The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 153

[467] _Our_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[480] _Two_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[492] _Emerick (solus)._ A fair, &c. 1817, 1828, 1829.

[494] _his_ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[495-6] '_Her tender . . . pledged_--' 1817, 1828, 1829.

[After 508] END OF ACT I 1817.

ACT II

SCENE I

_A savage wood. At one side a cavern, overhung with ivy. ZAPOLYA and RAAB KIUPRILI discovered: both, but especially the latter, in rude and savage garments._

_Raab Kiuprili._ Heard you then aught while I was slumbering?

_Zapolya._ Nothing.

Only your face became convulsed. We miserable!

Is heaven's last mercy fled? Is sleep grown treacherous?

_Raab Kiuprili._ O for a sleep, for sleep itself to rest in!

I dream'd I had met with food beneath a tree, 5 And I was seeking you, when all at once My feet became entangled in a net: Still more entangled as in rage I tore it.

At length I freed myself, had sight of you, But as I hastened eagerly, again 10 I found my frame enc.u.mbered: a huge serpent Twined round my chest, but tightest round my throat.

_Zapolya._ Alas! 'twas lack of food: for hunger chokes!

_Raab Kiuprili._ And now I saw you by a shrivelled child Strangely pursued. You did not fly, yet neither 15 Touched you the ground, methought, but close above it Did seem to shoot yourself along the air, And as you pa.s.sed me, turned your face and shrieked.

_Zapolya._ I did in truth send forth a feeble shriek, Scarce knowing why. Perhaps the mock'd sense craved 20 To hear the scream, which you but seemed to utter.

For your whole face looked like a mask of torture!

Yet a child's image doth indeed pursue me Shrivelled with toil and penury!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Nay! what ails you?

_Zapolya._ A wondrous faintness there comes stealing o'er me. 25 Is it Death's lengthening shadow, who comes onward, Life's setting sun behind him?

_Raab Kiuprili._ Cheerly! The dusk Will quickly shroud us. Ere the moon be up, Trust me I'll bring thee food!

_Zapolya._ Hunger's tooth has Gnawn itself blunt. O, I could queen it well 30 O'er my own sorrows as my rightful subjects.

But wherefore, O revered Kiuprili! wherefore Did my importunate prayers, my hopes and fancies, Force thee from thy secure though sad retreat?

Would that my tongue had then cloven to my mouth! 35 But Heaven is just! With tears I conquered thee, And not a tear is left me to repent with!

Had'st thou not done already--had'st thou not Suffered--oh, more than e'er man feigned of friends.h.i.+p?

_Raab Kiuprili._ Yet be thou comforted! What! had'st thou faith 40 When I turned back incredulous? 'Twas thy light That kindled mine. And shall it now go out, And leave thy soul in darkness? Yet look up, And think thou see'st thy sainted lord commissioned And on his way to aid us! Whence those late dreams, 45 Which after such long interval of hopeless And silent resignation all at once Night after night commanded thy return Hither? and still presented in clear vision This wood as in a scene? this very cavern? 50 Thou darest not doubt that Heaven's especial hand Worked in those signs. The hour of thy deliverance Is on the stroke:--for misery can not add Grief to thy griefs, or patience to thy sufferance!

_Zapolya._ Can not! Oh, what if thou wert taken from me? 55 Nay, thou said'st well: for that and death were one.

Life's grief is at its height indeed; the hard Necessity of this inhuman state Hath made our deeds inhuman as our vestments.

Housed in this wild wood, with wild usages, 60 Danger our guest, and famine at our portal-- Wolf-like to prowl in the shepherd's fold by night!

At once for food and safety to affrighten The traveller from his road--

[_GLYCINE is heard singing without._

_Raab Kiuprili._ Hark! heard you not A distant chaunt? 65

SONG

_By GLYCINE_

A sunny shaft did I behold, From sky to earth it slanted: And poised therein a bird so bold-- Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted!

He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled 70 Within that shaft of sunny mist; His eyes of fire, his beak of gold, All else of amethyst!

And thus he sang: 'Adieu! adieu!

Love's dreams prove seldom true. 75 The blossoms, they make no delay: The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.

Sweet month of May, We must away; Far, far away! 80 To-day! to-day!'

_Zapolya._ Sure 'tis some blest spirit!

For since thou slew'st the usurper's emissary That plunged upon us, a more than mortal fear Is as a wall, that wards off the beleaguerer 85 And starves the poor besieged. [_Song again._

_Raab Kiuprili._ It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!

_Zapolya._ Hark! her voice falters! [_Exit ZAPOLYA._

_Raab Kiuprili._ She must not enter The cavern, else I will remain unseen!

[_KIUPRILI retires to one side of the stage. GLYCINE enters singing._

_Glycine._ A savage place! saints s.h.i.+eld me! Bethlen! Bethlen! 90 Not here?--There's no one here! I'll sing again!

[_Sings again._

If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancy 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! 95 What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine, Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest?

_Raab Kiuprili (unseen)._ Leave them and flee!

_Glycine (shrieks, then recovering.)_ Where are you?

_Raab Kiuprili (still unseen.)_ Leave them!

_Glycine._ 'Tis Glycine!

Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice! 100 All silent!--If this were the war-wolf's den!

'Twas not his voice!--