ACT II

[179]She'll see . . . hourly.[Laska. . . peeps in timidly.1817,1828,1829.

She'll see . . . hourly.[Laska. . . peeps in timidly.

1817,1828,1829.

[180]Laska (surlily).Gone.1817,1828,1829.

Laska (surlily).Gone.1817,1828,1829.

[181]Is he returned?[Laskastarts up from his seat.1817,1828,1829.

Is he returned?[Laskastarts up from his seat.

1817,1828,1829.

[188]Your1817,1828,1829.

Your1817,1828,1829.

[191]I should]Ishould1817,1828,1829.

I should]Ishould1817,1828,1829.

[196]Laska (malignantly).You, &c.1817,1828,1829.

Laska (malignantly).You, &c.1817,1828,1829.

[207]you:you1817,1828,1829.

you:you1817,1828,1829.

[209]you1817,1828,1829.

you1817,1828,1829.

[211]forced1817,1828,1829.

forced1817,1828,1829.

[221]loving1817,1828,1829.

loving1817,1828,1829.

[222]there1817,1828,1829.

there1817,1828,1829.

[223]grieve1817,1828,1829.

grieve1817,1828,1829.

Before233[Glycinethen cries out as if afraid of being beaten.1817,1828,1829.

[235]Laska (pompously).Do you, &c.1817,1828,1829.

Laska (pompously).Do you, &c.1817,1828,1829.

[241]is1817,1828,1829.

is1817,1828,1829.

[243]her:him:she'll1817,1828,1829.

her:him:she'll1817,1828,1829.

After248[Laskaduring this time slinks off the Stage, using threatening gestures toGlycine.1817,1828,1829.

[249]him1817,1828,1829.

him1817,1828,1829.

[251]your1817,1828,1829.

your1817,1828,1829.

After257[Bethlenmutters to himself indignantly.1817,1828,1829.

Before259Bethlen (muttering aside).1817,1828,1829.

[279]Glycine.No . . . heart.[Sobbing.Sarolta (taking her hand).Ha! &c.1817,1828,1829.

Glycine.No . . . heart.[Sobbing.Sarolta (taking her hand).Ha! &c.

Glycine.No . . . heart.[Sobbing.

Sarolta (taking her hand).Ha! &c.

1817,1828,1829.

[297]O, 'tis so fullhere.[At her heart.1817,1828,1829.

O, 'tis so fullhere.[At her heart.

1817,1828,1829.

[299]not1817,1828,1829.

not1817,1828,1829.

[301]thee1817,1828,1829.

thee1817,1828,1829.

[308]Glycine (eagerly).O tell—Bethlen (who had overheard the last few words, now rushes out).Yes, &c.1817,1828,1829.

Glycine (eagerly).O tell—Bethlen (who had overheard the last few words, now rushes out).Yes, &c.

Glycine (eagerly).O tell—

Bethlen (who had overheard the last few words, now rushes out).Yes, &c.

1817,1828,1829.

[309]Thy1817,1828,1829.

Thy1817,1828,1829.

[340]Sarolta (with a smile).Moon-calves, &c.1817,1828,1829.

Sarolta (with a smile).Moon-calves, &c.1817,1828,1829.

After342[Then speaking again toBethlen.1817,1828,1829.

After352[Striking his breast.1817,1828,1829.

[384]can not1817,1828,1829.

can not1817,1828,1829.

[393]Sarolta (continuing the story).While, &c.1817,1828,1829.

Sarolta (continuing the story).While, &c.1817,1828,1829.

[396]Glycine (to silence him).Bethlen!1817,1828,1829.

Glycine (to silence him).Bethlen!1817,1828,1829.

[401]she1817,1828,1829.

she1817,1828,1829.

[414]my1817,1828,1829.

my1817,1828,1829.

[456]thee1817,1828,1847.

thee1817,1828,1847.

[467]Our1817,1828,1829.

Our1817,1828,1829.

[480]Two1817,1828,1829.

Two1817,1828,1829.

[492]Emerick (solus).A fair, &c.1817,1828,1829.

