The Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Shoots lightnings at thee! Hark! in Andreas' name,
Heir of his vengeance! hell-hound! I defy thee.
[They fight, and just as EMERICK is disarmed, in
rush CASIMIR, Old Bathory, and attendants.
CASIMIR runs in between the combatants, and
parts them: in the struggle BETHLEN's sword
is thrown down.

CASIMIR.

The king disarm'd too by a stranger! Speak!
What may this mean?

EMERICK.

Deceived, dishonor'd lord!
Ask thou yon fair adultress! She will tell thee
A tale, which wouldst thou be both dupe and traitor,
Thou wilt believe against thy friend and sovereign!
Thou art present now, and a friend's duty ceases:
To thine own justice leave I thine own wrongs.
Of half thy vengeance, I perforce must rob thee,
For that the sovereign claims. To thy allegiance
I now commit this traitor and assassin.

[Then to the Attendants. Hence with him to the dungeon! and to-morrow, Ere the sun rises,-hark! your heads or his!

We hunt to-morrow in your upland forest:

Thou (to CASIMIR) wilt attend us and wilt then

explain

This sudden and most fortunate arrival.

Your answer?

LORD RUDOLPH.

CASIMIR.

As the word proves false or true, Will Casimir cross the hunt, or join the huntsmen!

LORD RUDolph.

The event redeem'd their pledge?

CASIMIR.

It did, and therefore

Have I sent back both pledge and invitation.
The spotless Hind hath fled to them for shelter,
And bears with her my seal of fellowship!

[They take hands, etc.

LORD RUDOLPH.

But Emerick! how when you reported to him
Sarolta's disappearance, and the flight

[Exit EMERICK; manent CASIMIR and SAROLTA. Of Bethlen with his guards?

Yea, fell like Heaven's own lightnings on that Tar-I enter'd as the door was closing on you:

That single blast Announces that the tyrant's pawing courser Neighs at the gate [A volley of 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

O he was born to honor! Gallant deeds

While he looks round at ease, and scans the crowd, And perilous hath he wrought since yester-eve.

Vain of his stately form and horsemanship!

I must away! my absence may be noticed.

And yet Sarolta, simple, inexperienced,
Could see him as he was, and often warn'd me.
Whence learn'd she this ?-O she was innocent!
And to be innocent is nature's wisdom!
The fledge-dove knows the prowlers of the air,
Fear'd soon as seen, and flutters back to shelter.
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,
Reveals the approach of evil. Casimir!

O fool! O parricide! through yon wood didst thou,
With fire and sword, pursue a patriot father,
A widow and an orphan. Darest thou then
Carse-laden wretch), put forth these hands to raise
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,

Now from Temeswar (for to him was trusted
A life, save thine, the dearest) he hastes hither-

"Twas one of Satan's imps, that grinn'd, and threaten'd you

For your most impudent hope to cheat his master!

LASKA.

BETHLEN.

Was it then

That timid eye, was it those maiden hands
That sped the shaft which saved me and avenged me!
OLD BATHORY (to BETHLEN exultingly).

Pshaw! What, you think 'tis fear that makes me "Twas a vision blazon'd on a cloud

leave you?

The shriek came thence.

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 reach d
him

The coward turn'd, and at the self-same instant
The braver villain fell beneath your sword.

It was Raab Kiuprili;

As sure as thou art Andreas, and the king.

OLD BATHORY.

[Clash of swords, and BETHLEN's voice heard from Hail Andreas! hail my king!

behind the Scenes; GLYCINE enters alarmed; then, as seeing LASKA's bow and arrows.

GLYCINE.

Ha! weapons here? Then, Bethlen, thy Glycine Will die with thee or save thee!

ANDREAS.

[Triumphantly

Stop, thou revered one Lest we offend the jealous destinies By shouts ere victory. Deem it then thy duty To pay this homage, when 'tis mine to claim it.

GLYCINE.

[She seizes them and rushes out. BATHORY following
her. Lively and irregular Music, and Peasants
with hunting-spears cross the stage, singing cho- Accept thine hand-maid's service!
rally.

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.
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 To the cricket and the mouse:

ZAPOLYA

[Kneeling

Raise her, son!

O raise her to thine arms! she saved thy life,
And through her love for thee, she saved thy mother's
Hereafter thou shalt know, that this dear maid
Hath other and hereditary claims

Upon thy heart, and with Heaven-guarded instinct
But carried on the work her sire began!

ANDREAS.

Dear maid! more dear thou canst not be! the rest
Shall make my love religion. Haste we hence;
For as I reach'd 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.

