ZAPOLYA: A CHRISTMAS TALE IN TWO PARTS
PART I: THE PRELUDE, ENTITLED ‘THE USURPER’S FORTUNE’
PART II: THE SEQUEL, ENTITLED ‘THE USURPER’S FATE
PART I: THE PRELUDE, ENTITLED ‘THE USURPER’S FORTUNE’
CHARACTERS
EMERICK, Usurping King of Illyria.
RAAB KIUPRILI, an Illyrian Chieftain.
CASIMIR, Son of KIUPRILI.
CHEF RAGOZZI, a Military Commander.
ZAPOLYA, Queen of Illyria.
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.
Chef Ragozzi. 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
But agitates, not quells, its majesty. 5
My patron! my commander! yes, ‘tis he!
Call out the guards. The Lord Kiuprili comes.
[Drums beat, &c., the Guard turns out.
Enter RAAB KIUPRILI.
Raab Kiuprili (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, 10
Are insults to a dying sovereign’s ear.
Soldiers, ‘tis well! Retire! your General greets you,
His loyal fellow-warriors. [Guards retire.
Chef Ragozzi. Pardon my surprise.
Thus sudden from the camp, and unattended!
What may these wonders prophesy?
Raab Kiuprili. Tell me first, 15
How fares the king? His majesty still lives?
Chef Ragozzi. We know no otherwise; but Emerick’s friends
(And none but they approach him) scoff at hope.
Raab Kiuprili. Ragozzi! I have reared thee from a child,
And as a child I have reared thee. Whence this air 20
Of mystery? That face was wont to open
Clear as the morning to me, shewing all things.
Hide nothing from me.
Chef Ragozzi. O most loved, most honoured,
The mystery that struggles in my looks
Betrayed my whole tale to thee, if it told thee 25
That I am ignorant; but fear the worst.
And mystery is contagious. All things here
Are full of motion: and yet all is silent:
And bad men’s hopes infect the good with fears.
Raab Kiuprili. I have trembling proof within how true thou
speakest. 30
Chef Ragozzi. That the prince Emerick feasts the soldiery,
Gives splendid arms, pays the commanders’ debts,
And (it is whispered) by sworn promises
Makes himself debtor — hearing this, thou hast heard
All —— 35
But what my lord will learn too soon himself.
Raab Kiuprili. Ha! — Well then, let it come! Worse scarce can come.
This letter written by the trembling hand
Of royal Andreas calls me from the camp
To his immediate presence. It appoints me, 40
The Queen, and Emerick, guardians of the realm,
And of the royal infant. Day by day,
Robbed of Zapolya’s soothing cares, the king
Yearns only to behold one precious boon,
And with his life breathe forth a father’s blessing. 45
Chef Ragozzi. Remember you, my lord! that Hebrew leech
Whose face so much distempered you?
Raab Kiuprili. Barzoni?
I held him for a spy; but the proof failing
(More courteously, I own, than pleased myself),
I sent him from the camp.
Chef Ragozzi. To him, in chief, 50
Prince Emerick trusts his royal brother’s health.
Raab Kiuprili. Hide nothing, I conjure you! What of him?
Chef Ragozzi. With pomp of words beyond a soldier’s cunning,
And shrugs and wrinkled brow, he smiles and whispers!
Talks in dark words of women’s