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      He keeps the true Tsaritsa, Eudoxia shut up in a nunnery.

      Ivan

      They say the present Tsaritsa, Catherine, had a lover. The Tsar beheaded him and makes the Tsaritsa keep the head in a bottle on her dressing table.

      Dokoukin

      He is trying his best to make the Tsarevitch imitate him, but cannot succeed. That is why Peter wants to rid himself of his son.

      Cornelius

      Lord. What trouble God has sent. Father against son—son against father.

      Dokoukin

      The Tsar loves foreigners; the Tsarevitch loves Russians.

      Cornelius

      Truly, The Tsarevitch dearly loves the ancient ways.

      Dokoukin

      Amen, amen. Since this Peter was sent to rule over us we have seen no happy days. How is it God tolerates so much cruelty to the godly?

      Ivan

      He is only a mock Tsar.

      Cornelius

      Three attempts have been made to kill the Tsar, but all have failed. Why? Because evil spirits attend and protect him.

      Ivan (showing his hand)

      See what the demon has done to me, brothers.

      Cornelius

      What is it?

      Ivan

      The Tsar decreed that recruits are to be marked by pricking a cross with a needle and rubbing gunpowder in it. It is the devil’s mark. Try as I may to bless myself with this hand, I cannot.

      Cornelius (excitedly)

      That is it. The mark of Antichrist. It is written that he will mark them on the hand.

      Ivan

      Brothers, brothers, what have they done to me? They have spoilt a human body.

      Dokoukin

      He is the Antichrist. The beast feigns goodness that the people may worship him.

      Cornelius

      We must flee into the woods and the deserts.

      (Sounds from the other side of the river. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great, Tsar of all the Russias.” Cannon fire.)

      Cornelius

      That is the last of his signs. Antichrist will be glorified. Night will be changed into day and day into night. (pause) The only salvation is in death. Fiery death. We cannot escape the dragon. He has empoisoned the earth; everything is defiled. Everything accursed. We must burn, burn together to escape the poisoning.

      Ivan

      Let us each go his separate way to preach redemption through the Red Death.

      Cornelius

      Be it so.

      All

      Amen.

      Cornelius

      In the fire, purity will be revealed. We will be saved.

      (More Cannonades. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great.”)

      (All cross themselves.)

      Cornelius

      Burn, rather than fall into the hands of Antichrist. One day, all Russia will burn with us. Women and children, too. All must burn to be saved.

      Dokoukin

      You are an old believer—A Raskolnik?

      Cornelius

      Yes. Already, I have preached the Red death for ten years. We have kindled many fires. Join us, God will bless our zeal and all Russia will blaze up.

      Ivan

      Then spake Christ, the Heavenly King. “Go tell my will to the faithful. Let them cast themselves into the fire for love of me.”

      Cornelius (fervently)

      We shall burn like candles, a living sacrifice to God.

      Ivan

      Are you with us, brother?

      Dokoukin

      I am.

      (More noise from across the river. “Vivat, vivat, Peter the Great.”)

      Ivan (low, keening)

      A coffin of pinewood tree

      Stands ready prepared for me

      Within its narrow wall,

      I wait the judgment call.

      ACT I

      SCENE 4

      Princess Charlotte’s apartment.

      Charlotte is pregnant. Alexis is speaking to her.

      Alexis

      I have meant to ask you for a long time, Charlotte: do you believe in the divinity of Christ?

      Charlotte

      What do you mean? All Lutherans profess—

      Alexis

      I am not speaking in generalities. I once had a talk with the philosopher, Leibnitz; he shifted and shuffled, but avoided a direct answer. I saw at once he did not truly believe in Christ. Do you?

      Charlotte

      I think that Christ was the best and wisest of the sons of men.

      Alexis

      And not God’s son?

      Charlotte

      We are all children of God.

      Alexis

      And Christ is no different from the rest?

      Charlotte

      Why are you tormenting me? You know I’m pregnant and shouldn’t be worried.

      Alexis

      Your people are wise, learned, strong, honorable, famous. You have everything, but you don’t possess Christ. We Russians are poor, stupid, naked, drunk, repulsive—we are worse than barbarians, worse than beasts: But we have our Christ with us. He saves us because we cannot save ourselves.

      Charlotte

      You think you’re better than all other Christians, don’t you? You profess the law of love, but you practice cruelties not met with anywhere else in the world.

      Alexis

      To our shame, that is true.

      Charlotte

      For example, the Assembly last night was just like one would meet in Paris or London. Count Tolstoi spoke to me in French and Italian. All very elegant. Yet, from the windows, you could see the heads of the Old Believers on poles.

      Alexis

      What you say is true. But, one day Russia will unite Europe and Asia in a true Christian Faith. I, I will do it.

      Charlotte

      You! If you’re so brave, why don’t you persuade your father to take down those heads?

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