Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance
Of a free people's destiny; should fall out
In the mere lottery of a reckless nature,
Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?
Or haply that a nation's fate should hang
On the bald accident of a midwife's handling
The unclosed sutures of an infant's skull ?
CASIMIR.
What better claim can sovereign wish or need,
Than the free voice of men who love their country?
Those chiefly who have fought for 't? Who, by right,
Claim for their monarch one, who having obey'd
So hath best learnt to govern; who, having suffer'd,
Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him?
Whence sprang the name of Emperor? Was it not
By Nature's fiat? In the storm of triumph,
'Mid warriors' shouts, did her oracular voice
Make itself heard: Let the commanding spirit
Possess the station of command!
Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading.
EMERICK (aside to CASIMIR).
Ragozzi was thy school-mate-a bold spirit!
Bind him to us!-Thy father thaws apace!
[Then aloud.
Leave us awhile, my Lord!-Your friend, Ragozzi,
Whom you have not yet seen since his return,
Commands the guard to-day.
[CASIMIR retires to the Guard-House; and after a
time appears before it with CHEF RAGOZZI.
We are alone.
What further pledge or proof desires Kiuprili?
Then, with your assent-
Mistake not for assent
The unquiet silence of a stern Resolve,
Throttling the impatient voice. I have heard thee,
And I have watch'd thee, too; but have small faith in
A plausible tale told with a.flitting eye.
Wouldst thou have pilfer'd from our school-boys'
themes
These shallow sophisms of a popular choice?
What people? How convened? or, if convened,
Must not the magic power that charms together
Millions of men in council, needs have power
To win or wield them? Better, O far better
Shout forth thy titles to yon circling mountains,
And with a thousand-fold reverberation!
Make the rocks flatter thee, and the volleying air,
Unbribed, shout back to thee, King Emerick!
By wholesome laws to embank the sovereign power,
To deepen by restraint, and by prevention
Of lawless will to amass and guide the flood
In its majestic channel, is man's task
And the true patriot's glory! In all else
Men safeler 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.
EMERICK (aloud).
Is't thus, thou scoff'st the people! most of all,
The soldiers, the defenders of the people?
O 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 claim'st thou, save thy birth? What merits
Which many a liegeman may not plead as well,
Brave though I grant thee? If a life outlabor'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;
[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,
In this thou art in mine. Stir but a step,
Or make one sign-I swear by this good sword,
Thou diest that instant.
Of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling
Through the gray olive-branch; if these, Prince Eme-
rick!
Give the true title to the throne, not thou-
No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy
Be judge and arbiter between us!) I,
I were the rightful sovereign!
That thou both think'st and hopest it. Fair Zapolys,
A provident lady-
RAAB KIUPRILI.
Wretch, beneath all answer!
Offers at once the royal bed and throne!
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.
Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian!
Thus long I have listen'd-Guard-ho! from the Palace.
The Guard post from the Guard-House with CHEF RAGOZZI at their head, and then a number from the Palace-CHEF RAGOZZI demands KIUPRILI's sword, and apprehends him.
O agony! (To EMERICK). Sire, hear me !
[To KIUPRILI, who turns from him. Hear me, Father!
Take in arrest that traitor and assassin!
Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign's.
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-
Your Queen's murder, The royal orphan's murder: and to the death Defy him, as a tyrarat and usurper.
[Hurried off by RAGOZZI and the Guard.
Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre This insolence shall be avenged.
This infamy will crush me. O for my sake, Banish him, my liege lord!
EMERICK (scornfully).
Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger.
The child o'erpowers the man. In this emergence
I must take counsel for us both. Retire.
[Exit CASIMIR in agitation.
EMERICK (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. Scene changes to another view, namely, the back of the Palace-a Wooded Park, and Mountains.
Enter ZAPOLYA, with an Infant in her arms.
Thou, the Protector of the helpless! thou,
The widow's Husband and the orphan's Father,
Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down
Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother,
Driven forth into the cruel widerness!
Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings
To hide and shield us! Start'st thou in thy slumbers?