Re-enter BATHORY, with the dead body of PESTALUTZ.

OLD BATHORY.

[Horn without, and afterwards distant thunder. Poor tool and victim of another's guilt!

OLD BATHORY.

Thou follow'st heavily: a reluctant weight!
Good truth, it is an undeserved honor
That in Zapolya and Kiuprili's cave

A wretch like thee should find a burial-place.
[Then observing KIUPRILI.
"Tis he!-in Andreas' and Zapolya's name
Follow me, reverend form? Thou needst not speak,
For thou canst be no other than Kiuprili!

Is this the place where Emerick's murderers lurk?
Say where is he that, trick'd in this disguise,
First lured me on, then scared my dastard followers?
Thou must have seen him. Say where is th' assassin?
OLD BATHORY (pointing to the body of PESTALUTZ).
There lies the assassin! slain by that same sword
That was descending on his curst employer,
When entering thou beheld'st Sarolta rescued!

CASIMIR.

You bleeding corse, (pointing to PESTALUTZ's body) Strange providence! what then was he who fled me?

may work us mischief still:

Once seen, 't will rouse alarm and crowd the hunt From all parts towards this spot. Stript of its armor, I'll drag it hither.

[Erit BATHORY. After a while several Hunters cross the stage as scattered. Some time after, enter KIUPRILI in his disguise, fainting with fatigue, and as pursued.

RAAB KIUPRILI (throwing off his disguise). Since Heaven alone can save me, Heaven alone Shall be my trust.

[Then speaking as to ZAPOLYA in the Cavern. Haste! haste! Zapolya, flee!

[He enters the Cavern, and then returns in alarm. Gone! Seized perhaps? Oh no, let me not perish Despairing of Heaven's justice! Faint, disarm'd, Each sinew powerless, senseless rock sustain me! Thou art parcel of my native land.

[Then observing the sword.
A sword!

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 arms:
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.

[BATHORY points to the Cavern, whence KIUPRILI advances.

Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man! Would thy hand point me?

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,
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!

Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me;
Dislodging the dread curse. It flew forth from me
And lighted on the tyrant!

Enter RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and Attendants.

RUDOLPH and BATHORY (entering).
Friends! friends to Casimir

CASIMIR.

Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper's fallen.

RUDOLPH.

[KIUPRILI and CASIMIR embrace; they all retire So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! to the Cavern supporting KIUPRILI. CASIMIR

CASIMIR.

as by accident drops his robe, and BATHORY Bear hence the body, and move slowly on!
throws it over the body of PESTALUTZ.

EMERICK (entering).

One moment

Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness,

With the two best and fullest gifts of Heaven-
A tyrant fallen, a patriot chief restored!

Fools! Cowards! follow-or by Hell I'll make you I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen
Find reason to fear Emerick, more than all
The mummer-fiends that ever masqueraded
As gods or wood-nymphs!—

Then sees the body of PESTALUTZ, covered by
CASIMIR'S cloak.

Ha! 'tis done then!
Our necessary villain hath proved faithful,
And there lies Casimir, and our last fears!
Well!-Ay, well!——————

And is it not well? For though grafted on us,
And fill'd too with our sap, the deadly power
Of the parent poison-tree lurk'd in its fibres:
There was too much of Raab Kiuprili in him:
The old enemy look'd at me in his face,
E'en when his words did flatter me with duty.

[AS EMERICK moves towards the body, enter from
the Cavern CASIMIR and BATHORY.

[Exeunt CASIMIR into the Cavern. The rest on
the opposite side.

Scene changes to a splendid Chamber in CASIMIR'S
Castle. CONFEDERATES discovered.

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!
Enter another CONFEDERATE.

What tidings from Temeswar?

SECOND CONFEDERATE.

With one voice

OLD BATHORY (pointing to where the noise is, and aside Th' assembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant;

EMERICK.

He is proclaim'd the public enemy,
And the protection of the law withdrawn.

FIRST CONFEDERATE.

Just doom for him, who governs without law!
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 renowned father-

Enter SAROLTA.

Hail to Sarolta.

SAROLTA.

Confederate friends! I bring to you a joy
Worthy our noble cause! Kiuprili lives,
And from his obscure exile, hath return'd
To bless our country. More and greater tidings
Might I disclose; but that a woman's voice

Curses on it, and thee! Think'st thou that petty omen Would mar the wondrous tale. Wait we for him Dare whisper fear to Emerick's destiny?

« Назад Продовжити »

Книги

The Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Prose and Verse