Vera. I swear he is true. There is not a man here who does not owe him his life a thousand times. When the bloodhounds were on us that night, who saved us [18]from arrest, torture, flogging, death,[18] but he ye seek to kill?—
Mich. To kill all tyrants is our mission!
Vera. He is no tyrant. I know him well! He loves the people.
Pres. We know him too; he is a traitor.
Vera. A traitor! Three days ago he could have betrayed every man of you here, [19]and the gibbet would have been your doom.[19] He gave you all your lives once. Give him a little time—a week, a month, a few days; but not now!—O God,[20] not now!
Consps. (brandishing daggers). To-night! to-night! to-night!
Vera. Peace, you gorged adders; peace!
Mich. What, are we not here to annihilate? shall we not keep our oath?
Vera. Your oath! your oath! [21]Greedy that you are of gain, every man's hand lusting for his neighbour's pelf, every heart set on pillage and rapine;[21] who, of ye all, if the crown were set on his head, would give an empire up for the mob to scramble for? The people are not yet fit for a Republic in Russia.
Pres. Every nation is fit for a Republic.