Volume 2 / Part 2 / Act 4 — Scene I

Casimir. This needs must be the spot! O, here he comes!

Well met, Lord Rudolph!—— Your whisper was not lost upon my ear, And I dare trust— Lord Rudolph. Enough! the time is precious! You left Temeswar late on yester-eve? 5 And sojourned there some hours? Casimir. I did so! Lord Rudolph. Heard you Aught of a hunt preparing? Casimir. Yes; and met The assembled huntsmen! Lord Rudolph. Was there no word given? Casimir. The word for me was this:—The royal Leopard Chases thy milk-white dedicated Hind. 10 Lord Rudolph. Your answer? Casimir. As the word proves false or true Will Casimir cross the hunt, or join the huntsmen! Lord Rudolph. The event redeemed their pledge? Casimir. It did, and therefore Have I sent back both pledge and invitation. The spotless Hind hath fled to them for shelter, 15 And bears with her my seal of fellowship! [They take hands.

Lord Rudolph. But Emerick! how when you reported to him Sarolta's disappearance, and the flight Of Bethlen with his guards? Casimir. O he received it As evidence of their mutual guilt. In fine, 20 With cozening warmth condoled with, and dismissed me. Lord Rudolph. I entered as the door was closing on you: His eye was fixed, yet seemed to follow you,— With such a look of hate, and scorn and triumph, As if he had you in the toils already, 25 And were then choosing where to stab you first. But hush! draw back! Casimir. This nook is at the furthest From any beaten track. Lord Rudolph. There! mark them!

Casimir. Laska! Lord Rudolph. One of the two I recognized this morning; His name is Pestalutz: a trusty ruffian 30 Whose face is prologue still to some dark murder. Beware no stratagem, no trick of message, Dispart you from your servants. Casimir (aside). I deserve it. The comrade of that ruffian is my servant: The one I trusted most and most preferred. 35 But we must part. What makes the king so late? It was his wont to be an early stirrer. Lord Rudolph. And his main policy. To enthral the sluggard nature in ourselves Is, in good truth, the better half of the secret To enthral the world: for the will governs all. 40 See, the sky lowers! the cross-winds waywardly Chase the fantastic masses of the clouds With a wild mockery of the coming hunt! Casimir. Mark yonder mass! I make it wear the shape Of a huge ram that butts with head depressed. 45

Lord Rudolph (smiling). Belike, some stray sheep of the oozy flock, Which, if bards lie not, the Sea-shepherds tend, Glaucus or Proteus. But my fancy shapes it A monster couchant on a rocky shelf. Casimir. Mark too the edges of the lurid mass— 50 Restless, as if some idly-vexing Sprite, On swift wing coasting by, with tetchy hand Pluck'd at the ringlets of the vaporous Fleece. These are sure signs of conflict nigh at hand, And elemental war! [A single trumpet heard at some distance. Lord Rudolph. That single blast 55 Announces that the tyrant's pawing courser Neighs at the gate. [Trumpets. Hark! now the king comes forth! For ever 'midst this crash of horns and clarions He mounts his steed, which proudly rears an-end While he looks round at ease, and scans the crowd, 60 Vain of his stately form and horsemanship! I must away! my absence may be noticed. Casimir. Oft as thou canst, essay to lead the hunt Hard by the forest-skirts; and ere high noon Expect our sworn confederates from Temeswar. 65 I trust, ere yet this clouded sun slopes westward, That Emerick's death, or Casimir's, will appease The manes of Zapolya and Kiuprili! [Exit Rudolph. The traitor, Laska!—— And yet Sarolta, simple, inexperienced, 70 Could see him as he was, and often warned me. Whence learned she this?—O she was innocent! And to be innocent is Nature's wisdom! The fledge-dove knows the prowlers of the air, Feared soon as seen, and flutters back to shelter. 75 And the young steed recoils upon his haunches, The never-yet-seen adder's hiss first heard. O surer than Suspicion's hundred eyes Is that fine sense, which to the pure in heart, By mere oppugnancy of their own goodness, 80 Reveals the approach of evil. Casimir! O fool! O parricide! through yon wood did'st thou, [940] With fire and sword, pursue a patriot father, A widow and an orphan. Dar'st thou then (Curse-laden wretch) put forth these hands to raise 85 The ark, all sacred, of thy country's cause? Look down in pity on thy son, Kiuprili! And let this deep abhorrence of his crime, Unstained with selfish fears, be his atonement! O strengthen him to nobler compensation 90 In the deliverance of his bleeding country! [Exit Casimir.

