ivan [to the noblemen] Are you all willing to sign?

The Nobles. Yes!

Ivan [to the clerics] And you, Reverend Fathers?

The Coadjutor. His Holiness sends his blessings and commands us to join forces with you.

Archimandrite. No longer shall Godunoff be permitted to overrule Our Lord's Holy Church.

Ivan [to the merchants] And you?

Merchants. Your Grace, who are we, not to follow where you lead ? We have been suffering under a great disadvantage ever since Godunoff exempted the English traders from paying taxes.

Ivan [takes his pen] Forgive me, Lord God! It is for the welfare of our people that I lay this crime upon my soul!

Vassily Shouisky. Come, come, uncle. Why call it a crime? It is not through enmity to Irina that you propose doing away with her, but to strengthen the throne of Russia.

Ivan. True! I shall do away with her to destroy Boris Godunoff. Why torture my soul about it? My path is not without thorns.

Vassily Shouisky. Why, uncle — ? What attraction can Irina find in worldly pomp? Compared to heavenly bliss, everything else seems tawdry and vain to her.

Ivan. I repeat, my path is not without thorns. But I shall not turn back. It is better that the Tsarina, though innocent, should perish than our country. [Signs] Sign — all of you! [They all sign. Ivan goes to one side, and Prince Shakhovskoy joins him.]

Shakhovskoy. Your Grace, when will you permit me to see my fiancee?

Ivan. That's your one and only worry — your fiancee! Can't you wait? Be patient. She will come down with the others to greet you.

Shakhovskoy. Your Grace, you never let me see her except when there are other people present.

Ivan. And you would like to see her alone, I know. You are young, Prince, and I am a man of conventions. I hold conventions to be not only the basis of national, but also of family life.

Shakhovskoy. And were you living up to your own conventions that time in Pskoff when Zamoisky tried to kill you, and when after you had caught him red-handed, you challenged him to a duel as if he were an honest man?

Ivan. Zamoisky was not a pink-cheeked maiden, and I was not betrothed to him. There is no shame in meeting one's enemy in single combat.

[Shakhovskoy walks away and Golovin joins Ivan.]

Golovin [in an undertone] The matter could be settled more easily and speedily, should you so wish, Your Grace. The inhabitants of Uglitch are thinking of Dimitry Ivanovitch.

Ivan. Well — what of it ?

Golovin. They say in Moscow that Fyodor is weak in body, soul, and spirit — so — • if you . . .

Ivan. Take care, Mikhailo Golovin, lest I should guess what you are driving at.

Golovin. Your Grace . . .

Ivan. For the present I let your insinuations pass in one ear and out the other. But should you speak of it again, before God! I shall tell the Tsar!

[Princess Mstislavskaya enters in full evening dress, followed by two handmaidens and Volokhova, carrying a tray with tumblers. All bow to the Princess.]

Vassily Shouisky [softly to Golovin] You certainly guessed wrong when you tried to make a tool of Ivan Petrovitch — Why — he would rather let himself be torn to pieces! Stop this nonsense.

Golovin. If he were only willing —

Vassily Shouisky. If! If my grandmother had a beard she would be my grandfather!

Ivan. And now, dear guests, take the glasses which my niece will offer you.

[Volokhova hands the tray to the Princess who serves the guests , bowing to them.]

Shakhovskoy [to the Princess, in a whisper, after accepting the glass which she hands him] Will you permit me to see you very soon?

[The Princess turns away.]

Volokhova [in a whisper to Shakhovskoy] To-morrow night — by the garden gate —

Ivan [lifting the tumbler which Starkoff hands him] First let us drink to the health of our Tsar and Sovereign, Fyodor Ivanovitch. May he be our ruler for many a year to come !

All Together. Long life to the Tsar!

Ivan. And now permit me to drink your health, gentlemen !

Prince Khvorostinin. Prince Ivan Petrovitch! A long time you shielded us against Latvia! Be now our shield against Boris Godunoff.

Coadjutor. May the Lord God bless you, the defender of Holy Church !

Archimandrite. The destroyer of Nebuchadnezzar!

Merchants. Your Grace, you are to us a very bulwark of defense. We shall follow you through fire and flood.

Prince Khvorostinin. Prince! Allow us now to toast the young bride and groom.

All Together. Long may they live!

Ivan. I thank you, dear guests, I thank you. Though she is only my niece, she is to me like my own daughter. Princess! And you, Grigory! Bow your thanks, my children !

All [drinking] Long life to the handsome groom and his charming bride !

