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SCENE I

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Front of the Palace with a magnificent Colonnade. On one side a

military Guard-house. Sentries pacing backward and forward before the

Palace. CHEF RAGOZZI, at the door of the Guard-house, as looking

forwards at some object in the distance.

Chef Ragozzi. My eyes deceive me not, it must be he.

Who but our chief, my more than father, who

But Raab Kiuprili moves with such a gait?

Lo! e’en this eager and unwonted haste

But agitates, not quells, its majesty. 5

My patron! my commander! yes, ‘tis he!

Call out the guards. The Lord Kiuprili comes.

[Drums beat, &c., the Guard turns out.

Enter RAAB KIUPRILI.

Raab Kiuprili (making a signal to stop the drums, &c.). Silence!

enough! This is no time, young friend,

For ceremonious dues. The summoning drum,

Th’ air-shattering trumpet, and the horseman’s clatter, 10

Are insults to a dying sovereign’s ear.

Soldiers, ‘tis well! Retire! your General greets you,

His loyal fellow-warriors. [Guards retire.

Chef Ragozzi. Pardon my surprise.

Thus sudden from the camp, and unattended!

What may these wonders prophesy?

Raab Kiuprili. Tell me first, 15

How fares the king? His majesty still lives?

Chef Ragozzi. We know no otherwise; but Emerick’s friends

(And none but they approach him) scoff at hope.

Raab Kiuprili. Ragozzi! I have reared thee from a child,

And as a child I have reared thee. Whence this air 20

Of mystery? That face was wont to open

Clear as the morning to me, shewing all things.

Hide nothing from me.

Chef Ragozzi. O most loved, most honoured,

The mystery that struggles in my looks

Betrayed my whole tale to thee, if it told thee 25

That I am ignorant; but fear the worst.

And mystery is contagious. All things here

Are full of motion: and yet all is silent:

And bad men’s hopes infect the good with fears.

Raab Kiuprili. I have trembling proof within how true thou

speakest. 30

Chef Ragozzi. That the prince Emerick feasts the soldiery,

Gives splendid arms, pays the commanders’ debts,

And (it is whispered) by sworn promises

Makes himself debtor — hearing this, thou hast heard

All —— 35

But what my lord will learn too soon himself.

Raab Kiuprili. Ha! — Well then, let it come! Worse scarce can come.

This letter written by the trembling hand

Of royal Andreas calls me from the camp

To his immediate presence. It appoints me, 40

The Queen, and Emerick, guardians of the realm,

And of the royal infant. Day by day,

Robbed of Zapolya’s soothing cares, the king

Yearns only to behold one precious boon,

And with his life breathe forth a father’s blessing. 45

Chef Ragozzi. Remember you, my lord! that Hebrew leech

Whose face so much distempered you?

Raab Kiuprili. Barzoni?

I held him for a spy; but the proof failing

(More courteously, I own, than pleased myself),

I sent him from the camp.

Chef Ragozzi. To him, in chief, 50

Prince Emerick trusts his royal brother’s health.

Raab Kiuprili. Hide nothing, I conjure you! What of him?

Chef Ragozzi. With pomp of words beyond a soldier’s cunning,

And shrugs and wrinkled brow, he smiles and whispers!

Talks in dark words of women’s fancies; hints 55

That ‘twere a useless and a cruel zeal

To rob a dying man of any hope,

However vain, that soothes him: and, in fine,

Denies all chance of offspring from the Queen.

Raab Kiuprili. The venomous snake! My heel was on its head, 60

And (fool!) I did not crush it!

Chef Ragozzi. Nay, he fears

Zapolya will not long survive her husband.

Raab Kiuprili. Manifest treason! Even this brief delay

Half makes me an accomplice —— (If he live,)

[Is moving toward the palace.

If he but live and know me, all may ——

Chef Ragozzi. Halt! [Stops him. 65

On pain of death, my Lord! am I commanded

To stop all ingress to the palace.

Raab Kiuprili. Thou!

Chef Ragozzi. No place, no name, no rank excepted —

Raab Kiuprili. Thou!

Chef Ragozzi. This life of mine, O take it, Lord Kiuprili!

I give it as a weapon to thy hands, 70

Mine own no longer. Guardian of Illyria,

Useless to thee, ‘tis worthless to myself.

