“Tsar Boris” by Tolstoy in short summary
On the day of Borisov, the weddings of the boyar throne are calculated by the fruits of his rule: both the suppressed morrow, the completed wars, and the harvests. They marvel at how long it took Godunov to persuade him to take power, and only the threat of excommunication from his church forced him to do so. Boris returns from the cathedral, intending to receive ambassadors. Voeikov reports about the victory over the Siberian Khan. The English ambassador offers the bride the Tsarevich Fedor; papal nuncio – agreement on the union of churches; Austrian, Lithuanian, Swedish, Florentine ambassadors respectfully ask who to help with money or troops, who about recognizing their possessions. The Persian and Turkish ambassadors accuse each other of encroachments on Iveria, the ambassador of the Iberian king asks for protection. All the king gives a fitting answer, full of dignity and strength, and orders everyone to enter the royal chambers. Left alone, Boris triumphs and, remembering
In the palace, the children of Boris, Fedor and Xenia, listen to the stories of Christian, the Danish Duke, Xenia’s fiancé-about the harsh childhood, about returning to court, about the battles in Flanders with the Spanish troops, but when Fedor complains about his idleness, Christian notes that his position, which allows him to learn rule over a wise ruler, is much more worthy. Christian tells how he loved Xenia from the stories of ambassadors, merchants and prisoners who glorified along with the greatness of Russia the beauty, intelligence and gentleness of the princess. They talk about Boris, and everyone converges in love with the Tsar, forgetting himself for the glory and welfare of the state. All three swear to help each other. The Christian asks Boris to come in the event of war to allow Russian troops to be led, but the tsar is discouraged by the peace that has come for many years. The children are leaving, and Semyon Godunov, who came, announces a rumor about the miraculously saved Tsarevich Dimitry. In her chambers, Queen Maria Grigoryevna asks the deacon Vlasyev about the Christian and, no matter how vulgar Vulayev is concerned, it is learned that there were gossip, as if his father was not the king, and his elder brother, now reigning, does not like him. Not having obtained from the deacon a promise to testify to Boris, she calls Dementievna and with growing irritation finds out that Xenia was sitting with her brother and fiancé, and the tsar welcomes new customs. Coming Volokhova, the queen complains that Boris begged Xenia for a German woman, without asking her, and the Germans evidently charmed the princess. Volokhova undertakes to betray, what is the strength of Christian, and crush her. In the forest, in the bandit camp, Ataman Khlopko accepts new replenishments of peasants who curses Boris and abolishes St. George’s Day. Appears posadsky, who, without any fear, demands the release of his companions captured on the Moscow road by a robber sentinel, and reports the correct news about the appearance of Tsarevich Dimitri. Posadsky picks Cotton to go to Bryansk and there, adhering to the troops of the prince, get forgiveness and fight Godunov. Appears Mitka, dragging two runaway monks, Mikhail Povadin and Grishka Otrepiev, who ask in the Cotton army. When posadsky, having amused the robbers by fighting with Mitka and ordering them to roll out the barrels of wine, suddenly disappears, it turns out that the monks walking with him do not know who he is. Dragging two runaway monks, Mikhail Povadin and Grishka Otrepiev, who ask for the Cotton army. When posadsky, having amused the robbers by fighting with Mitka and ordering them to roll out the barrels of wine, suddenly disappears, it turns out that the monks walking with him do not know who he is. Dragging two runaway monks, Mikhail Povadin and Grishka Otrepiev, who ask for the Cotton army. When posadsky, having amused the robbers by fighting with Mitka and ordering them to roll out the barrels of wine, suddenly disappears, it turns out that the monks walking with him do not know who he is.
Boris is forced to admit that the appearance of a new enemy pushed him to the bloody path. Semyon Godunov, detachment to find out who is behind Dimitri’s name, says that he did not learn anything at the cost of torture. They search for the name Grishka Otrepiev, a runaway Chudov monk, in order to somehow rename the enemy. Boris decides to multiply spies and find evidence on the Romanovs and, in addition, because of the continuing famine, to distribute the treasury to the people, ordering them not to listen to fables about the prince. Tsarevich Fedor asks him to send him to the troops, Tsarevna Xenia mourns the change in Boris and his manifested brutality; Christian asks if Boris is sure of the death of the prince, and retells the rumors. The children leave, the queen appears, full of sarcasm and irritation at Christian, interpreting with the children about the “king”. The Tsar remains deaf to her demand to send Christian. Semyon Godunov reports about the rapid progress of the traitors, about the transfer of troops to them and about the stubborn resistance of Basmanov. Vasily Shuisky suggests that Boris go to the troops himself or send for the widowed tsarina, so that she testifies about the death of her son. After punishing Shuisky to tear tongues at those who dissolve rumors, Boris sends for his mother Demetrius. In the house of Fedor Nikitich Romanov boyars Romanovs, Sitsky, Repnin and Cherkassky drink for the prince. Shuisky comes, informs about Boris’s order, he is questioned about his search in Uglich, he answers vaguely. Semyon Godunov with the archers, accusing those gathered in the desire to poison the lord of the sovereign, takes everyone into custody, dressing Vasily Shuisky to conduct interrogation. Boris, alone pondering the accomplished prediction that Shuisky came told to announce from the Execution Ground, that he himself in Uglich saw the corpse of the prince. On Christianian meanwhile, advisers are pushing that he should abandon the marriage with Xenia, that Boris gave himself up with fear, that Xenia is the daughter of a villain and servant. Christians, feeling the approaching faintness, believing in Boris’s guilt, do not know what to decide. Xenia comes, and he, confused in words and thoughts, talks about the inevitable separation, and then calls her to run away with him from his father-killer. Involuntarily entered, Fyodor intercedes for his father, they are going to fight, Xenia, crying, recalls the oath given to each other. Christian raves, and, finding him sick, Xenia and Fedor take him away. on what to dare. Xenia comes, and he, confused in words and thoughts, talks about the inevitable separation, and then calls her to run away with him from his father-killer. Involuntarily entered, Fyodor intercedes for his father, they are going to fight, Xenia, crying, recalls the oath given to each other. Christian raves, and, finding him sick, Xenia and Fedor take him away. on what to dare. Xenia comes, and he, confused in words and thoughts, talks about the inevitable separation, and then calls her to run away with him from his father-killer. Involuntarily entered, Fyodor intercedes for his father, they are going to fight, Xenia, crying, recalls the oath given to each other. Christian raves, and, finding him sick, Xenia and Fedor take him away.
