Dropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly,Took no food with him — only his arms and boar-spear! 95
What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine,
Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest?
Raab Kiuprili (unseen). Leave them and flee!
Glycine (shrieks, then recovering.) Where are you?
Raab Kiuprili (still unseen.) Leave them!
Glycine. ‘Tis Glycine!
Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice! 100
All silent! — If this were the war-wolf’s den!
‘Twas not his voice! —
[GLYCINE leaves the provisions, and exit. KIUPRILI comes
forward, seizes them and carries them into the
cavern. GLYCINE returns.
Glycine. Shame! Nothing hurt me!
If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs
Speak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst and hoarseness!
Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St — St —— No — Bethlen! 105
If I turn back and he should be found dead here,
[She creeps nearer and nearer to the cavern.
I should go mad! — Again!—’Twas my own heart!
Hush, coward heart! better beat loud with fear,
Than break with shame and anguish!
[As she approaches to enter the cavern, KIUPRILI stops
her. GLYCINE shrieks.
Saints protect me!
Raab Kiuprili. Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears — 110
Glycine. Save me!
Raab Kiuprili. Swear secrecy and silence!
Glycine. I swear!
Raab Kiuprili. Tell what thou art, and what thou seekest?
Glycine. Only
A harmless orphan youth, to bring him food —
Raab Kiuprili. Wherefore in this wood?
Glycine. Alas! it was his purpose —
Raab Kiuprili. With what intention came he? Would’st thou save
him, 115
Hide nothing!
Glycine. Save him! O forgive his rashness!
He is good, and did not know that thou wert human!
Raab Kiuprili. Human?
With what design?
Glycine. To kill thee, or
If that thou wert a spirit, to compel thee
By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, 120
To make disclosure of his parentage.
But most of all —
Zapolya (rushing out from the cavern). Heaven’s blessing on thee!
Speak!
Glycine. Whether his mother live, or perished here!
Zapolya. Angel of mercy, I was perishing
And thou did’st bring me food: and now thou bring’st 125
The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation
To a mother’s famished heart! His name, sweet maiden!
Glycine. E’en till this morning we were wont to name him
Bethlen Bathory!
Zapolya. Even till this morning?
This morning? when my weak faith failed me wholly! 130
Pardon, O thou that portion’st out our sufferance,
And fill’st again the widow’s empty cruse!
Say on!
Glycine. The false ones charged the valiant youth
With treasonous words of Emerick —
Zapolya. Ha! my son!
Glycine. And of Lord Casimir —
Raab Kiuprili (aside). O agony! my son! 135
Glycine. But my dear lady —
Zapolya and Raab Kiuprili. Who?
Glycine. Lady Sarolta
Frowned and discharged these bad men.
Raab Kiuprili (to himself). Righteous Heaven
Sent me a daughter once, and I repined
That it was not a son. A son was given me.
My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear: 140
And lo! that son became my curse and infamy.
Zapolya (embraces Glycine). Sweet innocent! and you came here to
seek him,
And bring him food. Alas! thou fear’st?
Glycine. Not much!
My own dear lady, when I was a child,
Embraced me oft, but her heart never beat so. 145
For I too am an orphan, motherless!
Raab Kiuprili (to Zapolya). O yet beware, lest hope’s brief flash
but deepen
The after gloom, and make the darkness stormy!
In that last conflict, following our escape,
The usurper’s cruelty had clogged our flight 150
With many a babe and many a childing mother.
This maid herself is one of numberless
Planks from the same vast wreck. [Then to GLYCINE again.
