The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 163

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 163

_Zapolya._ O Kiuprili! 200

_Old Bathory._ The demon-hunters of the middle air Are in full cry, and scare with arrowy fire The guilty! Hark! now here, now there, a horn Swells singly with irregular blast! the tempest Has scattered them! [_Horns at a distance._

_Zapolya._ O Heavens! where stays Kiuprili? 205

_Old Bathory._ The wood will be surrounded! leave me here.

_Andreas._ My mother! let me see thee once in safety.

I too will hasten back, with lightning's speed, To seek the hero!

_Old Bathory._ Haste! my life upon it I'll guide him safe.

_Andreas (thunder)._ Ha! what a crash was there! 210 Heaven seems to claim a mightier criminal Than yon vile subaltern.

_Zapolya._ Your behest, High powers, Lo, I obey! To the appointed spirit, That hath so long kept watch round this drear cavern, In fervent faith, Kiuprili, I entrust thee! 215

[_Exeunt ZAPOLYA, ANDREAS, and GLYCINE._

_Old Bathory._ Yon bleeding corse may work us mischief still: Once seen, 'twill rouse alarm and crowd the hunt From all parts towards this spot. Stript of its armour, I'll drag it hither.

[_Exit BATHORY. Several_ Hunters _cross the Stage.

Enter KIUPRILI._

_Raab Kiuprili (throwing off his disguise)._ Since Heaven alone can save me, Heaven alone 220 Shall be my trust.

Haste! haste! Zapolya, flee!

Gone! Seized perhaps? Oh no, let me not perish Despairing of Heaven's justice! Faint, disarmed, Each sinew powerless; senseless rock, sustain me!

Thou art parcel of my native land!

A sword! 225 Ha! and my sword! Zapolya hath escaped, The murderers are baffled, and there lives An Andreas to avenge Kiuprili's fall!-- There was a time, when this dear sword did flash As dreadful as the storm-fire from mine arm-- 230 I can scarce raise it now--yet come, fell tyrant!

And bring with thee my shame and bitter anguish, To end his work and thine! Kiuprili now Can take the death-blow as a soldier should.

[_Re-enter BATHORY, with the dead body of PESTALUTZ._

_Old Bathory._ Poor tool and victim of another's guilt! 235 Thou follow'st heavily: a reluctant weight!

Good truth, it is an undeserved honour That in Zapolya and Kiuprili's cave A wretch like thee should find a burial-place.

'Tis he!--In Andreas' and Zapolya's name 240 Follow me, reverend form! Thou need'st not speak, For thou canst be no other than Kiuprili.

_Kiuprili._ And are they safe? [_Noise without._

_Old Bathory._ Conceal yourself, my lord!

I will mislead them!

_Kiuprili._ Is Zapolya safe?

_Old Bathory._ I doubt it not; but haste, haste, I conjure you! [_Enter CASIMIR._ 245

_Casimir._ Monster!

Thou shalt not now escape me!

_Old Bathory._ Stop, lord Casimir!

It is no monster.

_Casimir._ Art thou too a traitor?

Is this the place where Emerick's murderers lurk?

Say where is he that, tricked in this disguise, 250 First lured me on, then scared my dastard followers?

Thou must have seen him. Say where is th' a.s.sa.s.sin?

_Old Bathory._ There lies the a.s.sa.s.sin! slain by that same sword That was descending on his curst employer, When entering thou beheld'st Sarolta rescued! 255

_Casimir._ Strange providence! what then was he who fled me?

Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man!

Would thy hand point me?

_Old Bathory._ Casimir, to thy father.

_Casimir._ The curse! the curse! Open and swallow me, Unsteady earth! Fall, dizzy rocks! and hide me! 260

_Old Bathory._ Speak, speak, my lord!

_Kiuprili._ Bid him fulfil his work!

_Casimir._ Thou art Heaven's immediate minister, dread spirit!

O for sweet mercy, take some other form, And save me from perdition and despair!

_Old Bathory._ He lives!

_Casimir._ Lives! A father's curse can never die! 265

_Kiuprili._ O Casimir! Casimir!

_Old Bathory._ Look! he doth forgive you!

Hark! 'tis the tyrant's voice. [_EMERICK'S voice without._

_Casimir._ I kneel, I kneel!

Retract thy curse! O, by my mother's ashes, Have pity on thy self-abhorring child!

If not for me, yet for my innocent wife, 270 Yet for my country's sake, give my arm strength, Permitting me again to call thee father!

_Kiuprili._ Son, I forgive thee! Take thy father's sword; When thou shalt lift it in thy country's cause, In that same instant doth thy father bless thee! 275

[_Enter EMERICK._

_Emerick._ Fools! Cowards! follow--or by h.e.l.l I'll make you Find reason to fear Emerick, more than all The mummer-fiends that ever masqueraded As G.o.ds or wood-nymphs!-- Ha! 'tis done then!

Our necessary villain hath proved faithful, 280 And there lies Casimir, and our last fears!

Well!--Aye, well!---- And is it not well? For though grafted on us, And filled too with our sap, the deadly power Of the parent poison-tree lurked in its fibres: 285 There was too much of Raab Kiuprili in him: The old enemy looked at me in his face, E'en when his words did flatter me with duty.

_Enter CASIMIR and BATHORY._

_Old Bathory (aside)._ This way they come!

_Casimir (aside)._ Hold them in check awhile, The path is narrow! Rudolph will a.s.sist thee. 290