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And then, perchance, I might have power to unbosom
These thanks that struggle here. Eyes fair as thine
Have gazed on me with tears of love and anguish,
Which these eyes saw not, or beheld unconscious;
And tones of anxious fondness, passionate prayers,
Have been talk'd to me! But this tongue ne'er
soothed

A mother's ear, lisping a mother's name!
O, at how dear a price have I been loved,
And no love could return! One boon then, lady!
Where'er thou bidd'st, I go thy faithful soldier,
But first must trace the spot, where she lay bleeding
Who gave me life. No more shall beast of ravine
Affront with baser spoil that sacred forest!
Or if avengers more than human haunt there,
Take they what shape they list, savage or heavenly,
They shall make answer to me, though my heart's

blood

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Three days past
A courier from the king did cross that wood;
A wilful man, that arm'd himself on purpose:
And never hath been heard of from that time!
[Sound of horns without.

SAROLTA.

Hark! dost thou hear it?

GLYCINE.

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LASKA.

Laska, my liege Sovereign

EMERICK.

Well, my liege subject Laska! And you are
Lord Casimir's steward?

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Two gentle dames made off at our approach.
Which was your lady?

LASKA.

My liege lord, the taller. The other, please your grace, is her poor handmaid, Long since betrothed to me. But the maid's fro

ward

Yet would your grace but speak

EMERICK.

Hum, master steward!
I am honor'd with this sudden confidence.
Lead on.

[TO LASKA, then to RUDOLPH.
Lord Rudolph, you'll announce our coming.
Greet fair Sarolta from me, and entreat her
To be our gentle hostess. Mark, you add
How much we grieve, that business of the state
Hath forced us to delay her lord's return.

LORD RUDOLPH (aside).
Lewd, ingrate tyrant! Yes, I will announce thee.

Now onward all.

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EMERICK (solus).
A fair one, by my
If her face rival but her gait and stature,
My good friend Casimir had his reasons too.
"Her tender health, her vow of strict retirement,
Made early in the convent-His word pledged—”
All fictions, all! fictions of jealousy.
Well! if the mountain move not to the prophet,
The prophet must to the mountain! In this Laska
There's somewhat of the knave mix'd up with dolt
[Horns again. Through the transparence of the fool, methought,
I saw (as I could lay my finger on it)

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ACT II.
SCENE I.

A savage wood. At one side a cavern, overhung with ivy. ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILI discovered: both, but especially the latter, in rude and savage garments.

RAAB KIUPRILI.

Heard you then aught while I was slumbering?

ZAPOLYA.

Nothing,

And think thou see'st thy sainted lord commission'd
And on his way to aid us! Whence those late dreams,
Which after such long interval of hopeless
And silent resignation, all at once
Night after night commanded thy return
Hither? and still presented in clear vision
This wood as in a scene? this very cavern?
Thou darest not doubt that Heaven's especial hand
Work'd in those signs. The hour of thy deliverance
Is on the stroke :-for Misery cannot add
Grief to thy griefs, or Patience to thy sufferance!

ZAPOLYA.

Only your face became convulsed. We miserable! Cannot! Oh, what if thou wert taken from me?
Is Heaven's last mercy fled? Is sleep grown treach-Nay, thou saidst well: for that and death were one.

erous ?

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Gnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well

O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects.
But wherefore, O revered Kiuprili! wherefore

Life's grief is at its height indeed; the hard
Necessity of this inhuman state

Has made our deeds inhuman as our vestments.
Housed in this wild wood, with wild usages,
Danger our guest, and famine at our portal-
Wolf-like to prowl in the shepherd's fold by night!
At once for food and safety to affrighten
The traveller from his road-

[GLYCINE is heard singing without.

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RAAB KIUPRILI.

[Song again.

Did my importunate prayers, my hopes and fancies, It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!

Force thee from thy secure though sad retreat?
Would that my tongue had then cloven to my mouth!
But Heaven is just! With tears I conquer'd thee,
And not a tear is left me to repent with!
Hadst thou not done already-hadst thou not
Suffer'd-oh, more than e'er man feign'd of friend-
ship?

RAAB KIUPRILI.

Yet be thou comforted! What! hadst thou faith
When I turn'd back incredulous? "Twas thy light
That kindled mine. And shall it now go out,
And leave thy soul in darkness? Yet look up,

ZAPOLYA.

Hark! her voice falters!

RAAB KIUPRILI.

[Exit ZAPOLYA.

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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.
"Twas some dry branch But most of all-
Dropt 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).

Leave them and flee!

GLYCINE (shrieks, then recovering).
Where are you?

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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.

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

Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice!
All silent!-If this were the war-wolf's den!
"Twas not his voice!-

ZAPOLYA.

Even till this morning?

[GLYCINE leaves the provisions, and exit fearfully. This morning? when my weak faith fail'd me wholly! KIUPRILI Comes forward, seizes them and carries Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance, them into the cavern. GLYCINE returns, having And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse! recovered herself. Say on!

GLYCINE.

Shame! Nothing hurt me!

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! "Twas my own heart!
Hush, coward heart! better beat loud with fear,
Than break with shame and anguish!

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Saints protect me!

RAAB KIUPRILI.

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

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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
The after gloom, and make the darkness stormy!
In that last conflict, following our escape,
The usurper's cruelty had clogg'd our flight
With many a babe, and many a childing mother.
This maid herself is one of numberless
Planks from the same vast wreck.

[Then to GLYCINE again.
Well! Casimir's wife-

GLYCINE.

She is always gracious, and so praised the old man
That his heart o'erflow'd, and made discovery
That in this wood-

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!

GLYCINE.

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen). 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.

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. I have none-but like a dog have answer'd 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

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Thou yawning Den, I well remember thee!
Mine eyes deceived me not. Heaven leads me on!
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!
Thon, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide.

[As BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks
from the cavern unseen.

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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! And in it the wolf litters!-I invoke you, Tell me, ye secret ones! if ye beheld me For hidden gold hath found a talisman, As I stood there, like one who having delved O tell! what rites, what offices of duty This cygnet doth command? What rebel spirits 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!-Are-are

these

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

[ZAPOLYA rushes out to embrace him. BETHLEN starts.

Ha!

ZAPOLYA (embracing him).

My son! my son! A wretched-Oh no, no! a blest-a happy mother! [They embrace. KIUPRILI and GLYCINE come forward and the curtain drops.

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Thou followed'st her
[LASKA bows assent.
Henceforth then I'll believe
That jealousy can make a hare a lion.

LASKA.

Scarce had I got the first glimpse of her veil,
When, with a horrid roar that made the leaves
Of the wood shake-

EMERICK.

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.

Which from his dragon-scales recoiling

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.
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
Off flew the parricidal arrow.-Even
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.

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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. The house
hold

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!
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

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

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