Writ by himself. — [Grasping the Patent.
Emerick. Aye! — Writ in a delirium!
Raab Kiuprili. I likewise ask, by whose authority
The access to the sovereign was refused me? 245
Emerick. By whose authority dared the general leave
His camp and army, like a fugitive?
Raab Kiuprili. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade,
Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death!
A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements 250
To be belated in a loyal purpose —
At the command, Prince! of my king and thine,
Hither I came; and now again require
Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States
Forthwith convened) that thou dost shew at large, 255
On what ground of defect thou’st dared annul
This thy King’s last and solemn act — hast dared
Ascend the throne, of which the law had named,
And conscience should have made thee, a protector.
Emerick. A sovereign’s ear ill brooks a subject’s questioning! 260
Yet for thy past well-doing — and because
‘Tis hard to erase at once the fond belief
Long cherished, that Illyria had in thee
No dreaming priest’s slave, but a Roman lover
Of her true weal and freedom — and for this, too, 265
That, hoping to call forth to the broad daylight
And fostering breeze of glory all deservings,
I still had placed thee foremost.
Raab Kiuprili. Prince! I listen.
Emerick. Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya,
Maddened with grief, her erring hopes proved idle — 270
Casimir. Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her fraud detected!
Emerick. According to the sworn attests in council
Of her physician ——
Raab Kiuprili (aside). Yes! the Jew, Barzoni!
Emerick. Under the imminent risk of death she lies,
Or irrecoverable loss of reason, 275
If known friend’s face or voice renew the frenzy.
Casimir (to Kiuprili). Trust me, my lord! a woman’s trick has
duped you —
Us too — but most of all, the sainted Andreas.
Even for his own fair fame, his grace prays hourly
For her recovery, that (the States convened) 280
She may take counsel of her friends.
Emerick. Right, Casimir!
Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand
In her own will to appear and voice her claims;
Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course)
With all the past passed by, as family quarrels, 285
Let the Queen Dowager, with unblenched honours,
Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron.
Raab Kiuprili. Prince Emerick! you speak fairly, and your pledge
too
Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning.
Casimir. My lord! you scarce know half his grace’s goodness. 290
The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta,
Bred in the convent of our noble ladies,
Her relative, the venerable abbess,
Hath, at his grace’s urgence, wooed and won for me.
Emerick. Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, 295
Which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have rendered
Dear and illustrious to all true Illyrians.
Raab Kiuprili. The longest line that ever tracing herald
Or found or feigned, placed by a beggar’s soul
Hath but a mushroom’s date in the comparison: 300
And with the soul, the conscience is coeval,
Yea, the soul’s essence.
Emerick. Conscience, good my lord,
Is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience,
That a free nation should be handed down,
Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance 305
And the blind law of lineage? That whether infant,
Or man matured, a wise man or an idiot,
Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance
Of a free people’s destiny, should fall out
In the mere lottery of a reckless nature, 310
Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?
Or haply that a nation’s fate should hang
On the bald accident of a midwife’s handling
The unclosed sutures of an infant’s skull?
Casimir. What better claim can sovereign wish or need 315
Than the free voice of men who love their country?
Those chiefly who have fought for’t? Who by right,
Claim for their monarch one, who having obeyed,
So hath best learnt to govern; who, having suffered,
Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him? 320
Whence sprang the name of Emperor? Was it not
By Nature’s fiat? In the storm of triumph,
‘Mid warriors’ shouts, did her oracular voice
Make itself heard: Let the commanding spirit
Possess the station of command!
Raab Kiuprili. Prince Emerick, 325
Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading.
Emerick (aside to Casimir). Ragozzi was thy school-mate — a bold
spirit!
Bind him to us! — Thy father thaws apace! [Then aloud.
Leave us awhile, my lord! — Your friend, Ragozzi,
Whom you have not yet seen since his return, 330
Commands the guard to-day.
[CASIMIR retires to the Guard-house; and after a time
appears before it with CHEF RAGOZZI.
We are alone.
What further pledge or proof desires Kiuprili?
Then, with your assent ——
Raab Kiuprili. Mistake not for assent
The unquiet silence of a stern resolve
Throttling the impatient voice. I have heard thee, Prince! 335
And I have watched thee, too; but have small faith in
A plausible tale told with a flitting eye.
[EMERICK turns as about to call for the Guard.
In the next moment I am in thy power,