Knowledge house - Oscar Wilde - The Complete Works

czarevitch

What root should there be of discontent among the people but tyranny and injustice amongst their rulers?

czar

What did you say, boy? tyranny! tyranny! Am I a tyrant? I am not. I love the people. ·65· I’m their father. I’m called so in every official proclamation. Have a care, boy; have a care. You don’t seem to be cured yet of your foolish tongue. [ Goes over to Prince Paul and puts his hand on his shoulder .] Prince Paul, tell me were there many people there this morning to see the Nihilists hung?

prince paul

Hanging is of course a good deal less of a novelty in Russia now, Sire, than it was three or four years ago; and you know how easily the people get tired even of their best amusements. But the square and the tops of the houses were really quite crowded, were they not, Prince? [ To the Czarevitch who takes no notice .]

czar

That’s right; all loyal citizens should be there. It shows them what to look forward to. Did you arrest any one in the crowd?

prince paul

Yes, Sire, a woman for cursing your name. [ The Czarevitch starts anxiously .] She was the mother of the two criminals.

czar

[ Looking at Czarevitch .] She should have blessed me for having rid her of her children. Send her to prison.

·66· czarevitch

The prisons of Russia are too full already, Sire. There is no room in them for any more victims.

czar

They don’t die fast enough, then. You should put more of them into one cell at once. You don’t keep them long enough in the mines. If you do they’re sure to die; but you’re all too merciful. I’m too merciful myself. Send her to Siberia. She is sure to die on the way. [ Enter an Aide-de-Camp .] Who’s that? Who’s that?

aide-de-camp

A letter for His Imperial Majesty.

czar

[ To Prince Paul .] I won’t open it. There may be something in it.

prince paul

It would be a very disappointing letter, Sire, if there wasn’t. [ Takes letter himself, and reads it .]

prince petrovitch

[ To Count Rouvaloff .] It must be some sad news. I know that smile too well.

·67· prince paul

From the Chief of Police at Archangel, Sire. “The Governor of the province was shot this morning by a woman as he was entering the courtyard of his own house. The assassin has been seized."

czar

I never trusted the people of Archangel. It’s a nest of Nihilists and conspirators. Take away their saints; they don’t deserve them.

prince paul

Your Highness would punish them more severely by giving them an extra one. Three governors shot in two months. [ Smiles to himself .] Sire, permit me to recommend your loyal subject, the Marquis de Poivrard, as the new Governor of your Province of Archangel.

marq. de poiv.

[ Hurriedly .] Sire, I am unfit for this post.

prince paul

Marquis, you are too modest. Believe me, there is no man in Russia I would sooner see Governor of Archangel than yourself. [ Whispers to Czar .]

czar

Quite right, Prince Paul; you are always ·68· right. See that the Marquis’s letters are made out at once.

prince paul

He can start to-night, Sire. I shall really miss you very much, Marquis. I always liked your tastes in wines and wives extremely.

marq. de poiv.

[ To the Czar .] Start to-night, Sire? [ Prince Paul whispers to the Czar .]

czar

Yes, Marquis, to-night; it is better to go at once.

prince paul

I shall see that Madame la Marquise is not too lonely while you are away; so you need not be alarmed for her.

count r.

[ To Prince Petrovitch .] I should be more alarmed for myself.

czar

The Governor of Archangel shot in his own courtyard by a woman! I’m not safe here. I’m not safe anywhere, with that she-devil of the revolution, Vera Sabouroff, here in Moscow. Prince Paul, is that woman still here?

·69· prince paul

They tell me she was at the Grand Duke’s ball last night. I can hardly believe that; but she certainly had intended to leave for Novgorod to-day, Sire. The police were watching every train for her; but, for some reason or other, she did not go. Some traitor must have warned her. But I shall catch her yet. A chase after a beautiful woman is always exciting.

czar

You must hunt her down with bloodhounds, and when she is taken I shall hew her limb from limb. I shall stretch her on the rack till her pale white body is twisted and curled like paper in the fire.

prince paul

Oh, we shall have another hunt immediately for her, Sire! Prince Alexis will assist us, I am sure.

czarevitch

You never require any assistance to ruin a woman, Prince Paul.

czar

Vera, the Nihilist, in Moscow! O God, were it not better to die at once the dog’s death they plot for me than to live as I live now! Never to ·70· sleep, or, if I do, to dream such horrid dreams that Hell itself were peace when matched with them. To trust none but those I have bought, to buy none worth trusting! To see a traitor in every smile, poison in every dish, a dagger in every hand! To lie awake at night, listening from hour to hour for the stealthy creeping of the murderer, for the laying of the damned mine! You are all spies! you are all spies! You worst of all—you, my own son! Which of you is it who hides these bloody proclamations under my own pillow, or at the table where I sit? Which of ye all is the Judas who betrays me? O God! O God! methinks there was a time once, in our war with England, when nothing could make me afraid. [ This with more calm and pathos .] I have ridden into the crimson heart of war, and borne back an eagle which those wild islanders had taken from us. Men said I was brave then. My father gave me the Iron Cross of valour. Oh, could he see me now with this coward’s livery ever in my cheek! [ Sinks into his chair .] I never knew any love when I was a boy. I was ruled by terror myself, how else should I rule now? [ Starts up .] But I will have revenge; I will have revenge. For every hour I have lain awake at night, waiting for the noose or the dagger, they shall pass years in Siberia, centuries in the mines! Ay! I shall have revenge.

·71· czarevitch

Father! have mercy on the people. Give them what they ask.

prince paul

And begin, Sire, with your own head; they have a particular liking for that.

czar

The people! the people! A tiger which I have let loose upon myself; but I will fight with it to the death. I am done with half measures. I shall crush these Nihilists at a blow. There shall not be a man of them, ay, or a woman either, left alive in Russia. Am I Emperor for nothing, that a woman should hold me at bay? Vera Sabouroff shall be in my power, I swear it, before a week is ended, though I burn my whole city to find her. She shall be flogged by the knout, stifled in the fortress, strangled in the square!

czarevitch

O God!

czar

For two years her hands have been clutching at my throat; for two years she has made my life a hell; but I shall have revenge. Martial law, Prince, martial law over the whole Empire; ·72· that will give me revenge. A good measure, Prince, eh? a good measure.

prince paul

And an economical one too, Sire. It would carry off your surplus population in six months; and save you many expenses in courts of justice; they will not be needed now.

czar

Quite right. There are too many people in Russia, too much money spent on them, too much money in courts of justice. I’ll shut them up.

czarevitch

Sire, reflect before——

czar

When can you have the proclamations ready, Prince Paul?

prince paul

They have been printed for the last six months, Sire. I knew you would need them.