i.e. A torn of the procession. The Lord Kiuprilis-Welcome from the camp. na Ab kit; p Rii, i. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria : In good time come ye hither, if ye come As loyal men with honourable purpose To mourn what can alone be mourn’d; but chiefly To enforce the last commands of royal Andreas, And shield the Queen, Zapolya : haply making The mother's joy light up the widow's tears. LEA sor R. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession; A warrior best will greet a warlike king. it A A B Ki up to ill. This patent, written by your lauful king (Lo! his own seal and signature attesting) Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring, RAAh Krupnil (turning away). Casimir He, he a traitor! Too soon indeed, Ragozzi! have I learnt it. cast Mih (with reverence). My father and my lord! to AAb ki Upni Li. I know thee not ' LEADEa. Yet the remembrancing did sound right filial R.A.A. B. Kiu pri Li. A holy name and words of natural duty Are blasted by a thankless traitor's utterance cAst Mift. O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn IIomage to Emerick. Illyria's sceptre Demands a manly hand, a warrior's grasp. The queen Zapolya's self-expected offspring At least is doubtful : and of all our nobles, The king inheriting his brother's heart, Hath honour'd us the most. Your rank, my lord! Already eminent, is-all it can be— Confirmed : and me the king's grace hath appointed Chief of his council and the lord high steward. R.A.Ab Ki Upsi i Li. (Bought by a bribe") I know thee now still less. casimia (struggling with his passion). So much of Raab Kiuprisi's blood flows here, That no power, save that holy name of father, Could shield the man who so dishonour'd me. in A A B K i up to ill. The son of Raal, Kiuprili' a bought bond-slave, Guilt's pander, treason's mouth-piece, a gay parrot, School'd to shrill forth his feeder's usurp'd titles, And scream, Long live king Emerick' LEA de Rs. [Aside. Aye, King Emerick' Stand back, my lord! Lead us, or let us pass. Sot, di Ele. Nay, let the general speak sol, di Efts. Hear him Hear him ' Assembled lords and warriors of Illyria, c \sim in. Sire' your words grow dangerous. High-flown romantic fancies ill-bescen it best may be protected—come what will Of these monks' morals' aa. An ki Upalli (aside). Ha! the elder Brutus Made his soul iron, though his sons repented. They boasted not their baseness. [Starts, and draws his suord. Infamous changeling! Recant this instant, and swear loyalty, And strict obedience to thy sovereign's will; Or, by the spirit of departed Andreas, Thou diest—— [Chiefs, etc. rush to interpose; during the tumult enter EME Rick, alarmed. Exien Ick. Call out the guard! Ragozzi! seize the assassin.—— Kiuprilio Ha!——[With lowered voice, at the same time with one hand making signs to the guard to retire.—— Pass on, friends' to the palace. [Music recommences.—The Procession passes into the Palace.—During which time Extearck and Krupkill regard each other stedfastly. EMERICK. what! Raab Kiuprilin What! a father's sword Against his own son's breast? f.A.A.B. Kiu PRI Lt. 'T would best excuse him, were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him. eMedick. This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced A reign to which the free voice of the nobles Hath call d ine, and the people, by regards of love and grace to Raab Kiuprili's house? to AAB Kiu Pit ill. What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow them? Exteft Ick. By what right dares Kiuprili question me? R.A.Ab Kiu Pratli. By a right common to all loyal subjects— To me a duty! As the realm's co-regent, Appointed by our sovereign's last free act, writ by himself- [Grasping the Patent. *MEalck (With a contemptuous sneer). Aye!—Writ in a delirium ! R.A.A.d or of phi Li. I likewise ask, by whose authority The access to the sovereign was refused me? extet: tox. by whose authority dared the general leave His camp and army, like a fugitive naad Kluppalli. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade, Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death! A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements To be belated in a loyal purpose— At the command, Prince' of my king and thine, Hither I came; and now again require Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States Forthwith convened) that thou dost show at large, on what ground of defect thou'st dared annul This thy King's last and solemn act—hast dared Ascend the throne, of which the law had named, And conscience should have made thee, a protector. E.M. Emick. A sovereign's ear ill brooks a subject's questioning! Yet for thy past well-doing—and because 'T is hard to erase at once the fond belief Long cherish'd, that Illyria had in thee No dreaming priest's slave, but a Roman lover Of her true weal and freedom—and for this, too, That, hoping to call forth to the broad day-light And fostering breeze of glory all deservings, I still had placed thee foremost. in AAB Kiu prail.i. Prince' I listen. eME Rick. Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya, Madden'd with grief, her erring hopes proved idle— cASIM in. Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her frauds detected exterarck. According to the sworn attests in council Of her physician—— RAAB kiuphili (aside). Yes! the Jew, Barzoni : EME Rick. Under the imminent risk of death she lies, Or irrecoverable loss of reason, If known friend's face or voice renew the frenzy. cast Min (to Kiu phili). Trust me, my lord a woman's trick has duped you— Us too—but most of all, the sainted Andreas. Even for his own fair fame, his trace prays hourly For her recovery, that (the States convened) She may take council of her friends. EM eat CK. Right, Casimir' Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand In her own will to appear and voice her claims; Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course) With all the past passed by, as family quarrels, Let the Queen Dowager, with unblench'd honours, Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron. in A.A. B. Kiu Phil.I. Prince Emerick you speak fairly, and your pledge too Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning. casim I R. My lord you scarce know half his grace's goodness. The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta, Bred in the convent of our noble ladies, Her relative, the venerable abbess, Hath, at his grace's urgence, wood and won for me. exteft ick. Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, Which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have render'd Dear and illustrious to all true lllyrians! naab kiupfull (sternly). The longest line, that ever tracing herald Or found or feign'd, placed by a begi;ar's soul, Hath but a mushroom's date in the comparison And with the soul, the conscience is co-eval, Yea, the soul's essence. rate RICK. Conscience, good my lord, Is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience, That a free nation should be handed down, Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance And the blind law of lineage That whether infant, or man matured, a wise man or an idiot, Its sting in its own head ing at equi-distance from the Palace and the Guard-House. Soat forth thy titles to von circling mountains, . Unbribed. shout back to thee, King Emerick : To deten by restraint, and by prevention of lawless will to amass and guide the tlood In its majestic channel, is man's task And the true patriot's glory! In all else Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves When least themselves in the mad whirl of crowds Where folly is contagious, and too oft Even wise men leave their better sense at home, To chide and wonder at them when return'd. *wehick (aloud). is "t thus, thou scoff'st the people' most of all, The soldiers, the defenders of the people? RAAB Kiupnili (aloud). 0 most of all. most miserable nation, For whom th’ imperial power, enormous bubble: is blown and kept aloft, or burst and shatter'd By the bribed breath of a lewd soldiery! Chiefly of such, as from the frontiers far which is the noblest station of true warriors), In rank licentious idleness beleaguer City and court, a venom'd thorn i' the side of virtuous kings, the tyrant's slave and tyrant, Still ravening for fresh largess! But with such What title claiunst thou, save thy birth : What merits which many a liegeman may not plead as well, Rrave though I grant thee! If a life outlabour'd Head, heart, and fortunate arm, in watch and war, For the land's fame and weal; if large acquests, Made honest by th’ aggression of the foe And whose best praise is, that they bring us safety; if victory, doubly-wreathed, whose under-garland of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling Through the grew olive-branch; if these, Prince Emerick' Give the true title to the throne, not thou– No! (let illyria, let the infidel enemy be judge and arbiter between us!) 1, I were the rightful sovereign' ext eral cr. I have faith That thou both think'st and hopest it. Fair Zapolya, A provident ladya-Ae K-UPnl LiWretch, beneath all answer! exieh ick. Offers at once the royal bed and throne Raab ki Upril1. To be a kingdom's bulwark, a king's glory, Yet loved by both, and trusted, and trust-worthy, Is more than to be king; but see thy rage Fights with thy fear. I will relieve thee! Ho! [To the Guard. *M ERick. Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian! lace. [The Guard post from the Guard-House with Cher RAGozzi at their head, and then a number from the Palace—Chief RAGozzi demands Krupalli's su'ord, and apprehends him. cAsiania. 0 agony! (To Emerick.) Sire, hear me! [To Kiuphili, who turns from him. Hear me, Father! eMenic K. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin' who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign's. in A.A.d Kiu pal Li. As the co-regent of the realm, I stand Amenable to none save to the States, Met in due course of law. But ye are bond-slaves, Yet witness ye that before God and man I here impeach Lord Emerick of foul treason, And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion Of murder— emeraick. Hence with the madman' RAAb Klupp ill Your Queen's murder, The royal orphan's murder: and to the death Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper. [Hurried off by RAgozzi and the Guard. ram eft ick. Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre This insolence shall be avenged. cast Mitt. O banish him! This infamy will crush me. 0 for my sake, Banish him, my liege lord! evenick (scornfully). What? to the army? Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger. The child o'er-powers the man. In this emergence I must take counsel for us both. Retire. [Exit Casim in in agitation. *M*arck (alone, looks at a Calendar). The changeful planet, now in her decay, Dips down at midnight, to be seen no more. With her shall sink the enemies of Emerick, Cursed by the last look of the waning moon: And my bright destiny, with sharpen'd horns, Shall greet me fearless in the new-born crescent. [Exit. cit Ef RAGozzi. Sure heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped! 0 rare tune of a tyrant's promises That can enchant the serpent treachery From forth its lurking-hole in the heart. - Ragozzi! « O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?. And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing! Merely to play the underling in the murder Of my best friend Kiuprili. His own son—monstrous! Tyrant! I owe thee thanks, and in tood hour Will I repay thee, for that thou thought'st me too A serviceable villain. Could I now But gain some sure intelligence of the queen: Heaven bless and guard her! zapolyA (coming fearfully forward). Art thou not Ragozzi! chief R.A. Gozzi. The Queen! Now then the miracle is full! I see heaven's wisdom is an over-match For the devil's cunning. This way, madam, haste! z A poly A. Stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong thee! This is thy sovereign's child: Oh, pity us, Take courage, madan! "T were too horrible, To escort me. Oh, thrice happy when he finds One brief moment, That, praying for strength I may have strength. And thou didst kiss thy father's lifeless lips, This cher as Gozzi. IIaste, madam! Let me take this precious burden! Take him! And if we be pursued, I charge thee, [Then as going off, she looks back on the palace. mother's wailing, Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return PART II. The SEQUEL, ENTITLED . The USURPER'S FATE. W. Addition AL chan Actens. Old BAthony, a Mountaineer. posed Son of Old Bathory. Lord Rudolph, a Courtier, but friend to the Queen's party. Laska, Steward to Casimir, betrothed to Glycine. Pestalurz, an Assassin, in Emerick's employ. WOMEN. LADY SAbolta, Wife of Lord Casimir. Glycine, Orphan Daughter of Chef Ragozzi. Between the flight of the Queen, and the civil war which immediately followed, and in which Emerick remained the victor, a space of twenty years is supposed to have elapsed. ACT I. SCENE 1. A Mountainous Country. Bathony's Dwelling at the end of the Stage. Enter LADY SARolta and Glycine. GLY cine. Well, then! our round of charity is finish'd, Rest, Madam! You breathe quick. 5A Rol, T.A. What! tired, Glycine? No delicate court dame, but a mountaineer By choice no less than birth, I gladly use The good strength nature (save me. GLY cine. That last cottage Is built as if an eagle or a raven Had chosen it for her nest. SA no LTA. So many are The sufferings which no human aid can reach, It needs must be a duty doubly sweet To heal the few we can. Well! let us rest. GLY cine. [Pointing to Bathony's dwelling. SAnoirs answering, points to where she then stands. There? s.Abol.T.A. Took his last leave. On yonder mountain-ridge GLY cine. |