As I removed the seal, the heavy arm Which, through a long descent where all sound perishes, Led out beyond the palace. Well I knew it CHEF RAGOZZI. Haste madam! Let me take this precious burden! [he kneels as he takes the child. ZAPOLYA. Take him? And if we be pursued, I charge thee, Flee thou and leave me! Flee and save thy king! [then as going off, she looks back on the palace. Thou tyrant's den, be called no more a palace! The orphan's angel at the throne of heaven Stands up against thee, and there hover o'er thee A Queen's, a Mother's, and a Widow's curse. Henceforth a dragon's haunt, fear and suspicion Stand sentry at thy portals! Faith and honour, Driven from the throne, shall leave the attainted nation: And, for the iniquity that houses in thee, False glory, thirst of blood, and lust of rapine, (Fateful conjunction of malignant planets) Shall shoot their blastments on the land. The fathers Till Vengeance hath her fill. And thou, snatched hence, (Again to the infant.) Poor friendless fugitive! with mother's wailing, Offspring of Royal Andreas, shalt return ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS. Men. OLD BATHORY ..... A Mountaineer. BETHLEN BATHORY. The young Prince Andreas, supposed Son of Old Bathory. LORD RUDOLPH ... A Courtier, but friend to the Queen's party. Between the flight of the Queen, and the civil war which immediately followed, and in which Emerick remained the victor, a space of twenty years is supposed to have elapsed. |