Zapolya. Our friend is gone to seek some safer cave: Do not then leave me long alone, Glycine! Having enjoyed thy commune, loneliness, That but oppressed me hitherto, now scares. 95 Glycine. I shall know Bethlen at the furthest distance, And the same moment I descry him, lady, I will return to you. [Exit Glycine.

Old Bathory. Who hears? A friend! A messenger from him who bears the signet! Zapolya. He hath the watch-word!—Art thou not Bathory? 100 Old Bathory. O noble lady! greetings from your son! [Bathory kneels. Zapolya. Rise! rise! Or shall I rather kneel beside thee, And call down blessings from the wealth of Heaven Upon thy honoured head? When thou last saw'st me I would full fain have knelt to thee, and could not, 105 Thou dear old man! How oft since then in dreams Have I done worship to thee, as an angel Bearing my helpless babe upon thy wings! Old Bathory. O he was born to honour! Gallant deeds And perilous hath he wrought since yester-eve. 110 [941] Now from Temeswar (for to him was trusted A life, save thine, the dearest) he hastes hither— Zapolya. Lady Sarolta mean'st thou? Old Bathory. She is safe. The royal brute hath overleapt his prey, And when he turned, a sworded Virtue faced him. 115 My own brave boy—O pardon, noble lady! Your son—— Zapolya. Hark! Is it he? Old Bathory. I hear a voice Too hoarse for Bethlen's! 'Twas his scheme and hope, Long ere the hunters could approach the forest, To have led you hence.—Retire. Zapolya. O life of terrors! 120 Old Bathory. In the cave's mouth we have such 'vantage ground That even this old arm— [Exeunt Zapolya and Bathory into the cave.

Laska. Not a step further! Pestalutz. Dastard! was this your promise to the king? Laska. I have fulfilled his orders. Have walked with you As with a friend: have pointed out Lord Casimir: 125 And now I leave you to take care of him. For the king's purposes are doubtless friendly. Pestalutz. Be on your guard, man! Laska. Ha! what now? Pestalutz. Behind you! 'Twas one of Satan's imps, that grinned and threatened you For your most impudent hope to cheat his master! 130 Laska. Pshaw! What! you think 'tis fear that makes me leave you? Pestalutz. Is't not enough to play the knave to others, But thou must lie to thine own heart? Laska. Friend! Laska will be found at his own post, Watching elsewhere for the king's interest. 135 There's a rank plot that Laska must hunt down, 'Twixt Bethlen and Glycine! Pestalutz. What! the girl [942] Whom Laska saw the war-wolf tear in pieces? Laska. Well! Take my arms! Hark! should your javelin fail you, These points are tipt with venom. [Seeing Glycine without. By Heaven! Glycine! 140 Now as you love the king, help me to seize her!

Old Bathory. Rest, lady, rest! I feel in every sinew A young man's strength returning! Which way went they? The shriek came thence. [Enter Glycine. Glycine. Ha! weapons here? Then, Bethlen, thy Glycine 145 Will die with thee or save thee!

CHORAL SONG Up, up! ye dames, ye lasses gay! To the meadows trip away. 'Tis you must tend the flocks this morn, And scare the small birds from the corn. 150 Not a soul at home may stay: For the shepherds must go With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day. Leave the hearth and leave the house 155 To the cricket and the mouse: Find grannam out a sunny seat, With babe and lambkin at her feet. Not a soul at home may stay: For the shepherds must go 160 With lance and bow To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day. [Exeunt Huntsmen.

Glycine. And now once more a woman—— Bethlen. Was it then That timid eye, was it those maiden hands That sped the shaft, which saved me and avenged me? 165 Old Bathory. 'Twas as a vision blazoned on a cloud By lightning, shaped into a passionate scheme Of life and death! I saw the traitor, Laska, Stoop and snatch up the javelin of his comrade; The point was at your back, when her shaft reached him. 170 The coward turned, and at the self-same instant The braver villain fell beneath your sword.