Ivan. Thank you all. [To Mstislavskaya] You may leave us now, Natasha. You are still a child, not yet used to these worldly affairs. Why — you are blushing like a rose! [Kisses her gently on the forehead] Go now, my dear.

[The Princess, Volokhova and the Handmaidens leave. Volokhova, in passing Shakhovskoy.]

Volokhova. Don't forget — near the garden gate — and 'don't forget my little present !

Ivan. We have no time to lose. Let us send this address at once to His Holiness, and then spread it broadcast throughout all Moscow.

Vassily Shouisky. No gossiping — God forbid!

All. May God protect us!

Ivan. Forgive me, all of you ! His Holiness will let as know when to present ourselves before the Tsar.

[They move here and there, prepared to leave*]

My path is not without thorns. To-day I understand how the man who fights against trickery cannot remain clean. The fight between truth and falsehood is uneven, unfair, and it is a most difficult task for an honest man to master the art of trickery. Fortunate is he who can face his enemies, openly, on the field of battle! Though thunder and lightning rage above his head, his soul is clean and certain of itself. To-day the knowledge that I am guilty of wrong is like a heavy stone upon my heart. But God is my witness that there are no other paths open to us. We can get no support from the Tsar. He is like soft putty in the hands of the man who knows how to fashion him. He is not our real ruler. Our real ruler is his brother-in-law, and all Russia clamors for protection against him ! Russia looks to us — to us alone ! There is no other choice ! We need a falsehood to combat a falsehood ! And may the crime which willingly I load upon my life haunt GodunofFs conscience! [Leaves.]

Starkoff [looking after him] A falsehood to combat a falsehood! Very well. Then do not blame me, sir, if I, too, tell a falsehood and, by the same token, tell what is true of you.

SCENE 11.

Room in the Imperial palace. Godunoff is sitting at a table deep in thought. Near him stands Loup-Kleshnin and Prince Tureynin. Starkoff stands waiting at the door.]

Kleshnin [to Starkoff] And so you will testify to everything?

Starkoff. To everything — absolutely everything, sir! You may bring me face to face with the Tsar at once, if such be your wish !

Kleshnin. Very well. Go, my dear fellow. We are satisfied.

[Starkoff leaves.']

Kleshnin [to Godunoff] So that is how it stands? The sister is to be sent to a convent — and the brother is to be knifed ! Led by His Holiness they will approach the Tsar!

Godunoff [deep in thought] Seven years have passed since Tsar Ivan's death. And now, when I may not even ward off the blow, whatever work I did for Russia is tumbling, and we shall again find ourselves plunged into the abyss as at the time of Tsar Ivan Vassilitch's death.

Kleshnin. They are plotting and counter-plotting. Golovin, one of their henchmen, has won over the Nagi clan of Uglitch, and here they plan separating the Tsar from the Tsarina. So if they fail in one place, they are bound to succeed in the other ; like a cat — if it cannot bite, it scratches !

Tureynin [to Godunoff] Sir, do not permit them to offer their respects in audience to the Tsar. You know what he is like — he cannot say "No" to priests.

Kleshnin. You must take no risks. No wonder the late Tsar nicknamed him the sexton. Ah — Little Father Ivan Vassilitch! If you were alive to-day you would know how to deal with the Nagis and the Shouiskys!

Godunoff. Have we received no news from Uglitch ?

Kleshnin. None whatever. Just let Bitanovsky send us written evidence that Golovin corresponded with the Nagis, and then we shall know how to handle the Shouiskys.

Tureynin. And suppose he is double-crossing us?

Kleshnin. No matter! With such evidence they are in our hands.

Tureynin. So much the better for us. I, on the other hand, have an old account to settle with Prince Ivan Petrovitch. We were dying of hunger in Pskoff while we were exposed day and night to a rain of bullets, and I, out of sheer pity for the tradespeople who were perishing, advised them to open negotiations with the king of Batur. But Prince Ivan Petrovitch ordered the noose to be put about my neck, and I was pardoned, thanks only to the prayers of some pious pilgrims. I have not forgotten it, and I would give all I own if I could put the noose around his neck.

Kleshnin. Bad luck to him ! He is kindly to merchants and tradespeople and other such rogues — with us he is haughty. Ah — if only we could get the written evidence !

Tureynin [to Godunoff] Your fate hangs by a thread. You must decide!

Godunoff [rising] I have decided!

Tureynin. What ?

Godunoff. To make peace.

Tureynin and Kleshnin [together] What? Peace with the Shouiskys?

Godunoff. To-morrow they and I shall become friends.

Tureynin. What? Give in to them? You are willing to divide the power with them ?

