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Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice!
All silent!-If this were the war-wolf's den!
'Twas not his voice!-

ZAPOLYA (rushing out from the cavern).
Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak!

GLYCINE.

Whether his Mother live, or perish'd here!

ZAPOLYA.

Angel of Mercy, I was perishing

And thou didst bring me food: and now thou bring'st
The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation
To a mother's famish'd heart! His name, sweet
maiden!

GLYCINE.

E'en till this morning we were wont to name him
Bethlen Bathory!

ZAPOLYA.

Even till this morning?

[GLYCINE leaves the provisions, and exit fearfully. This morning? when my weak faith fail'd me wholly! KIUPRILI comes forward, seizes them and carries Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance, them into the cavern. GLYCINE returns, having | And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse! recovered herself.

GLYCINE.

Shame! Nothing hurt me!

Say on!

GLYCINE.

The false ones charged the valiant youth If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs With treasonous words of EmerickSpeak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst

and hoarseness!

Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St-St-No-Bethlen!
If I turn back, and he should be found dead here,
[She creeps nearer and nearer to the cavern.
I should go mad!-Again! "T was my own heart!
Hush, coward heart! better beat loud with fear,
Than break with shame and anguish!

And of Lord Casimir

ZAPOLYA.

Ha! my son!

GLYCINE.

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Saints protect me!

RAAB KIUPRILI.

[As she approaches to enter the cavern, KIUPRILI stops her. GLYCINE shrieks.

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ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILI.
Who?

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Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shudder

ing.

Those piled thoughts, built up in solitude,
Year following year, that press'd upon my heart
As on the altar of some unknown God,

Then, as if touch'd by fire from heaven descending,
Blazed up within me at a father's name-

Do they desert me now!-at my last trial?
Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!
I have obey'd! Declare ye by what name
I dare invoke you! Tell what sacrifice
Will make you gracious.

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

Patience! Truth! Obedience!
Be thy whole soul transparent! so the Light
Thou seekest may enshrine itself within thee!

Perchance some huntsmen of the king's. Thy name?

RAAB KIUPRILI.

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BETHLEN.

BETHLEN.

Ask rather the poor roaming savage,
Whose infancy no holy rite had blest.

To him, perchance rude spoil or ghastly trophy,
In chase or battle won, have given a name.
I have none-but like a dog have answer'd
To the chance sound which he that fed me call'd me.
RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

I had a glimpse Thy birth-place?
Of some fierce shape; and but that Fancy often
Is Nature's intermeddler, and cries halves
With the outward sight, I should believe I saw it
Bear off some human prey. O my preserver!
Bathory! Father! Yes, thou deservest that name!
Thou didst not mock me! These are blessed findings!
The secret cipher of my destiny

Looking at his signet.
Stands here inscribed: it is the seal of fate!

Ha! (Observing the cave). Had ever monster fitting
lair, 'tis yonder!

Thou yawning Den, I well remember thee!
Mine eyes deceived me not. Heaven leads me on!
Now for a blast, loud as a king's defiance,
To rouse the monster couchant o'er his ravine!
[Blows the horn-then a pause.
Another blast! and with another swell
To you, ye charmed watchers of this wood!
If haply I have come, the rightful heir
Of vengeance: if in me survive the spirits
Of those, whose guiltless blood flowed streaming here!
[Blows again louder.
Still silent? Is the monster gorged? Heaven shield me!
Thou, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide.
[As BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks
from the cavern unseen.

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BETHLEN.

Deluding spirits, do ye mock me?
Question the Night! Bid Darkness tell its birth-place?
Yet hear! Within yon old oak's hollow trunk,
Where the bats cling, have I survey'd my cradle!
The mother-falcon hath her nest above it,
And in it the wolf litters!-I invoke you,
Tell me, ye secret ones! if ye beheld me
For hidden gold hath found a talisman,
As I stood there, like one who having delved
O tell! what rites, what offices of duty
This cygnet doth command? What rebel spirits
Owe homage to its Lord?

RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

More, guiltier, mightier, Than thou mayest summon! Wait the destined hour!

BETHLEN.

O yet again, and with more clamorous prayer,
I importune ye! Mock me no more with shadows!
This sable mantle-tell, dread voice! did this
Enwrap one fatherless?

ZAPOLYA (unseen).
One fatherless!
BETHLEN (starting).

A sweeter voice!-A voice of love and pity!
Was it the soften'd echo of mine own?
Sad echo! but the hope kill'd was sickly,
And ere it died it had been mourn'd as dead!
One other hope yet lives within my soul;
Quick let me ask!-while yet this stifling fear,
This stop of the heart, leaves utterance!-Are-are

these

The sole remains of her that gave me life?
Have I a mother?

[ZAPOLYA rushes out to embrace him. BETHLEN starts.
Ha!

ZAPOLYA (embracing him).

My son my son! A wretched-Oh no, no! a blest-a happy mother! [They embrace. KIUPRILI and GLYCINE come forward and the curtain drops.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

A stately Room in LORD CASIMIR's Castle.
Enter EMERICK and LASKA.

EMERICK.

I do perceive thou hast a tender conscience,
Laska, in all things that concern thine own
Interest or safety.

LASKA.

In this sovereign presence
I can fear nothing, but your dread displeasure.

EMERICK.

Perchance, thou think'st it strange, that I of all men
Should covet thus the love of fair Soralta,
Dishonoring Casimir ?

LASKA.

Far be it from me!

Hold constant to thy exploit with this monster,
And leave untouch'd your common talk aforesaid,
What your Lord did, or should have done.

