The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 154

[_GLYCINE leaves the provisions, and exit. KIUPRILI comes forward, seizes them and carries them into the cavern. GLYCINE returns._

_Glycine._ Shame! Nothing hurt me!

If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs Speak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst and hoa.r.s.eness!

Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St--St----No--Bethlen! 105 If I turn back and he should be found dead here,

[_She creeps nearer and nearer to the cavern._

I should go mad!--Again!--'Twas my own heart!

Hush, coward heart! better beat loud with fear, Than break with shame and anguis.h.!.+

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

Saints protect me!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears-- 110

_Glycine._ Save me!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Swear secrecy and silence!

_Glycine._ I swear!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Tell what thou art, and what thou seekest?

_Glycine._ Only A harmless orphan youth, to bring him food--

_Raab Kiuprili._ Wherefore in this wood?

_Glycine._ Alas! it was his purpose--

_Raab Kiuprili._ With what intention came he? Would'st thou save him, 115 Hide nothing!

_Glycine._ Save him! O forgive his rashness!

He is good, and did not know that thou wert human!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Human?

With what design?

_Glycine._ To kill thee, or If that thou wert a spirit, to compel thee By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, 120 To make disclosure of his parentage.

But most of all--

_Zapolya (rus.h.i.+ng out from the cavern)._ Heaven's blessing on thee!

Speak!

_Glycine._ Whether his mother live, or perished here!

_Zapolya._ Angel of mercy, I was peris.h.i.+ng And thou did'st bring me food: and now thou bring'st 125 The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation To a mother's famished heart! His name, sweet maiden!

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

_Zapolya._ Even till this morning?

This morning? when my weak faith failed me wholly! 130 Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance, And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse!

Say on!

_Glycine._ The false ones charged the valiant youth With treasonous words of Emerick--

_Zapolya._ Ha! my son!

_Glycine._ And of Lord Casimir--

_Raab Kiuprili (aside)._ O agony! my son! 135

_Glycine._ But my dear lady--

_Zapolya and Raab Kiuprili._ Who?

_Glycine._ Lady Sarolta Frowned and discharged these bad men.

_Raab Kiuprili (to himself)._ Righteous Heaven Sent me a daughter once, and I repined That it was not a son. A son was given me.

My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear: 140 And lo! that son became my curse and infamy.

_Zapolya (embraces Glycine)._ Sweet innocent! and you came here to seek him, And bring him food. Alas! thou fear'st?

_Glycine._ Not much!

My own dear lady, when I was a child, Embraced me oft, but her heart never beat so. 145 For I too am an orphan, motherless!

_Raab Kiuprili (to Zapolya)._ O yet beware, lest hope's brief flash but deepen The after gloom, and make the darkness stormy!

In that last conflict, following our escape, The usurper's cruelty had clogged our flight 150 With many a babe and many a childing mother.

This maid herself is one of numberless Planks from the same vast wreck. [_Then to GLYCINE again._ Well! Casimir's wife--

_Glycine._ She is always gracious, and so praised the old man That his heart o'erflowed, and made discovery 155 That in this wood--

_Zapolya._ O speak!

_Glycine._ A wounded lady--

[_ZAPOLYA faints--they both support her._

_Glycine._ Is this his mother?

_Raab Kiuprili._ She would fain believe it, Weak though the proofs be. Hope draws towards itself The flame with which it kindles. [_Horn heard without._ To the cavern!

Quick! quick!

_Glycine._ Perchance some huntsmen of the king's. 160

_Raab Kiuprili._ Emerick?

_Glycine._ He came this morning--