ACT I.
(Before the curtain rises there is a feeling that something extraordinarily important and solemn is to be presented. And in fact one sees a vast hall in the palace of the famous King Dodon during the sitting of the Council of Boyars. The hall is richly ornamented with Russian carving, gilded and painted, by which it is clearly evident that green, blue, and yellow are the favorite colors of King Dodon’s people. On benches covered with brocade, the Boyars are seated in a semicircle,—grave and bearded men. Upon a throne in the middle, magnificently decorated with peacock feathers, is seated King Dodon himself, wearing a golden crown and in royal vestments of yellow. On either side of him are the impatient Princes—his sons Afron and Guidon. Amongst the Boyars is the old and rude Voevoda[1] Polkan.)
[1] Voevoda—a head of the army.
King Dodon
(appears overwhelmed with cares).
I have summoned you hither, so that everyone
In the kingdom should know, what a burden it is
To the mighty Dodon to wear a crown.
So, listen, my friends!
From my youth up I have been redoubtable,
And time and time again I have daringly affronted
My neighbours.
But now I wish to rest from warlike deeds,
And seek repose.
As if on purpose a neighbour now is disturbing me
By unceasingly doing evil deeds.
In order to defend
The frontiers of my kingdom from attack
I must maintain a large Army.
We expect invasion from the North, and lo!
A force is coming from the South.
We have mastered these, but evil guests
Are coming from the sea,
So that I, Dodon, weep from very anger
And cannot sleep.
My life is so anxious. I desire advice and help.
Counsel me!
One Boyar
(hesitatingly).
’Tis a pity our fortune-teller is dead.
She would have unravelled the question
By means of beans.…
Second Boyar.
Beans? We had—it’s a pity ’twas some time ago—
A better witch. She divined by dregs.
Guidon.
There was also one who knew
How to foretell things by the stars.
Chorus of Boyars.
Dregs are better.
The beans are more to be believed in.
(The dispute becomes more violent. The King is in a state of indecision. At this moment the very old Astrologer appears on the stairway, in a white hat and blue garment with gold stars. Under his arms he carries an astrolabe and bag. All follow the movements of the Astrologer in silence, who, with the short steps of an old man, approaches The King and bows low before him.)
The Astrologer
(on his knees).
Hail, Majesty! Sire!
Thy father knew me of old,
But we have not met until now.
Urged by my duty as a subject,
And having heard that Dodon
Was losing sleep by reason of his cares,
I have brought thee as a gift a bird.
Place it on a spire,
And my golden cock will be thy true watchman.
When all around is peaceful
He will remain quiet,
But if from any quarter
War threatens thee,
Or the invasion of an armed force,
Or any other unexpected misfortune,
In an instant my bird
Will raise his comb,
Will flap his wings, and
Turning in that direction,
Will begin to crow “Cock-a-doodle-do!
Beware!”
King Dodon
(still unbelieving).
O! That’s a fairy tale!
Take him out, and we shall have a look at him.
(They all surround The Astrologer, full of curiosity. The Astrologer takes out of his bag the cleverly-made Golden Cock, who flaps his wings and crows.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Reign, taking your ease!
(Exclamations of delight.)
The Princes and the Boyars.
It is simply marvellous! Simply wonderful!
The old man told the truth.
King Dodon
Marvelous! Wonderful!
(with joy, to all).
Is it true, that I from this time forth
Shall repel all my neighbours?
(To the servants.)
Place him on a spire,
And he will guard my capital.
(To The Astrologer.)
How shall I thank thee—
What can I promise thee—
For such a favour?
Besides my love and respect
I shall fulfill thy first wish
As if it were my own!
The Astrologer.
Gifts to the wise are not flattering;
Power—Riches—High Rank—
Create only enmity.
But love is dear to me!
(The Astrologer bows to the earth and goes towards the entrance.)
Voice of the Bird
(from the spire).
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Reign, and take your ease!
(Dodon walking up and down, rubbing his hands together joyfully.)
King Dodon.
What happiness! With folded hands
I shall reign, lying at my ease.
If I wish, I shall sleep,
And shall give orders not to be awakened.
I shall give commands to be amused
With fairy tales—
With combats—with jesters—and with dancing.
I shall forget forever
That in this world there are calamities.
(The housekeeper Amelfa appears, standing on the threshold of a door leading to the inner apartments.)
(Stretching himself out in the sun.)
How gloriously warm the sun is!
It is the breath of Spring. All is becoming green.
The cherry trees are white as milk.
(Looking about hesitatingly.)
I should like to take a nap in this nook,
And not to go into my bedroom.
Amelfa
(clasping her hands in boundless devotion).
Bàtyushka! If thou dost wish
We shall turn the whole capital into a bedroom!
(At a sign from her the servants rush to the palace and carry out into the sun a bed of ivory with fur coverings. Amelfa herself comes to him with a large tray filled with delicacies.)
See that thou hast an empty tummy.
Taste a little of these Turkish pods;
Or some walnuts in honey.
Drink some cold kvass,
With mint, hops, ginger.
Or will it please the royal taste
To have some prunes stuffed with raisins
And dipped in wine?
Try and see if they are tasty.
(Dodon, yawning, sits down before the dishes.)
