And what hath Laska told thee?
Glycine. Three days past
A courier from the king did cross that wood;
A wilful man, that armed himself on purpose:
And never hath been heard of from that time! 465
[Sound of horns without.
Sarolta. Hark! dost thou hear it!
Glycine. ‘Tis the sound of horns!
Our huntsmen are not out!
Sarolta. Lord Casimir
Would not come thus! [Horns again.
Glycine. Still louder!
Sarolta. Haste we hence!
For I believe in part thy tale of terror!
But, trust me, ‘tis the inner man transformed: 470
Beasts in the shape of men are worse than war-wolves.
[SAROLTA and GLYCINE exeunt. Trumpets, &c. louder. Enter
EMERICK, LORD RUDOLPH, LASKA, and Huntsmen and
Attendants.
Rudolph. A gallant chase, sire.
Emerick. Aye, but this new quarry
That we last started seems worth all the rest.
[then to Laska.
And you — excuse me — what’s your name?
Laska. Whatever
Your majesty may please.
Emerick. Nay, that’s too late, man. 475
Say, what thy mother and thy godfather
Were pleased to call thee.
Laska. Laska, my liege sovereign.
Emerick. Well, my liege subject, Laska! And you are
Lord Casimir’s steward?
Laska. And your majesty’s creature.
Emerick. Two gentle dames made off at our approach. 480
Which was your lady?
Laska My liege lord, the taller.
The other, please your grace, is her poor handmaid,
Long since betrothed to me. But the maid’s froward —
Yet would your grace but speak —
Emerick. Hum, master steward!
I am honoured with this sudden confidence. 485
Lead on. [to Laska, then to Rudolph.
Lord Rudolph, you’ll announce our coming.
Greet fair Sarolta from me, and entreat her
To be our gentle hostess. Mark, you add
How much we grieve, that business of the state
Hath forced us to delay her lord’s return. 490
Lord Rudolph (aside). Lewd, ingrate tyrant! Yes, I will announce
thee.
Emerick. Now onward all. [Exeunt attendants.
A fair one, by my faith!
If her face rival but her gait and stature,
My good friend Casimir had his reasons too.
‘Her tender health, her vow of strict retirement, 495
Made early in the convent — His word pledged—’
All fictions, all! fictions of jealousy.
Well! If the mountain move not to the prophet,
The prophet must to the mountain! In this Laska
There’s somewhat of the knave mixed up with dolt. 500
Through the transparence of the fool, methought,
I saw (as I could lay my finger on it)
The crocodile’s eye, that peered up from the bottom.
This knave may do us service. Hot ambition
Won me the husband. Now let vanity 505
And the resentment for a forced seclusion
Decoy the wife! Let him be deemed the aggressor
Whose cunning and distrust began the game! [Exit.
ACT II
SCENE I
A savage wood. At one side a cavern, overhung with ivy. ZAPOLYA and
RAAB KIUPRILI discovered: both, but especially the latter, in rude and
savage garments.
Raab Kiuprili. Heard you then aught while I was slumbering?
Zapolya. Nothing.
Only your face became convulsed. We miserable!
Is heaven’s last mercy fled? Is sleep grown treacherous?
Raab Kiuprili. O for a sleep, for sleep itself to rest in!
I dream’d I had met with food beneath a tree, 5
And I was seeking you, when all at once
My feet became entangled in a net:
Still more entangled as in rage I tore it.
At length I freed myself, had sight of you,
But as I hastened eagerly, again 10
I found my frame encumbered: a huge serpent
Twined round my chest, but tightest round my throat.
Zapolya. Alas! ‘twas lack of food: for hunger chokes!
Raab Kiuprili. And
