The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 148

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 148

_Sarolta._ Wait then, Till thou hast learnt it! Fervent good old man! 145 Forgive me that, to try thee, I put on A face of sternness, alien to my meaning!

[_Then speaks to the_ Servants.

Hence! leave my presence! and you, Laska! mark me!

Those rioters are no longer of my household!

If we but shake a dewdrop from a rose 150 In vain would we replace it, and as vainly Restore the tear of wounded modesty To a maiden's eye familiarized to licence.-- But these men, Laska--

_Laska (aside)._ Yes, now 'tis coming.

_Sarolta._ Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards, 155 That they have sought to piece out their revenge With a tale of words lured from the lips of anger Stamps them most dangerous; and till I want Fit means for wicked ends, we shall not need Their services. Discharge them! You, Bathory! 160 Are henceforth of my household! I shall place you Near my own person. When your son returns, Present him to us!

_Old Bathory._ Ha! what strangers here!

[906:1]What business have they in an old man's eye?

Your goodness, lady--and it came so sudden-- 165 I can not--must not--let you be deceived.

I have yet another tale, but-- [_Then to SAROLTA aside._ not for all ears!

_Sarolta._ I oft have pa.s.sed your cottage, and still praised Its beauty, and that trim orchard-plot, whose blossoms The gusts of April showered aslant its thatch. 170 Come, you shall show it me! And, while you bid it Farewell, be not ashamed that I should witness The oil of gladness glittering on the water Of an ebbing grief. [_BATHORY shows her into his cottage._

_Laska (alone)._ Vexation! baffled! school'd!

Ho! Laska! wake! why? what can all this mean? 175 She sent away that c.o.c.katrice in anger!

Oh the false witch! It is too plain, she loves him.

And now, the old man near my lady's person, She'll see this Bethlen hourly!

[_LASKA flings himself into the seat. GLYCINE peeps in._

_Glycine._ Laska! Laska!

Is my lady gone?

_Laska._ Gone.

_Glycine._ Have you yet seen him? 180 Is he returned? [_LASKA starts up._ Has the seat stung you, Laska?

_Laska._ No, serpent! no; 'tis you that sting me; you!

What! you would cling to him again?

_Glycine._ Whom?

_Laska._ Bethlen! Bethlen!

Yes; gaze as if your very eyes embraced him! 185 Ha! you forget the scene of yesterday!

Mute ere he came, but then--Out on your screams, And your pretended fears!

_Glycine._ Your fears, at least, Were real, Laska! or your trembling limbs And white cheeks played the hypocrites most vilely! 190

_Laska._ I fear! whom? what?

_Glycine._ I know what I should fear, Were I in Laska's place.

_Laska._ What?

_Glycine._ My own conscience, For having fed my jealousy and envy With a plot, made out of other men's revenges, Against a brave and innocent young man's life! 195 Yet, yet, pray tell me!

_Laska._ You will know too soon.

_Glycine._ Would I could find my lady! though she chid me-- Yet this suspense-- [_Going._

_Laska._ Stop! stop! one question only-- I am quite calm--

_Glycine._ Ay, as the old song says, Calm as a tiger, valiant as a dove. 200 Nay now, I have marred the verse: well! this one question--

_Laska._ Are you not bound to me by your own promise?

And is it not as plain--

_Glycine._ Halt! that's two questions.

_Laska._ Pshaw! Is it not as plain as impudence, That you're in love with this young swaggering beggar, 205 Bethlen Bathory? When he was accused, Why pressed you forward? Why did you defend him?

_Glycine._ Question meet question: that's a woman's privilege, Why, Laska, did you urge Lord Casimir To make my lady force that promise from me? 210

_Laska._ So then, you say, Lady Sarolta, forced you?

_Glycine._ Could I look up to her dear countenance, And say her nay? As far back as I wot of All her commands were gracious, sweet requests.

How could it be then, but that her requests 215 Must needs have sounded to me as commands?

And as for love, had I a score of loves, I'd keep them all for my dear, kind, good mistress.

_Laska._ Not one for Bethlen?

_Glycine._ Oh! that's a different thing.

To be sure he's brave, and handsome, and so pious 220 To his good old father. But for loving him-- Nay, there, indeed you are mistaken, Laska!

Poor youth! I rather think I grieve for him; For I sigh so deeply when I think of him!

And if I see him, the tears come in my eyes, 225 And my heart beats; and all because I dreamt That the war-wolf[908:1] had gored him as he hunted In the haunted forest!

_Laska._ You dare own all this?

Your lady will not warrant promise-breach.

Mine, pampered Miss! you shall be; and I'll make you 230 Grieve for him with a vengeance. Odd's, my fingers Tingle already! [_Makes threatening signs._

_Glycine (aside)._ Ha! Bethlen coming this way!

[_GLYCINE then cries out._

Oh, save me! save me! Pray don't kill me, Laska!

_Enter BETHLEN in a Hunting Dress._

_Bethlen._ What, beat a woman!

_Laska (to Glycine)._ O you c.o.c.katrice!

_Bethlen._ Unmanly dastard, hold!