Chapter 600: The Song of Poland · Part Five
Under the arrangements made by Stanisław II ahead of time, his "audience" with the Russian Empress dominated the headlines of St. Petersburg's major newspapers that day. Many papers even printed his excessively flattering speech in full.
The city erupted in celebration. While Russians had always viewed Poland as their "little follower," having the Polish king personally display such extreme humility gave the people a different kind of satisfaction.
Catherine the Great appeared very pleased with Stanisław II's behavior. She praised him lavishly and hosted a grand banquet in his honor.
However, throughout the evening, a well-groomed young man in her entourage kept a wary eye on the Polish king. Each time Stanisław II got slightly closer to Catherine, the man would find a way to interpose himself between them.
Stanisław II, unfazed, treated the young man courteously and even presented him with several expensive gifts.
The Polish king knew this man was his biggest obstacle during the visit: Platon Zubov, Catherine's current lover.
A Waiting Game
Stanisław II remained patient. He adhered to strict decorum, meeting Catherine daily and focusing entirely on matters of state. His reports emphasized Poland's dire situation and its unwavering loyalty to Russia.
Four days later, the opportunity he had been waiting for arrived.
Catherine invited him to a hunting trip, and that evening, they stayed overnight at a hunting lodge.
Under the moonlight, Stanisław II paced the courtyard until he saw Catherine appear on a second-floor balcony wrapped in a fur coat. Zubov, perhaps worn out from the hunt, was nowhere to be seen.
Stanisław II gestured to his attendant, who handed him a Scottish bagpipe. Standing about 30 meters from the balcony, he began to play.
The mournful and emotional melody floated into the night air—it was none other than the theme song from Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On".
Catherine was immediately captivated by the haunting tune. She leaned over the balcony and saw the solitary figure of a man standing beneath a pine tree, radiating an aura of sorrow and melancholy.
After the prelude, Stanisław switched to a cello, playing and singing:
"Every night in my dreams,
I see you, I feel you,
That is how I know you go on…"
Stanisław's voice was rich and moving. After all, no man chosen by the Empress could lack talent.
The lyrics, translated into French by Joseph while preserving their original sentiment, carried an air of deep longing.
Catherine's attention was riveted. As the first verse ended and an interlude began, she turned to her attendant and asked, "Is that… Staszek?"
Unconsciously, she reverted to Stanisław's old nickname, as if transported back two decades to their youthful romance.
The attendant bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty, that is indeed King Stanisław II."
As the final notes of the song resonated, Catherine, her gaze distant and her expression softened, raised her hand and said, "Bring him to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The King's Gambit
The following morning, Zubov awoke to find Catherine absent from their chambers.
Hastily dressing, he went to the sitting room, where he found the Empress admiring a newly painted portrait. Next to her stood its artist, the renowned Russian painter Fyodor Stepanovich Rokotov.
The painting depicted Stanisław II bowing humbly as Catherine stood atop the grand staircase of the Winter Palace, surrounded by hundreds of Russian nobles. The scene captured the moment of the Polish king's first audience with her.
Unbeknownst to Zubov, Stanisław had paid a fortune to commission Rokotov to immortalize the moment.
Catherine, pleased with the painting's grandeur, instructed, "Once we return, hang it in the music hall."
The artwork had little to do with Stanisław personally; it symbolized Russia's majesty and Poland's submission.
That evening, Stanisław "accidentally" crossed paths with Catherine in the corridor. She dismissed Zubov, allowing her Staszek to perform another song for her—"Let It Be Me."
"God bless the day I found you,
I want to stay around you…"
More direct and emotional than the previous tune, the song further ensnared Catherine in nostalgia.
"You've grown quite the talent for composition," she remarked afterward.
"Not at all, Your Majesty," Stanisław replied humbly. "I'm no composer; I merely transcribed the feelings in my heart."
Catherine smiled. That night, instead of returning to Zubov, she sat by the fireplace with Stanisław, listening to him play "My Heart Will Go On" several times, her face aglow with memories of days long past.
Victory Through Music
Stanisław could hardly believe how smoothly things were progressing.
Joseph had prepared seven deeply romantic songs for him, each a timeless masterpiece. Yet, he had only needed the first two to win Catherine's favor.
While Catherine continued to favor Zubov for his youthful charms, she began summoning Stanisław regularly to reminisce and enjoy his performances.
Though past his prime, Stanisław had his own appeal—a nostalgia-laden flavor Catherine found increasingly comforting.
Thus, the Polish king shamelessly extended his stay at the Winter Palace.
Warsaw's Constitution Moves Forward
Back in Warsaw, Prince Poniatowski presided over a crucial session in the Copper-Roof Palace. Addressing the gathered nobles, he asked:
"So, does anyone object to declaring Catholicism the state religion?"
Recently, the prince and Sieyès had meticulously reviewed the constitutional draft. Sieyès, with his keen political instincts, had helped remove contentious provisions that might destabilize Poland's delicate balance.
He also mapped out Poland's political factions, devising strategies to unite them.
While some members of the Patriotic Party frowned at the proposal, none voiced their dissent.
The revised clause established Catholicism as the state religion but did not mandate that all citizens convert. Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and even Muslims would retain their rights.
This compromise won over the Vatican, which promised 250,000 scudi—roughly 1.1 million francs—to support Poland.
For the notoriously frugal Vatican, this was a substantial sum, reflecting their eagerness for Poland to once again become the "Spear of Christendom."
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