Pass on, friends' to the palace. [Music recommences.—The Procession passes into the Palace.—During which time Exteaick and Krupkill regard each other stedfastly. evi Etal cro. What! Raab Kiuprilin What! a father's sword Against his own son's breast? e AAh Kiu Phill. T would best excuse him, Were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him. EME nick. This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced A reign to which the free voice of the nobles Hath calld me, and the people, by regards of love and grace to Raab Kiuprili's house? RAAB rotu Paill. What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow them.” two prick. By what right dares Kiuprili question me? R.A.A.B. Kiu Ph ill. By a right common to all loyal subjects— To me a duty." As the realm's co-regent, Appointed by our sovereign's last free act, Writ by himself— [Grasping the Patent. emealck (With a contemptuous sneer). Aye!—Writ in a delirium ! R.A.A.d ki Uphili.

| likewise ask, by whose authority
The access to the sovereign was refused me?
extettick.

By whose authority dared the general leave
His camp and army, like a fugitive

RAA in Kiu phili.
A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade,
Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death!
A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements
To be belated in a loyal purpose—
At the command, Prince' of my king and thine,
Hither I came; and now again require -
Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States
Forthwith convened) that thou dost show at large,
On what ground of defect thou'st dared annul
This thy King's last and solemn act—hast dared
Ascend the throne, of which the law had named,
And conscience should have made thee, a protector.

99 ext Erick. | A sovereign's ear ill brooks a subject's questioning | Yet for thy past well-doing—and because "T is hard to erase at once the fond belief Long cherish'd, that Illyria had in thee | No dreaming priest's slave, but a Roman lover Of her true weal and freedom—and for this, too, That, hoping to call forth to the broad day-light And fostering breeze of glory all deservings, | I still had placed thee foremost. aa Ab Kluppill. Prince' I listen. eMedick. | Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya, Madden'd with grief, her erring hopes proved idle— CAsiatin. Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her frauds detected : eMeralck. According to the sworn attests in council | Of her physician—— RAAB Kiuphili (aside). Yes! the Jew, Barzoni : E.M. E. Rick. Under the imminent risk of death she lies, Or irrecoverable loss of reason, If known friend's face or voice renew the frenzy. casimia (to Kiuphili). Trust me, my lord ' a woman's trick has duped you— Us too—but most of all, the sainted Andreas. Even for his own fair fame, his grace prays hourly Eor her recovery, that (the States convened) l She may take council of her friends. EM epick. - i Right, Casimir' Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand In her own will to appear and voice her claims; Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course) With all the past passed by, as family quarrels, Let the Queen Dowager, with unblench'd honours, Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron. it AA b klu Phili. Prince Emerick' you speak fairly, and your pledge too Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning. cAslati R. My lord' you scarce know half his grace's goodness. The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta, Bred in the convent of our noble ladies, Her relative, the venerable abbess, Hath, at his grace's urgence, wood and won for me. he Me Rick. Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have render'd Dear and illustrious to all true Illyrians! naab kiuphili (sternly). The longest line, that ever tracing herald Or found or feign'd, placed by a begs;ar's soul, * Hath but a mushroom's date in the comparison And with the soul, the conscience is co-eval, Yea, the soul's essence. rai En ick. Conscience, good iny lord, is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience, That a free nation should be handed down, Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance And the blind law of lineage That whether infant, Or man matured, a wise man or an idiot,

What further pledge or proof desires Kimprilio

Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance
of a free people's destiny; should fall out
In the mere lottery of a reckless nature,
Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?
Or haply that a nation's fate should hang
On the bald accident of a midwife's handling
The unclosed sutures of au infant's skull
cast Mia.
What better claim can sovereign wish or need,
Than the free voice of men who love their country?
Those chiefly who have fought for 'to who by right,
Clain for their monarch one, who having obey'd,
So hath best learnt to toovern: who, having suffer'd,
Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him
Whence sprang the name of Emperor was it not
By nature's fiat! in the storm of triumph,
"Mid warriors' shouts, did her oracular voice
Make itself heard : Let the commanding spirit
Possess the station of command!
R.A.A.B. Kit Paill.
Prince Emerick,
Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading.
EM Erick (aside to Casi Mik).
Ragozzi was thy school-mate—a bold spirit:
Bind him to us!—Thy father thaws apace!
[Then aloud.
Leave us awhile, my lord!—Your friend, Ragozzi,
Whom you have not yet seen since his return,
Commands the guard to-day.
[Casimir retires to the Guard-house; and after a
time appears before it with Cher Racozzi.
We are alone.

