Work out its dread fulfilment, and the spirit Of wronged Kiuprili be appeased. But only, Only, O merciful in vengeance! let not That plague turn inward on my Casimir's soul! Scare thence the fiend Ambition, and restore him Sarolta. Inhuman wretch ! Attendant. And old Bathory answered With a sad smile, 'It is a witch's prayer, And may Heaven read it backwards.' To his own heart! Though she was rash, 'Twas a small fault for such a punish O save him! Save my husband! In such a shape a father's curse should On the base ingrate, on the faithless slave Who dared unbar the doors of these For whom? Has Casimir deserved this insult? O my misgiving heart! If-if- from Heaven Yet not from you, Lord Emerick! Has he not like an ingrate robbed my court Of Beauty's star, and kept my heart in darkness? First then on him I will administer justice If not in mercy, yet in love and rapture. [Seizes her. Sarolta. Help! Treason! Help! Emerick. Call louder! Scream again! Here's none can hear you! Sarolta. Hear me, hear me, Heaven! Emerick. Nay, why this rage? Who best deserves you? Casimir, 70 Emerick's bought implement, the jealous slave That mews you up with bolts and bars? or Emerick Who proffers you a throne? Nay, mine you shall be. Hence with this fond resistance! Yield; then live This month a widow, and the next a signet, seizes his hand and I now commit this traitor and assassin. to-morrow, Casimir. The king! disarmed too by Yea, fell like Heaven's own lightnings Of half thy vengeance I perforce must rob thee, on that Tarquin. Casimir. Hush! hush! [In an under voice. I had detected ere I left the city The tyrant's curst intent. Lewd, damned ingrate! For him did I bring down a father's curse! Swift swift must be our means! To morrow's sun Sets on his fate or mine! O blest Sarolta! [Embracing her. No other prayer, late penitent, dare I offer, 150 But that thy spotless virtues may prevail For that the sovereign claims. To thy O'er Casimir's crimes, and dread Kiu allegiance 129 prili's curse! [Exeunt consulting. Casimir. The word for me was this; The comrade of that ruffian is my servant: The one I trusted most and most pre -The royal Leopard Chases thy milk-white dedicated Hind. Casimir. As the word proves false or ferred. But we must part. What makes the king so late? It was his wont to be an early stirrer. Lord Rudolph. And his main policy. To enthral the sluggard nature in ourselves Is, in good truth, the better half of the secret To enthral the world: for the will governs all. 40 See, the sky lowers! the cross-winds waywardly Chase the fantastic masses of the clouds With a wild mockery of the coming hunt! Casimir. Mark yonder mass! I make it wear the shape Of a huge ram that butts with head depressed. Lord Rudolph (smiling). Belike, some stray sheep of the oozy flock, Which, if bards lie not, the Sea-shepherds tend, Glaucus or Proteus. But my fancy The fledge-dove knows the prowlers of On swift wing coasting by, with tetchy The never-yet-seen adder's hiss first Announces that the tyrant's pawing With fire and sword, pursue a patriot Neighs at the gate. [A volley of trumpets. A widow and an orphan. Dar'st thou Hark! now the king comes forth! For ever 'midst this crash of horns and clarions then (Curse-laden wretch) put forth these hands to raise He mounts his steed, which proudly The ark, all sacred, of thy country's I trust, ere yet this clouded sun slopes Scene changes to the mouth of a Cavern, westward, as in Act II. ZAPOLYA and GLYCINE discovered. Zapolya. Our friend is gone to seek some safer cave : Do not then leave me long alone, Glycine ! Having enjoyed thy commune, loneli ness, That but oppressed me hitherto, now scares. Glycine. I shall know Bethlen at the furthest distance, |
