The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 155

[_They retire to the cavern, bearing ZAPOLYA. Then enter BETHLEN, armed with a boar-spear._

_Bethlen._ I had a glimpse 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! 165 Bathory! Father! Yes, thou deserv'st that name!

Thou did'st not mock me! These are blessed findings!

The secret cypher of my destiny [_Looking at his signet._ Stands here inscribed: it is the seal of fate!

Ha!--Had ever monster fitting lair, 'tis yonder! 170 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 175 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 s.h.i.+eld me! 180 Thou, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide.

[_As BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks from the cavern unseen._

_Raab Kiuprili_. Withdraw thy foot! Retract thine idle spear, And wait obedient!

_Bethlen._ Ha! What art thou? speak!

_Raab Kiuprili (still unseen)._ Avengers!

_Bethlen._ By a dying mother's pangs E'en such am I. Receive me!

_Raab Kiuprili (still unseen)._ Wait! Beware! 185 At thy first step, thou treadest upon the light, Thenceforth must darkling flow, and sink in darkness!

_Bethlen._ Ha! see my boar-spear trembles like a reed!-- Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shuddering.-- Those piled thoughts, built up in solitude, 190 Year following year, that pressed upon my heart As on the altar of some unknown G.o.d, Then, as if touched by fire from heaven descending.

Blazed up within me at a father's name-- Do they desert me now?--at my last trial? 195 Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!

I have obeyed! 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, 200 Thou seekest, may enshrine itself within thee!

Thy name?

_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. 205 I have none--but like a dog have answered To the chance sound which he that fed me, called me.

_Raab Kiuprili (still unseen)._ Thy birth-place?

_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, 210 Where the bats cling, have I surveyed 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 As I stood there, like one who having delved 215 For hidden gold hath found a talisman, O tell! what rights, what offices of duty This signet 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! 220

_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._ A sweeter voice!--A voice of love and pity! 225 Was it the softened echo of mine own?

Sad echo! but the hope it kill'd was sickly, And ere it died it had been mourned as dead!

One other hope yet lives within my soul: Quick let me ask!--while yet this stifling fear, 230 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._ Ha!

_Zapolya._ 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._

LINENOTES:

[21] _hear_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[57] _Life's_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[59] _Hath_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[70] sank] _sank_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[75-6] om. 1817.

[Before 90] _Glycine (fearfully)._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[102] [_GLYCINE leaves the provisions, and exit fearfully. . . . GLYCINE returns, having recovered herself._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[Before 118] _Raab Kiuprili (repeats the word)._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[118]

Human? [_Then sternly._

1817, 1828, 1829.

[135] _my_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

_Glycine._ And of Lord Casimir--

_Raab Kiuprili (aside)._ O agony! _my_ son.

Erased [? by S. T. C. in copy of 1817.]

[137] _Raab Kiuprili (turning off and to himself)._ 1817, 1828, 1839.