King Dodon.
Oh well! All right! And whilst
I dally with the dishes, amuse me
So that I shall not fall asleep.
(Having finished the delicacies, he glances at the bed. Amelfa shakes up the pillow and arranges the bed.)
Lie down! I shall from the royal face
Drive off the annoying flies.
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Sleep in thy regal bed!
(Dodon lies down, and instantly goes to sleep, as free from care as a child. Amelfa drives away the flies, bending over the bed. At first the guards sleepily call out to one another the words: “Reign, lying at ease.” Then the sweet charm of the mid-day nap overcomes them. All except Amelfa indulge in a long, sweet sleep. Silence reigns throughout the capital. The indefatigable flies alone buzz about Dodon, and the everlasting sun shines as before with his steady and welcome light.)
Amelfa.
All are asleep! All are weary!
All tired by the breath of Spring!
(She leans her elbows on the royal bed, and falls asleep beside Dodon, who smiles in his sleep, dreaming of some wonderful beauty who never existed.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Beware!
(Uproar, and running to and fro. Horses neigh. Sound of trumpets—sometimes here, sometimes there. People appear on the street. Terrible fear is depicted upon their pitiful faces.)
People on the Street.
The bird is crowing! Get up!
Saddle your fleet horses!
Quickly! The enemy does not wait.
He will trample down the cornfields
And burn the villages.
Polkan
(running in).
Our King! Father of the people!
I am thy Voevoda.
Sire! Awake! A calamity is upon us.
(The Housekeeper jumps up and hurriedly disappears.)
King Dodon
(not quite awake).
What is it?
Polkan.
It must be that a strange foe is advancing.
King Dodon
(getting up and yawning).
Eh! What? What calamity?
Is my palace burning?
Polkan.
Devil take him!
The bird is crowing, turning about on the spire.
Noise and hubbub throughout the capital.
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Open your eyes and beware!
(His own eyes assure Dodon of the restlessness of the bird.)
King Dodon
(to the people).
Well! My children. It is war.
We must have assistance.
No delay! Make haste!
Unlock your coffers quickly.
People on the Street
(abasing themselves).
We are yours, body and soul.
(Dodon sits on his throne. Afron and the Boyars rush in, armed. Guidon runs in, buckling his sword belt. Dodon kisses each of his sons thrice. The sons, much cast down, go out with The Boyars. The noise of the departing army is heard; then all is silent.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Reign, taking your ease.
King Dodon
(yawning).
Dear bird! Many thanks.
(Dodon falls asleep; also Amelfa and the Guards. His dreams about the wonderful beauty become more definite and insistent.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Beware!
(Again noise and running to and fro. Trumpets. A terrified crowd of people assemble at the Palace, not daring to awake Dodon.)
People on the Street.
O! What misfortune! O, brothers, what evils!
Our King is fast asleep. All is quiet
In the palace. It is impossible to wake them.
What shall we do? What will become of us?
Where is Polkan, our Voevoda?
(Polkan rushes in with armed Boyars. Amelfa runs away.)
Polkan.
Sire! Father of thy people!
Sire! Another calamity!
King Dodon
(leaping from the bed).
Always at the wrong time!
Polkan.
Noise and hubbub in all the capital,
And again the bird high up
On the spire is playing tricks,
Turning towards the East.
It seems the Army has not been successful.
I suppose it would be the thing
To call out the old men!
King Dodon
(rubbing his eyes and yawning).
Wait! I shall look for myself.
(Goes to the balustrade and looks up at the roof.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do! Beware!
King Dodon
(plaintively).
The golden cock is flapping its wings not in vain;
A dangerous journey is before us.
Now, old man, we shall arise quickly
And go to help our children.
(He gets ready without any animation.)
Where is my helmet? Bring my armour.
(The servants quickly fetch the dusty and rusty arms and invest Dodon.)
My armour is too tight!
Look where my favourite red shield is hanging.
(They fetch the shield.)
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do! Beware!
Dodon
(examining his shield.)
My shield is all eaten by rust;
And the quiver is empty of arrows!
(Entirely armed.)
I can scarcely breathe! My old sword
Has become too heavy for the royal arm.
(panting.)
There is nothing to be done;
Carry me and put me on my charger.
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do! Beware!
(A crowd of servants take him under the arms and carry him to the staircase, where his white horse awaits him. The people little by little penetrate into the palace.)
Dodon
(pointing his finger threateningly at the bird.)
O! If he had only kept that cock
Hidden in his bag!
Is the horse quiet?
The Boyars.
As a cow.
King Dodon.
Just the horse for us!
Amelfa
(in despair).
Hast thou eaten something before thy
Journey, noble Sire?
King Dodon
(seating himself on the horse).
I can eat on the way.
(To Polkan.)
Are there provisions?
Voice of the Bird.
Cock-a-doodle-do! Beware!
Polkan.
Enough for three years.
King Dodon.
Then let us start, Voevoda.
Amelfa.
It would be better to start in the morning.
(Dodon mounts his horse.)
People
(exclaiming).
It is the King! Our father! Hurrah!
Thou art going thyself. Hast thou not
Any Voevodas to lead the Army against
The enemy?
Take care of thyself,—
And stand well in the background all the time.
CURTAIN.