Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless? CASIMIR. What better claim can sovereign wish or need, Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him? KAAB KIUPRILI. Prince Emerick, Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading. Ragozzi was thy school-mate-a bold spirit! [Then aloud. CASIMIR retires to the Guard-House; and after a What further pledge or proof desires Kiuprili? RAAB KIUPRILI. Mistake not for assent Prince! And I have watch'd thee, too; but have small faith in Wouldst thou have pilfer'd from our school-boys' themes These shallow sophisms of a popular choice? Even wise men leave their better sense at home, Is't thus, thou scoff'st the people! most of all, RAAB KIUPRILI (aloud). O most of all, most miserable nation, [EMERICK turns as about to call for the Guard. If victory, doubly-wreathed, whose under-garland In the next moment I am in thy power, Of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling rick! Give the true title to the throne, not thou- Be judge and arbiter between us!) I, I were the rightful sovereign! EMERICK. I have faith That thou both think'st and hopest it. Fair Zapolya, RAAB KIUPRILI. EMERICK. Offers at once the royal bed and throne! RAAB KIUPRILI. To be a kingdom's bulwark, a king's glory, EMERICK. Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian! Sure Heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped! From forth its lurking-hole in the heart. "Ragozzi! Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign's. O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?" Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger. Retire. And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing! But gain some sure intelligence of the queen: ZAPOLYA (coming fearfully forward). [Exit CASIMIR in agitation. Kiuprili! how? EMERICK (alone, looks at a Calendar). [Exit. ZAPOLYA. Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee! Thou, the Protector of the helpless! thou, ZAPOLYA. CHEF RAGOZZI. There is not time to tell it. ZAPOLYA. What! Raab Kiuprili? CHEF RAGOZZI. Yes! my noble general! I sent him off, with Emerick's own packet, Haste, and post haste-Prepared to follow him ZAPOLYA. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear? My limbs seem sinking!-—— Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring: A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy's mule, thou art The rightful heir of an anointed king! What sounds are those? It is the vesper chant One that can shoot a precipice like a bird, Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father! The Lord Kiuprili will have sent a troop Take him! And if we be pursued, I charge thee, Flee thou and leave me! Flee and save thy king! [Then as going off, she looks back on the palace. Thou tyrant's den, be call'd no more a palace! The orphan's angel at the throne of Heaven Stands up against thee, and there hover o'er thee A Queen's, a Mother's, and a Widow's curse. Henceforth a dragon's haunt, fear and suspicion Stand sentry at thy portals! Faith and honor, Driven from the throne, shall leave the attainted na tion: And, for the iniquity that houses in thee, (Again to the infant.) poor friendless fugitive! with Mother's wailing, Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return [Exeunt. THE SEQUEL, ENTITLED "THE USURPER'S FATE." ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS. MEN. OLD BATHORY, a Mountaineer. BETHLEN BATHORY, the Young Prince Andreas, sup posed Son of Old Bathory. LORD RUDOLPH, a Courtier, but friend to the Queen's party. LASKA, Steward to Casimir, betrothed to Glycine. PESTALUTZ, an Assassin, in Emerick's employ. WOMEN. LADY SAROLTA, Wife of Lord Casimir. 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 I. A Mountainous Country. BATHORY'S Dwelling at the end of the Stage. Enter LADY SAROLTA and GLYCINE Yes, madam! he was there. So was the maypole, Be brief! We know his titles! For we danced round it. SAROLTA. Ah, Glycine! why, Why did you then betroth yourself? GLYCINE. Because My own dear lady wish'd it! 'twas you ask'd me! SAROLTA. Yes, at my Lord's request, but never wish'd, GLYCINE. Oh, yes! It is a wife's chief duty, madam, SAROLTA. Not with fear, I think, For you still mock him. Bring a seat from the cottage. (Exit GLYCINE into the cottage, SAROLTA continues her speech, looking after her. Something above thy rank there hangs about thee, And in thy countenance,,thy voice, and motion, LASKA. And moreover SAROLTA (to the Servants who offer to speak). I know not: But if no ill betide him on the mountains, He will not long be absent! SAROLTA. Thou art his father? OLD BATHORY. None ever with more reason prized a son : My tale is brief. During our festive dance, To our village maidens. He (could he do less?) (Your hectoring sparks so over brave to women SAROLTA. Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect To the livery of our house? Ha! what, strangers* here! I have yet another tale, but- [Then to SAROLTA aside. SAROLTA. Old man! you talk I oft have pass'd your cottage, and still praised OLD BATHORY. Even such respect As the sheep's skin should gain for the hot wolf That hath begun to worry the poor lambs! OLD BATHORY. So then! So then! Heaven grant an old man patience! Is he return'd? And must the gardener leave his seedling plants, Leave his young roses to the rooting swine, While he goes ask their master, if perchance GLYCINE. Laska! Laska! LASKA (surlily). Gone. GLYCINE. Have you yet seen him? [LASKA starts up from his seat Has the seat stung you, Laska? LASKA. His leisure serve to scourge them from their ravage? No! serpent! no; 'tis you that sting me; you! What! you would cling to him again! LASKA. Ho! Take the rude clown from your lady's presence! I will report her further will! SAROLTA. Wait, then, Till thou hast learnt it! Fervent, good old man! Hence! leave my presence! and you, Laska! mark me! Those rioters are no longer of my household! |