LASKA.

My talk? The saints forbid! I always said, for my part, "Was not the king Lord Casimir's dearest friend? Was not that friend a king? Whate'er he did 'Twas all from pure love to his Majesty."

EMERICK.

And this then was thy talk? While knave and coward,
Both strong within thee, wrestle for the uppermost,
In slips the fool and takes the place of both.
Babbler! Lord Casimir did, as thou and all men.
He loved himself, loved honors, wealth, dominion.
All these were set upon a father's head:
Good truth! a most unlucky accident!
For he but wish'd to hit the prize; not graze
The head that bore it: so with steady eye

Your Majesty's love and choice bring honor with them. Off flew the parricidal arrow.-Even

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As Casimir loved Emerick, Emerick
He wink'd not then, for love of me forsooth!
Loves Casimir, intends him no dishonor.
For love of me now let him wink! Or if
The dame prove half as wise as she is fair,
He
may still pass his hand, and find all smooth.
[Passing his hand across his brow.

LASKA.

Your Majesty's reasoning has convinced me. EMERICK (with a slight start, as one who had been talking aloud to himself: then with scorn).

EMERICK.

"Tis your talk,

Is it, good statesman Laska?

LASKA.

No, not mine.

"Tis well! and more than meant.

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Thee! For by my faith

I had half forgotten thee.-Thou hast the key?

[LASKA bows.

And in your lady's chamber there's full space?

LASKA.

Between the wall and arras to conceal you.

EMERICK.

Here! This purse is but an earnest of thy fortune,
If thou provest faithful. But if thou betrayest me,
Hark you!-the wolf that shall drag thee to his den
Shall be no fiction.

[Exit EMERICK. LASKA manet with a key in one
hand, and a purse in the other.

LASKA.

Well then! Here I stand,

Like Hercules, on either side a goddess.
Call this
[Looking at the purse
Preferment; this (Holding up the key), Fidelity!
And first my golden goddess: what bids she?
Only:-"This way, your Majesty! hush.

hold

The house

Are all safe lodged."-Then, put Fidelity Within her proper wards, just turn her roundSo-the door opens-and for all the rest, "Tis the king's deed, not Laska's. Do but this, And-"I'm the mere earnest of your future fortunes." But what says the other ?-Whisper on! I hear you! [Putting the key to his ear. Hurl'd my javelin; All very true!-but, good Fidelity! If I refuse king Emerick, will you promise, And swear, now, to unlock the dungeon-door, And save me from the hangman? Ay! you're silent! And take, friend, this advice. When next thou What! not a word in answer? A clear nonsuit!

LASKA.

Which from his dragon-scales recoiling

tonguest it,

EMERICK.

Enough!

Now for one look to see that all are lodged

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O tempt me not, e'en with a wandering guess,
To break the first command a mother's will
Imposed, a mother's voice made known to me!
"Ask not, my son," said she, "our names or thine.
The shadow of the eclipse is passing off
The full orb of thy destiny! Already
The victor Crescent glitters forth, and sheds
O'er the yet lingering haze a phantom light.
Thou canst not hasten it! Leave then to Heaven
The work of Heaven: and with a silent spirit
Sympathize with the powers that work in silence!"
Thus spake she, and she look'd as she were then
Fresh from some heavenly vision!

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LASKA.

[Re-enter LASKA, not perceiving them. You too, Sir Knight, have come back safe and sound!

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You play'd 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!

OLD BATHORY.

Laska, beware! Forget not what thou art!
Shouldst 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 favor,
High lords, and perilous of one day's growth!
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
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-

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 lower'd tones.

[Then very pompously

No nearer, pray! consider! First, we demand the manner of her death?

If it should prove his ghost, the touch would freeze me
To a tomb-stone. No nearer!

BETHLEN.

The fool is drunk!

BETHLEN.

Nay! that's superfluous! Have you not just told us, That you yourself, led by impetuous valor, Witness'd the whole? My tale's of later date.

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The sudden swelling of this shallow dastard Tells of a recent storm: the first disruption

SAROLTA.

ATTENDANT.

And old Bathory answer'd With a sad smile, "It is a witch's prayer,

Of the black cloud that hangs and threatens o'er us. And may Heaven read it backwards." Though she

BETHLEN.

E'en this reproves my loitering. Say where lies The oratory?

OLD BATHORY.

Ascend yon flight of stairs! Midway the corridor a silver lamp Hangs o'er the entrance of Sarolta's chamber, And facing it, the low-arch'd oratory! Me thou 'lt find watching at the outward gate: For a petard might burst the bars, unheard By the drenched porter, and Sarolta hourly Expects Lord Casimir, spite of Emerick's message!

BETHLEN.

There I will meet you! And till then good night! Dear good old man, good night!

OLD BATHORY.

O yet one moment!

What I repell'd, when it did seem my own,
I cling to, now 'tis parting-call me father!
It can not now mislead thee. O my son,
Ere yet our tongues have learnt another name,
Bethlen!-say-Father to me!

BETHLEN.

Now, and for ever My father! other sire than thou, on earth I never had, a dearer could not have! From the base earth you raised me to your arms, And I would leap from off a throne, and kneeling, Ask Heaven's blessing from thy lips. My father!

was rash,

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O they were innocent, and yet have perish'd
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 chillness tell me, that there is
Guilt too enormous to be duly punish'd,
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, unshelter'd!
Make our food bitter with despised 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 wrong'd Kiuprili be appeased. But only,
Only, O merciful in vengeance! let not

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