crop of legends has sprung up, and the work of many a poet and novelist has been inspired by them. Ostrovski, in a famous play which puts both heroines on the scene, and sets one against the other, gives us a striking picture of a rivalry which may be imaginary, but which is wonderfully representative of the historical surroundings amidst which the two women lived and suffered. He makes Anne Vassiltchikov, who realizes that she is on the brink of being supplanted by Vassilissa, whom the author turns into her serving-woman, speak as follows:
'I am terrified here, I cannot breathe; my heart
Is not at rest: the Tsar has ceased to be kind to me:
The servants look at me askance. From far away
I hear the echoes of the master’s pleasures,
The noise of his gaiety. … This dreary palace, for an instant,
Is full of singing and laughter,
Then the silence of the grave falls on it again, as though
Death were everywhere. Only in the recesses
Of the terem I hear low whispers—of executions!
Nothing to warm my heart! I am the Tsar’s wife in the flesh,
But in my heart I am a stranger to him! He frightens me. …
He terrifies me when he is angry, and quite as much when he is merry.
I do not know his love. …
… Like a beast
He seeks my caresses. … Never a tender word!
And as to what I feel in my heart he never asks!'
Ostrovski has probably written true history, again, when he shows us Ivan alone with Vassilissa, now his acknowledged favourite. The Tsar wants to leave his new companion, of whom he is beginning to tire, and she keeps him because she is afraid. She speaks of the dead folk that lie between them, and makes him tremble too. She bids him amuse her, and in vain he answers roughly that he is not where he is for her amusement! She feels cold, and at a sign from her, and after drawing his dagger to strike her, he takes off his kaftan and throws it over her feet. She asks him to call her Tsarina. He answers indignantly, 'What kind of a Tsarina are you? Did I lead you to the altar? Did I have you crowned?' But she replies, 'How can you argue with a silly woman? Spit on her, and then do as she chooses!' And the Tsar obeys once more. She falls asleep, and then, when he is sure she cannot hear him, he speaks to her of love. He, who dares everything, had not dared to do it before!
As to the causes which brought about the disgrace of these two favourites we have no information. Ostrovski may have guessed them rightly when he puts these words, addressed to Anne Vassiltchikov, into Ivan's mouth: 'You are growing thin. … I do not like thin women! …'
