Moon-calves, credulous girl
Haply some o'ergrown savage of the forest
Hath his lair there, and fear hath framed the rest.
[Then speaking again to Bethlen.
After that last great battle (O young man!
Thou wakest anew my life's sole anguish), that
Which fix'd Lord Emerick on his throne, Bathory
Led by a cry, far inward from the track,
In the hollow of an old oak, as in a nest,
Did find thee, Bethlen, then a helpless babe :
The robe, that wrapt thee, was a widow's mantle.

BETHLEN.

An infant's weakness doth relax my frame.
O say-I fear to ask-

I would that you could weep like me! O do not
Gaze so upon the air!

SAROLTA (continuing the story).
While he was absent,

A friendly troop, 't is certain, scour'd the wood,
Hotly pursued indeed by Emerick.

Hid in a brake hard by,
Scarce by both palms supported from the earth,
A wounded lady lay, whose life fast waning
Seem'd to survive itself in her fixt eyes,

That strain'd towards the babe. At length one arm
Painfully from her own weight disengaging,

She pointed first to Heaven, then from her bosom
Drew forth a golden casket. Thus entreated
Thy foster-father took thee in his arms,

Emerick!

GLYCINE (to silence him).
Bethlen!

BETHLEN.

Hist! I'll curse him in a whisper!
This gracious lady must hear blessings only.
She hath not yet the glory round her head,
Nor those strong eagle wings, which made swift

way

To that appointed place, which I must seek:
Or else she were my mother!

SAROLTA.

Noble youth!

From me fear nothing! Long time have I owed

And, kneeling, spake : If aught of this world's com- Offerings of expiation for misdeeds
fort

Can reach thy heart, receive a poor man's troth,
That at my life's risk I will save thy child!

Her countenance work'd, as one that seem'd pre-
paring

A loud voice, but it died upon her lips

In a faint whisper, "Fly! Save him! Hide-hide all!"

BETHLEN.

And did he leave her? What! Had I a mother?
And left her bleeding, dying? Bought I vile life
With the desertion of a dying mother?
Oh agony !

GLYCINE.

Alas! thou art bewilder'd,

And dost forget thou wert a helpless infant!

BETHLEN.

What else can I remember, but a mother
Mangled and left to perish?

SAROLTA.

Hush, Glycine!
It is the ground-swell of a teeming instinct:
Let it but lift itself to air and sunshine,
And it will find a mirror in the waters,
It now makes boil above it. Check him not!
BETHLEN.

O that I were diffused among the waters
That pierce into the secret depths of earth,
And find their way in darkness! Would that I
Could spread myself upon the homeless winds!

Long pass'd that weigh me down, though innocent!
Thy foster-father hid the secret from thee,
For he perceived thy thoughts as they expanded,
Proud, restless, and ill-sorting with thy state!
Vain was his care! Thou 'st made thyself suspected
E'en where Suspicion reigns, and asks no proof
But its own fears! Great Nature hath endow'd thee
With her best gifts! From me thou shalt receive
All honorable aidance! But haste hence!
Travel will ripen thee, and enterprise

Beseems thy years! Be thou henceforth my soldier!
And whatsoe'er betide thee, still believe
That in each noble deed, achieved or suffer'd,
Thou solvest best the riddle of thy birth!

And may the light that streams from thine own
honor

Guide thee to that thou seekest!

[SAROLTA and GLYCINE exeunt. Trumpets etc. louder Enter EMERICK, LORD RUDOLph, Laska, and Huntsmen and Attendants.

And then, perchance, I might have power to unbosom
These thanks that struggle here. Eyes fair as thine
Have gazed on me with tears of love and anguish,
Which these eyes saw not, or beheld unconscious;
And tones of anxious fondness, passionate prayers, A gallant chase, Sire.
Have been talk'd to me! But this tongue ne'er
soothed

A mother's ear, lisping a mother's name!
O, at how dear a price have I been loved,

And no love could return! One boon then, lady!
Where'er thou bidd'st, I go thy faithful soldier,
But first must trace the spot, where she lay bleeding
Who gave me life. No more shall beast of ravine
Affront with baser spoil that sacred forest!
Or if avengers more than human haunt there,
Take they what shape they list, savage or heavenly,
They shall make answer to me, though my heart's

blood

For I believe in part thy tale of terror!
But, trust me, 't is the inner man transform'd:
Beasts in the shape of men are worse than war-

RUDOLPH.

EMERICK.

Ay, but this new quarry

That we last started seems worth all the rest.
[Then to LASKA

And you-excuse me-what's your name?

LASKA.

Your Majesty may please.

EMERICK.

Whatever

Nay, that's too late, man.
Say, what thy mother and thy godfather
Were pleased to call thee?

LASKA.

Laska, my liege Sovereign.

EMERICK.

Well, my liege subject Laska! And you are
Lord Casimir's steward?

