ZAPOLYA. Thus long I have listen'd-Guard-ho! from the And let this darkness 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. EMERICK (scornfully). What! to the army? [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. ZAPOLYA. Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings [She starts back-and enter CHEF Ragozzl CHEF RAGOZZI. Sure Heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped ZAPOLYA (coming fearfully forward). CHEF RAGOZZI. Yes! my noble general! Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs I sent him off, with Emerick's own packet, thee! Thou, the Protector of the helpless! thou, Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring: thou art Haste, and post haste-Prepared to follow him ZAPOLYA. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear? My limbs seem sinking!— CHEF RAGOZZI (supporting her). Heaven still befriends us. I have left my charger, The rightful heir of an anointed king! 111 To escort me. Oh, thrice happy when he finds The treasure which I convoy! PART II. ZAPOLYA. One brief moment, That, praying for strength I may have strength. This babe, Heaven's eye is on it, and its innocence Is, as a prophet's prayer, strong and prevailing! Through thee, dear babe! the inspiring thought possess'd me, When the loud clamor rose, and all the palace [Then to the infant. Dropt from the couch aslant, and the stiff finger 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. WOMEN. LADY SAROLTA, Wife of Lord Casimir. Between the flight of the Queen, and the civil war Which, through a long descent where all sound which immediately followed, and in which Emerick perishes, Let out beyond the palace. Well I knew itBut Andreas framed it not! He was no tyrant! CHEF RAGOZZI. Haste, madam! Let me take this precious burden! [He kneels as he takes the child. ZAPOLYA. 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, To thee, O Fire! O Pestilence! O Sword! Till Vengeance hath her fill. And thou, snatch'd Here! For on this spot Lord Casimir Took his last leave. On yonder mountain ridge I lost the misty image which so long Linger'd or seem'd at least to linger on it. GLYCYNE. And what if even now, on that same ridge, SAROLTA. Thou hast hit my thought! To discontent us.-Were he come, then should I But our best sports belike, and gay processions SAROLTA. I have small wish to see them. A spring morning, 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— SAROLTA. Hush! innocent flatterer! GLYCINE. Nay! to my poor fancy The royal court would seem an earthly heaven, Made for such stars to shine in, and be gracious. SAROLTA. So doth the ignorant distance still delude us! 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, My poor affectionate girl, to see thee wretched. Thou know'st not yet the duties of a wife. 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, Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect To the livery of our house? LASKA (aside). Yes, now 'tis coming. SAROLTA. Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards, OLD BATHORY. Ha! what, strangers* here! What business have they in an old man's eye? I have yet another tale, but- [Then to SAROLTA azide. 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 insolent ruffian! LASKA. GLYCINE. 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! [Erit 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? OLD BATHORY. [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. Is my lady gone? 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! 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! What! you would cling to him again! GLYCINE. Whom? LASKA. Bethlen! Bethlen. Yes; gaze as if your very eyes embraced him! GLYCINE. 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 fees starting in his eye. The following line was borrowed unconsciously from Mr. Wor worth's Excursion. I fear! whom? What? LASKA. GLYCINE. LASKA. You dare own all this? Your lady will not warrant promise-breach. I know, what I should fear, Mine, pamper'd Miss! you shall be; and I'll make Ay, as the old song says, Calm as a tiger, valiant as a dove. LASKA (pompously). Do you chance to know Who-I-am, Sir?-(S'death how black he looks') BETHLEN. I have started many strange beasts in my time, Nay now, I have marr'd the verse: well! this one That lifts his hand against a timid female. Bethlen Bathory? When he was accused, Why press'd you forward? Why did you defend him? Yes, I do, Bethlen; for he just now brought GLYCINE. Question meet question: that's a woman's privilege. To make my lady force that promise from me? Oh! that's a different thing. •For the best account of the War-wolf or Lycanthropus, see Drayton's Moon-calf, Chalmers' English Poets, vol. iv. p. 13 Rash words, 'tis said, and treasonous, of the king. |