SCENE THE THIRD

Before the Novodevitchy Monastery. A Crowd of People.

FIRST CITIZEN .

To the Tsaritza's cell they now have gone;
With them Boris, the Patriarch, and crowds
Of noblemen.

SECOND CITIZEN .

And what's the news?

FIRST CITIZEN .

The same:
In his refusal firm, but there is hope.

WOMAN .

Don't cry, my pet, don't cry! The watchman there
Will come and take you if you cry, my pet!

FIRST CITIZEN .

What think you? Can we get beyond the bar?

SECOND CITIZEN .

Impossible! Why, here it is so close,
We cannot move, and farther on is worse.
The whole of Moscow has turned out. And look,
The ramparts, roofs, to highest belfry tower,
The very pinnacles and crosses too,
With faces are alive.

FIRST CITIZEN .

A splendid sight!

SECOND CITIZEN .

What noise is that?
FIRST CITIZEN .

Listen! what cries are those?
The people groan and sob, their tears fast flow,
As down they fall upon the ground, like waves
Of standing corn that bend before the wind:
Well, mate, our turn has come, quick on our knees!

PEOPLE .

Oh, pity us! Rule over us, and be
Our Tsar and Father!

SECOND CITIZEN .

Why all this weeping?

FIRST CITIZEN .

What's that to us? The Boyards bid us weep:
'Tis not for us to reason!

WOMAN

What say you?
We all are bid to weep? And you quite still,
As if it naught concerned us? Here, watchman!
Now, weep, you brat? (Child cries.) That's good!

FIRST CITIZEN .

If all do weep,
We two must blub!

SECOND CITIZEN .

The tears refuse to come.
But what has happened?

FIRST CITIZEN .

Who is there can tell?

PEOPLE

He wears the crown! He's Tsar! He has agreed!
Boris is Tsar! Long life to our new Tsar!