whose under-garlandOf laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling
Thro’ the grey olive-branch; if these, Prince Emerick!
Give the true title to the throne, not thou — 395
No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy
Be judge and arbiter between us!) I,
I were the rightful sovereign!
Emerick. I have faith
That thou both think’st and hop’st it. Fair Zapolya,
A provident lady —
Raab Kiuprili. Wretch beneath all answer! 400
Emerick. Offers at once the royal bed and throne!
Raab Kiuprili. To be a kingdom’s bulwark, a king’s glory,
Yet loved by both, and trusted, and trust-worthy,
Is more than to be king; but see! thy rage
Fights with thy fear. I will relieve thee!
Ho! [To the Guard. 405
Emerick. Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian!
Thus long I have listened — Guard — ho! from the Palace.
[The Guard post from the Guard-house with CHEF RAGOZZI
at their head, and then a number from the
Palace — CHEF RAGOZZI demands KIUPRILI’S sword, and
apprehends him.
Casimir. O agony! [To EMERICK.
Sire, hear me!
[To KIUPRILI, who turns from him.
Hear me, father!
Emerick. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin!
Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign’s. 410
Raab Kiuprili. As the Co-regent of the Realm, I stand
Amenable to none save to the States
Met in due course of law. But ye are bond-slaves,
Yet witness ye that before God and man
I here impeach Lord Emerick of foul treason, 415
And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion
Of murder —
Emerick. Hence with the madman!
Raab Kiuprili. Your Queen’s murder,
The royal orphan’s murder: and to the death
Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper.
[Hurried off by RAGOZZI and the Guard.
Emerick. Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre 420
This insolence shall be avenged.
Casimir. O banish him!
This infamy will crush me. O for my sake,
Banish him, my liege lord!
Emerick. What? to the army?
Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger.
The child o’erpowers the man. In this emergence 425
I must take counsel for us both. Retire. [Exit CASIMIR.
Emerick (alone, looks at a Calendar). The changeful planet, now
in her decay,
Dips down at midnight, to be seen no more.
With her shall sink the enemies of Emerick,
Cursed by the last look of the waning moon: 430
And my bright destiny, with sharpened horns,
Shall greet me fearless in the newborn crescent. [Exit.
Scene changes to the back of the Palace — a Wooded Park, and Mountains.
Enter ZAPOLYA, with an infant in arms.
Zapolya. Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee!
Thou, the protector of the helpless! Thou,
The widow’s husband and the orphan’s father, 435
Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down
Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother,
Driven forth into the cruel wilderness!
Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar’s offspring: thou art
The rightful heir of an anointed king! 440
What sounds are those? It is the vesper chaunt
Of labouring men returning to their home!
Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father!
And let this darkness ——
Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings 445
To hide and shield us! Start’st thou in thy slumbers?
Thou canst not dream of savage Emerick. Hush!
Betray not thy poor mother! For if they seize thee
I shall grow mad indeed, and they’ll believe
Thy wicked uncle’s lie. Ha! what? A soldier? 450
[Enter CHEF RAGOZZI.
Chef Ragozzi. Sure Heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped!
O rare tune of a tyrant’s promises
That can enchant the serpent treachery
From forth its lurking hole in the heart. ‘Ragozzi!
O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?’ 455
And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing!
Merely to play the underling in the murder
Of my best friend Kiuprili! His own son — monstrous!
Tyrant! I owe thee thanks, and in good hour
Will I repay thee, for that thou thought’st me too 460
A serviceable villain. Could I now
