_Peter._ The world shall judge between us. I will brand thee with infamy. _Alexis._ Until now, O father! I never had a proper sense of glory. Hear me, O Czar! let not a thing so vile as I am stand between you and the world! Let none accuse you! _Peter._ Accuse me, rebel! Accuse me, traitor! _Alexis._ Let none speak ill of you, O my father! The public voice shakes the palace; the public voice penetrates the grave; it precedes the chariot of Almighty God, and is heard at the judgment-seat. _Peter._ Let it go to the devil! I will have none of it here in Petersburg. Our church says nothing about it; our laws forbid it. As for thee, unnatural brute, I have no more to do with thee neither! Ho, there! chancellor! What! come at last! Wert napping, or counting thy ducats? _Chancellor._ Your Majesty's will and pleasure! _Peter._ Is the Senate assembled in that room? _Chancellor._ Every member, sire. _Peter._ Conduct this youth with thee, and let them judge him; thou understandest me. _Chancellor._ Your Majesty's commands are the breath of our nostrils. _Peter._ If these rascals are amiss, I will try my new cargo of Livonian hemp upon 'em. _Chancellor._ [_Returning._] Sire, sire! _Peter._ Speak, fellow! Surely they have not condemned him to death, without giving themselves time to read the accusation, that thou comest back so quickly. _Chancellor._ No, sire! Nor has either been done. _Peter._ Then thy head quits thy shoulders. _Chancellor._ O sire! _Peter._ Curse thy silly _sires_! what art thou about? _Chancellor._ Alas! he fell. _Peter._ Tie him up to thy chair, then. Cowardly beast! what made him fall? _Chancellor._ The hand of Death; the name of father. _Peter._ Thou puzzlest me; prithee speak plainlier. _Chancellor._ We told him that his crime was proven and manifest; that his life was forfeited. _Peter._ So far, well enough. _Chancellor._ He smiled. _Peter._ He did! did he? Impudence shall do him little good. Who could have expected it from that smock-face! Go on--what then? _Chancellor._ He said calmly, but not without sighing twice or thrice, 'Lead me to the scaffold: I am weary of life; nobody loves me.' I condoled with him, and wept upon his hand, holding the paper against my bosom. He took the corner of it between his fingers, and said, 'Read me this paper; read my death-warrant. Your silence and tears have signified it; yet the law has its forms. Do not keep me in suspense. My father says, too truly, I am not courageous; but the death that leads me to my God shall never terrify me.' _Peter._ I have seen these white-livered knaves die resolutely; I have seen them quietly fierce like white ferrets with their watery eyes and tiny teeth. You read it? _Chancellor._ In part, sire! When he heard your Majesty's name accusing him of treason and attempts at rebellion and parricide, he fell speechless. We raised him up: he was motionless; he was dead!