The bad man's cunning still prepares the way [Musing to himself—then- Act and appear as time and prudence prompt thee: I shall not misconceive the part thou playest. Mine is an easier part-to brave the Usurper. [Enter a procession of EMERICK's Adherents, Nobles, Chieftains, and Soldiers, with Music. They advance toward the front of the Stage, KIUPRILI makes the signal for them to stop.-The Music ceases. LEADER OF THE PROCESSION. The Lord Kiuprili!-Welcome from the camp. RAAB KIUPRILI. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria ! LEADER. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession; A warrior best will greet a warlike king. RAAB KIUPRILI. This patent, written by your lawful king (Lo! his own seal and signature attesting) Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring, The Queen, and the Prince Emerick, and myself. [Voices of Live King Emerick! an Emerick! an Emerick! [Murmurs. O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn Chief of his council and the lord high steward. RAAB KIUPRILI. What means this clamour? Are these madmen's voices? Confirmed: and me the king's grace hath appointed Infamy now, oppression in reversion, And Heaven's inevitable curse hereafter? (Bought by a bribe!) I know thee now still less. The son of Raab Kiuprili! a bought bond-slave, [Loud murmurs, followed by cries-Emerick! No School'd to shrill forth his feeder's usurp'd titles, Baby Prince! No Changelings! Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this Bled for your safety, conquer'd for your honour! Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice Did the blast Beat on this body, frost-and-famine-numb'd, [Murmurs increase-and cries of Onward! onward! Love's natural offerings to a rightful king, [During the last four lines, enter LORD CASIMIR, CASIMIR. Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand The elected King, our chosen Emerick? And scream, Long live king Emerick! LEADERS. Aye, King Emerick! Stand back, my lord! Lead us, or let us pass. SOLDIER. Nay, let the general speak! SOLDIERS. Hear him! Hear him! Assembled lords and warriors of Illyria, Or one false whisper in his sovereign's ear? A bought bribed wretch, who, being called my son, CASIMIR. Sire! your words grow dangerous. High-flown romantic fancies ill-beseem [Starts-then approaching with timid respect. Your age and wisdom. "T is a statesman's virtue, To guard his country's safety by what means My father! Call out the guard! Ragozzi! seize the assassin. EMERICK. A sovereign's ear ill brooks a subject's questioning! 'T is hard to erase at once the fond belief RAAB KIUPRILI. Prince! I listen. EMERICK. Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya, CASIMIR. Kiuprili? Ha!--[With lowered voice, at the same time Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her frauds detected! with one hand making signs to the guard to retire.- Pass on, friends! to the palace. [Music recommences.-The Procession passes into the Palace. During which time EMERICK and KIUPRILI regard each other stedfastly. EMERICK. What! Raab Kiuprili? What! a father's sword Against his own son's breast? BAAB KIUPRILI. 'T would best excuse him, Were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him. EMERICK. This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced RAAB KIUPRILI. EMERICK. Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow In her own will to appear and voice her claims; them? EMERICK. By what right dares Kiuprili question me? RAAB KIUPRILI. By a right common to all loyal subjects- [Grasping the Patent. RAAB KIUPRILI. I likewise ask, by whose authority The access to the sovereign was refused me? EMERICK. By whose authority dared the general leave His camp and army, like a fugitive? RAAB KIUPRILI. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade, At the command, Prince! of my king and thine, Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless? Or haply that a nation's fate should hang CASIMIR. What better claim can sovereign wish or need, The unquiet silence of a stern Resolve, Wouldst thou have pilfer'd from our school-boys' themes Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves Is 't thus, thou scoff'st the people! most of all, RAAB KIUPRILI (aloud). O most of all, most miserable nation, For whom th' Imperial power, enormous bubble! Of virtuous kings, the tyrant's slave and tyrant, Throttling the impatient voice. I have heard thee, Head, heart, and fortunate arm, in watch and war, Prince! For the land's fame and weal; if large acquests, Thus long I have listen'd-Guard-ho! from the Pa-, And let this darkness—— lace. [The Guard post from the Guard-House with CHEF RAGOZZI at their head, and then a number from the Palace-CHEF RAGOZZI demands KIUPRILI'S sword, and apprehends him. CASIMIR. O agony! (To EMERICK.) Sire, hear me! [To KIUPRILI, who turns from him. Hear me, Father! EMERICK. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin! Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings CHEF RAGOZZI. Sure heaven befriends us. Well! he hath escaped! Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign's. From forth its lurking-hole in the heart. RAAB KIUPRILI. 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 EMERICK. Hence with the madman! RAAB KIUPRILI. Your Queen's murder, The royal orphan's murder: and to the death Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper. Ragozzi! «O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?» Of my best friend Kiuprili! His own son-monstrous! But gain some sure intelligence of the queen : ZAPOLYA (coming fearfully forward). CHEF RAGOZZI. The Queen! Now then the miracle is full! I see heaven's wisdom is an over-match [Hurried off by RAGOZZI and the Guard. For the devil's cunning. This way, madam, haste! Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee! I sent him off, with Emerick's own pacquet, Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother, Driven forth into the cruel widerness! Haste, and post haste-Prepared to follow him ZAPOLYA. Ah, how? Is it joy or fear! My limbs seem sinking!— Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring: Thou A gentle beast and fleet, and my boy's mule, art The rightful heir of an anointed king! What sounds are those? It is the vesper chaunt Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father! One that can shoot a precipice like a bird, |