Thou art the framer of my nobler being;

Nor does there live one virtue in my soul,

One honourable hope, but calls thee father. 75

Yet ere thou dost resolve, know that yon palace

Is guarded from within, that each access

Is thronged by armed conspirators, watched by ruffians

Pampered with gifts, and hot upon the spoil

Which that false promiser still trails before them. 80

I ask but this one boon — reserve my life

Till I can lose it for the realm and thee!

Raab Kiuprili. My heart is rent asunder. O my country,

O fallen Illyria, stand I here spell-bound?

Did my King love me? Did I earn his love? 85

Have we embraced as brothers would embrace?

Was I his arm, his thunderbolt? And now

Must I, hagridden, pant as in a dream?

Or, like an eagle, whose strong wings press up

Against a coiling serpent’s folds, can I 90

Strike but for mockery, and with restless beak

Gore my own breast? — Ragozzi, thou art faithful?

Chef Ragozzi. Here before Heaven I dedicate my faith

To the royal line of Andreas.

Raab Kiuprili. Hark, Ragozzi!

Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration: 95

Despair alone makes wicked men be bold.

Come thou with me! They have heard my voice in flight,

Have faced round, terror-struck, and feared no longer

The whistling javelins of their fell pursuers.

Ha! what is this?

[Black flag displayed from the Tower of the Palace: a

death-bell tolls, &c.

Vengeance of Heaven! He is dead. 100

Chef Ragozzi. At length then ‘tis announced. Alas! I fear,

That these black death-flags are but treason’s signals.

Raab Kiuprili. A prophecy too soon fulfilled! See yonder!

O rank and ravenous wolves! the death-bell echoes

Still in the doleful air — and see! they come. 105

Chef Ragozzi. Precise and faithful in their villainy

Even to the moment, that the master traitor

Had pre-ordained them.

Raab Kiuprili. Was it overhaste,

Or is it scorn, that in this race of treason

Their guilt thus drops its mask, and blazons forth 110

Their infamous plot even to an idiot’s sense?

Chef Ragozzi. Doubtless they deem Heaven too usurp’d! Heaven’s

justice

Bought like themselves!

Being equal all in crime,

Do you press on, ye spotted parricides!

For the one sole preeminence yet doubtful, 115

The prize of foremost impudence in guilt?

Raab Kiuprili. The bad man’s cunning still prepares the way

For its own outwitting. I applaud, Ragozzi!

Ragozzi! I applaud,

In thee, the virtuous hope that dares look onward

And keeps the life-spark warm of future action 120

Beneath the cloak of patient sufferance.

Act and appear, as time and prudence prompt thee:

I shall not misconceive the part thou playest.

Mine is an easier part — to brave the usurper.

[Enter a procession of EMERICK’S Adherents, Nobles,

Chieftains, and Soldiers, with Music. They

advance toward the front of the stage. KIUPRILI

makes the signal for them to stop. — The Music

ceases.

Leader of the Procession. The Lord Kiuprili! — Welcome from the

camp. 125

Raab Kiuprili. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria,

In good time come ye hither, if ye come

As loyal men with honourable purpose

To mourn what can alone be mourned; but chiefly

To enforce the last commands of royal Andreas 130

And shield the Queen, Zapolya: haply making

The mother’s joy light up the widow’s tears.

Leader. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession;

A warrior best will greet a warlike king.

Raab Kiuprili. This patent written by your lawful king, 135

(Lo! his own seal and signature attesting)

Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring,

The Queen, and the Prince Emerick, and myself.

[Voices of Live KING EMERICK! an EMERICK! an EMERICK!

What means this clamour? Are these madmen’s voices?

Or is some knot of riotous slanderers leagued 140

To infamize the name of the king’s brother

With a lie black as Hell? unmanly cruelty,

Ingratitude, and most unnatural treason? [Murmurs.

What mean these murmurs? Dare then any here

Proclaim Prince Emerick a spotted traitor? 145

One that has taken from you your sworn faith,

And given you in return a Judas’ bribe,

Infamy now, oppression in reversion,

And Heaven’s inevitable curse hereafter?

[Loud murmurs, followed by cries — EMERICK! No Baby

Prince! No Changelings!

Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this 150

Bled for your safety, conquered for your honour?

Was it for this, Illyrians! that I forded

Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice

Fought with the foe, and stained its jagged points

With gore from wounds I felt not? Did the blast 155

Beat on this body, frost-and-famine-numbed,

Till my hard flesh distinguished not itself

From the insensate mail, its fellow warrior?

And have I brought home with me Victory,

And with her, hand in hand, firm-footed Peace, 160

Her countenance twice lighted up with glory,

As if I had charmed a goddess down from Heaven?

But these will flee abhorrent from the throne

Of usurpation!

[Murmurs increase — and cries of Onward! Onward!

Have you then thrown off shame,

And shall not a dear friend, a loyal subject, 165

Throw off all fear? I tell ye, the fair trophies

Valiantly wrested from a valiant foe,

Love’s natural offerings to a rightful king,

Will hang as ill on this usurping traitor,

This brother-blight, this Emerick, as robes 170

Of gold plucked from the images of gods

Upon a sacrilegious robber’s back. [Enter LORD CASIMIR.

Casimir. Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand

The elected King, our chosen Emerick?

My father!

Raab Kiuprili. Casimir! He, he a traitor! 175

Too soon indeed, Ragozzi! have I learnt it. [Aside.

Casimir. My father and my lord!

Raab Kiuprili. I know thee not!

Leader. Yet the remembrancing did sound right filial.

Raab Kiuprili. A holy name and words of natural duty

Are blasted by a thankless traitor’s utterance. 180

Casimir. O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn

Homage to Emerick. Illyria’s sceptre

Demands a manly hand, a warrior’s grasp.

The queen Zapolya’s self-expected offspring

At least is doubtful: and of all our nobles, 185

The king, inheriting his brother’s heart,

Hath honoured us the most. Your rank, my lord!

Already eminent, is — all it can be —

Confirmed: and me the king’s grace hath appointed

Chief of his council and the lord high steward. 190

Raab Kiuprili. (Bought by a bribe!) I know thee now still less.

Casimir. So much of Raab Kiuprili’s blood flows here,

That no power, save that holy name of father,

Could shield the man who so dishonoured me.

Raab Kiuprili. The son of Raab Kiuprili a bought bond-slave, 195

Guilt’s pander, treason’s mouth-piece, a gay parrot,

School’d to shrill forth his feeder’s usurp’d titles.

And scream, Long live King Emerick!

Leaders. Aye, King Emerick!

Stand back, my lord! Lead us, or let us pass.

Soldier. Nay, let the general speak!

Soldiers. Hear him! hear him!

Raab Kiuprili. Hear

me, 200

Assembled lords and warriors of Illyria,

Hear, and avenge me! Twice ten years have I

Stood in your presence, honoured by the king:

Beloved and trusted. Is there one among you

Accuses Raab Kiuprili of a bribe? 205

Or one false whisper in his sovereign’s ear?

Who here dares charge me with an orphan’s rights

Outfaced, or widow’s plea left undefended?

And shall I now be branded by a traitor,

A bought, bribed wretch, who, being called my son, 210

Doth libel a chaste matron’s name, and plant

Hensbane and aconite on a mother’s grave?

The underling accomplice of a robber,

That from a widow and a widow’s offspring

Would steal their heritage? To God a rebel, 215

And to the common father of his country

A recreant ingrate!

Casimir. Sire! your words grow dangerous.

High-flown romantic fancies ill-beseem

Your age and wisdom. ‘Tis a statesman’s virtue,

To guard his country’s safety by what means 220

It best may be protected — come what will

Of these monk’s morals!

Raab Kiuprili (aside). Ha! the elder Brutus

Made his soul iron, though his sons repented.

They boasted not their baseness. [Draws his sword.

Infamous changeling!

Recant this instant, and swear loyalty, 225

And strict obedience to thy sovereign’s will;

Or, by the spirit of departed Andreas,

Thou diest ——

[Chiefs, &c., rush to interpose; during the tumult

enter EMERICK, alarmed.

Emerick. Call out the guard! Ragozzi! seize the assassin. ——

Kiuprili? Ha! —— [Making signs to the guard to retire.

Pass on, friends! to the palace. 230

[Music recommences. — The Procession passes into the

Palace.

