Antonio's arrival. Ambassadors had come from Tver, and a Lithuanian
ambassador and his interpreter had been truly or falsely convicted of an
attempt to destroy Iván by poison. The Great Prince's enquiry what
punishment is decreed against the felon who reaches at another's life,
leads to the following dialogue:--

"'In the soudébnik it is decreed,' replied Góuseff, 'whoever shall be
accused of larceny, robbery, murder, or false accusation, or other
like evil act, and the same shall be manifestly guilty, the boyárin
shall doom the same unto the pain of death, and the plaintiff shall
have his goods; and if any thing remain, the same shall go to the
boyárin and the deacon.'...

"'Ay, the lawyers remember themselves--never fear that the boyárin
and deacon forget their fees. And what is written in thy book against
royal murderers and conspirators?'

"'In our memory such case hath not arisen.'

"'Even so! you lawyers are ever writing leaf after leaf, and never do
ye write all; and then the upright judges begin to gloze, to
interpret, to take bribes for dark passages. The law ought to be like
an open hand without a glove, (the Prince opened his fist;) every
simple man ought to see what is in it, and it should not be able to
conceal a grain of corn. Short and clear; and, when needful, seizing
firmly!... But as it is, they have put a ragged glove on law; and,
besides, they close the fist. Ye may guess--odd or even! they can
show one or the other, as they like.'

"'Pardon, my Lord Great Prince; lo, what we will add to the