Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Restless, as if some idly-vexing Sprite,

On swift wing coasting by, with tetchy hand

Pluck’d at the ringlets of the vaporous Fleece.

These are sure signs of conflict nigh at hand,

And elemental war!

[A single trumpet heard at some distance.

Lord Rudolph. That single blast 55

Announces that the tyrant’s pawing courser

Neighs at the gate. [Trumpets.

Hark! now the king comes forth!

For ever ‘midst this crash of horns and clarions

He mounts his steed, which proudly rears an-end

While he looks round at ease, and scans the crowd, 60

Vain of his stately form and horsemanship!

I must away! my absence may be noticed.

Casimir. Oft as thou canst, essay to lead the hunt

Hard by the forest-skirts; and ere high noon

Expect our sworn confederates from Temeswar. 65

I trust, ere yet this clouded sun slopes westward,

That Emerick’s death, or Casimir’s, will appease

The manes of Zapolya and Kiuprili! [Exit RUDOLPH.

The traitor, Laska! ——

And yet Sarolta, simple, inexperienced, 70

Could see him as he was, and often warned me.

Whence learned she this? — O she was innocent!

And to be innocent is Nature’s wisdom!

The fledge-dove knows the prowlers of the air,

Feared soon as seen, and flutters back to shelter. 75

And the young steed recoils upon his haunches,

The never-yet-seen adder’s hiss first heard.

O surer than Suspicion’s hundred eyes

Is that fine sense, which to the pure in heart,

By mere oppugnancy of their own goodness, 80

Reveals the approach of evil. Casimir!

O fool! O parricide! through yon wood did’st thou,

With fire and sword, pursue a patriot father,

A widow and an orphan. Dar’st thou then

(Curse-laden wretch) put forth these hands to raise 85

The ark, all sacred, of thy country’s cause?

Look down in pity on thy son, Kiuprili!

And let this deep abhorrence of his crime,

Unstained with selfish fears, be his atonement!

O strengthen him to nobler compensation 90

In the deliverance of his bleeding country! [Exit CASIMIR.

Scene changes to the mouth of a Cavern, 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, loneliness,

That but oppressed me hitherto, now scares. 95

Glycine. I shall know Bethlen at the furthest distance,

And the same moment I descry him, lady,

I will return to you. [Exit GLYCINE.

[Enter OLD BATHORY, speaking as he enters.

Old Bathory. Who hears? A friend!

A messenger from him who bears the signet!

Zapolya. He hath the watchword! — Art thou not Bathory? 100

Old Bathory. O noble lady! greetings from your son!

[BATHORY kneels.

Zapolya. Rise! rise! Or shall I rather kneel beside thee,

And call down blessings from the wealth of Heaven

Upon thy honoured head? When thou last saw’st me

I would full fain have knelt to thee, and could not, 105

Thou dear old man! How oft since then in dreams

Have I done worship to thee, as an angel

Bearing my helpless babe upon thy wings!

Old Bathory. O he was born to honour! Gallant deeds

And perilous hath he wrought since yester-eve. 110

Now from Temeswar (for to him was trusted

A life, save thine, the dearest) he hastes hither —

Zapolya. Lady Sarolta mean’st thou?

Old Bathory. She is safe.

The royal brute hath overleapt his prey,

And when he turned, a sworded Virtue faced him. 115

My own brave boy — O pardon, noble lady!

Your son ——

Zapolya. Hark! Is it he?

Old Bathory. I hear a voice

Too hoarse for Bethlen’s! ‘Twas his scheme and hope,

Long ere the hunters could approach the forest,

To have led you hence. — Retire.

Zapolya. O life of terrors! 120

Old Bathory. In the cave’s mouth we have such ‘vantage ground

That even this old arm —

[Exeunt ZAPOLYA and BATHORY into the cave.

Enter LASKA and PESTALUTZ.

Laska. Not a step further!

Pestalutz. Dastard! was this your promise to the king?

Laska. I have fulfilled his orders. Have walked with you

As with a friend: have pointed out Lord Casimir: 125

And now I leave you to take care of him.

For the king’s purposes are doubtless friendly.

Pestalutz. Be on your guard, man!

Laska. Ha! what now?

Pestalutz. Behind you!

‘Twas one of Satan’s imps, that grinned and threatened you

For your most impudent hope to cheat his master! 130

Laska. Pshaw! What! you think ‘tis fear that makes me leave you?

Pestalutz. Is’t not enough to play the knave to others,

But thou must lie to thine own heart?

Laska. Friend! Laska will be found at his own post,

Watching elsewhere for the king’s interest. 135

There’s a rank plot that Laska must hunt down,

‘Twixt Bethlen and Glycine!

Pestalutz. What! the girl

Whom Laska saw the war-wolf tear in pieces?

Laska. Well! Take my arms! Hark! should your javelin fail you,

These points are tipt with venom. [Seeing GLYCINE without.

By Heaven! Glycine! 140

Now as you love the king, help me to seize her!

[They run out after GLYCINE. Enter BATHORY from the

cavern.

Old Bathory. Rest, lady, rest! I feel in every sinew

A young man’s strength returning! Which way went they?

The shriek came thence. [Enter GLYCINE.

Glycine. Ha! weapons here? Then, Bethlen, thy Glycine 145

Will die with thee or save thee!

[She seizes them and rushes out. BATHORY following.

Music, and Peasants with hunting spears cross

the stage, singing chorally.

CHORAL SONG

Up, up! ye dames, ye lasses gay!

To the meadows trip away.

‘Tis you must tend the flocks this morn,

And scare the small birds from the corn. 150

Not a soul at home may stay:

For the shepherds must go

With lance and bow

To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

Leave the hearth and leave the house 155

To the cricket and the mouse:

Find grannam out a sunny seat,

With babe and lambkin at her feet.

Not a soul at home may stay:

For the shepherds must go 160

With lance and bow

To hunt the wolf in the woods to-day.

[Exeunt Huntsmen.

Re-enter BATHORY, BETHLEN, and GLYCINE.

Glycine. And now once more a woman ——

Bethlen. Was it then

That timid eye, was it those maiden hands

That sped the shaft, which saved me and avenged me? 165

Old Bathory. ‘Twas as a vision blazoned on a cloud

By lightning, shaped into a passionate scheme

Of life and death! I saw the traitor, Laska,

Stoop and snatch up the javelin of his comrade;

The point was at your back, when her shaft reached him. 170

The coward turned, and at the selfsame instant

The braver villain fell beneath your sword.

[Enter ZAPOLYA.

Zapolya. Bethlen! my child! and safe too!

Bethlen. Mother! Queen.

Royal Zapolya! name me Andreas!

Nor blame thy son, if being a king, he yet 175

Hath made his own arm minister of his justice.

So do the gods who launch the thunderbolt!

Zapolya. O Raab Kiuprili! Friend! Protector! Guide!

In vain we trenched the altar round with waters,

A flash from Heaven hath touched the hidden incense — 180

Bethlen. And that majestic form that stood beside thee

Was Raab Kiuprili!

Zapolya. It was Raab Kiuprili;

As sure as thou art Andreas, and the king.

Old Bathory. Hail Andreas! hail my king!

Andreas. Stop, thou revered one,

Lest we offend the jealous destinies 185