Meanwhile a significant thing happened with regard to her who was
generally believed to be as good as chosen beforehand to be Tsaritsa.
A sight to make angels weep and devils smile was it, men said, when Vera
Kurbatof--before the great choosing, and I think before the assemblage
even of the maidens--was summoned to the palace in order that the
bridegroom Tsar (forsooth!) might first see her at his leisure and
without the excitement of a throng around him.
There were two or three other maidens besides Vera who were thus, like
her, subjected to a preliminary and private inspection by Ivan. These
were the daughters of Boyars whose position at Court brought them
constantly into the presence of the Tsar, and whom he therefore knew
well and could meet and speak to without overmuch timidity and shyness.
These Boyars, by Sophia’s decree, should have the first chance for their
daughters; for it was hoped that Ivan might more readily take a fancy
to the child of one whom he already knew than to some stranger.
‘He will never take a fancy,’ some said, laughing, ‘for there is nothing
of a man in him.’
But others declared that he had gazed twice at this maiden or that, and
some knew--among whom was I--that his eyes had rested in a peculiar
manner upon the face of Vera on a certain occasion--in a manner, indeed,
which would seem to indicate more of the man in Ivan that some believed
to exist.
The question was, did he remember his old-time fancy for her face, or
was it so passing and passionless a sentiment that he had forgotten it
during the score of months that had gone by since that day on which I
had observed it?
I have heard from those who were present that his most gracious and most
unmanlike Highness took no notice whatever of the daughters of those
faithful Boyars who lived about the Court, excepting to curse this one
and strike and spit at that one, and to burst into tears and upbraid his
sister when brought in to see and consider a third.
But the interview with Vera was a different matter and a thing to be
spoken of by itself. Here is a description of her visit, as told to me
by one who saw it with his own eyes!--a scene, as I have said, to make
angels weep!
Vera was sent for without notice and without information as to the
object of her visit.
‘I have sent for you, child,’ said the Regent very kindly, ‘because I am
favourably impressed by your appearance: you are certainly as fair as
any of the maidens yet arrived, and it is possible that a great, a
supreme honour may be in store for you.’
Vera hung her head, abashed: she would have renounced all claim to the
honour implied, but she durst not.
‘I see you are overcome by the thought of this greatness,’ continued
Sophia, taking the girl’s hand and patting it within her own. ‘Take
heart, child, for indeed you would make as fair a Tsaritsa as we could
wish to see.’
‘Oh, I dare not, I cannot, Highness,’ murmured poor Vera. ‘I am not the
stuff of which Tsaritsas should be made: I have no ambition.’
‘Then begin now to take a larger view of life. Listen, it has been
whispered me that his Highness my brother looks kindlier upon you than
upon any other maiden that he has yet seen: there, sweet one, does not
that awaken thy slumbering fancy? He is a great king--remember
this--though, to say truth, but an afflicted youth. Do not lose sight
of the greater issue by foolishly magnifying the lesser. The Tsar is the
Tsar, whether he be lusty or afflicted; a handsome youth or, by the will
of God, a pale invalid. Tell me, are you great enough to love the Tsar
for his greatness, which you would share as Tsaritsa?’
Vera hung her head and remained silent.
‘Speak, girl!’ said Sophia, a little less kindly than before.
‘Madam, having seen so little of the Tsar and--and oh, Madam, how should
I love him? I revere him, as Tsar and head of the Boyars, but to love is
different.’
‘Well, well, fool; in order to marry wisely it is not always necessary
to love. Love yourself, that is the first thing; if you truly love
yourself you should seek your own good: is not that fair logic? What
better thing can a maiden have than to be chosen Tsaritsa? I say there
is no better destiny for a maiden under Heaven!’
‘To love and to be loved is the best, Madam, for some,’ said Vera,
hesitating.
‘Tut, fool!--love does not wear for long. A high position and
power--these are the lasting blessings, and they carry love with
them--yes, and every other good thing besides. Moreover, if to love and
to be loved is for you the be-all and end-all, let him love you, for
his part, say I; and as for you--if you cannot love him, love whom you
will!’
‘Madam!’ exclaimed Vera, and was about to say I know not what indiscreet
thing, when the laughter of the two or three who were present, in which
Sophia herself joined, interrupted her. Vera flushed deeply, but
remained silent.
‘Well, child, speak,’ said the Regent; ‘why are you dumb?’
‘I have nothing to say, Highness. I have been used to see things
otherwise than as your Highness would now teach me!’