Then, with your assent——
R.A.A. e. Kiu Pai Li.
Mistake not for assent

The unquiet silence of a stern Resolve,

Throttling the impatient voice.

I have heard thee,

Prince' And I have watch'd thee, too; but have small faith in A plausible tale told with a litting eve.

| Evenics turns as about to call for the Guard. In the next moment I am in thy power, Stir but a step, or make one sign —I swear by this good sword, Thou diest that instant. * Metalck. ila, ha!—Well, Sir!—Conclude your homily. RAAs kit Pauli (in a somewhat suppressed voice.)

A tale which, whether true or false, comes guarded \gainst all means of proof, detects itself. The Queen mew'd up —this too from anxious care And love brought forth of a sudden, a twin birth With thy discovery of her plot to rob thee of a rightful throne!—Mark how the scorpion, false

hood,

Coils round in its own perplexity, and fixes its sting in its own head :

exterick. Aye! to the mark: RAA b Krupnitt (aloud) : [he and EM Erick standing at equi-distance from the Palace and the Guard-House. Hadst thou believed thine own tale, hadst thou fancied Thyself the rightful successor of Andreas,

woulds thou have pilfer'd from our school-boys' themes

These shallow sophisms of a popular choice
What people? How convened or, if convened,
Must not the magic power that charms together
Millions of men in council, needs have power
To win or wield them? Better, O far better
Shout forth thy titles to von circling mountains,
And with a thousand-fold reverberation
Make the rocks flatter thee, and the volleying air,
Unbribed, shout back to thee, King Emerick'
By wholesome laws to embank the sovereign power,
To deepen by restraint, and by prevention
of lawless will to amass and guide the flood
In its majestic channel, is man's task
And the true patriot's glory! In all else
Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves
When least themselves in the mad whirl of crowds
Where folly is contagious, and too oft
Even wise men leave their better sense at home,
To chide and wonder at them when return'd.
Emerick (aloud).
Is 't thus, thou scoff'st the people' most of all,
The soldiers, the defenders of the people?
RAAB kiuraili (aloud).

O most of all, most miserable nation,
For whom the Imperial power, enormous bubble!
Is blown and kept aloft, or burst and shatter'd
By the bribed breath of a lewd soldiery!
Chiefly of such, as from the frontiers far
(which is the noblest station of true warriors),
In rank licentious idleness beleaguer
City and court, a venom'd thorn i the side
Of virtuous kings, the tyrant's slave and tyrant,
Still ravening for fresh largess. But with such
What title claim'st thou, save thy birth : What merits
Which many a liegeman may not plead as well,
Brave though I grant thee! If a life outlabour'd
Head, heart, and fortunate arm, in watch and war,
For the land's fame and weal; if large acquests,
Made honest by th’ aggression of the foe
And whose best praise is, that they bring us safety;
If victory, doubly-wreathed, whose under-garland
of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling
Through the grew olive-branch; if these, Prince Emerick'
Give the true title to the throne, not thou–
No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy
Be judge and arbiter between us!) 1,
I were the rightful sovereign :

Ext. Erick.

I have faith That thou both think'st and hopest it. Fair Zapolya, A provident ladyR--a ri upratlı.

Wretch, beneath all answer:

eMera Ick. offers at once the royal bed and throne!

R.A.A.B. Kiu Phill. To be a kingdom's bulwark, a king's glory, Yet loved by both, and trusted, and trust-worthy, ls more than to be king; but see! thy rage Fights with thy fear. I will relieve thee! Ho! [To the Guard.

* Menick. Not for thv sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian!

