(The boys
surround
him again.
Pushkin - Boris Gudonov
Is it not the tsar?
A FOURTH. No, it is the idiot.
(An idiot enters, in an iron cap, hung round with
chains, surrounded by boys. )
THE BOYS. Nick, Nick, iron nightcap! T-r-r-r-r--
OLD WOMAN. Let him be, you young devils. Innocent one,
pray thou for me a sinner.
IDIOT. Give, give, give a penny.
OLD WOMAN. There is a penny for thee; remember me in
thy prayers.
IDIOT. (Seats himself on the ground and sings:)
The moon sails on,
The kitten cries,
Nick, arise,
Pray to God.
(The boys surround him again. )
ONE OF THEM. How do you do, Nick? Why don't you
take off your cap?
(Raps him on the iron cap. )
How it rings!
IDIOT. But I have got a penny.
BOYS. That's not true; now, show it.
(They snatch the penny and run away. )
IDIOT. (Weeps. ) They have taken my penny, they are
hurting Nick.
THE PEOPLE. The tsar, the tsar is coming!
A FOURTH. No, it is the idiot.
(An idiot enters, in an iron cap, hung round with
chains, surrounded by boys. )
THE BOYS. Nick, Nick, iron nightcap! T-r-r-r-r--
OLD WOMAN. Let him be, you young devils. Innocent one,
pray thou for me a sinner.
IDIOT. Give, give, give a penny.
OLD WOMAN. There is a penny for thee; remember me in
thy prayers.
IDIOT. (Seats himself on the ground and sings:)
The moon sails on,
The kitten cries,
Nick, arise,
Pray to God.
(The boys surround him again. )
ONE OF THEM. How do you do, Nick? Why don't you
take off your cap?
(Raps him on the iron cap. )
How it rings!
IDIOT. But I have got a penny.
BOYS. That's not true; now, show it.
(They snatch the penny and run away. )
IDIOT. (Weeps. ) They have taken my penny, they are
hurting Nick.
THE PEOPLE. The tsar, the tsar is coming!
