Delphi Complete Works of Oscar Wilde (Illustrated) Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Oscar Wilde
morning?
Czare. There were three men strangled, Sire.
Czar. There should have been threethousand. I would to God that this people had but one neck that I might strangle them with one noose! Did they tell anything? whom did they implicate? what did they confess?
Czare. Nothing, Sire.
Czar. They should have been tortured then; why weren’t they tortured? Must I always be fighting in the dark? Am I never to know from what root these traitors spring?
Czare. What root should there be of discontent among the people but tyranny and injustice amongst their rulers?
Czar. What did you say, boy? tyranny! tyranny! Am I a tyrant? I’m not. I love the people. I’m their father. I’m called so in every official proclamation. Have a care, boy; have a care. You don’t seem to be cured yet of your foolish tongue. ( Goes over to Prince Paul , and puts his hand on his shoulder. ) Prince Paul, tell me were there many people there this morning to see the Nihilists hung?
Prince Paul. Hanging is of course a good deal less of a novelty in Russia now, Sire, than it was three or four years ago; and you know how easily the people get tired even of their best amusements. But the square and the tops of the houses were really quite crowded, were they not, Prince? ( To the Czarevitch who takes no notice. )
Czar. That’s right; all loyal citizens should be there. It shows them what to look forward to. Did you arrest any one in the crowd?
Prince Paul. Yes, Sire, a woman for cursing your name. ( The Czarevitch starts anxiously. ) She was the mother of the two criminals.
Czar ( looking at Czarevitch ). She should have blessed me for having rid her of her children. Send her to prison.
Czare. The prisons of Russia are too full already, Sire. There is no room in them for any more victims.
Czar. They don’t die fast enough, then. You should put more of them into one cell at once. You don’t keep them long enough in the mines. If you do they’re sure to die; but you’re all too merciful. I’m too merciful myself. Send her to Siberia .She is sure to die on the way. ( Enter an Aide-de-Camp . ) Who’s that? Who’s that?
Aide-de-Camp. A letter for his Imperial Majesty.
Czar ( to Prince Paul ). I won’t open it. There may be something in it.
Prince Paul. It would be a very disappointing letter, Sire, if there wasn’t. ( Takes letter himself, and reads it. )
Prince Petro. ( to Count Rouvaloff ). It must be some sad news. I know that smile too well.
Prince Paul. From the Chief of the Police at Archangel, Sire. “The Governor of the province was shot this morning by a woman as he was entering the courtyard of his own house. The assassin has been seized.”
Czar. I never trusted the people of Archangel. It’s a nest of Nihilists and conspirators. Take away their saints; they don’t deserve them.
Prince Paul. Your Highness would punish them more severely by giving them an extra one. Three governors shot in two months. ( Smiles to himself. ) Sire, permit me to recommend your loyal subject, the Marquis de Poivrard, as the new governor of your Province of Archangel.
Marq. de Poiv. ( hurriedly ). Sire, I am unfit for this post.
Prince Paul. Marquis, you are too modest. Believe me, there is no man in Russia I would sooner see Governor of Archangel than yourself. ( Whispers to Czar . )
Czar. Quite right, Prince Paul; you are always right. See that the Marquis’s letters are made out at once.
Prince Paul. He can start to-night, Sire. I shall really miss you very much, Marquis. I always liked your taste in wines and wives extremely.
Marq. de Poiv. ( to the Czar ). Start to-night, Sire? ( Prince Paul whispers to the Czar . )
Czar. Yes, Marquis, to-night; it is better to go at once.
Prince Paul. I shall see that Madame la Marquise is not too lonely while you are away; so you need not be alarmed for her.
Count R. ( to Prince Petrovitch
Czare. There were three men strangled, Sire.
Czar. There should have been threethousand. I would to God that this people had but one neck that I might strangle them with one noose! Did they tell anything? whom did they implicate? what did they confess?
Czare. Nothing, Sire.
Czar. They should have been tortured then; why weren’t they tortured? Must I always be fighting in the dark? Am I never to know from what root these traitors spring?
Czare. What root should there be of discontent among the people but tyranny and injustice amongst their rulers?
Czar. What did you say, boy? tyranny! tyranny! Am I a tyrant? I’m not. I love the people. I’m their father. I’m called so in every official proclamation. Have a care, boy; have a care. You don’t seem to be cured yet of your foolish tongue. ( Goes over to Prince Paul , and puts his hand on his shoulder. ) Prince Paul, tell me were there many people there this morning to see the Nihilists hung?
Prince Paul. Hanging is of course a good deal less of a novelty in Russia now, Sire, than it was three or four years ago; and you know how easily the people get tired even of their best amusements. But the square and the tops of the houses were really quite crowded, were they not, Prince? ( To the Czarevitch who takes no notice. )
Czar. That’s right; all loyal citizens should be there. It shows them what to look forward to. Did you arrest any one in the crowd?
Prince Paul. Yes, Sire, a woman for cursing your name. ( The Czarevitch starts anxiously. ) She was the mother of the two criminals.
Czar ( looking at Czarevitch ). She should have blessed me for having rid her of her children. Send her to prison.
Czare. The prisons of Russia are too full already, Sire. There is no room in them for any more victims.
Czar. They don’t die fast enough, then. You should put more of them into one cell at once. You don’t keep them long enough in the mines. If you do they’re sure to die; but you’re all too merciful. I’m too merciful myself. Send her to Siberia .She is sure to die on the way. ( Enter an Aide-de-Camp . ) Who’s that? Who’s that?
Aide-de-Camp. A letter for his Imperial Majesty.
Czar ( to Prince Paul ). I won’t open it. There may be something in it.
Prince Paul. It would be a very disappointing letter, Sire, if there wasn’t. ( Takes letter himself, and reads it. )
Prince Petro. ( to Count Rouvaloff ). It must be some sad news. I know that smile too well.
Prince Paul. From the Chief of the Police at Archangel, Sire. “The Governor of the province was shot this morning by a woman as he was entering the courtyard of his own house. The assassin has been seized.”
Czar. I never trusted the people of Archangel. It’s a nest of Nihilists and conspirators. Take away their saints; they don’t deserve them.
Prince Paul. Your Highness would punish them more severely by giving them an extra one. Three governors shot in two months. ( Smiles to himself. ) Sire, permit me to recommend your loyal subject, the Marquis de Poivrard, as the new governor of your Province of Archangel.
Marq. de Poiv. ( hurriedly ). Sire, I am unfit for this post.
Prince Paul. Marquis, you are too modest. Believe me, there is no man in Russia I would sooner see Governor of Archangel than yourself. ( Whispers to Czar . )
Czar. Quite right, Prince Paul; you are always right. See that the Marquis’s letters are made out at once.
Prince Paul. He can start to-night, Sire. I shall really miss you very much, Marquis. I always liked your taste in wines and wives extremely.
Marq. de Poiv. ( to the Czar ). Start to-night, Sire? ( Prince Paul whispers to the Czar . )
Czar. Yes, Marquis, to-night; it is better to go at once.
Prince Paul. I shall see that Madame la Marquise is not too lonely while you are away; so you need not be alarmed for her.
Count R. ( to Prince Petrovitch
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