登陆注册
5382300000168

第168章 CHAPTER XXV(3)

On coming out of his cabinet one Easter morning he addressed to the soldier who was mounting guard at the door the ordinary words of salutation, "Christ hath risen!" and received instead of the ordinary reply, a flat contradiction--"Not at all, your Imperial Majesty!" Astounded by such an unexpected answer--for no one ventured to dissent from Nicholas even in the most guarded and respectful terms--he instantly demanded an explanation. The soldier, trembling at his own audacity, explained that he was a Jew, and could not conscientiously admit the fact of the Resurrection. This boldness for conscience' sake so pleased the Tsar that he gave the man a handsome Easter present.

A quarter of a century after the Easter Eve above mentioned--or, to be quite accurate, on the 26th of May, 1896--I again find myself in the Kremlin on the occasion of a great religious ceremony--a ceremony which shows that "the White-stone City" on the Moskva is still in some respects the capital of Holy Russia. This time my post of observation is inside the cathedral, which is artistically draped with purple hangings and crowded with the most distinguished personages of the Empire, all arrayed in gorgeous apparel--Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses, Imperial Highnesses and High Excellencies, Metropolitans and Archbishops, Senators and Councillors of State, Generals and Court dignitaries. In the centre of the building, on a high, richly decorated platform, sits the Emperor with his Imperial Consort, and his mother, the widowed Consort of Alexander III. Though Nicholas II. has not the colossal stature which has distinguished so many of the Romanofs, he is well built, holds himself erect, and shows a quiet dignity in his movements; while his face, which resembles that of his cousin, the Prince of Wales, wears a kindly, sympathetic expression. The Empress looks even more than usually beautiful, in a low dress cut in the ancient fashion, her thick brown hair, dressed most simply without jewellery or other ornaments, falling in two long ringlets over her white shoulders. For the moment, her attire is much simpler than that of the Empress Dowager, who wears a diamond crown and a great mantle of gold brocade, lined and edged with ermine, the long train displaying in bright-coloured embroidery the heraldic double-headed eagle of the Imperial arms.

Each of these august personages sits on a throne of curious workmanship, consecrated by ancient historic associations. That of the Emperor, the gift of the Shah of Persia to Ivan the Terrible, and commonly called the Throne of Tsar Michael, the founder of the Romanof dynasty, is covered with gold plaques, and studded with hundreds of big, roughly cut precious stones, mostly rubies, emeralds, and turquoises. Of still older date is the throne of the young Empress, for it was given by Pope Paul II. to Tsar Ivan III., grandfather of the Terrible, on the occasion of his marriage with a niece of the last Byzantine Emperor. More recent but not less curious is that of the Empress Dowager. It is the throne of Tsar Alexis, the father of Peter the Great, covered with countless and priceless diamonds, rubies, and pearls, and surmounted by an Imperial eagle of solid gold, together with golden statuettes of St. Peter and St. Nicholas, the miracle-worker. Over each throne is a canopy of purple velvet fringed with gold, out of which rise stately plumes representing the national colours.

Their Majesties have come hither, in accordance with time-honoured custom, to be crowned in this old Cathedral of the Assumption, the central point of the Kremlin, within a stone-throw of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, in which lie the remains of the old Grand Dukes and Tsars of Muscovy. Already the Emperor has read aloud, in a clear, unfaltering voice, from a richly bound parchment folio, held by the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, the Orthodox creed; and his Eminence, after invoking on his Majesty the blessing of the Holy Spirit, has performed the mystic rite of placing his hands in the form of a cross on the Imperial forehead. Thus all is ready for the most important part of the solemn ceremony. Standing erect, the Emperor doffs his small diadem and puts on with his own hands the great diamond crown, offered respectfully by the Metropolitan; then he reseats himself on his throne, holding in his right hand the Sceptre and in his left the Orb of Dominion. After sitting thus in state for a few minutes, he stands up and proceeds to crown his august spouse, kneeling before him. First he touches her forehead with his own crown, and then he places on her head a smaller one, which is immediately attached to her hair by four ladies-in-waiting, dressed in the old Muscovite Court-costume. At the same time her Majesty is invested with a mantle of heavy gold brocade, similar to those of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, lined and bordered with ermine.

