THE TSAR AND THE ANGEL. 167

priest came. “How durst thou read such and
such passages to me?” said the ‘T'sar.— They
were written to be read,” replied the priest.—
“Written, indeed! And wouldst thou then read
everything that is written? Smear those places over
with grease, and never dare to read them again, |
say !”—“’Tis not I who have written those words,
your Majesty,” said the priest; ‘nor is it for such as
I to smear them over.’—‘“‘ What! thou dost presume
to teach me? I am the Tsar, and it is thy duty to
obey me.”—‘In all things will I obey thee, O Tsar,
save only in sacred things. God is over them, men
cannot alter them.”—‘ Not alter them!” roared the
Tsar; “if I wish them altered, altered they must be.
Strike me out those words instantly, I say, and never
dare read them in church again. Dost hear ?”—“I
dare not,” said the priest, ‘I have no will in the
matter.” —“I command thee, fellow !”—‘‘I dare not,
O Tsar !”—“ Well,” said the Tsar, “Tll give thee
three days to think about it, and on the evening of
the fourth day appear before me, and [’ll strike thy
head from thy shoulders if thou dost not obey me!”
Then the priest bowed low and went home.

The third day was already drawing to a close, and
the priest knew not what to do. It was no great
terror to him to die for the faith, but what would
become of his wife and children? He walked about,