Emerick. What? Raab Kiuprili? What? a father’s sword

Against his own son’s breast?

Raab Kiuprili. ‘Twould best excuse him,

Were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him.

Emerick. This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced

A reign to which the free voice of the nobles 235

Hath called me, and the people, by regards

Of love and grace to Raab Kiuprili’s house?

Raab Kiuprili. What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow

them?

Emerick. By what right dares Kiuprili question me?

Raab Kiuprili. By a right common to all loyal subjects — 240

To me a duty! As the realm’s co-regent,

Appointed by our sovereign’s last free act,

Writ by himself. — [Grasping the Patent.

Emerick. Aye! — Writ in a delirium!

Raab Kiuprili. I likewise ask, by whose authority

The access to the sovereign was refused me? 245

Emerick. By whose authority dared the general leave

His camp and army, like a fugitive?

Raab Kiuprili. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade,

Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death!

A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements 250

To be belated in a loyal purpose —

At the command, Prince! of my king and thine,

Hither I came; and now again require

Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States

Forthwith convened) that thou dost shew at large, 255

On what ground of defect thou’st dared annul

This thy King’s last and solemn act — hast dared

Ascend the throne, of which the law had named,

And conscience should have made thee, a protector.

Emerick. A sovereign’s ear ill brooks a subject’s questioning! 260

Yet for thy past well-doing — and because

‘Tis hard to erase at once the fond belief

Long cherished, that Illyria had in thee

No dreaming priest’s slave, but a Roman lover

Of her true weal and freedom — and for this, too, 265

That, hoping to call forth to the broad daylight

And fostering breeze of glory all deservings,

I still had placed thee foremost.

Raab Kiuprili. Prince! I listen.

Emerick. Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya,

Maddened with grief, her erring hopes proved idle — 270

Casimir. Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her fraud detected!

Emerick. According to the sworn attests in council

Of her physician ——

Raab Kiuprili (aside). Yes! the Jew, Barzoni!

Emerick. Under the imminent risk of death she lies,

Or irrecoverable loss of reason, 275

If known friend’s face or voice renew the frenzy.

Casimir (to Kiuprili). Trust me, my lord! a woman’s trick has

duped you —

Us too — but most of all, the sainted Andreas.

Even for his own fair fame, his grace prays hourly

For her recovery, that (the States convened) 280

She may take counsel of her friends.

Emerick. Right, Casimir!

Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand

In her own will to appear and voice her claims;

Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course)

With all the past passed by, as family quarrels, 285

Let the Queen Dowager, with unblenched honours,

Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron.

Raab Kiuprili. Prince Emerick! you speak fairly, and your pledge

too

Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning.

Casimir. My lord! you scarce know half his grace’s goodness. 290

The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta,

Bred in the convent of our noble ladies,

Her relative, the venerable abbess,

Hath, at his grace’s urgence, wooed and won for me.

Emerick. Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, 295

Which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have rendered

Dear and illustrious to all true Illyrians.

Raab Kiuprili. The longest line that ever tracing herald

Or found or feigned, placed by a beggar’s soul

Hath but a mushroom’s date in the comparison: 300

And with the soul, the conscience is coeval,

Yea, the soul’s essence.

Emerick. Conscience, good my lord,

Is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience,

That a free nation should be handed down,

Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance 305

And the blind law of lineage? That whether infant,

Or man matured, a wise man or an idiot,

Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance

Of a free people’s destiny, should fall out

In the mere lottery of a reckless nature, 310

Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?

Or haply that a nation’s fate should hang

On the bald accident of a midwife’s handling

The unclosed sutures of an infant’s skull?

Casimir. What better claim can sovereign wish or need 315

Than the free voice of men who love their country?

Those chiefly who have fought for’t? Who by right,

Claim for their monarch one, who having obeyed,

So hath best learnt to govern; who, having suffered,

Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him? 320

Whence sprang the name of Emperor? Was it not

By Nature’s fiat? In the storm of triumph,

‘Mid warriors’ shouts, did her oracular voice

Make itself heard: Let the commanding spirit

Possess the station of command!

Raab Kiuprili. Prince Emerick, 325

Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading.

