SAROLTA. Thou hast hit my thought! To discontent us.-Were he come, then should I GLYCINE. But our best sports belike, and gay processions Would to my Lord have seem'd but work-day sights Compared with those the royal court affords. SAROLTA. I have small wish to see them. A spring morning, Did but command, what I had else entreated. And yet had I been born Lady Sarolta, SAROLTA. Hush! innocent flatterer! GLYCINE. Nay! to my poor fancy The royal court would seem an earthly heaven, Made for such stars to shine in, and be gracious. SAROLTA. So doth the ignorant distance still delude us! GLYCINE. Yes, madam! he was there. So was the maypole, Be brief! We know his titles! For we danced round it. SAROLTA. Ah, Glycine! why, Why did you then betroth yourself? GLYCINE. Because My own dear lady wish'd it! 'twas you ask'd me! SAROLTA. Yes, at my Lord's request, but never wish'd, My poor affectionate girl, to see thee wretched. Thou know'st not yet the duties of a wife. GLYCINE. Oh, yes! It is a wife's chief duty, madam, SAROLTA. Not with fear, I think, For you still mock him. Bring a seat from the cottage. [Exit GLYCINE into the cottage, SAROLTA continues her speech, looking after her. Something above thy rank there hangs about thee, And in thy countenance, thy voice, and motion, LASKA. And moreover SAROLTA (to the Servants who offer to speak). OLD BATHORY. I know not: But if no ill betide him on the mountains, He will not long be absent! SAROLTA. Thou art his father? OLD BATHORY. None ever with more reason prized a son: My tale is brief. During our festive dance, Offer'd gross insults, in unmanly sort, To our village maidens. He (could he do less?) SAROLTA. Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect To the livery of our house? LASKA (aside). Yes, now 'tis coming. SAROLTA. Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards, OLD BATHORY. Ha! what, strangers* here! I have yet another tale, but- [Then to SAROLTA aside. SAROLTA. Old man! you talk I oft have pass'd your cottage, and still praised OLD BATHORY. Even such respect As the sheep's skin should gain for the hot wolf That hath begun to worry the lambs! Old insolent ruffian! LASKA. GLYCINE. poor Pardon pardon, madam! I saw the whole affray. The good old man Means no offence, sweet lady!-You, yourself, Laska! know well, that these men were the ruffians! Shame on you! SAROLTA (speaks with affected anger). What! Glycine! Go, retire! [Exit GLYCINE, mournfully. Be it then that these men faulted. Yet yourself, Or better still belike the maidens' parents, Might have complain'd to us. Was ever access Denied you? Or free audience? Or are we Weak and unfit to punish our own servants? OLD BATHORY. [BATHORY bowing, shows her into his cottage LASKA (alone). Vexation! baffled! school'd! Oh the false witch! It is too plain, she loves him [LASKA flings himself into the seat. GLYCINE GLYCINE. Laska! Laska! Is my lady gone? LASKA (surlily). Gone. So then! So then! Heaven grant an old man patience! Is he return'd? And must the gardener leave his seedling plants, Leave his young roses to the rooting swine, While he goes ask their master, if perchance GLYCINE. Have you yet seen him? [LASKA starts up from his seat Has the seat stung you, Laska? LASKA. His leisure serve to scourge them from their ravage? No! serpent! no; 'tis you that sting me; you! LASKA. Ho! Take the rude clown from your lady's presence! I will report her further will! SAROLTA. Wait, then, Till thou hast learnt it! Feryent, good old man! Hence! leave my presence! and you, Laska! mark me! Those rioters are no longer of my household! What! you would cling to him again! GLYCINE. Whom? LASKA. Bethlen! Bethlen! Yes; gaze as if your very eyes embraced him! GLYCINE. Your fears, at least, Were real, Laska! or your trembling limbs And white cheeks play'd the hypocrites most vilely! Refers to the tear, which he fees starting in his eye. The following line was borrowed unconsciously from Mr. Wor worth's Excursion. I fear! whom? What? LASKA. GLYCINE. Were I in Laska's place. LASKA. You dare own all this? Your lady will not warrant promise-breach. I know, what I should fear, Mine, pamper'd Miss! you shall be; and I'll make LASKA. What? GLYCINE. Ha! Bethlen coming this way! [GLYCINE then cries out as if afraid of being beaten Oh, save me! save me! Pray don't kill me, Laska! Enter BETHLEN in a Hunting Dress. What, beat a woman! BETHLEN. LASKA (to GLYCINE). O you cockatrice! BETHLEN. [Going. Unmanly dastard, hold! Stop! stop! one question only GLYCINE. Ay, as the old song says, Calm as a tiger, valiant as a dove. LASKA (pompously). Do you chance to know Who-I-am, Sir?