Untitled

Scene changes to a splendid Bed-chamber, hung with tapestry.

SAROLTA and an Attendant.

Attendant. We all did love her, madam!

Sarolta. She deserved it! Luckless Glycine! rash, unhappy girl! 'Twas the first time she e'er deceived me.

Attendant. She was in love, and had she not died thus, With grief for Bethlen's loss, and fear of Laska, She would have pined herself to death at home.

Sarolta. Has the youth's father come back from his search?

Attendant. He never will, I fear me. O dear lady! That Laska did so triumph o'er the old man-- It was quite cruel--'You'll be sure,' said he, 'To meet with part at least of your son Bethlen, Or the war-wolf must have a quick digestion! Go! Search the wood by all means! Go! I pray you!'

Sarolta. Inhuman wretch!

Attendant. And old Bathory answered With a sad smile, 'It is a witch's prayer, And may Heaven read it backwards.' Though she was rash, 'Twas a small fault for such a punishment!

Sarolta. Nay! 'twas my grief, and not my anger spoke. Small fault indeed! but leave me, my poor girl! I feel a weight that only prayer can lighten.

[Exit Attendant.

O they were innocent, and yet have perished In their May of life; and Vice grows old in triumph. Is it Mercy's hand, that for the bad man holds Life's closing gate?---- Still passing thence petitionary Hours To woo the obdurate spirit to repentance? Or would this dullness tell me, that there is Guilt too enormous to be duly punished, Save by increase of guilt? The Powers of Evil Are jealous claimants. Guilt too hath its ordeal, And Hell its own probation!--Merciful Heaven, Rather than this, pour down upon thy suppliant Disease, and agony, and comfortless want! O send us forth to wander on, unsheltered! Make our food bitter with despiséd tears! Let viperous scorn hiss at us as we pass! Yea, let us sink down at our enemy's gate, And beg forgiveness and a morsel of bread! With all the heaviest worldly visitations Let the dire father's curse that hovers o'er us 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 To his own heart! O save him! Save my husband!

[During the latter part of this speech EMERICK comes forward from his hiding-place. SAROLTA seeing him, without recognising him.

In such a shape a father's curse should come.

Emerick (advancing). Fear not.

Sarolta. Who art thou? Robber? Traitor?

Emerick. Friend! Who in good hour hath startled these dark fancies, Rapacious traitors, that would fain depose Joy, love, and beauty, from their natural thrones: Those lips, those angel eyes, that regal forehead.

Sarolta. Strengthen me, Heaven! I must not seem afraid!

[Aside.

The king to-night then deigns to play the masker. What seeks your Majesty?

Emerick. Sarolta's love; And Emerick's power lies prostrate at her feet.

Sarolta. Heaven guard the sovereign's power from such debasement! Far rather, Sire, let it descend in vengeance On the base villain, on the faithless slave Who dared unbar the doors of these retirements! For whom? Has Casimir deserved this insult? O my misgiving heart! If--if--from Heaven Yet not from you, Lord Emerick!

Emerick. Chiefly from me. 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, 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 queen!

Sarolta. Yet, yet for one brief moment [Struggling. Unhand me, I conjure you.

[She throws him off, and rushes towards a toilet. EMERICK follows, and as she takes a dagger, he grasps it in her hand.

Emerick. Ha! Ha! a dagger; A seemly ornament for a lady's casket! 'Tis held, devotion is akin to love, But yours is tragic! Love in war! It charms me, And makes your beauty worth a king's embraces!

[During this speech BETHLEN enters armed.

Bethlen. Ruffian, forbear! Turn, turn and front my sword!

Emerick. Pish! who is this?

Sarolta. O sleepless eye of Heaven! A blest, a blessed spirit! Whence camest thou? May I still call thee Bethlen?

Bethlen. Ever, lady, Your faithful soldier!

Emerick. Insolent slave! Depart Know'st thou not me?

Bethlen. I know thou art a villain And coward! That thy devilish purpose marks thee! What else, this lady must instruct my sword!

Sarolta. Monster, retire! O touch him not, thou blest one! This is the hour that fiends and damnéd spirits Do walk the earth, and take what form they list! Yon devil hath assumed a king's!

Bethlen. Usurped it!

Emerick. The king will play the devil with thee indeed! But that I mean to hear thee howl on the rack, I would debase this sword, and lay thee prostrate At this thy paramour's feet; then drag her forth Stained with adulterous blood, and-- --mark you, traitress! Strumpeted first, then turned adrift to beggary! Thou prayed'st for't too.

Sarolta. Thou art so fiendish wicked, That in thy blasphemies I scarce hear thy threats!

Bethlen. Lady, be calm! fear not this king of the buskin! A king? Oh laughter! A king Bajazet! That from some vagrant actor's tiring-room, Hath stolen at once his speech and crown!

Emerick. Ah! treason! Thou hast been lessoned and tricked up for this! As surely as the wax on thy death-warrant Shall take the impression of this royal signet, So plain thy face hath ta'en the mask of rebel!

[BETHLEN seizes EMERICK'S hand and eagerly observes the signet.

Bethlen. It must be so! 'Tis e'en the counterpart! But with a foul usurping cypher on it! The light hath flashed from Heaven, and I must follow it! O curst usurper! O thou brother-murderer! That mad'st a star-bright queen a fugitive widow! Who fill'st the land with curses, being thyself All curses in one tyrant! see and tremble! This is Kiuprili's sword that now hangs o'er thee! Kiuprili's blasting curse, that from its point Shoots lightnings at thee. Hark! in Andreas' name, Heir of his vengeance, hell-hound! I defy thee.

[They fight, and just as EMERICK is disarmed, in rush CASIMIR, OLD BATHORY, and Attendants. CASIMIR runs in between the combatants, and parts them; in the struggle BETHLEN'S sword is thrown down.

Casimir. The king! disarmed too by a stranger! Speak! What may this mean?

Emerick. Deceived, dishonored lord! Ask thou yon fair adultress! She will tell thee A tale, which would'st thou be both dupe and traitor, Thou wilt believe against thy friend and sovereign! Thou art present now, and a friend's duty ceases: To thine own justice leave I thine own wrongs. Of half thy vengeance I perforce must rob thee, For that the sovereign claims. To thy allegiance I now commit this traitor and assassin.

[Then to the Attendants.

Hence with him to the dungeon! and to-morrow, Ere the sun rises,--Hark! your heads or his!

Bethlen. Can Hell work miracles to mock Heaven's justice?

Emerick. Who speaks to him dies! The traitor that has menaced His king, must not pollute the breathing air, Even with a word!

Casimir (to Bathory). Hence with him to the dungeon!

[Exit BETHLEN, hurried off by BATHORY and Attendants.

Emerick. We hunt to-morrow in your upland forest: Thou (to Casimir) wilt attend us: and wilt then explain This sudden and most fortunate arrival.

[Exit EMERICK; Manent CASIMIR and SAROLTA.

Sarolta. My lord! my husband! look whose sword lies yonder! It is Kiuprili's, Casimir; 'tis thy father's! And wielded by a stripling's arm, it baffled, Yea, fell like Heaven's own lightnings on that Tarquin.

Casimir. Hush! hush! I had detected ere I left the city The tyrant's curst intent. Lewd, damnéd 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! No other prayer, late penitent, dare I offer, But that thy spotless virtues may prevail O'er Casimir's crimes, and dread Kiuprili's curse!

[Exeunt.