Kleshnin. Why, Little Father, have you lost your mind? You are letting the bull into the china shop!

Godunoff. When a great storm rages and the ship and all it contains is threatened with disaster, only a madman will refuse to throw overboard part of his treasure in order to save something from the wreck. Half of my rights I shall throw into the waves, but the ship itself I shall save!

Kleshnin. How will you meet them? Will you be io TSAR FYODOR IVANOVITCH

the one to submit to them, or will you ask them to come to you? And who will make peace between you?

Godunoff. The Tsar himself.

[A steward opens the door J]

Tureynin. Here comes the Tsar.

[Enter Tsar Fyodor, followed by the Imperial Groom.]

Fyodor. Groom! Why did my horse balk?

Groom. Your Majesty, you reached for your purse to give alms to a beggar; at the same moment, the horse darted forward, you pulled the reins, and the animal became frightened.

Fyodor. I was as much frightened as the horse. Groom, do not give him oats. Let him have only hay.

Kleshnin. Tsar, if I were in your place, I would suggest putting the thumb-screws on the groom to teach him not to give wild horses to Your Majesty.

Groom. Why, sir, how can this horse be wild? He is twenty-five years old ! The late Tsar used to ride him !

Fyodor. Perhaps it was my own fault after all. I spurred him a little too much. You say he balked because he became frightened ?

Groom. Yes, Your Majesty, because he became frightened !

Fyodor. Well, then, this time I forgive him; but I will not ride him again. Pension him off — and give him his full share of oats until his death. [Tsarina Irina comes in through the other door] Good day, Irinushka!

Irina. Good day, light of my soul ! Are you tired ?

Fyodor. Yes, yes, quite tired, I trotted steadily all the way from Andron. Right here, near the palace gate, the horse tried to throw me. But I mastered him. I spurred him so hard that he quieted down. Irinushka, I take it that dinner is ready?

Irina. Yes, light of my soul, eat to your heart's content.

TSAR FYODOR IVANOVITCH n

Fyodor. Of course, of course. We shall dine right away. The ride gave me a ravenous appetite. They have lovely chimes at Andron. I want to send for their sacristan, and have him show me how he handles them. . . . Irinushka, what a beauty I saw at Andron's house! Do you know who? Mstislavskaya! She is a niece of the Shouiskys. Have you seen her, brother-in-law?

Godunoff. No, your Majesty, for years I have not been on speaking terms with the Shouiskys.

Fyodor. What a pity, brother-in-law, what a great pity ! . . . She is so tall and slender — and what a complexion !

Irina. Aren't you a bit infatuated with her, Fyodor?

Fyodor. And — oh — what eyebrows !

Irina. Really! You talk of her a great deal.

Fyodor. What of it, Irinushka? After all I'm not yet an old man. I can still attract women.

Irina. Shame on you ! She is engaged !

Fyodor. Yes, to Shakhovskoy. Brother-in-law, do you know Prince Grigory Shakhovskoy?

Godunoff. I used to know him, Your Majesty. But he is now an ally of the Shouiskys.

Fyodor. Brother-in-law, it grieves me to hear this; this one is allied with the Shouiskys, and that one is your ally! Will I ever live to see the day when one and all shall be Russia's allies?

Godunoff. It would make me happy, Your Majesty. I would not be the one to lag behind if I only knew how to make peace.

Fyodor. Really, brother-in-law? You mean it? Why didn't you tell me before? I shall make peace between you. To-morrow I shall bring you and Prince Ivan Petrovitch together.

Godunoff. I am ready, Your Majesty. But it seems to me . • .

ia TSAR FYODOR IVANOVITCH

Fyodor. Not another word! Don't you bother your head about it, Boris. You would not know how. Go on administering the country. That is a thing you know, and know well. But I shall attend to the other matter. For it demands a knowledge of the human soul. To-morrow, then, I shall make peace between you. And now let us go in to dinner. [Turns toward doors, stops'] Listen, Irinushka; just the same, Mstislavskaya kept on looking on me in church!

Irina. What can I do, Fyodor? It is to be my bitter destiny, evidently.

Fyodor [embracing her] Dear heart! Beloved! I was only jesting. Why — is there any one in all the world more lovely than you? Come, let us go and eat before our dinner gets cold.

[Fyodor leaves, Irina following. Godunofi, Kleshnin, and Tureynin follow toward door.]

Kleshnin [to Godunoff, leaving room] So you are going to make peace, eh? And you will become friends with your deadliest foe?

Tureynin. The one who hates you most ! And then what?

Godunoff. And then — we shall see !

[They leave.]