Thus crowned and robed their Majesties sit in state, while a proto-

同类推荐
  • 持世陀罗尼经

    持世陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金陵百咏

    金陵百咏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 续墨客挥犀

    续墨客挥犀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四教仪注汇补辅宏记

    四教仪注汇补辅宏记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 战争与和平

    战争与和平

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 冷君虐之恨殇(完)

    冷君虐之恨殇(完)

    红颜倾城,倾国倾城。她有绝世的容貌,倾国的容颜。她的人生真的应了倾国倾城。一场意外的战争,将她推到了争斗的风头浪尖。国仇家恨,生离死别,这红尘的战场,千军万马,孰是孰非?一边是至深至爱的人一边是不达目的誓不罢休的敌国皇帝她的爱最后情归何处?
  • 冰山王子遇上冷酷女王

    冰山王子遇上冷酷女王

    女帝千羽冰寒,千羽家族遗失的小姐,冰冷无情,高智商,高情商,护短,修灵鬼才都是她的代名词,却是爱情白痴。帝王帝少瞳,冷酷无双,杀伐果断,高智商,高情商,天才都是属于他的代名词,却也是爱情白痴。两座冰山撞在一起,会擦出怎样的火花?温柔体贴,玩劣不羁,冰冷无双…冰寒会何去何从?
  • 请君入瓮

    请君入瓮

    一年前,面对苏素的百般讨好,某个男人挑了挑眉,“你,离我远点,别让我再看到你。”一年后,面对某个男人的百般求饶,苏素抱紧怀中的孩子,嗤笑一声。“对不起,先生,您说的人在一年前因为滚得太远,暂时回不来了。”
  • 倾世毒女素手天下

    倾世毒女素手天下

    亡国恨,杀亲仇,丧子痛。她是西越倾城公主,却错把豺狼当良人。三年屈辱,浴血重生。她本就是尊贵至极,岂容他人凌辱践踏。时光倒回,她步步惊心,只为护她的国,保她的亲人。还有,复仇!曾经纯真任性的小公主,双眸再次睁开,已是地狱之中爬出来的浴血凤凰。不择手段,双手沾血,也无怨无悔。
  • 全能寻宝系统

    全能寻宝系统

    叶林枫有一个全能寻宝系统。上一次他在魔幻世界扮演勇者屠龙,这次他在武侠世界建立刺客组织......
  • 开局一枚符咒

    开局一枚符咒

    蔚蓝星历3030年,划时代网游《无限》出世!“买下一个手环,给你一个世界!”“数万种职业,上亿种生灵!无数势力与npc,穷极一生也无法走尽的超巨型地图!”“玩家,只不过是这广袤沙漠里的一捧沙土。”而我们的主角,一个随机的欧皇使者,带着一枚兔符咒,在开服的第一天,成为了帝国的王子……
  • 星际麒麟

    星际麒麟

    传说中,麒麟是万兽之主,而被麒麟选中的人类会成为王者。莫名被认定成麒麟幼崽,林麟很苦恼……另一本《听说我是反派》无CP女主文缓慢更新中……PS:作者本人玻璃心,不喜欢的评论会删除。
  • 体育新闻学概论

    体育新闻学概论

    《体育新闻学概论》是一部关于体育新闻学的理论专著,全书包括两大部分,内容涉及体育新闻的定义、体育新闻选择、体育新闻与体育舆论、体育新闻社会功能、体育新闻从业者、体育新闻媒体、赛事报道、赛事报道等,适合高校体育专业学生学习使用。
  • 30几岁男人的活法

    30几岁男人的活法

    30几岁的时候,你必须哪些问题?30几岁的时候,你该为自己的人生做好怎样的准备?30几岁的时候,你应该选择怎样的人生方向?30几岁的时候,你应该对自己的工作,生活,人生做出怎样的规划?30几岁的时候,你渴望过上一种什么样的生活?每个人都应该为自己的人生负责。
  • 凡人

    凡人

    不过四年前,还在头悬梁、锥刺股为高考搏杀,好不容易过关斩将抢到了一顶“天之骄子”的高帽,这下却成了滞销商品的标志,要自己到人才市场上兜售拍卖、降价处理,只差插一根蒿草贱卖了。林冬和华芬也汗涔涔地挤在一群毕业生当中。一家合资公司要招一名高级文秘,这不,光是抢着要表格填的手,就在眼前挡成了一道怎么也难突破的白墙。林冬泄气地跑到大厅一角,掏出手绢擦汗,愤愤地想:今天不该来。哪晓得是这架势?分明都是名牌大学才华横溢、目空一切的毕业生,如何到了“人才需求会”上就成了马路上清仓大处理时不顾一切的家庭主妇?