[494]his1817,1828,1829.

his1817,1828,1829.

[495-6]'Her tender . . . pledged—'1817,1828,1829.

'Her tender . . . pledged—'1817,1828,1829.

After508End of Act I1817.

A savage wood. At one side a cavern, overhung with ivy.ZapolyaandRaab Kiuprilidiscovered: both, but especially the latter, in rude and savage garments.

Raab Kiuprili.Heard you then aught while I was slumbering?Zapolya.Nothing.[918]Only your face became convulsed. We miserable!Is heaven's last mercy fled? Is sleep grown treacherous?Raab Kiuprili.O for a sleep, for sleep itself to rest in!I dream'd I had met with food beneath a tree,5And I was seeking you, when all at onceMy feet became entangled in a net:Still more entangled as in rage I tore it.At length I freed myself, had sight of you,But as I hastened eagerly, again10I found my frame encumbered: a huge serpentTwined round my chest, but tightest round my throat.Zapolya.Alas! 'twas lack of food: for hunger chokes!Raab Kiuprili.And now I saw you by a shrivelled childStrangely pursued. You did not fly, yet neither15Touched you the ground, methought, but close above itDid seem to shoot yourself along the air,And as you passed me, turned your face and shrieked.Zapolya.I did in truth send forth a feeble shriek,Scarce knowing why. Perhaps the mock'd sense craved20To hear the scream, which you but seemed to utter.For your whole face looked like a mask of torture!Yet a child's image doth indeed pursue meShrivelled with toil and penury!Raab Kiuprili.Nay! what ails you?Zapolya.A wondrous faintness there comes stealing o'er me.25Is it Death's lengthening shadow, who comes onward,Life's setting sun behind him?Raab Kiuprili.Cheerly! The duskWill quickly shroud us. Ere the moon be up,Trust me I'll bring thee food!Zapolya.Hunger's tooth hasGnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well30O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects.But wherefore, O revered Kiuprili! whereforeDid my importunate prayers, my hopes and fancies,Force thee from thy secure though sad retreat?Would that my tongue had then cloven to my mouth!35But Heaven is just! With tears I conquered thee,And not a tear is left me to repent with!Had'st thou not done already—had'st thou notSuffered—oh, more than e'er man feigned of friendship?

Raab Kiuprili.Heard you then aught while I was slumbering?

Zapolya.Nothing.[918]Only your face became convulsed. We miserable!Is heaven's last mercy fled? Is sleep grown treacherous?

Raab Kiuprili.O for a sleep, for sleep itself to rest in!I dream'd I had met with food beneath a tree,5And I was seeking you, when all at onceMy feet became entangled in a net:Still more entangled as in rage I tore it.At length I freed myself, had sight of you,But as I hastened eagerly, again10I found my frame encumbered: a huge serpentTwined round my chest, but tightest round my throat.

Zapolya.Alas! 'twas lack of food: for hunger chokes!

Raab Kiuprili.And now I saw you by a shrivelled childStrangely pursued. You did not fly, yet neither15Touched you the ground, methought, but close above itDid seem to shoot yourself along the air,And as you passed me, turned your face and shrieked.

Zapolya.I did in truth send forth a feeble shriek,Scarce knowing why. Perhaps the mock'd sense craved20To hear the scream, which you but seemed to utter.For your whole face looked like a mask of torture!Yet a child's image doth indeed pursue meShrivelled with toil and penury!

Raab Kiuprili.Nay! what ails you?

Zapolya.A wondrous faintness there comes stealing o'er me.25Is it Death's lengthening shadow, who comes onward,Life's setting sun behind him?

Raab Kiuprili.Cheerly! The duskWill quickly shroud us. Ere the moon be up,Trust me I'll bring thee food!

Zapolya.Hunger's tooth hasGnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well30O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects.But wherefore, O revered Kiuprili! whereforeDid my importunate prayers, my hopes and fancies,Force thee from thy secure though sad retreat?Would that my tongue had then cloven to my mouth!35But Heaven is just! With tears I conquered thee,And not a tear is left me to repent with!Had'st thou not done already—had'st thou notSuffered—oh, more than e'er man feigned of friendship?

