To a maiden's eye familiarized to licence.— Laska (aside). Yes, now 'tis coming. Sarolta. Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards, Old Bathory. Ha! what strangers here! [Then to SAROLTA aside. not for all ears! Sarolta. I oft have passed your cottage, and still praised Its beauty, and that trim orchard-plot, whose blossoms The gusts of April showered aslant its thatch. Come, you shall show it me! And, while you bid it Farewell, be not ashamed that I should witness The oil of gladness glittering on the water Of an ebbing grief. 170 [BATHORY shows her into his cottage. Laska (alone). Vexation! baffled! school'd! Oh the false witch! It is too plain, she loves him. 175 [LASKA Alings himself into the seat. GLYCINE peeps in. Glycine. Laska! Laska! 1 This line was borrowed unconsciously from the Excursion. ['Why should a tear be in an old man's eye?' Excursion, Bk. I, 1. 598 (1814).] Refers (i. e. 'strangers' in 1. 163) to the tears which he feels starting in his eye. The following line was borrowed from Mr. Wordsworth's Excursion. 1817, 1828, 1829. 174 Of an ebbing grief. [BATHORY bowing, shows, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829, 179 She'll see... .. hourly. [LASKA... peeps in timidly. 1817, 1828, 1829. 180 Laska (surlily). Gone. 1817, 1828, 1829. Glycine. Is he returned? 180 [LASKA starts up. Have you yet seen him? Has the seat stung you, Laska? Laska. No, serpent! no; 'tis you that sting me; you! What! you would cling to him again? Glycine. Laska. Whom? Bethlen! Bethlen! 185 Yes; gaze as if your very eyes embraced him! Mute ere he came, but then-Out on your screams, Glycine. Your fears, at least. Were real, Laska! or your trembling limbs And white cheeks played the hypocrites most vilely! Laska. I fear! whom? what? 190 I know what I should fear, My own conscience, For having fed my jealousy and envy Laska. You will know too soon. 195 Glycine. Would I could find my lady! though she chid me Nay now, I have marred the verse: well! this one questionLaska. Are you not bound to me by your own promise? And is it not as plain Glycine. Halt! that's two questions. Laska. Pshaw! Is it not as plain as impudence, That you're in love with this young swaggering beggar, 205 Bethlen Bathory? When he was accused, Why pressed you forward? Why did you defend him? 181 Is he returned? [LASKA starts up from his seat. 1817, 1828, 1829. 188 Your 1817, 1828, 1829. 191 I should] I should 1817, 1828, 1829. 207 you: you 1817, 196 Laska (malignantly). You, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829. 1828, 1829. Glycine. Question meet question: that's a woman's privilege, Why, Laska, did you urge Lord Casimir To make my lady force that promise from me? I'd keep them all for my dear, kind, good mistress. Glycine. Laska. You dare own all this? Your lady will not warrant promise-breach. 210 215 220 225 Mine, pampered Miss! you shall be; and I'll make you 230 [Makes threatening signs. Glycine (aside). Ha! Bethlen coming this way! [GLYCINE then cries out. Oh, save me! save me! Pray don't kill me, Laska! Enter BETHLEN in a Hunting Dress. Bethlen. What, beat a woman! Laska (to Glycine). O you cockatrice! Do you chance to know 235 Bethlen. Unmanly dastard, hold! Who-I-am, Sir?-('Sdeath! how black he looks!) 1 For the best account of the War-wolf or Lycanthropus, see Drayton's Moon-calf, Chalmers' English Poets, vol. iv, p. 133. 211 forced 1817, 1828, 1829. 222 there 1817, 1828, 1829. 221 loving 223 grieve 1817, 1828, 209 you 1817, 1828, 1829. 1817, 1828, 1829. 1829. 1828, 1829. Before 233 [GLYCINE then cries out as if afraid of being beaten. 1817, 235 Laska (pompously). Do you, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829. Bethlen. I have started many strange beasts in my time, But none less like a man, than this before me That lifts his hand against a timid female. Laska. Bold youth! she's mine. No, not my master yet, 240 But only is to be; and all, because I promised her, not him; and if she'll let me, Bethlen. Hush, Glycine! Glycine. Yes, I do, Bethlen; for he just now brought 245 False witnesses to swear away your life: Your life, and old Bathory's too. Bethlen. Bathory's! Where is my father? Answer, or-Ha! gone! [LASKA during this time retires from the Stage. Glycine. Oh, heed not him! I saw you pressing onward, And did but feign alarm. It is your life they seek! Bethlen. Glycine. Lady Sarolta even Bethlen. Dear gallant youth, My life? Alas, She does not know me! 250 Glycine. Oh that she did! she could not then have spoken With such stern countenance. But though she spurn me, I will kneel, Bethlen Not for me, Glycine! 255 Bethlen. What have I done? or whom have I offended? Glycine. Rash words, 'tis said, and treasonous of the king. [BETHLEN mutters to himself. Glycine (aside). So looks the statue, in our hall, o' the god, The shaft just flown that killed the serpent! King! Bethlen. As you did us. And I, too, should not then Grieve for you, Bethlen, as I do; nor have 241 is 1817, 1828, 1829. 260 243 her: him: she'll 1817, 1828, 1829, 249 him 1817, 1828, 1829. After 248 [LASKA during this time slinks off the Stage, using threatening gestures to GLYCINE. 1817, 1828, 1829. 25 your After 257 [BETHLEN mutters to himself indignantly. 265 The tears come in my eyes; nor dream bad dreams 270 Enter from the Cottage SAROLTA and BATHORY. Sarolta. Go, seek your son! I need not add, be speedy— 275 You here, Glycine? Exit BATHORY. Glycine. Pardon, pardon, Madam! Sarolta. Be calm, Glycine! Glycine. No, I shall break my heart. Ha! is it so? 280 O strange and hidden power of sympathy, Dost make blind instincts, orphan's heart to orphan's 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. Sarolta. Has he not told thee? Glycine. 285 Where is Laska? Nothing. In his fear Anger, I mean-stole off-I am so fluttered- Sarolta. His shame excuses him! He is somewhat hardly tasked; and in discharging Bathory and the youth henceforward live Glycine. The saints bless you! 290 279 Glycine. No... heart. [Sobbing. Sarolta (taking her hand). Ha! &c. 1817, 1828, 1829. |