Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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