Emerick (aside to Casimir). Ragozzi was thy school-mate — a bold

spirit!

Bind him to us! — Thy father thaws apace! [Then aloud.

Leave us awhile, my lord! — Your friend, Ragozzi,

Whom you have not yet seen since his return, 330

Commands the guard to-day.

[CASIMIR retires to the Guard-house; and after a time

appears before it with CHEF RAGOZZI.

We are alone.

What further pledge or proof desires Kiuprili?

Then, with your assent ——

Raab Kiuprili. Mistake not for assent

The unquiet silence of a stern resolve

Throttling the impatient voice. I have heard thee, Prince! 335

And I have watched thee, too; but have small faith in

A plausible tale told with a flitting eye.

[EMERICK turns as about to call for the Guard.

In the next moment I am in thy power,

In this thou art in mine. Stir but a step,

Or make one sign — I swear by this good sword, 340

Thou diest that instant.

Emerick. Ha, ha! — Well, Sir! — Conclude your homily.

Raab Kiuprili. A tale which, whether true or false, comes guarded

Against all means of proof, detects itself.

The Queen mew’d up — this too from anxious care 345

And love brought forth of a sudden, a twin birth

With thy discovery of her plot to rob thee

Of a rightful throne! — Mark how the scorpion, falsehood,

Coils round in its own perplexity, and fixes

Its sting in its own head!

Emerick. Aye! to the mark! 350

Raab Kiuprili. Had’st thou believed thine own tale, had’st thou

fancied

Thyself the rightful successor of Andreas,

Would’st thou have pilfered from our schoolboys’ themes

These shallow sophisms of a popular choice?

What people? How convened? or, if convened, 355

Must not the magic power that charms together

Millions of men in council, needs have power

To win or wield them? Better, O far better

Shout forth thy titles to yon circling mountains,

And with a thousandfold reverberation 360

Make the rocks flatter thee, and the volleying air,

Unbribed, shout back to thee, King Emerick!

By wholesome laws to embank the sovereign power,

To deepen by restraint, and by prevention

Of lawless will to amass and guide the flood 365

In its majestic channel, is man’s task

And the true patriot’s glory! In all else

Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves

When least themselves in the mad whirl of crowds

Where folly is contagious, and too oft 370

Even wise men leave their better sense at home

To chide and wonder at them when returned.

Emerick (aloud). Is’t thus thou scoff’st the people? most of all,

The soldiers, the defenders of the people?

Raab Kiuprili. O most of all, most miserable nation, 375

For whom the imperial power, enormous bubble!

Is blown and kept aloft, or burst and shattered

By the bribed breath of a lewd soldiery!

Chiefly of such, as from the frontiers far,

(Which is the noblest station of true warriors) 380

In rank licentious idleness beleaguer

City and Court, a venomed thorn i’the side

Of virtuous kings, the tyrant’s slave and tyrant,

Still ravening for fresh largess! But with such

What title claim’st thou, save thy birth? What merits 385

Which many a liegeman may not plead as well,

Brave though I grant thee? If a life outlaboured

Head, heart, and fortunate arm, in watch and war,

For the land’s fame and weal; if large acquests,

Made honest by the aggression of the foe, 390

And whose best praise is, that they bring us safety;

If victory, doubly-wreathed, whose under-garland

Of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling

Thro’ the grey olive-branch; if these, Prince Emerick!

Give the true title to the throne, not thou — 395

No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy

Be judge and arbiter between us!) I,

I were the rightful sovereign!

Emerick. I have faith

That thou both think’st and hop’st it. Fair Zapolya,

A provident lady —

Raab Kiuprili. Wretch beneath all answer! 400

Emerick. Offers at once the royal bed and throne!

Raab Kiuprili. To be a kingdom’s bulwark, a king’s glory,

Yet loved by both, and trusted, and trust-worthy,

Is more than to be king; but see! thy rage

Fights with thy fear. I will relieve thee!

Ho! [To the Guard. 405

Emerick. Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian!

Thus long I have listened — Guard — ho! from the Palace.

[The Guard post from the Guard-house with CHEF RAGOZZI

at their head, and then a number from the

Palace — CHEF RAGOZZI demands KIUPRILI’S sword, and

apprehends him.

Casimir. O agony! [To EMERICK.

