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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
In the deliverance of his bleeding country!

[Exit Casimir. Scene changes to the mouth of a cavern as in Act II. ZA POLYA 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.
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, who had been gazing affectionately after Glycine, starts at Bathory's voice.

ZAPOLYA.

He hath the watch word!-Art thou not Bathory?

OLD BATHORY.

O noble lady! greetings from your son!

ZAPOLYA.

[Bathory kneels.

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,
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.
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.

My own brave boy-O pardon, noble lady!

Your son

ZA POLYA.

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

[blocks in formation]

In the cave's mouth we have such 'vantage ground That even this old arm

[Exeunt Zapolya and Bathory into the Cave. Enter LASKA aud 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: And now I leave you to take care of him.

For the king's purposes are doubtless friendly.

PESTALUTZ. (affecting to start.)

Be on your guard, man!

LASKA. (in affright.)

Ha! what now ?

PESTALUTZ.

Behind you!

"Twas one of Satan's imps, that grinned and threat

ened you

For your most impudent hope to cheat his master!

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. (pompously.)

Friend! Laska will be found at his own post,
Watching elsewhere for the king's interest.
There's a rank plot that Laska must hunt down,
"Twixt Bethlen and Glycine!

PESTALUTZ. (with a sneer.)

What! the girl

Whom Laska saw the war-wolf tear in pieces?

LASKA. (throwing down a bow and arrows.) Well! There's my arms! Hark! should your javelin

fail you,

These points are tipt with venom.

[starts and sees Glycine without.

By Heaven! Glycine!

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

[They run out after Glycine, and she shrieks without : then enter BATHORY from the cavern.

VOL. II.

A A

OLD BATHORY.

Rest, lady, rest! I feel in every sinew

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

The shriek came thence.

[Clash of swords, and Bethlen's voice heard from behind the scenes; GLYCINE enters alarmed; then, as seeing Laska's bow and arrows. GLYCINE.

Ha! weapons here? Then, Bethlen, thy Glycine
Will die with thee or save thee!

[She seizes them and rushes out. Bathory following her. Lively and irregular 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.

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.

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