Raab Kiuprili.Yet be thou comforted! What! had'st thou faith40When I turned back incredulous? 'Twas thy lightThat kindled mine. And shall it now go out,And leave thy soul in darkness? Yet look up,And think thou see'st thy sainted lord commissionedAnd on his way to aid us! Whence those late dreams,45Which after such long interval of hopelessAnd silent resignation all at onceNight after night commanded thy returnHither? and still presented in clear visionThis wood as in a scene? this very cavern?50Thou darest not doubt that Heaven's especial handWorked in those signs. The hour of thy deliveranceIs on the stroke:—for misery can not addGrief to thy griefs, or patience to thy sufferance!Zapolya.Can not! Oh, what if thou wert taken from me?55Nay, thou said'st well: for that and death were one.Life's grief is at its height indeed; the hardNecessity of this inhuman stateHath made our deeds inhuman as our vestments.Housed in this wild wood, with wild usages,60Danger 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 affrightenThe traveller from his road—[Glycineis heard singing without.Raab Kiuprili.Hark! heard you notA distant chaunt?65

Zapolya.Can not! Oh, what if thou wert taken from me?55Nay, thou said'st well: for that and death were one.Life's grief is at its height indeed; the hardNecessity of this inhuman stateHath made our deeds inhuman as our vestments.Housed in this wild wood, with wild usages,60Danger 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 affrightenThe traveller from his road—[Glycineis heard singing without.

Raab Kiuprili.Hark! heard you notA distant chaunt?65

SONGByGlycineA sunny shaft did I behold,From sky to earth it slanted:And poised therein a bird so bold—Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted!He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled70Within that shaft of sunny mist;His eyes of fire, his beak of gold,All else of amethyst![920]And thus he sang: 'Adieu! adieu!Love's dreams prove seldom true.75The blossoms, they make no delay:The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.Sweet month of May,We must away;Far, far away!80To-day! to-day!'

SONG

ByGlycine

A sunny shaft did I behold,From sky to earth it slanted:And poised therein a bird so bold—Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted!He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled70Within that shaft of sunny mist;His eyes of fire, his beak of gold,All else of amethyst![920]And thus he sang: 'Adieu! adieu!Love's dreams prove seldom true.75The blossoms, they make no delay:The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.Sweet month of May,We must away;Far, far away!80To-day! to-day!'

Zapolya.Sure 'tis some blest spirit!For since thou slew'st the usurper's emissaryThat plunged upon us, a more than mortal fearIs as a wall, that wards off the beleaguerer85And starves the poor besieged.[Song again.Raab Kiuprili.It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!Zapolya.Hark! her voice falters![ExitZapolya.Raab Kiuprili.She must not enterThe cavern, else I will remain unseen![Kiupriliretires to one side of the stage.Glycineenters singing.Glycine.A savage place! saints shield me! Bethlen! Bethlen!90Not here?—There's no one here! I'll sing again![Sings again.If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancyVoices in all chance sounds![Starts.'Twas some dry branchDropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly,Took no food with him—only his arms and boar-spear!95What 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?Raab Kiuprili (still unseen.)Leave them!Glycine.'Tis Glycine!Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice!100All silent!—If this were the war-wolf's den!'Twas not his voice!—

Raab Kiuprili.It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!

Zapolya.Hark! her voice falters![ExitZapolya.

Raab Kiuprili.She must not enterThe cavern, else I will remain unseen![Kiupriliretires to one side of the stage.Glycineenters singing.

Glycine.A savage place! saints shield me! Bethlen! Bethlen!90Not here?—There's no one here! I'll sing again![Sings again.If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancyVoices in all chance sounds![Starts.'Twas some dry branchDropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly,Took no food with him—only his arms and boar-spear!95What 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?

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen.)Leave them!

Glycine.'Tis Glycine!Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice!100All silent!—If this were the war-wolf's den!'Twas not his voice!—

[Glycineleaves the provisions, and exit.Kiuprilicomes forward, seizes them and carries them into the cavern.Glycinereturns.

