SCENE I.-Front of the Palace with a magnificent Colonnade. On one side a military Guard-house. Sentries pacing backward and forward before the Palace. CHEF RAGOZZI, at the door of the Guard-house, as looking forwards at some object in the distance.

Ragoz. My eyes deceive me not, it must be he, Who but our chief, my more than father, who

But Raab Kiuprili moves with such a gait?

Lo! e'en this eager and unwonted haste

Enter RAAB.)

But agitates, not quells, its majesty.
My patron! my commander! yes, 'tis he!
Call out the guards. The Lord Kiuprili comes.
(Drums beat, &c., the Guard turns out.
Kiupr. (making a signal to stop the drums, &c.)
Silence! enough! This is no time, young friend!
For ceremonious dues. The summoning drum,
Th' air-shattering trumpet, and the horseman's clatter,
Are insults to a dying sovereign's ear.

Soldiers, 'tis well! Retire! your General greets you,
His loyal fellow-warriors.
(Guards retire.)

Ragoz.

Pardon my surprise.

Thus sudden from the camp, and unattended!

What may these wonders prophesy?

Kiupr.

Tell me first,

How fares the king? His majesty still lives?

Ragoz. We know no otherwise; but Emerick's frien/ls (And none but they approach him) scoff at hope.

Kiupr. Ragozzi! I have reared thee from a child,
And as a child I have reared thee. Whence this air

Of mystery? That face was wont to open
Clear as the morning to me, showing all things.

Kiupr. Manifest treason! Even this brief delay Half makes me an accomplice-(If he live,)

If he but live and know me, all may

Ragoz.

(Is moving toward the palace.)

Halt! (Stops him.)

On pain of death, my Lord! am I commanded

To stop all ingress to the palace.

Ragoz. No Place, no Name, no Rank excepted-
Kiupr.

Thou!

Ragoz. This life of mine, oh take it, Lord Kiuprili!

I give it as a weapon to thy hands,

Mine own no longer. Guardian of Illyria,
Useless to thee 'tis worthless to myself.

Thou art the framer of my nobler being :
Nor does there live one virtue in my soul,

One honourable hope, but calls thee father.
Yet ere thou dost resolve, know that yon palace

Is guarded from within, that each access

Is thronged by armed conspirators, watched by ruffians
Pampered with gifts, and hot upon the spoil
Which that false promiser still trails before them.

I ask but this one boon-reserve my life

Till I can lose it for the realm and thee!

Kiupr. My heart is rent asunder. Oh my country,
Oh 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 Thunder-bolt? And now
Must I, hag-ridden, pant as in a dream?

Or, like an eagle, whose strong wings press up
Against a coiling serpent's folds, can I
Strike but for mockery, and with restless beak
Gore my own breast?-Ragozzi, thou art faithful.
Ragoz. Here before Heaven I dedicate my faith
To the royal line of Andreas.

Kiupr.

Hark, Ragozzi!

Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration:

Despair alone makes wicked men be boid.

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.)