the queen:Heaven bless and guard her!
Zapolya (coming forward). Art thou not Ragozzi?
Chef Ragozzi. The Queen! Now then the miracle is full! 465
I see heaven’s wisdom is an overmatch
For the devil’s cunning. This way, madam, haste!
Zapolya. Stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong thee!
This is thy sovereign’s child: Oh, pity us,
And be not treacherous! [Kneeling.
Chef Ragozzi (raising her). Madam! For mercy’s sake! 470
Zapolya. But tyrants have a hundred eyes and arms!
Chef Ragozzi. Take courage, madam! ‘Twere too horrible,
(I can not do’t) to swear I’m not a monster! —
Scarce had I barr’d the door on Raab Kiuprili —
Zapolya. Kiuprili! How?
Chef Ragozzi. There is not time to tell it, — 475
The tyrant called me to him, praised my zeal —
(And be assured I overtopt his cunning
And seemed right zealous.) But time wastes: In fine,
Bids me dispatch my trustiest friends, as couriers
With letters to the army. The thought at once 480
Flashed on me. I disguised my prisoner —
Zapolya. What, Raab Kiuprili?
Chef Ragozzi. Yes! my noble general!
I sent him off, with Emerick’s own pacquet,
Haste, and post haste — Prepared to follow him ——
Zapolya. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear? My limbs seem sinking! — 485
Chef Ragozzi (supporting her). Heaven still befriends us. I have
left my charger,
A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy’s mule,
One that can shoot a precipice like a bird,
Just where the wood begins to climb the mountains.
The course we’ll thread will mock the tyrant’s guesses, 490
Or scare the followers. Ere we reach the main road
The Lord Kiuprili will have sent a troop
To escort me. Oh, thrice happy when he finds
The treasure which I convoy!
Zapolya. One brief moment,
That praying for strength I may have strength. This babe, 495
Heaven’s eye is on it, and its innocence
Is, as a prophet’s prayer, strong and prevailing!
Through thee, dear babe, the inspiring thought possessed me,
When the loud clamor rose, and all the palace
Emptied itself — (They sought my life, Ragozzi!) 500
Like a swift shadow gliding, I made way
To the deserted chamber of my lord. — [Then to the infant.
And thou didst kiss thy father’s lifeless lips,
And in thy helpless hand, sweet slumberer!
Still clasp’st the signet of thy royalty. 505
As I removed the seal, the heavy arm
Dropt from the couch aslant, and the stiff finger
Seemed pointing at my feet. Provident Heaven!
Lo, I was standing on the secret door,
Which, through a long descent where all sound perishes, 510
Led out beyond the palace. Well I knew it ——
But Andreas framed it not! He was no tyrant!
Chef Ragozzi. Haste, madam! Let me take this precious burden!
[He kneels as he takes the child.
Zapolya. Take him! And if we be pursued, I charge thee,
Flee thou and leave me! Flee and save thy king! 515
[Then as going off, she looks back on the palace.
Thou tyrant’s den, be called no more a palace!
The orphan’s angel at the throne of heaven
Stands up against thee, and there hover o’er thee
A Queen’s, a Mother’s, and a Widow’s curse.
Henceforth a dragon’s haunt, fear and suspicion 520
Stand sentry at thy portals! Faith and honour,
Driven from the throne, shall leave the attainted nation:
And, for the iniquity that houses in thee,
False glory, thirst of blood, and lust of rapine,
(Fateful conjunction of malignant planets) 525
Shall shoot their blastments on the land. The fathers
Henceforth shall have no joy in their young men,
And when they cry: Lo! a male child is born!
The mother shall make answer with a groan.
For bloody usurpation, like a vulture, 530
Shall clog its beak within Illyria’s heart.
Remorseless slaves of a remorseless tyrant,
They shall be mocked with sounds of liberty,
And liberty shall be proclaimed alone
To thee, O Fire! O Pestilence! O Sword! 535
Till Vengeance hath her fill. — And thou, snatched hence,
Poor friendless fugitive! with mother’s wailing,
Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return,
With trump and timbrel-clang, and popular shout,
In triumph to the palace of thy fathers! [Exeunt.
1828,
