Summary of “Vadim Novgorodsky”
Novgorod posadnik Prenest and Vigor in anticipation of Vadim discuss the reason for his unwillingness to publicly announce his arrival in Novgorod. Appears Vadim surrounded by commanders. He addresses his companions with a speech full of bitterness. Once the free city is now under the rule of the tyrant Rurik. “O Novgorod, what have you been and what have you become now?”. Vadim is shocked that Rurik, who had previously asked for protection from his enemies in the city, is now his autocratic ruler, thus violating the ancient tradition. Vigor tells Vadim about the circumstances under which Rurik took Novgorod. After Vadim went camping with his army, the Novgorod nobility, forgetting about freedom and holy truth, began to fight for power. The oldest and most respected citizen of Gostomysl, having lost all his sons in the internecine strife,
Vadim is shocked. After all, Rurik was in Novgorod only because he was looking for protection in these lands, and if he raised his
Selena, confidant of Ramida, is embarrassed that her friend, having ascended to the throne after the wedding with Rurik, can forget about their “friendship”. Ramida assures her that she does not care about the throne and brilliance of the future crown, but Rurik himself: “Not a prince in Rurik, I love
Vadim, struck by the terrible news of Ramid’s love for the tyrant, pushes away his daughter, who recognized him even in the clothes of a simple warrior. Ramida is at a loss, she begs her father to explain the cause of his anger. Vadim, seeing Prenest, asks him about the possibilities of saving the fatherland. Prenest tells about his appeal to the nobles of Novgorod with the call not to admit the “autocratic kingdom”, which “the troubles are everywhere a sinner.” Varangians Rurik filled the whole city, now they are able to take away his liberty. The reaction of the nobility was the most determined, they were ready to immediately destroy the tyrant. Prenest persuaded them to wait for Vadim from the campaign, for the fatherland expects from them not blood, but “waits for salvation.” Vadim, pointing to his daughter, intends it to Prenest. Ramida speaks of her submission to the will of the parent.
Vigor, who heard the last words, is struck by the unjust, in his opinion, Vadim’s decision. In a rage, he promises to avenge his offense.
Selena urges Ramida not to sink into despair, which she curses “a barbaric debt,” demanding to give up love for Rurik, to hate her husband and die. Selena offers everything to tell Rurik, but Ramida prefers death to his father’s betrayal. Appeared Rurik asks Ramid why she avoids him, because everything is ready for the marriage ceremony, about which they agreed and which was postponed until Vadim’s return. Ramida wishes him happiness, but without her, such is, as she said, rock, and runs away.
Rurik desperately tells everything to his confidante Izvedu, who calls him to “reject passion,” humiliating the one whom he adores all of Novgorod. Rurik agrees with him, but, assuming here some secret, asks a friend to take his life. Izved refuses, but swears to open the secret of Ramida’s behavior. Seeing the approaching Prenest, talks about rumors about the love of Ramida.
Rurik, threatening, orders Preneste to confess in all his “lord”, which he proudly advises to moderate his gusts of pride before a man who is not afraid of death and is ready to “die for society” together with Vadim. Rurik accuses Prenest and Novgorod’s grandee of treason against the people and insurrection for the desire to rule.
Prenest, pondering, rebukes himself in the incontinence that allowed Rurik to suspect Vadim in the rebellion, and comes to the conclusion that only Vigor could inform him. He directly asks Vigor about this and receives a negative answer. Further he adds that he is personally his enemy, but now the task of saving the fatherland is, and this is the main thing. When they achieve freedom, their sword will decide their dispute.
Izvest tells Rurik about the disclosure of the plans of the conspirators, the flight of Prenest and the capture of the warriors of Vadim, who in all confessed. Rurik does not want to know their names, orders to release them and “pay generously for anger”. Izvest warns him about the possible consequences of generosity, but Rurik remains adamant, handing over his fate to heaven.
Rurik reflects on the difficulties of government, anger and ingratitude surrounding the ruler. Ramida addresses Rurik about the anxiety that has engulfed the whole city in connection with the latest events, and complains that there is already no access to his heart. Rurik accuses her of wanting to get back into her networks, now he wants to be free of it. Ramida curses fate and wants to die, since Rurik “is forbidden to live with her.” Rurik tells her that he wants to preserve Ramid’s love and join the battle with Vadim, preserving this love. Ramida sees no way out and talks about the need to give her hand to the unloved, because that’s the sacred will of her father. She asks Rurik to bind herself with ties of friendship with Vadim, persuading him to “tread the crown with his feet.”
Rurik refuses, explaining that he once again rejected power and was again called by the people, so rebelling against his power is “disgraceful”, because again the people will suffer misfortune. Ramida understands him, and both come to the conclusion of the desperation of their love.
Izvest warns Rurik about the “military” Vadim under the walls of the city, he goes to where “duty fierce calls,” and asks Ramida to mourn for herself in case of death. Ramida replies that if this happens, she will not shed tears over him, “but the blood flows.”
Ramida alone, surrenders to sad thoughts about the injustice of fate. While Rurik and Vadim strive to take life from each other, her miserable destiny is to be between the beloved and the father, she is afraid of any outcome and calls on the gods to hit her in the chest. She hears the end of the battle and awaits the outcome with fear.
Appears disarmed Vadim, with a crowd of captives, accompanied by guards from the Rurik soldiers. Ramida rushes to her father, but he dismisses her with the words “Slave Rurikov – Ramide is not a father” and asks her to leave, as he can not live a slave and prefers death. Vadim envies the fate of the fallen Prenest and Vigor, reproaches her for her love for Rurik. Ramida vows not to change her duty and asks for his forgiveness. Vadim asks not to leave him life, he does not want Rurik’s mercy, which will humiliate him.
Appears Rurik, surrounded by nobles, soldiers, people, and invites Vadim to reconcile. Vadim angrily rejects the very possibility of such reconciliation, reproaching Rurik for the usurpation of power. Rurik objects to Vadim, recalling the circumstances of his appearance in Novgorod – to end the strife and restore law. As proof of the purity of his actions, he takes off his crown and, addressing the people, asks him to be a judge, he is ready to retire if the people so decide. Izvest, pointing to the people, kneeling before Rurik as a token of a request to own a crown, asks him to take the crown. Vadim curses the people, calling him “vile slaves.” Rurik asks Vadim about his desires, he asks for a sword and receives it on Rurik’s orders. Rurik asks Vadim to be his “father”, Vadim replies that now “you will be satisfied,
Rurik reproaches the gods for unjust punishment, says that greatness is only a burden to him, but he will not turn off his chosen path, “where, to you like becoming, you, gods, will avenge myself.”
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