Czare. Oh, my brothers! better far that ye had died in the iron hail and screaming shell of battle than to come back to such a doom as[19] this! The beasts of the forests have their lairs, and the wild beasts their caverns, but the people of Russia, conquerors of the world, have not where to lay their heads.
Prince Paul. They have the headsman's block.
Czare. The headsman's block! Ay! you have killed their souls at your pleasure, you would kill their bodies now.
Czar. Insolent boy! Have you forgotten who is Emperor of Russia?
Czare. No! The people reign now, by the grace of God.[20] You should have been their shepherd; you have fled away like the hireling, and let the wolves in upon them.
Czar. Take him away! Take him away, Prince Paul!
Czare. God hath given this people tongues to speak with; you would cut them out that they may be dumb in their agony, silent in their torture! But God hath given them hands to smite with, and they shall smite! Ay! from the sick and labouring womb of this unhappy land some revolution, like a bloody child, shall[21] rise up and slay you.
Czar (leaping up). Devil! Assassin! Why do you beard me thus to my face?
Czare. Because I[22] am a Nihilist! (The ministers start to their feet; there is dead silence for a few minutes.)
Czar. A Nihilist! a Nihilist! Scorpion whom I have nurtured, traitor whom I have fondled, is this your bloody secret? Prince Paul Maraloffski, Marechale of the Russian Empire, arrest the Czarevitch!