Thou canst not dream of savage Emerick. Hush!
Betray not thy poor mother! For if they seize thee,
I shall grow mad indeed, and they'll believe
Thy wicked uncle's lie. Ha! what? A soldier?
[She starts back-and enter CHEF Ragozzi.
Sure Heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped!
O 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 good 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?
Yes! my noble general! I sent him off, with Emerick's own packet, Haste, and post haste-Prepared to follow him
Ah, how? Is it joy or fear? My limbs seem sinking!-
CHEF RAGOZZI (supporting her).
Heaven still befriends us. I have left my charger,
Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring: A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy's mule,
The rightful heir of an anointed king!
What sounds are those? It is the vesper chant
Of laboring men returning to their home!
Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father!
One that can shoot a precipice like a bird,
Just where the wood begins to climb the mountains.
The course we'll thread will mock the tyrant's guesses,
Or scare the followers. Ere we reach the main road,
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-
And, for the iniquity that houses in thee,
False glory, thirst of blood, and lust of rapine
(Fateful conjunction of malignant planets),
Shall shoot their blastments on the land. The fathers
Henceforth shall have no joy in their young men,
And when they cry: Lo! a male child is born!
The mother shall make answer with a groan.
For bloody usurpation, like a vulture,
Shall clog its beak within Illyria's heart.
Remorseless slaves of a remorseless tyrant!
They shall be mock'd with sounds of liberty,
And liberty shall be proclaim'd alone
To thee, O Fire! O Pestilence! O Sword!
Till Vengeance hath her fill.-And thou, snatch'd
hence,
(Again to the infant.) poor friendless fugitive! with
Mother's wailing,
Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return
With trump and timbrel clang, and popular shout
In triumph to the palace of thy fathers!
And what if even now, on that same ridge,
A speck should rise, and still enlarging, lengthening,
As it clomb downwards, shape itself at last
To a numerous cavalcade, and spurring foremost,
Who but Sarolta's own dear Lord return'd
From his high embassy?
Thou hast hit my thought!
All the long day, from yester-morn to evening,
The restless hope flutter'd about my heart.
Oh, we are querulous creatures! Little less
Than all things can suffice to make us happy;
And little more than nothing is enough
To discontent us.-Were he come, then should I
Repine he had not arrived just one day earlier
To keep his birth-day here, in his own birth-place.
But our best sports belike, and gay processions
Would to my Lord have seem'd but work-day sights
Compared with those the royal court affords.
I have small wish to see them. A spring morning,
With its wild gladsome minstrelsy of birds,
And its bright jewelry of flowers and dew-drops
(Each orbed drop an orb of glory in it),
Would put them all in eclipse. This sweet retirement
Lord Casimir's wish alone would have made sacred:
But in good truth, his loving jealousy
Did but command, what I had else entreated.
GLYCINE.
And yet had I been born Lady Sarolta.
Been wedded to the noblest of the realm,
So beautiful besides, and yet so stately
Hush! innocent flatterer!
Nay! to my poor fancy The royal court would seem an earthly heaven, Made for such stars to shine in, and be gracious.
So doth the ignorant distance still delude us!
Thy fancied heaven, dear girl, like that above thee,
In its mere self, a cold, drear, colorless void,
Seen from below and in the large, becomes
The bright blue ether, and the seat of gods!
Well! but this broil that scared you from the dance?
And was not Laska there: he, your betroth'd?
Yes, madam! he was there. So was the maypole, Be brief! We know his titles! For we danced round it.
Ah, Glycine! why, Why did you then betroth yourself?
My own dear lady wish'd it! 'twas you ask'd me!
Yes, at my Lord's request, but never wish'd, My poor affectionate girl, to see thee wretched. Thou know'st not yet the duties of a wife.
Oh, yes! It is a wife's chief duty, madam,
To stand in awe of her husband, and obey him;
And, I am sure, I never shall see Laska
But I shall tremble.
For you still mock him. Bring a seat from the cottage. [Ězit 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,
And moreover
Raved like a traitor at our liege King Emerick.
