R. Kiu. Manifest treason! Even this brief delay Half makes me an accomplice- -(If he live,) [Is moving toward the palace. If he but live and know me, all may C. Rag. Halt! [Stops him. On pain of death, my lord! am I commanded To stop all ingress to the palace. R. Kiu. Thou! C. Rag. No place, no name, no rank exceptedR. Kiu. Thou! C. Rag. This life of mine, O take it, Lord Kiuprili! I give it as a weapon to thy hands, Mine own no longer. Guardian of Illyria, Is thronged by armed conspirators, watched by ruffians Pampered with gifts, and hot upon the spoil Till I can lose it for the realm and thee! R. Kiu. My heart is rent asunder. O my country, O fallen Illyria, stand I here spell-bound? Did my king love me? Did I earn his love? Have we embraced as brothers would embrace? Was I his arm, his thunderbolt? And now Must I, hag-ridden, pant as in a dream? Strike but for mockery, and with restless beak Gore my own breast ?-Ragozzi, thou art faithful? C. Rag. Here before heaven I dedicate my faith To the royal line of Andreas. R. Kiu. Hark, Ragozzi! Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration : Despair alone makes wicked men be bold. Come thou with me! They have heard my voice in flight, Have faced round, terror-struck, and feared no longer The whistling javelins of their fell pursuers. Ha! what is this? [Black flag displayed from the tower of the palace: a death bell tolls, &c. Vengeance of heaven! he is dead. C. Rag. At length then 'tis announced. Alas! I fear, That these black death-flags are but treason's signals. A prophecy too soon fulfilled! R. Kiu. yonder! See O rank and ravenous wolves! the death-bell echoes Still in the doleful air-and see! they come. C. Rag. Precise and faithful in their villany Even to the moment, that the master traitor Had pre-ordained them. R. Kiu. Was it over haste, Or is it scorn, that in this race of treason Their guilt thus drops its mask, and blazons forth C. Rag. Doubtless they deem heaven too usurp'd! [heaven's justice Bought like themselves! Being equal all in crime, For the one sole pre-eminence yet doubtful ! R. Kiu. The bad man's cunning still prepares the way For its own outwitting. I applaud, Ragozzi! Ragozzi I applaud, In thee, the virtuous hope that dares look onward Act and appear, as time and prudence prompt thee: [Enter a procession of Emerick's adherents, nobles, ceases. Leader of the Procession. The Lord Kiuprili !— Welcome from the camp. R. Kiu. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria, In good time come ye hither, if ye come As loyal men with honourable purpose To mourn what can alone be mourned; but chiefly To enforce the last commands of royal Andreas And shield the queen, Zapolya: haply making The mother's joy light up the widow's tears. Leader. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession; A warrior best will greet a warlike king. Emerick! R. Kiu. 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 [voices? What means this clamour ? Are these madmen's Or is some knot of riotous slanderers leagued To infamize the name of the king's brother With a lie black as hell? unmanly cruelty, Ingratitude, and most unnatural treason? [murmurs. What mean these murmurs? Dare then any here Proclaim prince Emerick a spotted traitor? One that has taken from you your sworn faith, And given you in return a Judas' bribe, Infamy now, oppression in reversion, And heaven's inevitable curse hereafter? [Loud murmurs, followed by cries-Emerick! No baby Prince! No changelings! Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this Bled for your safety, conquered for your honour! Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice Fought with the foe, and stained its jagged points [Murmurs increase—and cries of onward! onward! And shall not a dear friend, a loyal subject, Enter Lord Casimir. Cas. Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand The elected king, our chosen Emerick? My father! R. Kiu. Casimir! He, he a traitor! Cas. My father and my [aside. lord! I know thee not! |