The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 161

_Enter LORD RUDOLPH._

Well met, Lord Rudolph!---- Your whisper was not lost upon my ear, And I dare trust--

_Lord Rudolph._ Enough! the time is precious!

You left Temeswar late on yester-eve? 5 And sojourned there some hours?

_Casimir._ I did so!

_Lord Rudolph._ Heard you Aught of a hunt preparing?

_Casimir._ Yes; and met The a.s.sembled huntsmen!

_Lord Rudolph._ Was there no word given?

_Casimir._ The word for me was this:--The royal Leopard Chases thy milk-white dedicated Hind. 10

_Lord Rudolph._ Your answer?

_Casimir._ As the word proves false or true Will Casimir cross the hunt, or join the huntsmen!

_Lord Rudolph._ The event redeemed their pledge?

_Casimir._ It did, and therefore Have I sent back both pledge and invitation.

The spotless Hind hath fled to them for shelter, 15 And bears with her my seal of fellows.h.i.+p! [_They take hands._

_Lord Rudolph._ But Emerick! how when you reported to him Sarolta's disappearance, and the flight Of Bethlen with his guards?

_Casimir._ O he received it As evidence of their mutual guilt. In fine, 20 With cozening warmth condoled with, and dismissed me.

_Lord Rudolph._ I entered as the door was closing on you: His eye was fixed, yet seemed to follow you,-- With such a look of hate, and scorn and triumph, As if he had you in the toils already, 25 And were then choosing where to stab you first.

But hus.h.!.+ draw back!

_Casimir._ This nook is at the furthest From any beaten track.

_Lord Rudolph._ There! mark them!

[_Points to where LASKA and PESTALUTZ cross the Stage._

_Casimir._ Laska!

_Lord Rudolph._ One of the two I recognized this morning; His name is Pestalutz: a trusty ruffian 30 Whose face is prologue still to some dark murder.

Beware no stratagem, no trick of message, Dispart you from your servants.

_Casimir (aside)._ I deserve it.

The comrade of that ruffian is my servant: The one I trusted most and most preferred. 35 But we must part. What makes the king so late?

It was his wont to be an early stirrer.

_Lord Rudolph._ And his main policy.

To enthral the sluggard nature in ourselves Is, in good truth, the better half of the secret To enthral the world: for the will governs all. 40 See, the sky lowers! the cross-winds waywardly Chase the fantastic ma.s.ses of the clouds With a wild mockery of the coming hunt!

_Casimir._ Mark yonder ma.s.s! I make it wear the shape Of a huge ram that b.u.t.ts with head depressed. 45

_Lord Rudolph (smiling)._ Belike, some stray sheep of the oozy flock, Which, if bards lie not, the Sea-shepherds tend, Glaucus or Proteus. But my fancy shapes it A monster couchant on a rocky shelf.

_Casimir._ Mark too the edges of the lurid ma.s.s-- 50 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 horsemans.h.i.+p!

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 n.o.bler 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 watch-word!--Art thou not Bathory? 100

_Old Bathory._ O n.o.ble 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 wors.h.i.+p 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. .h.i.ther--

_Zapolya._ Lady Sarolta mean'st thou?