Been wedded to the noblest of the realm, Sar. Hush! innocent flatterer! Nay! to my poor fancy The royal court would seem an earthly heaven, Sar. So doth the ignorant distance still delude us! Thy fancied heaven, dear girl, like that above thee, In its mere self a cold, drear, colourless void, Seen from below and in the large, becomes The bright blue ether, and the seat of gods! Well! but this broil that scared you from the dance? And was not Laska there: he, your betrothed? Gyl. Yes, madam! he was there. So was the maypole, For we danced round it. Sar. Ah, Glycine! why, Because Why did you then betroth yourself? Gly. My own dear lady wished it! 'twas you asked me ! Sar. Yes, at my lord's request, but never wished, My poor affectionate girl, to see thee wretched. Thou knowest not yet the duties of a wife. Gly. Oh, yes! It is a wife's chief duty, madam, To stand in awe of her husband, and obey him, And, I am sure, I never shall see Laska But I shall tremble. Sar. Not with fear, I think, For you still mock him. cottage. Bring a seat from the tage, Sarolta continues her speech looking after her. A fine and feminine grace, that makes me feel Gly. [angry voices and clamour within. Re-enter Glycine. Oh, madam! there's a party of your serAnd my lord's steward, Laska, at their head, [vants, Have come to search for old Bathory's son, Bethlen, that brave young man! 'twas he, my lady Lady Sarolta's here Sar. [calling without. Be calm, Glycine. Enter Laska and Servants with Old Bathory. Las. (to Bathory.) We have no concern with you! What needs your presence? O. Bat. What! Do you think I'll suffer my brave boy To be slandered by a set of coward-ruffians, [Laska and servants bow to Lady Sarolta. Laska! What may this mean? Sar. The lord high steward of the realm, moreover- Sar. Sar. (to the servants who offer to speak.) You have had your spokesman ! Where is the young man thus accused? O. Bat. I know not: But if no ill betide him on the mountains, He will not long be absent! Sar. Thou art his father? O. Bat. None ever with more reason prized a son; Yet I hate falsehood more than I love him. But more than one, now in my lady's presence, Witnessed the affray, besides these men of malice; 18 VOL. II. O. Bat. My tale is brief. During our festive dance, Your servants, the accusers of my son, Offered gross insults, in unmanly sort, To our village maidens. He, (could he do less?) Sar. Old man! you talk Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect O. Bat. Even such respect As the sheep's skin should gain for the hot wolf Las. Gly. Old insolent ruffian! Pardon! pardon, madam! I saw the whole affray. The good old man Means no offence, sweet lady!-You, yourself, Laska! know well, that these men were the ruffians! Shame on you! Sar. What! Glycine? go, retire! [Exit Glycine. Be it then that these men faulted. Yet yourself, O. Bat. So then! So then! heaven grant an old And must the gardener leave his seedling plants, While he goes ask their master, if perchance His leisure serve to scourge them from their ravage? Las. Ho! Take the rude clown from your lady's presence! I will report her further will! Sar. Wait then, Till thou hast learnt it! Fervent good old man! 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 dew-drop from a rose, To a maiden's eye familiarized to license.— Las. (aside.) Yes, now 'tis coming. Sar. Brutal aggressors first, then baffled dastards, That they have sought to piece out their revenge |