If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancy
Voices in all chance sounds!

By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, [Starts. To make disclosure of his parentage. "T was some dry branch But most of allDropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly, Took no food with him-only his arms and boar-spear! What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine, Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest? RAAB KIUPRILI (unseen).

Shame! Nothing hurt me!

ZAPOLYA (rushing out from the cavern).
Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak

GLYCINE.

Whether his Mother live, or perish'd here!

ZAPOLYA.

Angel of Mercy, I was perishing

And thou didst bring me food: and now thou bring'st
The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation
To a mother's famish'd heart! His name, sweet
maiden!

GLYCINE.

E'en till this morning we were wont to name him
Bethlen Bathory!

ZAPOLYA.

Even till this morning?
This morning? when my weak faith fail'd me wholly!
Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance,
And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse!
Say on!

GLYCINE.

The false ones charged the valiant youth

If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs With treasonous words of Emerick-
Speak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst

and hoarseness!

Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St-St-No-Bethlen!
If I turn back, and he should be found dead here,

[She creeps nearer and nearer to the cavern.
I should go mad!-Again! "T was my own heart!
Hush, coward heart! better beat loud with fear,
Than break with shame and anguish !

And of Lord Casimir

ZAPOLYA.

Ha! my son!

GLYCINE.

RAAB KIUPRILI (aside).

O agony! my son!

GLYCINE.

But my dear lady

Saints protect me!

RAAB KIUPRILI.

[As she approaches to enter the cavern, KIUPRILI stops her. GLYCINE shrieks.

Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears

ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILI.
Who?

GLYCINE.

Lady Sarolta

Frown'd and discharged these bad men.
RAAB KIUPRILI (turning off and to himself).
Righteous Heaven

Sent me a daughter once, and I repined
That it was not a son. A son was given me.
My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear :
And lo! that son became my curse and infamy.
ZAPOLYA (embraces GLYCINE).
Sweet innocent! and you came here to seek him,
And bring him food. Alas! thou fear'st?

GLYCINE.

Not much!

My own dear lady, when I was a child
Embraced me oft, but her heart never beat so.
For I too am an orphan, motherless!

RAAB KIUPRILI (to ZAPOLYA).

O yet beware, lest hope's brief flash but deepen

With what intention came he? Wouldst thou save him, The after gloom, and make the darkness stormy! Hide nothing!

ZAPOLYA (in agitation).
O speak!

GLYCINE.

Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shudder

ing.

Those piled thoughts, built up in solitude,

A wounded lady-Year following year, that press'd upon my heart [ZAPOLYA faints—they both support her. As on the altar of some unknown God,

Is this his mother?

GLYCINE.

RAAB KIUPRILI.

She would fain believe it,

Then, as if touch'd by fire from heaven descending,
Blazed up within me at a father's name―

Do they desert me now!-at my last trial?
Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!
I have obey'd! Declare ye by what name

Weak though the proofs be. Hope draws towards I dare invoke you! Tell what sacrifice

itself

The flame with which it kindles.

Quick! quick!

Emerick?

Will make you gracious.

[Horn heard without.
To the cavern!

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

GLYCINE.

Patience! Truth! Obedience!
Be thy whole soul transparent! so the Light
Thou seekest may enshrine itself within thee!

Perchance some huntsmen of the king's. Thy name?

RAAB KIUPRILI.

GLYCINE.

He came this morning

[They retire to the cavern, bearing ZAPOLYA. Then enter BETHLEN armed with a boar-spear.

BETHLEN.

I had a glimpse Thy birth-place?
Of some fierce shape; and but that Fancy often
Is Nature's intermeddler, and cries halves
With the outward sight, I should believe I saw it
Bear off some human prey. O my preserver!
Bathory! Father! Yes, thou deservest that name!
Thou didst not mock me! These are blessed findings!
The secret cipher of my destiny
[Looking at his signet.
Stands here inscribed: it is the seal of fate!
Ha! (Observing the cave). Had ever monster fitting

lair, 'tis yonder!

Thou yawning Den, I well remember thee!

BETHLEN.

Deluding spirits, do ye mock me?
Question the Night! Bid Darkness tell its birth-place?
Yet hear! Within yon old oak's hollow trunk,
The mother-falcon hath her nest above it,
Where the bats cling, have I survey'd my cradle!
Tell me, ye secret ones! if ye beheld me
And in it the wolf litters!-I invoke you,
For hidden gold hath found a talisman,
As I stood there, like one who having delved
O tell! what rites, what offices of duty

Mine eyes deceived me not. Heaven leads me on! This cygnet doth command? What rebel spirits

Now for a blast, loud as a king's defiance,

To rouse the monster couchant o'er his ravine!

[Blows the horn-then a pause. Another blast! and with another swell To you, ye charmed watchers of this wood! If haply I have come, the rightful heir Of vengeance: if in me survive the spirits Of those, whose guiltless blood flowed streaming here! [Blows again louder. Still silent? Is the monster gorged? Heaven shield me! Thou, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide. [As BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks from the cavern unseen.

