O yet again, and with more clamorous prayer,I importune ye! Mock me no more with shadows!
This sable mantle — tell, dread voice! did this
Enwrap one fatherless!
Zapolya (unseen). One fatherless!
Bethlen. A sweeter voice! — A voice of love and pity! 225
Was it the softened echo of mine own?
Sad echo! but the hope it kill’d was sickly,
And ere it died it had been mourned as dead!
One other hope yet lives within my soul:
Quick let me ask! — while yet this stifling fear, 230
This stop of the heart, leaves utterance! — Are — are these
The sole remains of her that gave me life?
Have I a mother? [ZAPOLYA rushes out to embrace him.
Ha!
Zapolya. My son! my son!
A wretched — Oh no, no! a blest — a happy mother!
[They embrace. KIUPRILI and GLYCINE come forward and the
curtain drops.
[Before 90] Glycine (fearfully). 1817, 1828, 1829.
returns, having recovered herself. 1817, 1828, 1829.
[Before 118] Raab Kiuprili (repeats the word). 1817, 1828, 1829.
Human? [Then sternly.
1817, 1828, 1829.
Glycine. And of Lord Casimir —
Raab Kiuprili (aside). O agony! my son.
Erased [? by S. T. C. in copy of 1817.]
S. T. C. in copy of 1817].
[Before 225] Bethlen (starting). 1817, 1828, 1829.
[ZAPOLYA … him.
BETHLEN starts. Ha!
Zapolya (embracing him). My son, &c.
1817, 1828, 1829.
After 234 and stage directions. END OF ACT II. 1817.
ACT III
SCENE I
A stately room in LORD CASIMIR’S castle. Enter EMERICK and LASKA.
Emerick. I do perceive thou hast a tender conscience,
Laska, in all things that concern thine own
Interest or safety.
Laska. In this sovereign presence
I can fear nothing, but your dread displeasure.
Emerick. Perchance, thou think’st it strange, that I of all men 5
Should covet thus the love of fair Sarolta,
Dishonouring Casimir?
Laska. Far be it from me!
Your Majesty’s love and choice bring honour with them.
Emerick. Perchance, thou hast heard that Casimir is my friend,
Fought for me, yea, for my sake, set at nought 10
A parent’s blessing; braved a father’s curse?
Laska (aside). Would I but knew now, what his Majesty meant!
Oh yes, Sire! ‘tis our common talk, how Lord
Kiuprili, my Lord’s father —
Emerick. ‘Tis your talk,
Is it, good statesman Laska?
Laska. No, not mine, 15
Not mine, an please your Majesty! There are
Some insolent malcontents indeed that talk thus —
Nay worse, mere treason. As Bathory’s son,
The fool that ran into the monster’s jaws.
Emerick. Well, ‘tis a loyal monster if he rids us 20
Of traitors! But art sure the youth’s devoured?
Laska. Not a limb left, an please your Majesty!
And that unhappy girl —
Emerick. Thou followed’st her
Into the wood? [LASKA bows assent.
Henceforth then I’ll believe
That jealousy can make a hare a lion. 25
Laska. Scarce had I got the first glimpse of her veil,
When, with a horrid roar that made the leaves
Of the wood shake —
Emerick. Made thee shake like a leaf!
Laska. The war-wolf leapt; at the first plunge he seized her;
Forward I rushed!
Emerick. Most marvellous!
Laska. Hurled my javelin; 30
Which from his dragon-scales recoiling —
Emerick. Enough!
And take, friend, this advice. When next thou tonguest it,
Hold constant to thy exploit with this monster,
And leave untouched your common talk aforesaid,
What your Lord did, or should have done.
Laska. My talk? 35
The saints forbid! I always said, for my part,
‘Was not the king Lord Casimir’s dearest friend?
Was not that friend a king? Whate’er he did
‘Twas all from