Glycine.Shame! Nothing hurt me!If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needsSpeak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst and hoarseness!Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St—St——No—Bethlen!105If 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![As she approaches to enter the cavern,Kiuprilistops her.Glycineshrieks.Saints protect me!Raab Kiuprili.Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears—110Glycine.Save me!Raab Kiuprili.Swear secrecy and silence!Glycine.I swear!Raab Kiuprili.Tell what thou art, and what thou seekest?Glycine.OnlyA harmless orphan youth, to bring him food—Raab Kiuprili.Wherefore in this wood?Glycine.Alas! it was his purpose—Raab Kiuprili.With what intention came he? Would'st thou save him,115Hide nothing!Glycine.Save him! O forgive his rashness!He is good, and did not know that thou wert human!Raab Kiuprili.Human?With what design?Glycine.To kill thee, orIf that thou wert a spirit, to compel theeBy prayers, and with the shedding of his blood,120To make disclosure of his parentage.But most of all—Zapolya (rushing out from the cavern).Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak!Glycine.Whether his mother live, or perished here!Zapolya.Angel of mercy, I was perishingAnd thou did'st bring me food: and now thou bring'st125The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation[922]To a mother's famished heart! His name, sweet maiden!Glycine.E'en till this morning we were wont to name himBethlen Bathory!Zapolya.Even till this morning?This morning? when my weak faith failed me wholly!130Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance,And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse!Say on!Glycine.The false ones charged the valiant youthWith treasonous words of Emerick—Zapolya.Ha! my son!Glycine.And of Lord Casimir—Raab Kiuprili (aside).O agony! my son!135Glycine.But my dear lady—Zapolya and Raab Kiuprili.Who?Glycine.Lady SaroltaFrowned and discharged these bad men.Raab Kiuprili (to himself).Righteous HeavenSent me a daughter once, and I repinedThat it was not a son. A son was given me.My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear:140And 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.145For I too am an orphan, motherless!Raab Kiuprili (to Zapolya).O yet beware, lest hope's brief flash but deepenThe after gloom, and make the darkness stormy!In that last conflict, following our escape,The usurper's cruelty had clogged our flight150With many a babe and many a childing mother.This maid herself is one of numberlessPlanks from the same vast wreck.[Then toGlycineagain.Well! Casimir's wife—Glycine.She is always gracious, and so praised the old man[923]That his heart o'erflowed, and made discovery155That in this wood—Zapolya.O speak!Glycine.A wounded lady—

Raab Kiuprili.Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears—110

Glycine.Save me!

Raab Kiuprili.Swear secrecy and silence!

Glycine.I swear!

Raab Kiuprili.Tell what thou art, and what thou seekest?

Glycine.OnlyA harmless orphan youth, to bring him food—

Raab Kiuprili.Wherefore in this wood?

Glycine.Alas! it was his purpose—

Raab Kiuprili.With what intention came he? Would'st thou save him,115Hide nothing!

Glycine.Save him! O forgive his rashness!He is good, and did not know that thou wert human!

Raab Kiuprili.Human?With what design?

Glycine.To kill thee, orIf that thou wert a spirit, to compel theeBy prayers, and with the shedding of his blood,120To make disclosure of his parentage.But most of all—

Zapolya (rushing out from the cavern).Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak!

Glycine.Whether his mother live, or perished here!

Zapolya.Angel of mercy, I was perishingAnd thou did'st bring me food: and now thou bring'st125The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation[922]To a mother's famished heart! His name, sweet maiden!

Glycine.E'en till this morning we were wont to name himBethlen Bathory!

Zapolya.Even till this morning?This morning? when my weak faith failed me wholly!130Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance,And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse!Say on!

Glycine.The false ones charged the valiant youthWith treasonous words of Emerick—

Zapolya.Ha! my son!

Glycine.And of Lord Casimir—

Raab Kiuprili (aside).O agony! my son!135

Glycine.But my dear lady—

Zapolya and Raab Kiuprili.Who?

Glycine.Lady SaroltaFrowned and discharged these bad men.