АСТ III.

SCENE I.

A stately Room in LORD CASIMIR's Castle.
Enter EMERICK and LASKA.

EMERICK.

I do perceive thou hast a tender conscience,
Laska, in all things that concern thine own
Interest or safety.

LASKA.

In this sovereign presence

I can fear nothing, but your dread displeasure.

EMERICK.

Hold constant to thy exploit with this monster,
And leave untouch'd your common talk aforesaid,
What your Lord did, or should have done.

LASKA.

My talk!

The saints forbid! I always said, for my part,
"Was not the king Lord Casimir's dearest friend?
Was not that friend a king? Whate'er he did
'Twas all from pure love to his Majesty."

EMERICK.

And this then was thy talk? While knave and coward,
Both strong within thee, wrestle for the uppermost,
In slips the fool and takes the place of both.
Babbler! Lord Casimir did, as thou and all men.

Perchance, thou think'st it strange, that I of all men He loved himself, loved honors, wealth, dominion. Should covet thus the love of fair Soralta,

Dishonoring Casimir?

LASKA.

Far be it from me!

All these were set upon a father's head:
Good truth! a most unlucky accident!
For he but wish'd to hit the prize; not graze
The head that bore it: so with steady eye

Your Majesty's love and choice bring honor with them. Off flew the parricidal arrow.-Even

Made thee shake like a leaf!

LASKA.

The war-wolf leapt; at the first plunge he seized her;
Forward I rush'd!

EMERICK.

Most marvellous!

LASKA.

Are all safe lodged."-Then, put Fidelity
Within her proper wards, just turn her round-
So-the door opens-and for all the rest,
"Tis the king's deed, not Laska's. Do but this,
And-"I'm the mere earnest of your future fortunes"
But what says the other ?-Whisper on! I hear you!
[Putting the key to his ear.

Hurl'd my javelin; All very true!-but, good Fidelity!

Which from his dragon-scales recoiling

EMERICK.

Enough! And take, friend, this advice. When next thou tonguest it,

If I refuse king Emerick, will you promise,
And swear, now, to unlock the dungeon-door,
And save me from the hangman? Ay! you're silent'
What! not a word in answer? A clear nonsuit!
Now for one look to see that all are lodged

[Re-enter LASKA, not perceiving them. You too, Sir Knight, have come back safe and sound!

Soft! my good Laska! might it not suffice,
Good now! Ha! ha! an excellent trick. If to yourself, being Lord Casimir's steward,
Afraid! Nay, no offence; but I must laugh.
But are you sure now, that 'tis you, yourself.
BETHLEN (holding up his hand as if to strike him).
Wouldst be convinced?

No nearer, pray! consider! First, we demand the manner of her death?

Ascend yon flight of stairs!
Midway the corridor a silver lamp
Hangs o'er the entrance of Sarolta's chamber,
And facing it, the low-arch'd oratory!
Me thou'lt find watching at the outward gate:
For a petard might burst the bars, unheard
By the drenched porter, and Sarolta hourly
Expects Lord Casimir, spite of Emerick's message!

BETHLEN.

There I will meet you! And till then good night!
Dear good old man, good night!

OLD BATHORY.

O yet one moment!
What I repell'd, when it did seem my own,
I cling to, now 'tis parting-call me father!
It can not now mislead thee. O my son,
Ere yet our tongues have learnt another name,
Bethlen!-say-Father to me!

BETHLEN.

SAROLTA.

ATTENDANT.

And old Bathory answer'd
With a sad smile, "It is a witch's prayer,
And may Heaven read it backwards." Though she
was rash,

'Twas a small fault for such a punishment!

SAROLTA.

Nay! 'twas my grief, and not my anger spoke.
Small fault indeed! but leave me, my good girl!
I feel a weight that only prayer can lighten.

[Exit Attendant.

O they were innocent, and yet have perish'd
In their May of life; and Vice grows old in triumph.
Is it Mercy's hand, that for the bad man holds
Life's closing gate ?-

Still passing thence petitionary hours
To woo the obdurate spirit to repentance?
Or would this chillness tell me, that there is
Guilt too enormous to be duly punish'd,
Save by increase of guilt? The Powers of Evil
Are jealous claimants. Guilt too hath its ordeal,
And Hell its own probation!-Merciful Heaven,
Rather than this, pour down upon thy suppliant
Disease, and agony, and comfortless want!
O send us forth to wander on, unshelter'd!
Make our food bitter with despised tears!
Let viperous scorn hiss at us as we pass!
Yea, let us sink down at our enemy's gate,
Now, and for ever And beg forgiveness and a morsel of bread!
With all the heaviest worldly visitations.
Let the dire father's curse that hovers o'er us
Work out its dread fulfilment, and the spirit
Of wrong'd Kiuprili be appeased. But only,
Only, O merciful in vengeance! let not

My father! other sire than thou, on earth
I never had, a dearer could not have!
From the base earth you raised me to your arms,
And I would leap from off a throne, and kneeling,
Ask Heaven's blessing from thy lips. My father!