The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 164

_Emerick (aside)._ And ere I ring the alarum of my sorrow, I'll scan that face once more, and murmur--Here Lies Casimir, the last of the Kiuprilis!

h.e.l.l! 'tis Pestalutz!

_Casimir (coming forward)._ Yes, thou ingrate Emerick!

'Tis Pestalutz! 'tis thy trusty murderer! 295 To quell thee more, see Raab Kiuprili's sword!

_Emerick._ Curses on it and thee! Think'st thou that petty omen Dare whisper fear to Emerick's destiny?

Ho! Treason! Treason!

_Casimir._ Then have at thee, tyrant!

[_They fight. EMERICK falls._

_Emerick._ Betrayed and baffled 300 By mine own tool!----Oh! [_Dies._

_Casimir._ Hear, hear, my Father!

Thou should'st have witnessed thine own deed. O Father, Wake from that envious swoon! The tyrant's fallen!

Thy sword hath conquered! As I lifted it Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me; 305 Dislodging the dread curse. It flew forth from me And lighted on the tyrant!

_Enter RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and_ Attendants.

_Rudolph and Bathory._ Friends! friends to Casimir!

_Casimir._ Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper's fallen.

_Rudolph._ So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! 310

_Casimir._ Bear hence the body, and move slowly on!

One moment---- Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness, I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen With the two best and fullest gifts of heaven-- 315 A tyrant fallen, a patriot chief restored!

[_CASIMIR enters the Cavern._

SCENE.--_Chamber in CASIMIR'S Castle._ Confederates _discovered._

_First Confederate._ It cannot but succeed, friends. From this palace E'en to the wood, our messengers are posted With such short inters.p.a.ce, that fast as sound Can travel to us, we shall learn the event! 320

_Enter another Confederate._

What tidings from Temeswar?

_Second Confederate._ With one voice Th' a.s.sembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant: He is proclaimed the public enemy, And the protection of the law withdrawn.

_First Confederate._ Just doom for him, who governs without law! 325 Is it known on whom the sov'reignty will fall?

_Second Confederate._ Nothing is yet decided: but report Points to Lord Casimir. The grateful memory Of his renowned father----

_Enter SAROLTA._

Hail to Sarolta!

_Sarolta._ Confederate friends! I bring to you a joy 330 Worthy your n.o.ble cause! Kiuprili lives, And from his obscure exile, hath returned To bless our country. More and greater tidings Might I disclose; but that a woman's voice Would mar the wondrous tale. Wait we for him, 335 The partner of the glory--Raab Kiuprili; For he alone is worthy to announce it.

[_Shouts of_ 'Kiuprili, Kiuprili,' _and_ 'The Tyrant's fallen,' _without. Enter KIUPRILI, CASIMIR, RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and_ Attendants.

_Raab Kiuprili._ Spare yet your joy, my friends! A higher waits you: Behold, your Queen!

[_Enter ZAPOLYA and ANDREAS royally attired, with GLYCINE._

_Confederate._ Comes she from heaven to bless us?

_Other Confederates._ It is! it is!

_Zapolya._ Heaven's work of grace is full! 340 Kiuprili, thou art safe!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Royal Zapolya!

To the heavenly powers, pay we our duty first; Who not alone preserved thee, but for thee And for our country, the one precious branch Of Andreas' royal house. O countrymen, 345 Behold your King! And thank our country's genius, That the same means which have preserved our sovereign, Have likewise reared him worthier of the throne By virtue than by birth. The undoubted proofs Pledged by his royal mother, and this old man, 350 (Whose name henceforth be dear to all Illyrians) We haste to lay before the a.s.sembled council.

_All._ Hail, Andreas! Hail, Illyria's rightful king!

_Andreas._ Supported thus, O friends! 'twere cowardice Unworthy of a royal birth, to shrink 355 From the appointed charge. Yet, while we wait The awful sanction of convened Illyria, In this brief while, O let me feel myself The child, the friend, the debtor!--Heroic mother!-- But what can breath add to that sacred name? 360 Kiuprili! gift of Providence, to teach us That loyalty is but the public form Of the sublimest friends.h.i.+p, let my youth Climb round thee, as the vine around its elm: Thou my support and I thy faithful fruitage. 365 My heart is full, and these poor words express not, They are but an art to check its over-swelling.

Bathory! shrink not from my filial arms!

Now, and from henceforth thou shalt not forbid me To call thee father! And dare I forget 370 The powerful intercession of thy virtue, Lady Sarolta? Still acknowledge me Thy faithful soldier!--But what invocation Shall my full soul address to thee, Glycine?

Thou sword that leap'dst forth from a bed of roses: 375 Thou falcon-hearted dove?

_Zapolya._ Hear that from me, son!

For ere she lived, her father saved thy life, Thine, and thy fugitive mother's!

_Casimir._ Chef Ragozzi!

O shame upon my head! I would have given her To a base slave!

_Zapolya._ Heaven overruled thy purpose, 380 And sent an angel to thy house to guard her!

Thou precious bark! freighted with all our treasures!

The sports of tempests, and yet ne'er the victim, How many may claim salvage in thee! Take her, son!

A queen that brings with her a richer dowry 385 Than orient kings can give!

_Sarolta._ A banquet waits!-- On this auspicious day, for some few hours I claim to be your hostess. Scenes so awful With flas.h.i.+ng light, force wisdom on us all!

E'en women at the distaff hence may see, 390 That bad men may rebel, but ne'er be free; May whisper, when the waves of faction foam, None love their country, but who love their home: For freedom can with those alone abide, Who wear the golden chain, with honest pride, 395 Of love and duty, at their own fire-side: While mad ambition ever doth caress Its own sure fate, in its own restlessness!

END OF ZAPOLYA.

LINENOTES:

[After 16] [_They take hands, &c._ 1817, 1828, 1829.

[37] _Lord Rudolph._ And his main policy too. 1817.

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