Zapolya. Bethlen! my child! and safe too! Bethlen. Mother! Queen. Royal Zapolya! name me Andreas! Nor blame thy son, if being a king, he yet 175 Hath made his own arm minister of his justice. So do the gods who launch the thunderbolt! Zapolya. O Raab Kiuprili! Friend! Protector! Guide! In vain we trenched the altar round with waters, A flash from Heaven hath touched the hidden incense— 180 Bethlen. And that majestic form that stood beside thee Was Raab Kiuprili! Zapolya. It was Raab Kiuprili; As sure as thou art Andreas, and the king. Old Bathory. Hail Andreas! hail my king! Andreas. Stop, thou revered one, Lest we offend the jealous destinies 185 By shouts ere victory. Deem it then thy duty To pay this homage, when 'tis mine to claim it. Glycine. Accept thine hand-maid's service! [Kneeling. Zapolya. Raise her, son! O raise her to thine arms! she saved thy life, And through her love for thee, she saved thy mother's! 190 Hereafter thou shalt know, that this dear maid Hath other and hereditary claims Upon thy heart, and with Heaven guarded instinct [944] But carried on the work her sire began! Andreas. Dear maid! more dear thou canst not be! the rest 195 Shall make my love religion. Haste we hence: For as I reached the skirts of this high forest, I heard the noise and uproar of the chase, Doubling its echoes from the mountain foot. Glycine. Hark! sure the hunt approaches.

Zapolya. O Kiuprili! 200 Old Bathory. The demon-hunters of the middle air Are in full cry, and scare with arrowy fire The guilty! Hark! now here, now there, a horn Swells singly with irregular blast! the tempest Has scattered them! [Horns at a distance. Zapolya. O Heavens! where stays Kiuprili? 205 Old Bathory. The wood will be surrounded! leave me here. Andreas. My mother! let me see thee once in safety. I too will hasten back, with lightning's speed, To seek the hero! Old Bathory. Haste! my life upon it I'll guide him safe. Andreas (thunder). Ha! what a crash was there! 210 Heaven seems to claim a mightier criminal Than yon vile subaltern. Zapolya. Your behest, High powers, Lo, I obey! To the appointed spirit, That hath so long kept watch round this drear cavern, In fervent faith, Kiuprili, I entrust thee! 215 [Exeunt Zapolya, Andreas, and Glycine. Old Bathory. Yon bleeding corse may work us mischief still: Once seen, 'twill rouse alarm and crowd the hunt From all parts towards this spot. Stript of its armour, I'll drag it hither. [Exit Bathory. Several Hunters cross the Stage. Enter Kiuprili.

Raab Kiuprili (throwing off his disguise). Since Heaven alone can save me, Heaven alone 220 Shall be my trust. Haste! haste! Zapolya, flee! Gone! Seized perhaps? Oh no, let me not perish Despairing of Heaven's justice! Faint, disarmed, Each sinew powerless; senseless rock, sustain me! Thou art parcel of my native land! A sword! 225 Ha! and my sword! Zapolya hath escaped, The murderers are baffled, and there lives An Andreas to avenge Kiuprili's fall!— There was a time, when this dear sword did flash As dreadful as the storm-fire from mine arm— 230 I can scarce raise it now—yet come, fell tyrant! And bring with thee my shame and bitter anguish, To end his work and thine! Kiuprili now Can take the death-blow as a soldier should.

Old Bathory. Poor tool and victim of another's guilt! 235 Thou follow'st heavily: a reluctant weight! Good truth, it is an undeservéd honour That in Zapolya and Kiuprili's cave A wretch like thee should find a burial-place. 'Tis he!—In Andreas' and Zapolya's name 240 Follow me, reverend form! Thou need'st not speak, For thou canst be no other than Kiuprili. Kiuprili. And are they safe? [Noise without. Old Bathory. Conceal yourself, my lord! I will mislead them! Kiuprili. Is Zapolya safe? Old Bathory. I doubt it not; but haste, haste, I conjure you! 245

Casimir. Monster! Thou shalt not now escape me! Old Bathory. Stop, lord Casimir! It is no monster.