And furthermore, said witnesses make oath,
Led on the assault upon his lordship's servants;
Yea, insolently tore, from this, your huntsman.
His badge of livery of your noble house,
And trampled it in scorn.
SAROLTA (to the Servants who offer to speak).
You have had your spokesman!
Where is the young man thus accused?
But if no ill betide him on the mountains, He will not long be absent!
None ever with more reason prized a son:
Yet I hate falsehood more than I love him.
But more than one, now in my lady's presence,
Witness'd the affray, besides these men of malice;
And if I swerve from truth-
My tale is brief. During our festive dance,
Your servants, the accusers of my son,
Offer'd gross insults, in unmanly sort,
To our village maidens. He (could he do less?)
Rose in defence of outraged modesty,
And so persuasive did his cudgel prove
(Your hectoring sparks so over brave to women
Are always cowards), that they soon took flight,
And now in mere revenge, like baffled boasters,
Have framed this tale, out of some hasty words
Which their own threats provoked.
Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect To the livery of our house?
LASKA (aside).
Yes, now 'tis coming.
Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards,
That they have sought to piece out their revenge
With a tale of words lured from the lips of anger,
Stamps them most dangerous; and till I want
Fit means for wicked ends, we shall not need
Their services. Discharge them! You, Bathory!
Are henceforth of my household! I shall place you
Near my own person. When your son returns,
Present him to us.
Ha! what, strangers* here!
What business have they in an old man's eye?
Your goodness, lady-and it came so sudden-
I cannot-must not-let you be deceived.
I have yet another tale, but- [Then to SAROLTA aside.
Not for all ears!
Old man! you talk I oft have pass'd your cottage, and still praised
Its beauty, and that trim orchard-plot, whose blossoms
The gusts of April shower'd aslant its thatch.
Come, you shall show it me! And while you bid it
Farewell, be not ashamed that I should witness
The oil of gladness glittering on the water
Of an ebbing grief.
Even such respect As the sheep's skin should gain for the hot wolf That hath begun to worry the poor lambs!
Pardon! pardon, madam! I saw the whole affray. The good old man Means no offence, sweet lady!-You, yourself, Laska! know well, that these men were the ruffians! Shame on you!
SAROLTA (speaks with affected anger).
What! Glycine! Go, retire!
[Exit GLYCINE, mournfully. Be it then that these men faulted. Yet yourself, Or better still belike the maidens' parents, Might have complain'd to us. Was ever access Denied you? Or free audience? Or are we Weak and unfit to punish our own servants?
[BATHORY bowing, shows her into his cottage. LASKA (alone).
Vexation! baffled! school'd! Ho! Laska! wake! why? what can all this mean? She sent away that cockatrice in anger!
Oh the false witch! It is too plain, she loves him. And now, the old man near my lady's person, She'll see this Bethlen hourly!
[LASKA flings himself into the seat. GLYCINE peeps in timidly.
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.
[LASKA starts up from his seat. Has the seat stung you, Laska?
His leisure serve to scourge them from their ravage? No! serpent! no; 'tis you that sting me; you!
Ho! Take the rude clown from your lady's presence! I will report her further will!
Till thou hast learnt it! Fervent, good old man!
Forgive me that, to try thee, I put on
A face of sternness, alien to my meaning!
[Then speaks to the Servants.
Hence! leave my presence! and you, Laska! mark me!
Those rioters are no longer of my household!
If we but shake a dew-drop from a rose,
In vain would we replace it, and as vainly
Restore the tear of wounded modesty
To a maiden's eye familiarized to license.-
But these men, Laska-
What! you would cling to him again!
Yes; gaze as if your very eyes embraced him!
Ha! you forget the scene of yesterday!
Mute ere he came, but then-Out on your screams,
And your pretended fears!
Your fears, at least, Were real, Laska! or your trembling limbs And white cheeks play'd the hypocrites most vilely!
Refers to the tear, which he feels starting in his eye. The following line was borrowed unconsciously from Mr. Words worth's Excursion.
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