‘The way of wisdom, little fool, is to accept thankfully the gifts which
the gods provide,’ said Sophia, ‘whether it be a lover or position or
anything else that is good. Here you have greatness offered you: that
is, it might be offered you if you should play your cards wisely; also
love, of a kind!’ she ended with a quick glance at Galitsin and the
others.
Galitsin laughed aloud, but turned aside to hide it.
‘I wish for neither, Madam,’ said Vera boldly.
‘Well, Lord bless us, little fool!’ exclaimed Sophia, waxing impatient.
‘We are all subjects, both you and I and all of us, and as such bound
to obey the Tsar whether we will or not: you admit that much, I doubt
not. What if the Tsar desires thee--is he not to be obeyed because thou
art a fool? Dear Saints! beware what you do, girl! To stand against the
Tsar himself and to resist his will is the worst of all foolishness!’
‘Madam, have pity!’ said Vera, falling on her knees.
The Regent bustled her quickly to her feet. ‘I,’ she exclaimed, ‘what
have I to do with the matter? It is not I that choose a bride, but the
Tsar. If he choose thee, it is thou that art greatly honoured, not I!
Stand upon thy feet, and shame not thyself before these men. Send for
the Tsar, Galitsin, and let us have this comedy played and done with.’
Poor Vera fell a second time to her knees.
‘Madam, he will not make his choice here and now? You would not permit
it--he must see all--there are many fairer than I and more fitted to be
Tsaritsa---- Oh, do not let him come near me now!’
‘Peace, raver, and let me speak!’ replied Sophia grimly. ‘His Highness
will not make his final choice here and now; but he shall see thee
because it is said that he has shown a preference for thee. It is
necessary that he take a wife, understand it or understand it not; it is
necessary for the dynasty. Very well, if he will choose for himself, so
much the better for all parties; if he will not, so much the worse; but
in any case he will marry, and, if necessary, the choosing shall be done
for him.’
Then in came Galitsin, and with him--angry to be disturbed, and asking
querulously the reason--Ivan the Tsar. The Prince was in full speech
when he entered the room, but when his eye fell upon Vera he became
suddenly silent. He gazed at her fixedly for a moment, opening his mouth
and shutting it again. Then be turned to his sister.
‘Why have you sent for me? it is not a reception,’ he said. ‘I will not
see strangers without Peter; Peter is not here.’ Then his eyes sought
Vera’s face once more and remained fixed there.
‘There are no strangers, Ivashka,’ said Sophia; ‘and there is no
reception; only this beautiful maiden is come to show thee how fair she
is--look well at her.’
‘She is fair enough,’ said Ivan; ‘but I care for no woman. I will not
marry, Sophia; do not worry me.’
‘Ah, but how different is this one from the rest, only see,
Ivashka--what eyes, what hair! had ever maiden such a form?--mark it
well! She should sit at thy side when foreigners come, and should speak
to them instead of thee! A fair thing to have for ever about one! Happy
the man who may, if he will, possess her to gaze upon and to fondle for
his own. Come, take her hand, Ivashka, and kiss it. She shall be thine
own if thou wilt have her.’
The Tsar’s face had flushed during this speech. At the end of it he
actually took the girl’s hand in his own, smiling in her face, or
leering, as perhaps it might more accurately be called. He even began to
raise her fingers as though to bring them to his lips, but at his touch
Vera paled, staggered, and would have fallen fainting to the ground or
into the Tsar’s arms, but that Galitsin caught her and laid her
senseless form upon a divan.
‘See!’ said Sophia triumphantly: ‘she is overcome, brother, by the
honour and the happiness thou hast done her in thus noticing her beauty
above the others. Thou hast chosen well, my soul----’
‘I have not chosen her--I have not, I say,’ cried Ivan, stamping his
foot and turning upon the Regent. ‘Why do you speak foolishness? I want
no woman. She is afraid of me; do you think I do not see it? She might
have suited, if I must marry, but she is afraid of me and hates me.’
‘Not so, not so, brother: only think, for a maiden to be chosen Tsaritsa
is no small thing; no wonder that she has fainted in the sudden joy----
’
‘Sister, you are sometimes a fool, though generally very wise,’ said
Ivan. ‘Be silent, I say, and speak no more foolishness!’ With which
words he turned and left the room, glancing back for a moment at Vera
lying unconscious upon her divan.
Thereupon Sophia stamped and swore first, and then laughed, while
Galitsin only laughed, and the two other witnesses--being
courtiers--knew not whether to laugh or to look grave, and so the comedy
ended.
A sight indeed to make angels weep!