-(S'death how black he looks') BETHLEN. I have started many strange beasts in my time, But none less like a man, than this before me Nay now, I have marr'd the verse: well! this one That lifts his hand against a timid female. Why press'd you forward? Why did you defend him? Yes, I do, Bethlen; for he just now brought Oh! that's a different thing. To be sure he's brave, and handsome, and so pious To his good old father. But for loving himNay, there, indeed you are mistaken, Laska! Poor youth! I rather think I grieve for him; For I sigh so deeply when I think of him! And if I see him, the tears come in my eyes, And my heart beats; and all because I dreamt That the war-wolf* had gored him as he hunted In the haunted forest! Not for me, Glycine! Rash words, 'tis said, and treasonous, of the king. [BETHLEN retires. BETHLEN (who had overheard the last few words, now Enter from the Cottage SAROLTA and BATHORY. SAROLTA. Go, seek your son! I need not add, be speedyYou here, Glycine? [Exit BATHORY. GLYCINE. Pardon, pardon, Madam! If you but saw the old man's son, you would not, You could not have him harm'd. rushes out). SAROLTA. Be calin, Glycine! GLYCINE. [Sobbing. GLYCINE. Rise, Bethlen! Rise! No, I shall break my heart. SAROLTA (taking her hand). Ha! is it so? O strange and hidden power of sympathy, GLYCINE. Old Bathory SAROLTA. Seeks his brave son. Come, wipe away thy tears. Yes, in good truth, Glycine, this same Bethlen Seems a most noble and deserving youth. GLYCINE. My lady does not mock me? SAROLTA. Where is Laska? Has he not told thee? GLYCINE. Nothing. In his fearAnger, I mean-stole off-I am so flutter'd Left me abruptly SAROLTA, His shame excuses him! He is somewhat hardly task'd; and in discharging GLYCINE. The saints bless you! Shame on my graceless heart! How dared I fear Lady Sarolta could be cruel' To roam there in my childhood oft alone, GLYCINE. Madam, that wood is haunted by the war-wolves, Vampires, and monstrous SAROLTA (with a smile). Moon-calves, credulous girl In the hollow of an old oak, as in a nest, The robe, that wrapt thee, was a widow's mantle. BETHLEN. An infant's weakness doth relax my frame. O say-I fear to ask That strain'd towards the babe. At length one arm To that appointed place, which I must seek: Painfully from her own weight disengaging, She pointed first to Heaven, then from her bosom Drew forth a golden casket. Thus entreated Thy foster-father took thee in his arms, Or else she were my mother! SAROLTA. Noble youth! From me fear nothing! Long time have I owed And, kneeling, spake: If aught of this world's com- Offerings of expiation for misdeeds fort Can reach thy heart, receive a poor man's troth, Her countenance work'd, as one that seem'd preparing A loud voice, but it died upon her lips In a faint whisper, "Fly! Save him! Hide-hide all!" BETHLEN. And did he leave her? What! Had I a mother? GLYCINE. Alas! thou art bewilder'd, And dost forget thou wert a helpless infant! BETHLEN. What else can I remember, but a mother Mangled and left to perish? SAROLTA. Hush, Glycine! It is the ground-swell of a teeming instinct: Let it but lift itself to air and sunshine, And it will find a mirror in the waters, It now makes boil above it. Check him not! BETHLEN. O that I were diffused among the waters Long pass'd that weigh me down, though innocent! Beseems thy years! Be thou henceforth my soldier! That in each noble deed, achieved or suffer'd, And may the light that streams from thine own honor Guide thee to that thou seekest! |