Raab Kiuprili (to himself).Righteous HeavenSent me a daughter once, and I repinedThat it was not a son. A son was given me.My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear:140And 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.145For I too am an orphan, motherless!

Raab Kiuprili (to Zapolya).O yet beware, lest hope's brief flash but deepenThe after gloom, and make the darkness stormy!In that last conflict, following our escape,The usurper's cruelty had clogged our flight150With many a babe and many a childing mother.This maid herself is one of numberlessPlanks from the same vast wreck.[Then toGlycineagain.Well! Casimir's wife—

Glycine.She is always gracious, and so praised the old man[923]That his heart o'erflowed, and made discovery155That in this wood—

Zapolya.O speak!

Glycine.A wounded lady—

[Zapolyafaints—they both support her.

Glycine.Is this his mother?Raab Kiuprili.She would fain believe it,Weak though the proofs be. Hope draws towards itselfThe flame with which it kindles.[Horn heard without.To the cavern!Quick! quick!Glycine.Perchance some huntsmen of the king's.160Raab Kiuprili.Emerick?Glycine.He came this morning—

Glycine.Is this his mother?

Raab Kiuprili.She would fain believe it,Weak though the proofs be. Hope draws towards itselfThe flame with which it kindles.[Horn heard without.To the cavern!Quick! quick!

Glycine.Perchance some huntsmen of the king's.160

Raab Kiuprili.Emerick?

Glycine.He came this morning—

[They retire to the cavern, bearingZapolya. Then enterBethlen, armed with a boar-spear.

Bethlen.I had a glimpseOf some fierce shape; and but that Fancy oftenIs Nature's intermeddler, and cries halvesWith the outward sight, I should believe I saw itBear off some human prey. O my preserver!165Bathory! Father! Yes, thou deserv'st that name!Thou did'st not mock me! These are blessed findings!The secret cypher of my destiny[Looking at his signet.Stands here inscribed: it is the seal of fate!Ha!—Had ever monster fitting lair, 'tis yonder!170Thou 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 swell175To you, ye charméd watchers of this wood!If haply I have come, the rightful heirOf vengeance: if in me survive the spiritsOf those, whose guiltless blood flowed streaming here![Blows again louder.Still silent? Is the monster gorged? Heaven shield me!180Thou, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide.[AsBethlenis about to enter,Kiuprilispeaks from the cavern unseen.

Raab Kiuprili. Withdraw thy foot! Retract thine idle spear,And wait obedient!Bethlen.Ha! What art thou? speak!Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Avengers!Bethlen.By a dying mother's pangsE'en such am I. Receive me!Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Wait! Beware!185At thy first step, thou treadest upon the light,Thenceforth must darkling flow, and sink in darkness!Bethlen.Ha! see my boar-spear trembles like a reed!—Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shuddering.—Those piléd thoughts, built up in solitude,190Year following year, that pressed upon my heartAs on the altar of some unknown God,Then, as if touched by fire from heaven descending.Blazed up within me at a father's name—Do they desert me now?—at my last trial?195Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!I have obeyed! Declare ye by what nameI dare invoke you! Tell what sacrificeWill make you gracious.Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Patience! Truth! Obedience!Be thy whole soul transparent! so the Light,200Thou seekest, may enshrine itself within thee!Thy name?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.205I have none—but like a dog have answeredTo the chance sound which he that fed me, called me.Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Thy birth-place?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,210Where the bats cling, have I surveyed 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 meAs I stood there, like one who having delved215For hidden gold hath found a talisman,[925]O tell! what rights, what offices of dutyThis signet doth command? What rebel spiritsOwe homage to its Lord?Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).More, guiltier, mightier,Than thou mayest summon! Wait the destined hour!220Bethlen.O yet again, and with more clamorous prayer,I importune ye! Mock me no more with shadows!This sable mantle—tell, dread voice! did thisEnwrap one fatherless!Zapolya (unseen).One fatherless!Bethlen.A sweeter voice!—A voice of love and pity!225Was it the softened echo of mine own?Sad echo! but the hope it kill'd was sickly,And ere it died it had been mourned as dead!One other hope yet lives within my soul:Quick let me ask!—while yet this stifling fear,230This stop of the heart, leaves utterance!—Are—are theseThe sole remains of her that gave me life?Have I a mother?[Zapolyarushes out to embrace him.Ha!Zapolya.My son! my son!A wretched—Oh no, no! a blest—a happy mother!

