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Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper.

[hurried off by Ragozzi and the Guard.

EMERICK.

Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre

This insolence shall be avenged

CASIMIR

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 Casimir in agitation.

EMERICK (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 sharpened horns,
Shall greet me fearless in the new-born crescent.

[Exit.

Scene changes to another view, namely, the back of the Palace-a Wooded Park, and Mountains.

Enter ZAPOLYA, with an Infant in Arms.

ZAPOLYA.

Hush, 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 wilderness!

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!
And let this darkness

Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings

To hide and shield us! Start'st thou in thy slumbers?
Thou canst not dream of savage Emerick. Hush!
Betray not thy poor mother! For if they seize thee
I shall grow mad indeed, and they'll believe

Thy wicked uncle's lie.

[she starts back

Ha! what? A soldier ? and enter CHEF RAGOZZI,

CHEF RAGOZZI.

Sure heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped!

O rare tune of a tyrant's promises

That can enchant the serpent treachery

From forth its lurking hole in the heart, " Ragozzi!
"O 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 Ragozzi?

CHEF RAGOZZI.

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!

ZAPOLYA.

Stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong thee!

This is thy sovereign's child: Oh, pity us,

And be not treacherous!

[kneeling.

CHEF RAGOZZI. (raising her.)

Madam! For mercy's sake !

ZAPOLYA.

But tyrants have an hundred eyes and arms!

CHEF RAGOZZI,

Take courage, madam! 'Twere too horrible,
(I can not do't) to swear I'm not a monster!-
Scarce had I barr'd the door on Raab Kiuprili-

Kiuprili! How?

ZAPOLYA.

CHEF RAGOZZI.

There is not time to tell it.

The tyrant called 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 Flashed on me. I disguised my prisoner

What Raab Kiuprili ?

ZAPOLYA.

CHEF RAGOZZI.

Yes! my noble general!

I sent him off, with Emerick's own pacquet,
Haste, and post haste-Prepared to follow him-

ZAPOLYA.

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

To escort me. Oh, thrice happy when he finds
The treasure which I convoy!

ZAPOLYA.

One brief moment,

That praying for strength I may have strength. This

babe,

Heaven's eye is on it, and its innocence
Is, as a prophet's prayer, strong and prevailing!

Through thee, dear babe, the inspiring thought pos

sessed me,

When the loud clamor rose, and all the palace
Emptied itself (They sought my life, Ragozzi !)
Like a swift shadow gliding, I made way

To the deserted chamber of my lord.

[then to the infant.

And thou didst kiss thy father's lifeless lips,
And in thy helpless hand, sweet slumberer!
Still clasp'st the signet of thy royalty.

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