LASKA.

And your majesty's creature

EMERICK.

Two gentle dames made off at our approach.
Which was your lady?

LASKA.

My liege lord, the taller. The other, please your grace, is her poor handmaid, Long since betrothed to me. But the maid's fro ward

Yet would your grace but speak

Well! if the mountain move not to the prophet,
The prophet must to the mountain! In this Laska
There's somewhat of the knave mix'd up with dolt
Through the transparence of the fool, methought,
I saw (as I could lay my finger on it)
The crocodile's eye, that peer'd up from the bottom
This knave may do us service. Hot ambition
Won me the husband. Now let vanity
And the resentment for a forced seclusion
Decoy the wife! Let him be deem'd the aggressor
Whose cunning and distrust began the game!
[Exil

Gnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well

O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects.
But wherefore, O revered Kiuprili! wherefore

RAAB KIUPRILI.

[Song again.

Did my importunate prayers, my hopes and fancies, It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!

Force thee from thy secure though sad retreat?

ZAPOLYA.

Would that my tongue had then cloven to my mouth! Hark! her voice falters!

But Heaven is just! With tears I conquer'd thee,
And not a tear is left me to repent with!
Hadst thou not done already-hadst thou not
Suffer'd-oh, more than e'er man feign'd of friend-
ship?

RAAB KIUPRILI.

Yet be thou comforted! What! hadst thou faith
When I turn'd back incredulous? "Twas thy light
That kindled mine. And shall it now go out,
And leave thy soul in darkness? Yet look up,

[Exit ZAPOLYA.

RAAB KIUPRILI. She must not enter The cavern, else I will remain unseen! [KIUPRILI retires to one side of the stage: GLYCINE enters singing.

[Sings again.

If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancy
Voices in all chance sounds!

By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, [Starts. To make disclosure of his parentage. "Twas some dry branch But most of allDropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly, Took no food with him-only his arms and boar-spear! What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine, Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest? RAAB KIUPRILI (unseen).

Shame! Nothing hurt me!

ZAPOLYA (rushing out from the cavern).
Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak.

GLYCINE.

Whether his Mother live, or perish'd here!

ZAPOLYA.

Angel of Mercy, I was perishing

And thou didst bring me food: and now thou bring'st
The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation
To a mother's famish'd 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 fail'd me wholly!
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

If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs With treasonous words of Emerick-
Speak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst

and hoarseness!

Speak, Bethlen! or but moan. St-St-No-Bethlen!
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 anguish !

And of Lord Casimir

ZAPOLYA.

Ha! my son!

GLYCINE.

Saints protect me!

RAAB KIUPRILI.

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

Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy fears

ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILL.
Who?

GLYCINE.

Lady Sarolta

Frown'd and discharged these bad men.

RAAB KIUPRILI (turning off and 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:
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.
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 clogg'd our flight
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'erflow'd, and made discovery
That in this wood-

ZAPOLYA (in agitation).

O speak!

GLYCINE.

Oh, fool! mine eyes are duped by my own shudder

ing.

Those piled thoughts, built up in solitude,

A wounded lady-Year following year, that press'd upon my heart [ZAPOLYA faints—they both support her. As on the altar of some unknown God,

Then, as if touch'd by fire from heaven descending,
Blazed up within me at a father's name-

Do they desert me now!-at my last trial?
Voice of command! and thou, O hidden Light!
I have obey'd! 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
Thou seekest may enshrine itself within thee!

Perchance some huntsmen of the king's. Thy name?

RAAB KIUPRILI.

BETHLEN.

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.
I have none-but like a dog have answer'd

To the chance sound which he that fed me call'd me.
RAAB KIUPRILI (still unseen).

I had a glimpse Thy birth-place?
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!
Bathory! Father! Yes, thou deservest that name!
Thou didst not mock me! These are blessed findings!
The secret cipher of my destiny

Looking at his signet.
Stands here inscribed: it is the seal of fate!

Ha! (Observing the cave). Had ever monster fitting
lair, 'tis yonder!

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
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 shield me!
Thou, faithful spear! be both my torch and guide.
[AS BETHLEN is about to enter, KIUPRILI speaks
from the cavern unseen.

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,
The mother-falcon hath her nest above it,
Where the bats cling, have I survey'd my cradle!
And in it the wolf litters!I invoke you,
Tell me, ye secret ones! if ye beheld me
For hidden gold hath found a talisman,
As I stood there, like one who having delved

O tell! what rites, what offices of duty
This cygnet 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!

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 (starting).

A sweeter voice!-A voice of love and pity!
Was it the soften'd echo of mine own?
Sad echo! but the hope it kill'd was sickly,
And ere it died it had been mourn'd as dead!
One other hope yet lives within my soul;
Quick let me ask!—while yet this stifling fear,
This stop of the heart, leaves utterance!-Are-are