)
Prince, I must speak with thee.
But thou thyself, it seems, hast business with me,
And I would listen first to thee.
SHUISKY. Yea, sire;
It is my duty to convey to thee
Grave news.
TSAR. I listen.
SHUISKY. (Sotto voce, pointing to FEODOR.)
But, sire--
TSAR. The tsarevich
May learn whate'er Prince Shuisky knoweth. Speak.
SHUISKY. My liege, from Lithuania there have come
Tidings to us--
TSAR. Are they not those same tidings
Which yestereve a courier bore to Pushkin?
SHUISKY. Nothing is hidden from him!--Sire, I thought
Thou knew'st not yet this secret.
TSAR. Let not that
Trouble thee, prince; I fain would scrutinise
Thy information; else we shall not learn
The actual truth.
SHUISKY. I know this only, Sire;
In Cracow a pretender hath appeared;
The king and nobles back him.
TSAR. What say they?
And who is this pretender?
SHUISKY. I know not.
TSAR. But wherein is he dangerous?
SHUISKY. Verily
Thy state, my liege, is firm; by graciousness,
Zeal, bounty, thou hast won the filial love
Of all thy slaves; but thou thyself dost know
The mob is thoughtless, changeable, rebellious,
Credulous, lightly given to vain hope,
Obedient to each momentary impulse,
To truth deaf and indifferent; it feedeth
On fables; shameless boldness pleaseth it.
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