And then, perchance, I might have power t' unbosom
These thanks that struggle here. Eyes fair as thine
Have gazed on me with tears of love and anguish,
Which these eyes saw not, or beheld unconscious;
And tones of anxious fondness, passionate prayers,
Have been talk'd to me! But this tongue ne'er soothed
A mother's ear, lisping a mother's name!

O, at how dear a price have I been lov'd

And no love could return! One boon then, lady!
Where'er thou bid'st, I go thy faithful soldier,

But first must trace the spot, where she lay bleeding
Who gave me life. No more shall beast of ravine
Affront with baser spoil that sacred forest!

Or if avengers more than human haunt there,
Take they what shape they list, savage or heavenly,

They shall make answer to me, though my heart's blood

Should be the spell to bind them. Blood calls for blood!

[Exit Bethlen. To ward off this

SAROL. Ah! it was this I fear'd.
Did I with-hold from him that old Bathory

Returning hid beneath the self-same oak,
Where the babe lay, the mantle, and some jewel
Bound on his infant arm.

GLY.

Oh, let me fly

And stop him! Mangled limbs do there lie scattered

Till the lured eagle bears them to her nest.

And voices have been heard! And there the plant

grows

That being eaten gives the inhuman wizard

Power to put on the fell Hyæna's shape.

SAROL. What idle tongue hath bewitch'd thee, Glycine?

I hoped that thou had'st learnt a nobler faith.

GLY. O, chide me not, dear lady; question Laska, Or the old man.

SAROL.

Forgive me, I spake harshly.

It is indeed a mighty sorcery

That doth enthrall thy young heart, my poor girl.

And what hath Laska told thee?

GLY.

Three days past

A courier from the king did cross that wood;
A wilful man, that arm'd himself on purpose:

And never hath been heard of from that time!

(Sound of horns without.)

"Tis the sound of horns!

SAROL. Hark! dost thou hear it?

GLY.

Our huntsmen are not out!

Lord Casimir

SAROL.

Would not come thus! (Horns again.)

GLY.

SAROL.

Still louder!

Haste we hence!

For I believe in part thy tale of terror!

But, trust me, 'tis the inner man transform'd:

Beasts in the shape of men are worse than war-wolves. (SAROLTA and GLYCINE exeunt. Trumpets,

&c. louder. Enter EMERICK, Lord RUDOLPH

That we last started seems worth all the rest.

Aye, but this new quarry

[Then to Laska.

LASK.

Whatever

And you-excuse me-what's your name?

Your majesty may please.

EMER.

Nay, that's too late, man.

Say, what thy mother and thy godfather

Were pleased to call thee.

LASK.

Laska, my liege sovereign.

EMER. Well, my liege subject Laska! And you are Lord Casimir's steward?

LASK.

And your majesty's creature.

EMER. Two gentle dames made off at our approach.

Which was your lady?

LASK.

My liege lord, the taller.

The other, please your grace, is her poor handmaid,

Long since betrothed to me. But the maid's froward— Yet would your grace but speak

EMER.

Hum, master steward!

I am honor'd with this sudden confidence.

Lead on. (To Laska, then to Rudolph.)

Lord Rudolph, you'll announce our coming.

Greet fair Sarolta from me, and entreat her

To be our gentle hostess. Mark, you add

How much we grieve, that business of the state

Hath forced us to delay her lord's return.

RUD. (aside.) Lewd, ingrate tyrant! Yes, I will

announce thee.

EMER. Now onward all,

[Exeunt attendants.

EMERICK Solus.

A fair one by my faith!

If her face rival but her gait and stature,

My good friend Casimir had his reasons too. "Her tender health, her vow of strict retirement, "Made early in the convent-His word pledged—”

All fictions, all: fictions of jealousy.

Well! If the mountain move not to the prophet,
The prophet must to the mountain! In this Laska
There's somewhat of the knave mix'd up with dolt.
Through the transparence of the fool, methought,
I saw (as I could lay my finger on it)

The crocodile's eye, that peer'd up from the bottom.
This knave may do us service. Hot ambition
Won me the husband. Now let vanity

And the resentment for a forced seclusion

Decoy the wife! Let him be deem'd th' aggressor
Whose cunning and distrust began the game!

END OF ACT I.

[Exit.