Casimir. Art thou too a traitor? Is this the place where Emerick's murderers lurk? Say where is he that, tricked in this disguise, 250 First lured me on, then scared my dastard followers? Thou must have seen him. Say where is th' assassin? Old Bathory. There lies the assassin! slain by that same sword That was descending on his curst employer, When entering thou beheld'st Sarolta rescued! 255 Casimir. Strange providence! what then was he who fled me? Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man! Would thy hand point me? Old Bathory. Casimir, to thy father. Casimir. The curse! the curse! Open and swallow me, Unsteady earth! Fall, dizzy rocks! and hide me! 260 Old Bathory. Speak, speak, my lord! Kiuprili. Bid him fulfil his work! Casimir. Thou art Heaven's immediate minister, dread spirit! O for sweet mercy, take some other form, And save me from perdition and despair! Old Bathory. He lives! Casimir. Lives! A father's curse can never die! 265 Kiuprili. O Casimir! Casimir! Old Bathory. Look! he doth forgive you! Hark! 'tis the tyrant's voice. [Emerick's voice without. Casimir. I kneel, I kneel! Retract thy curse! O, by my mother's ashes, Have pity on thy self-abhorring child! If not for me, yet for my innocent wife, 270 Yet for my country's sake, give my arm strength, Permitting me again to call thee father! Kiuprili. Son, I forgive thee! Take thy father's sword; When thou shalt lift it in thy country's cause, In that same instant doth thy father bless thee! 275

Emerick. Fools! Cowards! follow—or by Hell I'll make you [947] Find reason to fear Emerick, more than all The mummer-fiends that ever masqueraded As gods or wood-nymphs!— Ha! 'tis done then! Our necessary villain hath proved faithful, 280 And there lies Casimir, and our last fears! Well!—Aye, well!—— And is it not well? For though grafted on us, And filled too with our sap, the deadly power Of the parent poison-tree lurked in its fibres: 285 There was too much of Raab Kiuprili in him: The old enemy looked at me in his face, E'en when his words did flatter me with duty.

Old Bathory (aside). This way they come! Casimir (aside). Hold them in check awhile, The path is narrow! Rudolph will assist thee. 290 Emerick (aside). And ere I ring the alarum of my sorrow, I'll scan that face once more, and murmur—Here Lies Casimir, the last of the Kiuprilis! Hell! 'tis Pestalutz! Casimir (coming forward). Yes, thou ingrate Emerick! 'Tis Pestalutz! 'tis thy trusty murderer! 295 To quell thee more, see Raab Kiuprili's sword! Emerick. Curses on it and thee! Think'st thou that petty omen Dare whisper fear to Emerick's destiny? Ho! Treason! Treason! Casimir. Then have at thee, tyrant! [They fight. Emerick falls. Emerick. Betrayed and baffled 300 By mine own tool!——Oh! [Dies. Casimir. Hear, hear, my Father! Thou should'st have witnessed thine own deed. O Father, Wake from that envious swoon! The tyrant's fallen! [948] Thy sword hath conquered! As I lifted it Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me; 305 Dislodging the dread curse. It flew forth from me And lighted on the tyrant!

Rudolph and Bathory. Friends! friends to Casimir! Casimir. Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper's fallen. Rudolph. So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! 310 Casimir. Bear hence the body, and move slowly on! One moment—— Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness, I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen With the two best and fullest gifts of heaven— 315 A tyrant fallen, a patriot chief restored! [Casimir enters the Cavern.

First Confederate. It cannot but succeed, friends. From this palace E'en to the wood, our messengers are posted With such short interspace, that fast as sound Can travel to us, we shall learn the event! 320

What tidings from Temeswar? Second Confederate. With one voice Th' assembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant: He is proclaimed the public enemy, And the protection of the law withdrawn. First Confederate. Just doom for him, who governs without law! 325 Is it known on whom the sov'reignty will fall? Second Confederate. Nothing is yet decided: but report Points to Lord Casimir. The grateful memory Of his renownéd father——

Hail to Sarolta! Sarolta. Confederate friends! I bring to you a joy 330 Worthy your noble cause! Kiuprili lives, And from his obscure exile, hath returned [949] To bless our country. More and greater tidings Might I disclose; but that a woman's voice Would mar the wondrous tale. Wait we for him, 335 The partner of the glory—Raab Kiuprili; For he alone is worthy to announce it.