Act Two

Room in the Tsar's palace. Tsar Fyodor is sitting in a large arm-chair. To his right Irina is doing goldthread embroidery on a frame. To the left, sitting in arm-chairs are: Dionisy, Metropolitan of Russia; Varlaam, Archbishop of Krutits; Ioff, Archbishop of Rostoff ; Boris Godunoff. A number of nobles are at hand.

Fyodor. Most Reverend Father Dionisy! Reverend Father Ioff ! And you, Father Varlaam ! I sent for you, Reverend Sirs, to help me in an important matter; in other words, to assist me in making peace between two old foes. You know how long I have grieved over the fact that the Shouiskys, an honorable family, and Boris Godunoff, my esteemed brother-in-law, have been estranged by a useless feud. But apparently the Lord has listened to my prayers and has endowed Boris , heart with the spirit of humility. He himself promised me to-day to forget his enemies' deeds, and to be the first to offer his hand to the Shouiskys. Is that not so, brother-in-law?

Godunoff. It is my duty to bow to your wishes, Your Majesty.

Fyodor. Thank you, brother-in-law! You remember the Blessed Scriptures, and faithfully you observe their lessons. There is one thing, though, about Prince Ivan Petrovitch Shouisky which I wish to tell you. He is inclined to be a little harsh and proud and aggressive. So it would be better if you say as little as possible to i 4 TSAR FYODOR IVANOVITCH

each other, and perhaps it would be best if you should go to him and shake his hand — like this — and tell him that everything is forgotten and that hereafter you wish to live in peace with him and his clan.

Godunoff. I am ready!

Fyodor. Thank you, brother-in-law! Do not forget — he is a warrior. He has grown up amidst the clang of battle, the roar of the cannons, the clash of steel, and the thud of lance and halberd. But he is a pious man for all that, and he will doubtless listen to friendly words. [To Dionisy] As for you, Most Reverend Father, as soon as they clasp hands, give them your blessing quickly, and speak to them encouraging words.

Dionisy. It is my duty, Your Majesty, as a servant of Christ's Holy Church, to bring to everybody the message of peace. Be this a religious matter or not, yet shall I try to win over Prince Shouisky.

Fyodor. Most Reverend Father, we stand ready, one and all, to defend the Church. Boris and I and Shouisky, we all are stanch supporters of the Faith.

Dionisy. All-Powerful Tsar, your zeal is well known to us, but unfortunately your will does not empower all decisions. [Looks at Godunoff meaningly] When our Holy Synod found some merchants of Novgorod guilty of heresy, they were permitted a few days later to go free and return to Novgorod and tempt the peasants with their evil doctrines.

Godunoff. Your Holiness, these merchants trade with German towns, and thus bring a great deal of profit to our government. Without them Novgorod would be ruined.

Dionisy. Is it for the sake of profit that heretics should be allowed to go unpunished?

Godunoff. Qod forbid, Most Reverend Father ! The Tsar has already ordered his soldiers to arrest the propounder of these heresies. But the Tsar differentiates between tempter and tempted.

Fyodor. Of course, brother-in-law. And, Most Reverend Sir, even the tempters themselves should neither be punished nor tortured. They should answer for their sins to the Lord God. You yourself can exhort them. For, Reverend Sir, it is not without reason that they call you a wise theologian.

Dionisy. We try to do the best we can through exhortation. But you are not aware of all the facts. The bailiffs and tax and revenue collectors began to join churches and monasteries for their own ends, and they brought into play forgotten tricks and twists to influence the people.

Godunoff. Most Reverend Father, the Almighty Tsar has forestalled all your grievances. There will not arise in the future another occasion for us to take extreme measures. [Hands him an official paper] Here is the decree, Reverend Father, which will prevent these people from joining, for reasons of personal benefit, the monasteries and the organizations of Holy Church, and which transfers the jurisdiction in such cases from the imperial courts to the Church itself.

Fyodor. Yes, Reverend Father, he wrote it, and I affixed my seal to it.

Dionisy [glancing at the document'] Blessed be the peace-makers! When the imperial chancellor promises to guarantee our statutory rights, exemptions and privileges, then all past grievances shall be forgotten.

Fyodor. Right, right, Reverend Father! Father Varlaam, come and assist His Holiness.

Varlaam. Your Majesty, I shall second whatever His Holiness decides in this matter.

Fyodor. Father Ioff , I depend upon you, too.

Ioff. Your chancellor, Almighty Emperor, is both i6 TSAR FYODOR IVANOVITCH

kindly and wise, and it is our duty to pray to God for peace and good-will.