Voices in all chance sounds! (Starts.) 'Twas some dry branch Dropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly, Took no food with him-only his arms and boar-spear! What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine, Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest? KIUP. (Unseen.) Leave them and flee! GLY. (Shrieks, then recovering.) Where are you? KIUP. (Still unseen.) GLY. Leave them! 'Tis Glycine! Speak to me Bethlen! speak in your own voice! All silent!-If this were the war-wolf's den! 'Twas not his voice! (GLYCINE leaves the provisions and exit fearfully. KIUPRILI Comes forward, seizes them and carries them into the cavern. GLYCINE returns, having recovered herself.) GLY. Shame! Nothing hurt me! If some fierce beast have gored him, he must needs Speak with a strange voice. Wounds cause thirst and hoarseness! Speak Bethlen ! or but moan. St-St-NoBethlen! If I turn back and he should be found dead here, (She creeps nearer and nearer to the cavern.) I should go mad!-Again!-'Twas my own heart! (As she approaches to enter the cavern, KIUPRILI stops her. GLYCINE shrieks.) Saints protect me! KIUP. Swear then by all thy hopes, by all thy KIUP, Tell what thou art, and what thou seekest? GLY Only A harmless orphan youth, to bring him food→ KIUP. Wherefore in this wood? He is good, and did not know that thou wert human! KIUP. (Repeats the word.) Human? With what design? GLY. (Then sternly.) To kill thee, or If that thou wert a spirit, to compel thee By prayers, and with the shedding of his blood, But most of all ZAPO. (Rushing out from the cavern.) Heaven's blessing on thee! Speak! GLY. Whether his Mother live, or perished here! ZAPO. Angel of Mercy, I was perishing And thou did'st bring me food: and now thou bring'st The sweet, sweet food of hope and consolation To a mother's famish'd heart! His name, sweet maiden? GLY. E'en till this morning we were wont to name him Bethlen Bathory! ZAPO. Even till this morning? This morning? when my weak faith failed me wholly! Pardon, O thou that portion'st out our sufferance, And fill'st again the widow's empty cruse! Say on! GLY, The false ones charged the valiant youth With treasonous words of Emerick Frown'd and discharged these bad men. KIUP. (Turning off, and to himself.) Righteous heaven Sent me a daughter once, and I repined That it was not a son. A son was given me. My daughter died, and I scarce shed a tear : And lo! that son became my curse and infamy. ZAPO. (Embraces GLYCINE.) Sweet innocent! and you came here to seek him, And bring him food. Alas! thou fear'st? GLY. My own dear lady, when I was a child Not much! Embraced me oft, but her heart never beat so. KIUP. (TO ZAPOLYA.) O yet beware, lest hope's brief flash but deepen The after gloom, and make the darkness stormy! In that last conflict, following our escape, The usurper's cruelty had clog'd our flight With many a babe, and many a childing mother, This maid herself is one of numberless Planks from the same vast wreck. (Then to GLYCINE again) Well! Casimir's wife GLY. She is always gracious, and so praised the old man That his heart o'erflow'd, and made discovery That in this wood ZAPO. (In agitation.) O speak! GLY. A wounded lady (ZAPOLY A faints-they both support her.) GLY. Is this his mother? KIUP. She would fain believe it, Weak tho' the proofs be. Hope draws towards itself The flame with which it kindles. (Horn heard without.) To the cavern! Quick! quick! GLY. Perchance some huntsmen of the king's. KIUP. Emerick? |