Sire, hear me!

[To KIUPRILI, who turns from him.

Hear me, father!

Emerick. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin!

Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign’s. 410

Raab Kiuprili. As the Co-regent of the Realm, I stand

Amenable to none save to the States

Met in due course of law. But ye are bond-slaves,

Yet witness ye that before God and man

I here impeach Lord Emerick of foul treason, 415

And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion

Of murder —

Emerick. Hence with the madman!

Raab Kiuprili. Your Queen’s murder,

The royal orphan’s murder: and to the death

Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper.

[Hurried off by RAGOZZI and the Guard.

Emerick. Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre 420

This insolence shall be avenged.

Casimir. O banish him!

This infamy will crush me. O for my sake,

Banish him, my liege lord!

Emerick. What? to the army?

Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger.

The child o’erpowers the man. In this emergence 425

I must take counsel for us both. Retire. [Exit CASIMIR.

Emerick (alone, looks at a Calendar). The changeful planet, now

in her decay,

Dips down at midnight, to be seen no more.

With her shall sink the enemies of Emerick,

Cursed by the last look of the waning moon: 430

And my bright destiny, with sharpened horns,

Shall greet me fearless in the newborn crescent. [Exit.

Scene changes to the back of the Palace — a Wooded Park, and Mountains.

Enter ZAPOLYA, with an infant in arms.

Zapolya. Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee!

Thou, the protector of the helpless! Thou,

The widow’s husband and the orphan’s father, 435

Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down

Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother,

Driven forth into the cruel wilderness!

Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar’s offspring: thou art

The rightful heir of an anointed king! 440

What sounds are those? It is the vesper chaunt

Of labouring men returning to their home!

Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father!

And let this darkness ——

Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings 445

To hide and shield us! Start’st thou in thy slumbers?

Thou canst not dream of savage Emerick. Hush!

Betray not thy poor mother! For if they seize thee

I shall grow mad indeed, and they’ll believe

Thy wicked uncle’s lie. Ha! what? A soldier? 450

[Enter CHEF RAGOZZI.

Chef Ragozzi. Sure Heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped!

O rare tune of a tyrant’s promises

That can enchant the serpent treachery

From forth its lurking hole in the heart. ‘Ragozzi!

O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?’ 455

And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing!

Merely to play the underling in the murder

Of my best friend Kiuprili! His own son — monstrous!

Tyrant! I owe thee thanks, and in good hour

Will I repay thee, for that thou thought’st me too 460

A serviceable villain. Could I now

But gain some sure intelligence of the queen:

Heaven bless and guard her!

Zapolya (coming forward). Art thou not Ragozzi?

Chef Ragozzi. The Queen! Now then the miracle is full! 465

I see heaven’s wisdom is an overmatch

For the devil’s cunning. This way, madam, haste!

Zapolya. Stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong thee!

This is thy sovereign’s child: Oh, pity us,

And be not treacherous! [Kneeling.

Chef Ragozzi (raising her). Madam! For mercy’s sake! 470

Zapolya. But tyrants have a hundred eyes and arms!

Chef Ragozzi. Take courage, madam! ‘Twere too horrible,

(I can not do’t) to swear I’m not a monster! —

Scarce had I barr’d the door on Raab Kiuprili —

Zapolya. Kiuprili! How?

Chef Ragozzi. There is not time to tell it, — 475

The tyrant called me to him, praised my zeal —

(And be assured I overtopt his cunning

And seemed right zealous.) But time wastes: In fine,

Bids me dispatch my trustiest friends, as couriers

With letters to the army. The thought at once 480

Flashed on me. I disguised my prisoner —

Zapolya. What, Raab Kiuprili?

Chef Ragozzi. Yes! my noble general!

I sent him off, with Emerick’s own pacquet,

Haste, and post haste — Prepared to follow him ——

Zapolya. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear? My limbs seem sinking! — 485

Chef Ragozzi (supporting her). Heaven still befriends us. I have

left my charger,

A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy’s mule,

One that can shoot a precipice like a bird,

Just where the wood begins to climb the mountains.

The course we’ll thread will mock the tyrant’s guesses, 490

Or scare the followers. Ere we reach the main road

The Lord Kiuprili will have sent a troop

To escort me. Oh, thrice happy when he finds

The treasure which I convoy!

