have commencedA reign to which the free voice of the nobles 235
Hath called me, and the people, by regards
Of love and grace to Raab Kiuprili’s house?
Raab Kiuprili. What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow
them?
Emerick. By what right dares Kiuprili question me?
Raab Kiuprili. By a right common to all loyal subjects — 240
To me a duty! As the realm’s co-regent,
Appointed by our sovereign’s last free act,
Writ by himself. — [Grasping the Patent.
Emerick. Aye! — Writ in a delirium!
Raab Kiuprili. I likewise ask, by whose authority
The access to the sovereign was refused me? 245
Emerick. By whose authority dared the general leave
His camp and army, like a fugitive?
Raab Kiuprili. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade,
Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death!
A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements 250
To be belated in a loyal purpose —
At the command, Prince! of my king and thine,
Hither I came; and now again require
Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States
Forthwith convened) that thou dost shew at large, 255
On what ground of defect thou’st dared annul
This thy King’s last and solemn act — hast dared
Ascend the throne, of which the law had named,
And conscience should have made thee, a protector.
Emerick. A sovereign’s ear ill brooks a subject’s questioning! 260
Yet for thy past well-doing — and because
‘Tis hard to erase at once the fond belief
Long cherished, that Illyria had in thee
No dreaming priest’s slave, but a Roman lover
Of her true weal and freedom — and for this, too, 265
That, hoping to call forth to the broad daylight
And fostering breeze of glory all deservings,
I still had placed thee foremost.
Raab Kiuprili. Prince! I listen.
Emerick. Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya,
Maddened with grief, her erring hopes proved idle — 270
Casimir. Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her fraud detected!
Emerick. According to the sworn attests in council
Of her physician ——
Raab Kiuprili (aside). Yes! the Jew, Barzoni!
Emerick. Under the imminent risk of death she lies,
Or irrecoverable loss of reason, 275
If known friend’s face or voice renew the frenzy.
Casimir (to Kiuprili). Trust me, my lord! a woman’s trick has
duped you —
Us too — but most of all, the sainted Andreas.
Even for his own fair fame, his grace prays hourly
For her recovery, that (the States convened) 280
She may take counsel of her friends.
Emerick. Right, Casimir!
Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand
In her own will to appear and voice her claims;
Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course)
With all the past passed by, as family quarrels, 285
Let the Queen Dowager, with unblenched honours,
Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron.
Raab Kiuprili. Prince Emerick! you speak fairly, and your pledge
too
Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning.
Casimir. My lord! you scarce know half his grace’s goodness. 290
The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta,
Bred in the convent of our noble ladies,
Her relative, the venerable abbess,
Hath, at his grace’s urgence, wooed and won for me.
Emerick. Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, 295
Which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have rendered
Dear and illustrious to all true Illyrians.
Raab Kiuprili. The longest line that ever tracing herald
Or found or feigned, placed by a beggar’s soul
Hath but a mushroom’s date in the comparison: 300
And with the soul, the conscience is coeval,
Yea, the soul’s essence.
Emerick. Conscience, good my lord,
Is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience,
That a free nation should be handed down,
Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance 305
And the blind law of lineage? That whether infant,
Or man matured, a wise man or an idiot,
Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance
Of a free people’s destiny, should fall out
In the mere lottery of a reckless nature, 310
Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?
Or haply that a nation’s fate should hang
On
