ZAPOLYA.

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,

s 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?

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

Will make you gracious.

[Horn heard without.
To the cavern!

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

BETHLEN.

Ask rather the poor roaming savage,

Whose infancy no holy rite had blest.

To him, perchance rude spoil or ghastly trophy,
In chase or battle won, have given a name.

[They retire to the cavern, bearing ZAPOLYA. Then I have none-but like a dog have answer'd
enter BETHLEN armed with a boar-spear.

BETHLEN.

To the chance sound which he that fed me call'd me.
RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

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,
Where the bats cling, have I survey'd my cradle!
The mother-falcon hath her nest above it,
And in it the wolf litters!-I invoke you,
Tell me, ye secret ones! if ye beheld me
As I stood there, like one who having delved
For hidden gold hath found a talisman,
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.

Owe homage to its Lord?

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

More, guiltier, mightier, Than thou mayest summon! Wait the destined hour!

BETHLEN.

O yet again, and with more clamorous prayer,
I importune ye! Mock me no more with shadows!
This sable mantle-tell, dread voice! did this
Enwrap one fatherless?

ZAPOLYA (unseen).
One fatherless!
BETHLEN (starting).

A sweeter voice!-A voice of love and pity!
Was it the soften'd echo of mine own?
Sad echo! but the hope it kill'd was sickly,
And ere it died it had been mourn'd as dead'
One other hope yet lives within my soul;
Quick let me ask!-while yet this stifling fear,
This stop of the heart, leaves utterance!-Arc-are
these

The sole remains of her that gave me life?
Have I a mother?

[ZAPOLYA rushes out to embrace him. BETHLEN starts

ACT 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.

Perchance, thou think'st it strange, that I of all men
Should covet thus the love of fair Soralta,
Dishonoring Casimir ?

LASKA.

Far be it from me!

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 Lard 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.
He loved himself, loved honors, wealth, dominion.
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,

As Casimir loved Emerick, Emerick
Loves Casimir, intends him no dishonor.

He wink'd not then, for love of me forsooth!

For love of me now let him wink! Or if
The dame prove half as wise as she is fair,
He may still pass his hand, and find all smooth.
[Passing his hand across his brow

LASKA.

Your Majesty's reasoning has convinced me. EMERICK (with a slight start, as one who had been talking aloud to himself: then with scorn).

Thee! "Tis well! and more than meant. For by my faith I had half forgotten thee.-Thou hast the key? [LASKA bows. And in your lady's chamber there's full space?

LASKA.

Between the wall and arras to conceal you.

EMERICK.

Here! This purse is but an earnest of thy fortune,
If thou provest faithful. But if thou betrayest me,
Hark you!—the wolf that shall drag thee to his den
Shall be no fiction.

[Exit EMERICK. LASKA manet with a key in one
hand, and a purse in the other.

LASKA.

Well then! Here I stand,
Like Hercules, on either side a goddess.
Call this
[Looking at the purse
Preferment; this (Holding up the key), Fidelity!
And first my golden goddess: what bids she?
Only:-"This way, your Majesty! hush.

hold

The house

Are all safe lodged."-Then, put Fidelity
So-the door opens-and for all the rest,
Within her proper wards, just turn her round-
'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.

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' And take, friend, this advice. When next thou What! not a word in answer? A clear nonsuit' Now for one look to see that all are lodged

tonguest it,

Enough!

O tempt me not, e'en with a wandering guess,
To break the first command a mother's will
Imposed, a mother's voice made known to me!
"Ask not, my son," said she, "our names or thine.
The shadow of the eclipse is passing off
The full orb of thy destiny! Already
The victor Crescent glitters forth, and sheds
O'er the yet lingering haze a phantom light.

Thou canst not hasten it! Leave then to Heaven
The work of Heaven: and with a silent spirit
Sympathize with the powers that work in silence!"
Thus spake she, and she look'd as she were then
Fresh from some heavenly vision!

OLD BATHORY.

BETHLEN (to BATHORY).

Mark! Heaven grant it may be so!

LASKA.

She! I traced her by the voice.

You'll scarce believe me, when I say I heard
The close of a song: the poor wretch had been
singing;

As if she wish'd to compliment the war-wolf
At once with music and a meal!

BETHLEN (to BATHORY).

LASKA.

Mark that!

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

Ho! Laska! Don't you know us! 'tis Bathory
And Bethlen!

LASKA (recovering himself).

You play'd the hero at a cautious distance!
Or was it that you sent the poor girl forward
To stay the monster's stomach? Dainties quickly
Pall on the taste and cloy the appetite!

OLD BATHORY.

Laska, beware! Forget not what thou art!
Shouldst thou but dream thou 'rt valiant, cross thyself.
And ache all over at the dangerous fancy!

LASKA.

What then! you swell upon my lady's favor,
High lords, and perilous of one day's growth'
But other judges now sit on the bench!
And haply, Laska hath found audience there,
Where to defend the treason of a son
Might end in lifting up both Son and Father
Still higher; to a height from which indeed
You both may drop, but, spite of fate and fortune,
Will be secured from falling to the ground.
"Tis possible too, young man! that royal Emerick
At Laska's rightful suit, may make inquiry
By whom seduced, the maid so strangely missing-

BETHLEN.

Soft! my good Laska! might it not suffice,
Good now! Ha! ha! an excellent trick. If to yourself, being Lord Casimir's steward,
I should make record of Glycine's fate?

Afraid! Nay, no offence; but I must laugh.
But are you sure now, that 't is you, yourself.
BETHLEN (holding up his hand as if to strike him).
Wouldst be convinced?

LASKA.

LASKA.

'Tis well! it shall content me! though your fear Has all the credit of these lower'd tones.

[Then very pompously

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

Of Beauty's star, and kept my heart in darkness!
First then on him I will administer justice-

Thou art so fiendish wicked,

If not in mercy, yet in love and rapture. [Seizes her. That in thy blasphemies I scarce hear thy threats.

SAROLTA.

Help! Treason! Help!

EMERICK.

BETHLEN

Lady, be calm! fear not this king of the buskin!
A king? Oh laughter! A king Bajazet!
That from some vagrant actor's tyring-room,

Call louder! Scream again! Hath stolen at once his speech and crown!

Here's none can hear you!

SAROLTA.

EMERICK.

EMERICK.

Ah! treason!

Hear me, hear me, Heaven! Thou hast been lesson'd and trick'd up for this!
As surely as the wax on thy death-warrant
Shall take the impression of this royal signet,
So plain thy face hath ta'en the mask of rebel!
[EMERICK points his hand haughtily towards BETH-

Nay, why this rage? Who best deserves you? Casimir,
Emerick's bought implement, the jealous slave
That mews you up with bolts and bars? or Emerick,
Who proffers you a throne? Nay, mine you shall be.
Hence with this fond resistance! Yield; then live
This month a widow, and the next a queen!

LEN, who catching a sight of the signet, seizes his hand and eagerly observes the signet, then flings the hand back with indignant joy.

BETHLEN.

It must be so! "Tis e'en the counterpart!
But with a foul usurping cipher on it!
The light hath flash'd from Heaven, and I must
follow it!

O curst usurper! O thou brother-murderer!
That madest a star-bright queen a fugitive widow!
Who fill'st the land with curses, being thyself
All curses in one tyrant! see and tremble!
This is Kiuprili's sword that now hangs o'er thee!
Kiuprili's blasting curse, that from its point