Zapolya. One brief moment,

That praying for strength I may have strength. This babe, 495

Heaven’s eye is on it, and its innocence

Is, as a prophet’s prayer, strong and prevailing!

Through thee, dear babe, the inspiring thought possessed me,

When the loud clamor rose, and all the palace

Emptied itself — (They sought my life, Ragozzi!) 500

Like a swift shadow gliding, I made way

To the deserted chamber of my lord. — [Then to the infant.

And thou didst kiss thy father’s lifeless lips,

And in thy helpless hand, sweet slumberer!

Still clasp’st the signet of thy royalty. 505

As I removed the seal, the heavy arm

Dropt from the couch aslant, and the stiff finger

Seemed pointing at my feet. Provident Heaven!

Lo, I was standing on the secret door,

Which, through a long descent where all sound perishes, 510

Led out beyond the palace. Well I knew it ——

But Andreas framed it not! He was no tyrant!

Chef Ragozzi. Haste, madam! Let me take this precious burden!

[He kneels as he takes the child.

Zapolya. Take him! And if we be pursued, I charge thee,

Flee thou and leave me! Flee and save thy king! 515

[Then as going off, she looks back on the palace.

Thou tyrant’s den, be called no more a palace!

The orphan’s angel at the throne of heaven

Stands up against thee, and there hover o’er thee

A Queen’s, a Mother’s, and a Widow’s curse.

Henceforth a dragon’s haunt, fear and suspicion 520

Stand sentry at thy portals! Faith and honour,

Driven from the throne, shall leave the attainted nation:

And, for the iniquity that houses in thee,

False glory, thirst of blood, and lust of rapine,

(Fateful conjunction of malignant planets) 525

Shall shoot their blastments on the land. The fathers

Henceforth shall have no joy in their young men,

And when they cry: Lo! a male child is born!

The mother shall make answer with a groan.

For bloody usurpation, like a vulture, 530

Shall clog its beak within Illyria’s heart.

Remorseless slaves of a remorseless tyrant,

They shall be mocked with sounds of liberty,

And liberty shall be proclaimed alone

To thee, O Fire! O Pestilence! O Sword! 535

Till Vengeance hath her fill. — And thou, snatched hence,

Poor friendless fugitive! with mother’s wailing,

Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return,

With trump and timbrel-clang, and popular shout,

In triumph to the palace of thy fathers! [Exeunt.

1828, 1829.

[Before 30] Raab Kiuprili (his hand to his heart). 1817, 1828, 1829.

All —— [Then, in a subdued and saddened voice.

1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 103] Raab Kiuprili (looking forwards anxiously). 1817, 1828,

1829.

Bought like themselves! [During this conversation music is heard,

first solemn and funereal, and then

changing to spirited and triumphal.

1817, 1828, 1829.

… I applaud, Ragozzi! [Musing to himself — then —

1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 172] [During the last four lines, enter LORD CASIMIR, with

expressions of anger and alarm. 1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 174] [Starts — then approaching with timid respect. 1817, 1828,

1829.

[Before 177] Casimir (with reverence). 1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 192] Casimir (struggling with his passion). 1817, 1828, 1829.

They BOASTED not their baseness. [Starts, and draws his sword.

1817, 1828, 1829.

Kiuprili? Ha! —— [With lowered voice, at the same time with one

hand making, &c.

1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 230] [Music … Palace. — During which time EMERICK and

KIUPRILI regard each other stedfastly. 1817, 1828, 1829.

1829.

[Before 298] Raab Kiuprili (sternly). 1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 343] Raab Kiuprili (in a somewhat suppressed voice). 1817,

1828, 1829.

[Before 351] Raab Kiuprili (aloud: he and Emerick standing at

equidistance from the Palace and the Guard-house). 1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 375] Raab Kiuprili (aloud). 1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 426] [Exit CASIMIR in agitation. 1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 433] Scene changes to another view, namely the back, &c. 1817,

1828, 1829.

[Before 451] [She starts back — and enter, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829.

1829.

[Before 464] Zapolya (coming fearfully forward). 1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 536] [Again to the infant. 1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 540] END OF THE PRELUDE. 1817.

The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition)

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