Of a base, braggart lie? It must have been
Her spirit that appeared to me. But haply
I come too late? It has itself delivered
Its own commission to you?

Old Bathory.

"Tis most likely!

And the ghost doubtless vanished, when we entered
And found brave Laska staring wide-at nothing!

170

Laska. "Tis well! You've ready wits! I shall report them, With all due honour, to his Majesty!

.

Treasure them up, I pray! A certain person,
Whom the king flatters with his confidence,
Tells you, his royal friend asks startling questions!
'Tis but a hint! And now what says the ghost!

176

180

Bethlen. Listen! for thus it spake: 'Say thou to Laska,
Glycine, knowing all thy thoughts engrossed
In thy new office of king's fool and knave,
Foreseeing thou'lt forget with thine own hand

To make due penance for the wrongs thou'st caused her, 185
For thy soul's safety, doth consent to take it
From Bethlen's cudgel'-thus.

[Beats him off.

Off! scoundrel! off!

[LASKA runs away.

Old Bathory. The sudden swelling of this shallow dastard Tells of a recent storm: the first disruption

Of the black cloud that hangs and threatens o'er us.
Bethlen. E'en this reproves my loitering.
The oratory?

Old Bathory. Ascend yon flight of stairs!
Midway the corridor a silver lamp

190

Say where lies

Hangs o'er the entrance of Sarolta's chamber,
And facing it, the low arched oratory!

195

Me thou'lt 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!

Bethlen. There I will meet you! And till then good-night! Dear good old man, good-night!

Old Bathory.

O yet one moment!

What I repelled, 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,

201

205

174 brave 1817, 1828, 1829. 181-7'Say thou... cudgel' 1817, 1828, 1829.

Bethlen!-say Father' to me!

Bethlen.

Now, and for ever

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!
Bathory. Go! Go!

210

[Exit BETHLEN. May every star now shining over us, Be as an angel's eye, to watch and guard him! [Exit BATHORY.

Scene changes to a splendid Bed-chamber, hung with tapestry.
SAROLTA and an Attendant.

Attendant. We all did love her, madam!
Sarolta.

Luckless Glycine! rash, unhappy girl!
'Twas the first time she e'er deceived me.

She deserved it!

215

221

Attendant. She was in love, and had she not died thus, With grief for Bethlen's loss, and fear of Laska, She would have pined herself to death at home. Sarolta. Has the youth's father come back from his search? Attendant. He never will, I fear me. O dear lady! That Laska did so triumph o'er the old manIt was quite cruel-'You'll be sure,' said he, 'To meet with part at least of your son Bethlen, Or the war-wolf must have a quick digestion! Go! Search the wood by all means! Go! I pray you!' Sarolta. Inhuman wretch!

Attendant.

And old Bathory answered

With a sad smile, 'It is a witch's prayer,

225

And may Heaven read it backwards.' Though she was rash. "Twas a small fault for such a punishment!

Sarolta. Nay! 'twas my grief, and not my anger spoke. Small fault indeed! but leave me, my poor girl!

I feel a weight that only prayer can lighten.

O they were innocent, and yet have perished

230

[Exit Attendant.

212 Bathory. Go! Go! [BETHLEN breaks off and exit. BATHORY looks affec tionately after him. 1817, 1828, 1829. After 213 Scene changes... tapestry. SAROLTA in an elegant Night Dress, and an Attendant. 1817, 1828, 1829. 223-6 'You'll be sure,' said he, 'To meet with PART... 228-9 It is... backwards.' 1817, 1828, 1829.

1828, 1829.

1817, 1828, 1829,

pray you!

1877. 234 thrg

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 punished,
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, unsheltered!
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,
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 wronged Kiuprili be appeased. But only,
Only, O merciful in vengeance! let not
That plague turn inward on my Casimir's soul!
Scare thence the fiend Ambition, and restore him
To his own heart! O save him! Save my husband!