Raab Kiuprili. Withdraw thy foot! Retract thine idle spear,And wait obedient!

Bethlen.Ha! What art thou? speak!

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Avengers!

Bethlen.By a dying mother's pangsE'en such am I. Receive me!

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Wait! Beware!185At thy first step, thou treadest upon the light,Thenceforth must darkling flow, and sink in darkness!

Bethlen.Ha! see my boar-spear trembles like a reed!—Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shuddering.—Those piléd thoughts, built up in solitude,190Year following year, that pressed upon my heartAs on the altar of some unknown God,Then, as if touched by fire from heaven descending.Blazed up within me at a father's name—Do they desert me now?—at my last trial?195Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!I have obeyed! Declare ye by what nameI dare invoke you! Tell what sacrificeWill make you gracious.

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Patience! Truth! Obedience!Be thy whole soul transparent! so the Light,200Thou seekest, may enshrine itself within thee!Thy name?

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.205I have none—but like a dog have answeredTo the chance sound which he that fed me, called me.

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).Thy birth-place?

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,210Where the bats cling, have I surveyed 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 meAs I stood there, like one who having delved215For hidden gold hath found a talisman,[925]O tell! what rights, what offices of dutyThis signet doth command? What rebel spiritsOwe homage to its Lord?

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen).More, guiltier, mightier,Than thou mayest summon! Wait the destined hour!220

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 thisEnwrap one fatherless!

Zapolya (unseen).One fatherless!

Bethlen.A sweeter voice!—A voice of love and pity!225Was it the softened echo of mine own?Sad echo! but the hope it kill'd was sickly,And ere it died it had been mourned as dead!One other hope yet lives within my soul:Quick let me ask!—while yet this stifling fear,230This stop of the heart, leaves utterance!—Are—are theseThe sole remains of her that gave me life?Have I a mother?[Zapolyarushes out to embrace him.Ha!

Zapolya.My son! my son!A wretched—Oh no, no! a blest—a happy mother!

[They embrace.KiupriliandGlycinecome forward and the curtain drops.

[21]hear1817,1828,1829.

hear1817,1828,1829.

[57]Life's1817,1828,1829.

Life's1817,1828,1829.

[59]Hath1817,1828,1829.

Hath1817,1828,1829.

[70]sank]sank1817,1828,1829.

sank]sank1817,1828,1829.

[75-6]om. 1817.

om. 1817.

Before90Glycine (fearfully).1817,1828,1829.

[102][Glycineleaves the provisions, and exit fearfully. . . .Glycinereturns, having recovered herself.1817,1828,1829.

[Glycineleaves the provisions, and exit fearfully. . . .Glycinereturns, having recovered herself.1817,1828,1829.

Before118Raab Kiuprili (repeats the word).1817,1828,1829.

[118]Human?[Then sternly.1817,1828,1829.

Human?[Then sternly.

1817,1828,1829.

[135]my1817,1828,1829.Glycine.And of Lord Casimir—Raab Kiuprili (aside).O agony!myson.Erased[?by S. T. C. in copy of 1817.]

my1817,1828,1829.

Glycine.And of Lord Casimir—Raab Kiuprili (aside).O agony!myson.

Glycine.And of Lord Casimir—

Raab Kiuprili (aside).O agony!myson.

Erased[?by S. T. C. in copy of 1817.]

[137]Raab Kiuprili (turning off and to himself).1817,1828,1839.

Raab Kiuprili (turning off and to himself).1817,1828,1839.

[137-41]Raab Kiuprili(turning off, &c.) . . . infamy.Erased[?by S. T. C. in copy of 1817].

Raab Kiuprili(turning off, &c.) . . . infamy.Erased[?by S. T. C. in copy of 1817].

Back to Index Next