VERA: To-morrow –

CZAR: Will crown you with my own hands as Empress in that great cathedral which my fathers built.

VERA (loosens her hand violently from him, and starts up): I am a Nihilist! I cannot wear a crown!

CZAR (falls at her feet): I am no king now. I am only a boy who has loved you better than his honour, better than his oath. For love of the people I would have been a patriot. For love of you I have been a traitor. Let us go forth together, we will live amongst the common people. I am no king. I will toil for you like the peasant or the serf. Oh, love me a little too! (CONSPIRATORS murmur outside.)

VERA (clutching dagger): To strangle whatever nature is in me, neither to love nor to be loved, neither to pity nor – oh, I am a woman! God help me, I am a woman! O Alexis! I too have broken my oath; I am a traitor. I love. Oh, do not speak, do not speak – (kisses his lips) – the first, the last time. (He clasps her in his arms; they sit on the couch together.)

CZAR: I could die now.

VERA: What does death do in thy lips? Thy life, thy love are enemies of death. Speak not of death. Not yet, not yet.

CZAR: I know not why death came into my heart. Perchance the cup of life is filled too full of pleasure to endure. This is our wedding night.

VERA: Our wedding night!

CZAR: And if death came himself, methinks that I could kiss his pallid mouth, and such sweet poison from it.

VERA: Our wedding night! Nay, nay. Death should not sit at the feast. There is no such thing as death.

CZAR: There shall not be for us. (CONSPIRATORS murmur outside.)

VERA: What is that? Did you not hear something?

CZAR: Only your voice, that fowler’s note which lures my heart away like a poor bird upon the limed twig.

VERA: Methought that someone laughed.

CZAR: It was but the wind and rain; the night is full of storm. (CONSPIRATORS murmur outside.)

VERA: It should be so, indeed. Oh, where are your guards? Where are your guards?

CZAR: Where should they be but at home? I shall not live pent round by sword and steel. The love of a people is a king’s best bodyguard.

VERA: The love of a people!

CZAR: Sweet, you are safe here. Nothing can harm you here. O love, I knew you trusted me! You said you would have trust.

VERA: I have had trust. O love, the past seems but some dull, grey dream from which our souls have wakened. This is life at last.

CZAR: Ay, life at last.