Raab Kiuprili. Spare yet your joy, my friends! A higher waits you: Behold, your Queen!

Confederate. Comes she from heaven to bless us? Other Confederates. It is! it is! Zapolya. Heaven's work of grace is full! 340 Kiuprili, thou art safe! Raab Kiuprili. Royal Zapolya! To the heavenly powers, pay we our duty first; Who not alone preserved thee, but for thee And for our country, the one precious branch Of Andreas' royal house. O countrymen, 345 Behold your King! And thank our country's genius, That the same means which have preserved our sovereign, Have likewise reared him worthier of the throne By virtue than by birth. The undoubted proofs Pledged by his royal mother, and this old man, 350 (Whose name henceforth be dear to all Illyrians) We haste to lay before the assembled council. All. Hail, Andreas! Hail, Illyria's rightful king! Andreas. Supported thus, O friends! 'twere cowardice Unworthy of a royal birth, to shrink 355 From the appointed charge. Yet, while we wait The awful sanction of convened Illyria, In this brief while, O let me feel myself The child, the friend, the debtor!—Heroic mother!— But what can breath add to that sacred name? 360 Kiuprili! gift of Providence, to teach us That loyalty is but the public form Of the sublimest friendship, let my youth Climb round thee, as the vine around its elm: [950] Thou my support and I thy faithful fruitage. 365 My heart is full, and these poor words express not, They are but an art to check its over-swelling. Bathory! shrink not from my filial arms! Now, and from henceforth thou shalt not forbid me To call thee father! And dare I forget 370 The powerful intercession of thy virtue, Lady Sarolta? Still acknowledge me Thy faithful soldier!—But what invocation Shall my full soul address to thee, Glycine? Thou sword that leap'dst forth from a bed of roses: 375 Thou falcon-hearted dove? Zapolya. Hear that from me, son! For ere she lived, her father saved thy life, Thine, and thy fugitive mother's! Casimir. Chef Ragozzi! O shame upon my head! I would have given her To a base slave! Zapolya. Heaven overruled thy purpose, 380 And sent an angel to thy house to guard her! Thou precious bark! freighted with all our treasures! The sports of tempests, and yet ne'er the victim, How many may claim salvage in thee! Take her, son! A queen that brings with her a richer dowry 385 Than orient kings can give! Sarolta. A banquet waits!— On this auspicious day, for some few hours I claim to be your hostess. Scenes so awful With flashing light, force wisdom on us all! E'en women at the distaff hence may see, 390 That bad men may rebel, but ne'er be free; May whisper, when the waves of faction foam, None love their country, but who love their home: For freedom can with those alone abide, Who wear the golden chain, with honest pride, 395 Of love and duty, at their own fire-side: While mad ambition ever doth caress Its own sure fate, in its own restlessness!

Casimir. Mark too, the edges of yon lurid mass! Restless and vext, as if some angering hand, With fitful, tetchy snatch, unrolled and pluck'd The jetting ringlets of the vaporous fleece! These are sure signs of conflict nigh at hand, And elemental war!

Neighs at the gate. [A volley of Trumpets.

That but oppressed me hitherto, now scares me. You will ken Bethlen? Glycine. O at farthest distance, Yea, oft where Light's own courier-beam exhausted Drops at the threshold, and forgets its message, A something round me of a wider reach Feels his approach, and trembles back to tell me.

These points are tipt with venom. [Starts and sees Glycine without.

The shriek came thence.

Bathory. Hail . . . my king! [Triumphantly.

Has scattered them! [Horns heard as from different places at a distance.

I'll drag it hither.

Shall be my trust. [Then speaking as to Zapolya in the Cavern. Haste! . . . flee! [He enters the Cavern, and then returns in alarm.

Thou art parcel of my native land. [Then observing the sword.

As gods or wood-nymphs!— [Then sees the body of Pestalutz, covered by Casimir's cloak.

Behold, your Queen! [Enter from opposite side, Zapolya, &c.