Thus long I have listen’d—Guard—ho! from the Pa-
lace.
[The Guard post from the Guard-house with
Cuef RAGozzi at their head, and then a num-
ber from the Palace—Chief RAGozzi demands
Krupalli's sword, and apprehends him.
cAsian lit.
0 agony' (To EMeatcr.) Sire, hear me!
[To Kiuphili, who turns from him.
Hear ine, Father!
eMetal cr.
Take in arrest that traitor and assassin'
Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign's.
a.A.A.B. Kiu Phili.
As the co-regent of the realm, I stand
Amenable to none save to the States,
Met in due course of law. But ye are bond-slaves,
Yet witness ye that before God and man
I here impeach Lord Emerick of foul treason,
And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion
Of murder— -
EM. f. Rick.
Hence with the madman'
RAAB Kiu phili
Your Queen's murder,
The royal orphan's murder: and to the death
Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper.
[Hurried off by RAGozzi and the Guard.
hair, Rick.
Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre
This insolence shall be avenged.
cAsh Mi R.
O banish him."
This infamy will crush me. O for my sake,
Banish him, my liege lord
Emerick (scornfully).
What? to the army?
Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger.
The child o'er-powers the man. In this emergence
I must take counsel for us both. Retire.
[Exit Casimia in agitation.
Ewekick (alone, looks at a Calendar).
The changeful planet, now in her decay,
Dips down at midnight, to be seen no more.
With her shall sink the enemies of Emerick,
Cursed by the last look of the waning moon:
And my bright destiny, with sharpen'd horns,
Shall greet me fearless in the new-born crescent.
| [Exit.

scene cha nges to another view, namely, the back of the Palace—a Wooded Park, and Mountains.

Enter ZAPolyA, with an Infant in her arms.

i zA pot. Y.A.
ifush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee!
Thou, the Protector of the helpless! thou,
The widow's Husband and the orphan's Father,
Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down
Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother,
Driven forth into the cruel widerness!
Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring: Thou
art
The rightful heir of an anointed king!
What sounds are those? It is the vesper chaunt
Of labouring men returning to their home!
Their queen has no home' Hear me, heavenly Father!

chief RAGozzi. Sure heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped 0 rare tune of a tyrant's promises That can enchant the serpent treachery From forth its lurking-hole in the heart. • Ragozzi! a 0 brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?. And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing! Merely to play the underling in the murder Of my best friend Kiuprili. His own son—monstrous! Tyrant! I owe thee thanks, and in good hour Will I repay thee, for that thou thought'st me too A serviceable villain. Could I now But gain some sure intelligence of the queen : Heaven bless and guard her! zapolyA (coming fearfully forward). Art thou not Ragozzio chef R.A. Gozzi. The Queen! Now then the miracle is full! I see heaven's wisdom is an over-match For the devil's cunning. This way, madam, haste! z A poly A. stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong thee! This is thy sovereign's child; Oh, pity us, And be not treacherous! chry RAgozzi (raising her). Madam : For mercy's sake! z A poly A. But tyrants have an hundred eyes and arms! ch Er to AGOZZ i. Take courage, madam ' 'T' were too horrible, (I can not do"t to swear 1 'm not a monster!— Scarce had I barr'd the door on Raab Kiuprili– zApo L.Y.A. Kiuprili! How? chef RAGozzi. There is not time to tell it, The tyrant calld me to him, praised my zeal (And be assured I overtopt his cunning And seemed right zealous). But time wastes: In fine, Bids me dispatch my trustiest friends, as couriers With letters to the army. The thought at once Flash'd on me. I disguised iny prisoner– ZA Po LY.A. What! Raab Kiuprili chief fragozzi. Yes! my noble general! I sent him off, with Emerick's own pacquet, Haste, and post haste—Prepared to follow him—— z Apo LY.A. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear! My limbs seem sinking!– chef RAGozzi (supporting her). Heaven still befriends us. I have left my charger, A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy's mule, One that can shoot a precipice like a bird, Just where the wood begins to climb the mountains. The course we'll thread will mock the tyrant's guesses, Or scare the followers. Ere we reach the main road, The Lord Kiuprili will have sent a troop