And then, perchance, I might have power to unbosom A mother's ear, lisping a mother's name! blood Three days past SAROLTA. Hark! dost thou hear it? GLYCINE. LASKA. Laska, my liege Sovereign EMERICK. Well, my liege subject Laska! And you are Two gentle dames made off at our approach. 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! [TO LASKA, then to RUDOLPH. LORD RUDOLPH (aside). Now onward all. EMERICK (solus). ACT II. 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 ZAPOLYA. Only your face became convulsed. We miserable! Cannot! Oh, what if thou wert taken from me? erous ? Gnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects. Life's grief is at its height indeed; the hard Has made our deeds inhuman as our vestments. [GLYCINE is heard singing without. 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? RAAB KIUPRILI. Yet be thou comforted! What! hadst thou faith ZAPOLYA. Hark! her voice falters! RAAB KIUPRILI. [Exit ZAPOLYA. If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancy By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, Leave them and flee! GLYCINE (shrieks, then recovering). ZAPOLYA (rushing out from the cavern). 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 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! 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- and hoarseness! Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St-St-No-Bethlen! Saints protect me! RAAB KIUPRILI. [As she approaches to enter the cavern, KIUPRILI stops her. GLYCINE shrieks. ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILI. GLYCINE. Lady Sarolta Frown'd and discharged these bad men. RAAB KIUPRILI (turning off and to himself). Sent me a daughter once, and I repined GLYCINE. Not much! My own dear lady, when I was a child RAAB KIUPRILI (to ZAPOLYA). [Then to GLYCINE again. GLYCINE. She is always gracious, and so praised the old man 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, Do they desert me now!-at my last trial? 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? Thou yawning Den, I well remember thee! [As BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks 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, ZAPOLYA (unseen). One fatherless! BETHLEN (starting). A sweeter voice!-A voice of love and pity! these The sole remains of her that gave me life? [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. Thou followed'st her LASKA. Scarce had I got the first glimpse of her veil, EMERICK. Made thee shake like a leaf! LASKA. The war-wolf leapt; at the first plunge he seized her; EMERICK. Most marvellous! LASKA. Which from his dragon-scales recoiling EMERICK. Hold constant to thy exploit with this monster, 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, Loves Casimir, intends him no dishonor. He wink'd not then, for love of me forsooth! Here! This purse is but an earnest of thy fortune, [Exit EMERICK. LASKA manet with a key in one LASKA. Well then! Here I stand, Like Hercules, on either side a goddess. Are all safe lodged."-Then, put Fidelity "Tis the king's deed, not Laska's. Do but this, Hurl'd my javelin; All very true!-but, good Fidelity! Enough! And take, friend, this advice. When next thou tonguest it, |