O tempt me not, e'en with a wandering guess,
To break the first command a mother's will
Imposed, a mother's voice made known to me!
“Ask not, my son," said she, " our names or thine.
The shadow of the eclipse is passing off
The full orb of thy destiny! Already
The victor Crescent glitters forth, and sheds
O'er the yet lingering haze a phantom light.
Thou canst not hasten it! Leave then to Heaven
The work of Heaven: and with a silent spirit
Sympathize with the powers that work in silence!"
Thus spake she, and she look'd as she were then
Fresh from some heavenly vision!
At the next moment I beheld her running,
Wringing her hands with, Bethlen! O poor Bethlen!
I almost fear, the sudden noise I made,
Rushing impetuous through the brake, alarm'd her.
She stopt, then mad with fear, turn'd round and ran
Into the monster's gripe. One piteous scream
I heard. There was no second-I
We'll spare your modesty! Who dares not honor Laska's brave tongue, and high heroic fancy?
[Re-enter LASKA, not perceiving them. You too, Sir Knight, have come back safe and sound!
You play'd the hero at a cautious distance!
Or was it that you sent the poor girl forward
To stay the monster's stomach? Dainties quickly
Pall on the taste and cloy the appetite!
[Then observing BETHLEN, stands in idiot-affright. I must speak to it first-Put-put the question! I'll confess all! [Stammering with fear.
Laska, beware! Forget not what thou art!
Shouldst thou but dream thou 'rt valiant, cross thyself.
And ache all over at the dangerous fancy!
What then! you swell upon my lady's favor,
High lords, and perilous of one day's growth'
But other judges now sit on the bench!
And haply, Laska hath found audience there,
Where to defend the treason of a son
Might end in lifting up both Son and Father
Still higher; to a height from which indeed
You both may drop, but, spite of fate and fortune,
Will be secured from falling to the ground.
'Tis possible too, young man! that royal Emerick
At Laska's rightful suit, may make inquiry
By whom seduced, the maid so strangely missing-
If to yourself, being Lord Casimir's steward,
Soft! my good Laska! might it not suffice,
I should make record of Glycine's fate?
"Tis well! it shall content me! though your fear Has all the credit of these lower'd tones.
No nearer, pray! consider! First, we demand the manner of her death?
If it should prove his ghost, the touch would freeze me
To a tomb-stone. No nearer!
Nay! that's superfluous! Have you not just told us That you yourself, led by impetuous valor, Witness'd the whole? My tale's of later date.
Ascend yon flight of stairs!
Midway the corridor a silver lamp
Hangs o'er the entrance of Sarolta's chamber,
And facing it, the low-arch'd oratory!
Me thou 'It find watching at the outward gate :
For a petard might burst the bars, unheard
By the drenched porter, and Sarolta hourly
Expects Lord Casimir, spite of Emerick's message!
There I will meet you! And till then good night!
Dear good old man, good night!
O yet one moment!
What I repell'd, when it did seem my own,
I cling to, now 'tis parting-call me father!
It can not now mislead thee. O my son,
Ere yet our tongues have learnt another name,
Bethlen!-say-Father to me!
And old Bathory answer'd
With a sad smile, "It is a witch's prayer,
And may Heaven read it backwards." Though she
was rash,
'Twas a small fault for such a punishment!
Nay! 'twas my grief, and not my anger spoke.
Small fault indeed! but leave me, my good girl!
I feel a weight that only prayer can lighten.
[Exit Attendanı
O they were innocent, and yet have perish'd
In their May of life; and Vice grows old in triumph
Is it Mercy's hand, that for the bad man holds
Life's closing gate?————
Still passing thence petitionary hours
To woo the obdurate spirit to repentance?
Or would this chillness tell me, that there is
Guilt too enormous to be duly punish'd,
Save by increase of guilt? The Powers of Evil
Are jealous claimants. Guilt too hath its ordeal,
And Hell its own probation!--Merciful Heaven,
Rather than this, pour down upon thy suppliant
Disease, and agony, and comfortless want!
O send us forth to wander on, unshelter'd!
Make our food bitter with despised tears!
Let viperous scorn hiss at us as we pass!
Yea, let us sink down at our enemy's gate,
Now, and for ever And beg forgiveness and a morsel of bread!
With all the heaviest worldly visitations.
Let the dire father's curse that hovers o'er us
Work out its dread fulfilment, and the spirit
Of wrong'd Kiuprili be appeased. But only.
Only, O merciful in vengeance! let not
My father! other sire than thou, on earth
I never had, a dearer could not have!
From the base earth you raised me to your arms,
And I would leap from off a throne, and kneeling,
Ask Heaven's blessing from thy lips. My father!
Who in good hour hath startled these dark fancies, Your faithful soldier!
Rapacious traitors, that would fain depose
Joy, love, and beauty, from their natural thrones :
Those lips, those angel eyes, that regal forehead.
Strengthen me, Heaven! I must not seem afraid!
[Aside. The king to-night then deigns to play the masker. What seeks your Majesty?
And Emerick's power lies prostrate at her feet.
Heaven guard the sovereign's power from such de-
basement!
Far rather, Sire, let it descend in vengeance
On the base ingrate, on the faithless slave
Who dared unbar the doors of these retirements!
For whom? Has Casimir deserved this insult?
O my misgiving heart! If-if-from Heaven
Yet not from you, Lord Emerick!
Thou prayed'st for't too.
Of Beauty's star, and kept my heart in darkness!
First then on him I will administer justice-
Thou art so fiendish wicked,
If not in mercy, yet in love and rapture. [Seizes her. That in thy blasphemies I scarce hear thy threats.
Lady, be calm! fear not this king of the buskin!
A king? Oh laughter! A king Bajazet!
That from some vagrant actor's tyring-room,
Call louder! Scream again! Hath stolen at once his speech and crown!
Here's none can hear you!
Hear me, hear me, Heaven! Thou hast been lesson'd and trick'd up for this!
As surely as the wax on thy death-warrant
Shall take the impression of this royal signet,
So plain thy face hath ta'en the mask of rebel!
[EMERICK points his hand haughtily towards BETH-
Nay, why this rage? Who best deserves you? Casimir,
Emerick's bought implement, the jealous slave
That mews you up with bolts and bars? or Emerick,
Who proffers you a throne? Nay, mine you shall be.
Hence with this fond resistance! Yield; then live
This month a widow, and the next a queen!
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.
The king disarm'd too by a stranger! Speak!
What
may this mean?
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
This sudden and most fortunate arrival.
As the word proves false or true, Will Casimir cross the hunt, or join the huntsmen!
The event redeem'd their pledge?
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!
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?
My lord! my husband! look whose sword lies yonder!
[Pointing to the sword which BETHLEN had been As evidence of their mutual guilt: in fine,
disarmed of by the Attendants.
It is Kiuprili's; Casimir, 'tis thy father's!
And wielded by a stripling's arm, it baffled,
O he received it
With cozening warmth condoled with, and dismiss'd
Yea, fell like Heaven's own lightnings on that Tar-I enter'd as the door was closing on you:
His eye was fix'd, yet seem'd to follow you,
With such a look of hate, and scorn and triumph,
[In an under voice. As if he had you in the toils already,
And were then choosing where to stab you first.
But hush! draw back!
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
Curse-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-
Too hoarse for Bethlen's! 'T was his scheme and hope,
Long ere the hunters could approach the forest,
To have led you hence.-Retire.
In the cave's mouth we have such'vantage-ground
That even this old arm-
[Exeunt ZAPOLYA and BATHORY into the Cave.
Enter LASKA and PESTALUTZ.
Dastard! was this your promise to the king?
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