235

240

245

250

255

[During the latter part of this speech EMERICK comes forward from his hiding-place. SAROLTA seeing him, without recognizing him.

In such a shape a father's curse should come.

Emerick (advancing). Fear not.

Sarolta.

260

Who art thou? Robber? Traitor?

Emerick.

Friend!

Who in good hour hath startled these dark fancies,
Rapacious traitors, that would fain depose

Joy, love, and beauty, from their natural thrones:
Those lips, those angel eyes, that regal forehead.

265

Sarolta. Strengthen me, Heaven! I must not seem afraid!

[Aside.

The king to-night then deigns to play the masker.
What seeks your Majesty?

Emerick.

Sarolta's love;

And Emerick's power lies prostrate at her feet.

257 soul 1817, 1828, 1829.

Sarolta. Heaven guard the sovereign's power from s

debasement!

Far rather, Sire, let it descend in vengeance

On the base villain, 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!

Emerick.
Chiefly from me.
Has he not like an ingrate robbed my court
Of Beauty's star, and kept my heart in darkness?
First then on him I will administer justice-
If not in mercy, yet in love and rapture.

Sarolta. Help! Treason! Help!

Emerick.

Here's none can hear you!

Sarolta.

[Seizes her

Call louder! Scream again

Hear me, hear me, Heaven!

Emerick. 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!

Sarolta. Yet, yet for one brief moment
Unhand me, I conjure you.

Emerick.

[Struggling

[She throws him off, and rushes towards a toilet. EMERICK follows, and as she takes a dagger, he grasps it in her

hand.

Ha! Ha! a dagger:

A seemly ornament for a lady's casket!

"Tis held, devotion is akin to love,

But yours is tragic! Love in war! It charms me,
And makes your beauty worth a king's embraces!

[During this speech BETHLEN enters armed. Bethlen. Ruffian, forbear! Turn, turn and front my sword!

Emerick. Pish! who is this?

Sarolta.

O sleepless eye of Heaven! 296

A blest, a blessed spirit! Whence camest thou?

May I still call thee Bethlen?

Bethlen.

Ever, lady,

272 villain] ingrate 1817, 1828, 1829.

And coward! That thy devilish purpose marks thee!
What else, this lady must instruct my sword!

300

Sarolta. Monster, retire! O touch him not, thou blest one This is the hour that fiends and damnéd spirits Do walk the earth, and take what form they list! Yon devil hath assumed a king's!

Bethlen.

Usurped it!

305

Emerick. The king will play the devil with thee indeed! But that I mean to hear thee howl on the rack, I would debase this sword, and lay thee prostrate At this thy paramour's feet; then drag her forth Stained with adulterous blood, and

-mark you, Strumpeted first, then turned adrift to beggary! Thou prayed'st for❜t too.

Sarolta.

310

traitress!

Thou art so fiendish wicked,

That in thy blasphemies I scarce hear thy threats!

Bethlen. Lady, be calm! fear not this king of the buskin!

A king? Oh laughter! A king Bajazet!
That from some vagrant actor's tiring-room,
Hath stolen at once his speech and crown!

Emerick.

Ah! treason!

Thou hast been lessoned and tricked 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!

316

320

[BETHLEN seizes EMERICK'S hand and eagerly observes the signet.

Bethlen. It must be so! 'Tis e'en the counterpart! But with a foul usurping cypher on it!

The light hath flashed from Heaven, and I must follow it!

O curst usurper! O thou brother-murderer!

That mad'st a star-bright queen a fugitive widow.
Who fill'st the land with curses, being thyself

All curses in one tyrant! see and tremble!

300 me 1817.

326

311 Stained with adulterous blood, and- [Then to Sarolta. 1817, 1828, 1829. After 322 [EMERICK points his hand haughtily towards BETHLEN, who catching a sight of the signet, seizes his hand and eagerly observes the signet, then flings the hand back with indignant joy. 1817, 1828, 1829.