As dreadful as the storm-fire from mine arms-
I can scarce raise it now-yet come, fell tyrant !
And bring with thee my shame and bitter anguish,
To end his work and thine! Kiuprili now

Can take the death-blow as a soldier should.
Re-enter BATHORY, with the dead body of

Pestalutz.

OLD BATHORY.

Poor tool and victim of another's guilt!
Thou follow'st heavily: a reluctant weight!
Good truth, it is an undeserved honour
That in Zapolya and Kiuprili's cave

A wretch like thee should find a burial-place.

[Then observing Kiuprili.

'Tis he!-In Andreas' and Zapolya's name

Follow me, reverend form? Thou needst not speak, For thou can'st be no other than Kiuprili!

I doubt it not; but haste, haste, I conjure you !

[As he retires, in rushes Casimir

Is this the place where Emerick's murderers lurk?
Say where is he that, tricked in this disguise,
First lured me on, then scared my dastard followers?
Thou must have seen him. Say where is th' assassin ?
OLD BATHORY (pointing to the body of
Pestalutz).

There lies the assassin! slain by that same sword
That was descending on his curst employer,
When entering thou beheld'st Sarolta rescued!

CASIMIR.

Strange providence! what then was he who fled me? [Bathory points to the Cavern, whence Kiuprili advances.

Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man! Would thy hand point me?

OLD BATHORY.

Casimir, to thy father.

CASIMIR (discovering Kiuprili).

The curse! the curse! Open and swallow me,

Unsteady earth! Fall, dizzy rocks! and hide me! OLD BATHORY (to Kiuprili).

Speak, speak my lord!

KIUPRILI (holds out the sword to Bathory).

Bid him fulfil his work!

CASIMIR.

Thou art Heaven's immediate minister, dread spirit! O for sweet mercy, take some other form,

And save me from perdition and despair!

He lives!.

OLD BATHORY.

CASIMIR.

Lives! A father's curse can never die !

KIUPRILI (in a tone of pity).

O Casimir! Casimir!

OLD BATHORY.

Look! he doth forgive you !

Hark! 'tis the tyrant's voice.

[Emerick's voice without.

CASIMIR.

I kneel, I kneel!

Retract thy curse! O, by my mother's ashes,

Have pity on thy self-abhorring child!

If not for me, yet for my innocent wife,

Yet for my country's sake, give my arm strength,
Permitting me again to call thee father!

2

KIUPRILI.

Son, I forgive thee! Take thy father's sword; When thou shalt lift it in thy country's cause, In that same instant doth thy father bless thee! [Kiuprili and Casimir embrace; they all retire to the Cavern supporting Kiuprili. Casimir as by accident drops his robe, and Bathory throws it over the body of Pestalutz.

EMERICK (entering).

Fools! Cowards! follow-or by Hell I'll make you
Find reason to fear Emerick, more than all
The mummer-fiends that ever masqueraded
As gods or wood-nymphs !- [Then sees the body
of Pestalutz, covered by Casimir's cloak.

Ha! 'tis done then!

Our necessary villain hath proved faithful,
And there lies Casimir, and our last fears!
Well!-Aye, well!—

And is it not well? For though grafted on us,
And filled too with our sap, the deadly power
Of the parent poison-tree, lurked in its fibres :
There was too much of Raab Kiuprili in him :
The old enemy looked at me in his face,
E'en when his words did flatter me with duty.
[As Emerick moves towards the body, enter from the
Cavern CASIMIR and BATHORY.