us! ‘tis BathoryAnd Bethlen!
Laska. Good now! Ha! ha! An excellent trick.
Afraid? Nay, no offence! But I must laugh.
But are you sure now, that ‘tis you, yourself?
Bethlen. Would’st be convinced?
Laska. No nearer, pray! consider! 115
If it should prove his ghost, the touch would freeze me
To a tombstone. No nearer!
Bethlen. The fool is drunk!
Laska. Well now! I love a brave man to my heart.
I myself braved the monster, and would fain
Have saved the false one from the fate she tempted. 120
Old Bathory. You, Laska?
Bethlen (to Bathory). Mark! Heaven grant it may be so!
Glycine?
Laska. She! I traced her by the voice.
You’ll scarce believe me, when I say I heard
The close of a song: the poor wretch had been singing:
As if she wished to compliment the war-wolf 125
At once with music and a meal!
Bethlen (to Bathory). Mark that!
Laska. At the next moment I beheld her running,
Wringing her hands with, ‘Bethlen! O poor Bethlen!’
I almost fear, the sudden noise I made,
Rushing impetuous through the brake, alarmed her. 130
She stopt, then mad with fear, turned round and ran
Into the monster’s gripe. One piteous scream
I heard. There was no second — I —
Bethlen. Stop there!
We’ll spare your modesty! Who dares not honour
Laska’s brave tongue, and high heroic fancy? 135
Laska. You too, Sir Knight, have come back safe and sound!
You played the hero at a cautious distance!
Or was it that you sent the poor girl forward
To stay the monster’s stomach? Dainties quickly
Pall on the taste and cloy the appetite! 140
Old Bathory. Laska, beware! Forget not what thou art!
Should’st thou but dream thou’rt valiant, cross thyself!
And ache all over at the dangerous fancy!
Laska. What then! you swell upon my lady’s favour,
High Lords and perilous of one day’s growth! 145
But other judges now sit on the bench!
And haply, Laska hath found audience there,
Where to defend the treason of a son
Might end in lifting up both son and father
Still higher; to a height from which indeed 150
You both may drop, but, spite of fate and fortune,
Will be secured from falling to the ground.
‘Tis possible too, young man! that royal Emerick,
At Laska’s rightful suit, may make inquiry
By whom seduced, the maid so strangely missing — 155
Bethlen. Soft! my good Laska! might it not suffice,
If to yourself, being Lord Casimir’s steward,
I should make record of Glycine’s fate?
Laska. ‘Tis well! it shall content me! though your fear
Has all the credit of these lowered tones. 160
First we demand the manner of her death?
Bethlen. Nay! that’s superfluous! Have you not just told us,
That you yourself, led by impetuous valour,
Witnessed the whole? My tale’s of later date.
After the fate, from which your valour strove 165
In vain to rescue the rash maid, I saw her!
Laska. Glycine?
Bethlen. Nay! Dare I accuse wise Laska,
Whose words find access to a monarch’s ear,
Of a base, braggart lie? It must have been
Her spirit that appeared to me. But haply 170
I come too late? It has itself delivered
Its own commission to you?
Old Bathory. ‘Tis most likely!
And the ghost doubtless vanished, when we entered
And found brave Laska staring wide — at nothing!
Laska. ‘Tis well! You’ve ready wits! I shall report them, 175
With all due honour, to his Majesty!
Treasure them up, I pray! A certain person,
Whom the king flatters with his confidence,
Tells you, his royal friend asks startling questions!
‘Tis but a hint! And now what says the ghost! 180
Bethlen. Listen! for thus it spake: ‘Say thou to Laska,
Glycine, knowing all thy thoughts engrossed
In thy new office of king’s fool and knave,
Foreseeing thou’lt forget with thine own hand
To make due penance for the wrongs thou’st caused her, 185
For thy soul’s safety, doth consent to take it
From Bethlen’s cudgel’ — thus. [Beats him off.
Off! scoundrel! off!
[LASKA runs away.
Old