On Red Square, the detectives listen to conversations among the people, who are going to the Tsarevich Dimitry with a requiem. By provoking, interpreting speeches in a suitable key, the detectives seize almost everyone. Vasily Shuisky from the Execution place leads an ambiguous speech about the advancing enemy and talks about the search in Uglich so that it remains unclear who the killed baby was. About this time the mother of the prince brought from the monastery, now the nun Martha, waiting for Boris and wishing him revenge, decides to recognize the impostor as his son; she says that she did not see her dead son, having lost her senses, and at the funeral service tears covered her eyes. Now, having heard of the signs of the prince who appeared, he admits that he has miraculously escaped and is alive. Tsarina Maria Grigoryevna, wishing to catch the deception, introduces Volokhov. The grief that engulfed Martha at the sight of the destroyer of her son, betrays her, But to acknowledge Demetrius’ death in public, she refuses. Soon Boris reports to the doctor about the deterioration of Christian’s health and his impotence. Semyon Godunov brings a letter from “Dimitry Ioannovich”, in which Boris most depresses the promised mercy in case of voluntary refusal of the throne, and therefore, the confidence of the “thief” in universal support. Boris wants to bring the cropped Kleshnin, in order to be assured of the death of the prince. His name is Christian, and soon he informs Xenia and Fedor about his death. Boris wants to bring the cropped Kleshnin, in order to be assured of the death of the prince. His name is Christian, and soon he informs Xenia and Fedor about his death. Boris wants to bring the cropped Kleshnin, in order to be assured of the death of the prince. His name is Christian, and soon he informs Xenia and Fedor about his death.
Two sentries, carrying a night guard in the patronage, are hiding in fear at the appearance of the sleepless Boris. Someone imagines an image on the throne, and, finding out the sentries, he sends them to check who is there. Semen Godunov leads Kleshnin, who confirms the death of Dimitri, recalls that the term of Boris’s rule, predicted by the magi, is coming to an end, calling him to repent and retire to the monastery. In the morning, after receiving from Basmannov’s information about a partial victory over the “thief”, Boris tells Fedor about the need to get married to the throne and about the oath to which the boyars will be brought. Fyodor refuses the throne, for I’m not sure that the “thief” is not Demetrius. Boris offers a significant suggestion to show Fedor indisputable evidence of the death of the prince, and he, having comprehended his father’s crime, in terror refuses to prove and declares, that he will receive the crown. In the dining room, waiting for Basmanov and the tsar, the boyars cursed both and exchange news about the “prince.” Basmanov enters, complaining of inappropriate excommunication from the troops. Boris appears with the children. Boris awards Basmanov. Boyars, noting the sadness of Xenia, feel sorry for her and reflect on what to do with her, “when the kingdom will come.” Boris demands an oath of loyalty to Fedor and the confirmation of this oath in the cathedral, loses strength and falls. At the general confusion, he declares that the cause of his death is not poison, but sorrow, bequeaths to the boyars to observe the oath, recalls that “evil will only be born of an evil”, and, declaring Fedor the king, departs Boris appears with the children. Boris awards Basmanov. Boyars, noting the sadness of Xenia, feel sorry for her and reflect on what to do with her, “when the kingdom will come.” Boris demands an oath of loyalty to Fedor and the confirmation of this oath in the cathedral, loses strength and falls. At the general confusion, he declares that the cause of his death is not poison, but sorrow, bequeaths to the boyars to observe the oath, recalls that “evil will only be born of an evil”, and, declaring Fedor the king, departs Boris appears with the children. Boris awards Basmanov. Boyars, noting the sadness of Xenia, feel sorry for her and reflect on what to do with her, “when the kingdom will come.” Boris demands an oath of loyalty to Fedor and the confirmation of this oath in the cathedral, loses strength and falls. At the general confusion, he declares that the cause of his death is not poison, but sorrow, bequeaths to the boyars to observe the oath, recalls that “evil will only be born of an evil”, and, declaring Fedor the king, departs
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