CZARE. Because I[22] am a Nihilist! (_The ministers start to their feet; there is dead silence for a few minutes._) CZAR. A Nihilist! a Nihilist! Scorpion whom I have nurtured, traitor whom I have fondled, is this your bloody secret? Prince Paul Maraloffski, Marechale of the Russian Empire, arrest the Czarevitch! MINISTERS. Arrest the Czarevitch! CZAR. A Nihilist! If you have sown with them, you shall reap with them! If you have talked with them, you shall rot with them! If you have lived with them, with them you shall die! PRINCE PETRO. Die! CZAR. A plague on all sons, I say! There should be no more marriages in Russia when one can breed such vipers as you are! Arrest the Czarevitch, I say! PRINCE PAUL. Czarevitch! by order of the Emperor, I demand your sword. (_CZAREVITCH gives up sword; PRINCE PAUL places it on the table._) Foolish boy! you are not made for a conspirator; you have not learned to hold your tongue. Heroics are out of place in a palace. CZAR (_sinks into his chair with his eyes fixed on the CZAREVITCH_). O God! CZARE. If I am to die for the people, I am ready; one Nihilist more or less in Russia, what does that matter? PRINCE PAUL (_aside_). A good deal I should say to the one Nihilist. [23]CZARE. The mighty brotherhood to which I belong has a thousand such as I am, ten thousand better still! (_The CZAR starts in his seat._) The star of freedom is risen already, and far off I hear the mighty wave democracy break on these cursed shores.[23] PRINCE PAUL (_to PRINCE PETROVITCH_). In that case you and I had better learn how to swim. CZARE. Father, Emperor, Imperial Master, I plead not for my own life, but for the lives of my brothers, the people. PRINCE PAUL (_bitterly_). Your brothers, the people, Prince, are not content with their own lives, they always want to take their neighbour's too. CZAR (_standing up_). I am sick of being afraid. I have done with terror now. From this day I proclaim war against the people--war to their annihilation. As they have dealt with me, so shall I deal with them. I shall grind them to powder, and strew their dust upon the air. There shall be a spy in every man's house, a traitor on every hearth, a hangman in every village, a gibbet in every square. Plague, leprosy, or fever shall be less deadly than my wrath; I will make every frontier a grave-yard, every province a lazar-house, and cure the sick by the sword. I shall have peace in Russia, though it be the peace of the dead. Who said I was a coward? Who said I was afraid? See, thus shall I crush this people beneath my feet! (_Takes up sword of CZAREVITCH off table and tramples on it._) CZARE. Father, beware, the sword you tread on may turn and wound you. The people suffer long, but vengeance comes at last, vengeance with red hands and bloody purpose. PRINCE PAUL. Bah! the people are bad shots; they always miss one. CZARE. There are times when the people are instruments of God.