‘tis Pestalutz!
Casimir (coming forward). Yes, thou ingrate Emerick!
‘Tis Pestalutz! ‘tis thy trusty murderer! 295
To quell thee more, see Raab Kiuprili’s sword!
Emerick. Curses on it and thee! Think’st thou that petty omen
Dare whisper fear to Emerick’s destiny?
Ho! Treason! Treason!
Casimir. Then have at thee, tyrant!
[They fight. EMERICK falls.
Emerick. Betrayed and baffled 300
By mine own tool! —— Oh! [Dies.
Casimir. Hear, hear, my Father!
Thou should’st have witnessed thine own deed. O Father,
Wake from that envious swoon! The tyrant’s fallen!
Thy sword hath conquered! As I lifted it
Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me; 305
Dislodging the dread curse. It flew forth from me
And lighted on the tyrant!
Enter RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and Attendants.
Rudolph and Bathory. Friends! friends to Casimir!
Casimir. Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper’s fallen.
Rudolph. So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! 310
Casimir. Bear hence the body, and move slowly on!
One moment ——
Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness,
I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen
With the two best and fullest gifts of heaven — 315
A tyrant fallen, a patriot chief restored!
[CASIMIR enters the Cavern.
SCENE. — Chamber in CASIMIR’S Castle. Confederates discovered.
First Confederate. It cannot but succeed, friends. From this palace
E’en to the wood, our messengers are posted
With such short interspace, that fast as sound
Can travel to us, we shall learn the event! 320
Enter another Confederate.
What tidings from Temeswar?
Second Confederate. With one voice
Th’ assembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant:
He is proclaimed the public enemy,
And the protection of the law withdrawn.
First Confederate. Just doom for him, who governs without law! 325
Is it known on whom the sov’reignty will fall?
Second Confederate. Nothing is yet decided: but report
Points to Lord Casimir. The grateful memory
Of his renownéd father ——
Enter SAROLTA.
Hail to Sarolta!
Sarolta. Confederate friends! I bring to you a joy 330
Worthy your noble cause! Kiuprili lives,
And from his obscure exile, hath returned
To bless our country. More and greater tidings
Might I disclose; but that a woman’s voice
Would mar the wondrous tale. Wait we for him, 335
The partner of the glory — Raab Kiuprili;
For he alone is worthy to announce it.
[Shouts of ‘Kiuprili, Kiuprili,’ and ‘The Tyrant’s
fallen,’ without. Enter KIUPRILI, CASIMIR,
RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and Attendants.
Raab Kiuprili. Spare yet your joy, my friends! A higher waits you:
Behold, your Queen!
[Enter ZAPOLYA and ANDREAS royally attired, with
GLYCINE.
Confederate. Comes she from heaven to bless us?
Other Confederates. It is! it is!
Zapolya. Heaven’s work of grace is
full! 340
Kiuprili, thou art safe!
Raab Kiuprili. Royal Zapolya!
To the heavenly powers, pay we our duty first;
Who not alone preserved thee, but for thee
And for our country, the one precious branch
Of Andreas’ royal house. O countrymen, 345
Behold your King! And thank our country’s genius,
That the same means which have preserved our sovereign,
Have likewise reared him worthier of the throne
By virtue than by birth. The undoubted proofs
Pledged by his royal mother, and this old man, 350
(Whose name henceforth be dear to all Illyrians)
We haste to lay before the assembled council.
All. Hail, Andreas! Hail, Illyria’s rightful king!
Andreas. Supported thus, O friends! ‘twere cowardice
Unworthy of a royal birth, to shrink 355
From the appointed charge. Yet, while we wait
The awful sanction of convened Illyria,
In this brief while, O let me feel myself
The child, the friend, the debtor! — Heroic mother! —
But what can breath add to that sacred name? 360
Kiuprili! gift of Providence, to teach us
That loyalty is but the public form
