Chase the fantastic masses of the clouds

With a wild mockery of the coming hunt!

CASIM. Mark too, the edges of yon lurid mass !
Restless and vext, as if some angering hand,
With fitful, tetchy snatch, unrolled and pluck'd
The jetting ringlets of the vaporous fleece !
These are sure signs of conflict nigh at hand,
And elemental war!

[A single trumpet heard at some distance.

RUD.

That single blast

Announces that the tyrant's pawing courser

Neighs at the gate!

[A volley of trumpets.

Hark! now the king comes forth!

For ever 'midst this crash of horns and clarions

He mounts his steed, which proudly rears an-end
While he looks round at ease, and scans the crowd,
Vain of his stately form and horsemanship!

I must away! my absence may be noticed.

CASIM. Oft as thou can'st, essay to lead the hunt Hard by the forest-skirts: and ere high noon Expect our sworn confederates from Temeswar. I trust, ere yet this clouded sun slopes westward,

That Emerick's death, or Casimir's, will appease

The manes of Zapolya and Kiuprili !

[Exit RUDOLPH and manet CASIMIR.

The traitor, Laska!

And yet Sarolta, simple, inexperienced,

Could see him as he was, and often warn'd me.
Whence learnt she this?-O she was innocent!
And to be innocent is nature's wisdom!
The fledge-dove knows the prowlers of the air,
Fear'd soon as seen, and flutters back to shelter.
And the young steed recoils upon his haunches,
The never-yet-seen adder's hiss first heard.
O surer than suspicion's hundred eyes

Is that fine sense, which to the pure in heart,
By mere oppugnancy of their own goodness,
Reveals the approach of evil. Casimir!

O fool! O parricide! thro' yon wood did'st thou,
With fire and sword, pursue a patriot father,

A widow and an orphan. Dar'st thou then,
(Curse-laden wretch) put forth these hands to raise
The ark, all sacred, of thy country's cause?
Look down in pity on thy son, Kiuprili!

And let this deep abhorence of his crime,

Uustained with selfish fears, be his atonement!

O strengthen him to nobler compensation
In the deliverance of his bleeding country!

[Exit CASIMIR.

Scene changes to the mouth of a cavern as in ACT II. ZAPOLYA and GLYCINE discovered.

ZAPO. Our friend is gone to seek some safer cave:

Do not then leave me long alone, Glycine!
Having enjoyed thy commune, loneliness,

That but oppressed me hitherto, now scares.

GLY. I shall know Bethlen at the furthest distance,

And the same moment I descry him, lady,

I will return to you.

[Exit GLYCINE.

Enter BATHORY, speaking as he enters.

BATHO.

Who hears? A friend!

A messenger from him who bears the signet!

[ZAPOLYA, who had been gazing affectionately

after GLYCINE, starts at BATHORY's voice. ZAPO. He hath the watch word!-Art thou not

Bathory?

BATHO. O noble lady! greetings from your son!

[BATHORY kneels.

ZAPO. Rise! rise! Or shall I rather kneel beside

thee,

And call down blessings from the wealth of Heaven:
Upon thy honored head? When thou last saw'st me
I would full fain have knelt to thee, and could not,
Thou dear old man! How oft since then in dreams
Have I done worship to thee, as an angel
Bearing my helpless babe upon thy wings!

BATHO. O he was born to honor! Gallant deeds
And perilous hath he wrought since yester-eve.
Now from Temeswar (for to him was trusted
A life, save thine, the dearest) he hastes hither-
ZAPO. Lady Sarolta mean'st thou ?

BATHO.

She is safe.

The royal brute hath overleapt his prey,

And when he turn'd, a sworded Virtue faced him..

My own brave boy-O pardon, noble lady!

Your son

ZAPO.

ВАТНО.

Hark! Is it he ?

I hear a voice.

Too hoarse for Bethlen's! 'Twas his scheme and hope,

Long ere the hunters could approach the forest

To have led you hence.-Retire.

ZAPO.

O life of terrors!

BATHO. In the cave's mouth we have such 'vantage

ground

That even this old arm

[Exeunt ZAPOLYA and BATHORY into the

Cave.

LASK.

Enter LASKA and PESTALutz.

Not a step further!

PESTA. Dastard! was this your promise to the

king?

LASK. I have fulfilled his orders. Have walked with

you

As with a friend: have pointed out Lord Casimir:

And now I leave you to take care of him;

For the king's purposes are doubtless friendly.

PESTA. (affecting to start.) Be on your guard, man! LASK. (in affright.) Ha! what now?

PESTA.

Behind you!

'Twas one of Satan's imps, that grinned and threatened

you

For your most impudent hope to cheat his master!