Or make one sign — I swear by this good sword, 340
Thou diest that instant.
Emerick. Ha, ha! — Well, Sir! — Conclude your homily.
Raab Kiuprili. A tale which, whether true or false, comes guarded
Against all means of proof, detects itself.
The Queen mew’d up — this too from anxious care 345
And love brought forth of a sudden, a twin birth
With thy discovery of her plot to rob thee
Of a rightful throne! — Mark how the scorpion, falsehood,
Coils round in its own perplexity, and fixes
Its sting in its own head!
Emerick. Aye! to the mark! 350
Raab Kiuprili. Had’st thou believed thine own tale, had’st thou
fancied
Thyself the rightful successor of Andreas,
Would’st thou have pilfered from our schoolboys’ themes
These shallow sophisms of a popular choice?
What people? How convened? or, if convened, 355
Must not the magic power that charms together
Millions of men in council, needs have power
To win or wield them? Better, O far better
Shout forth thy titles to yon circling mountains,
And with a thousandfold reverberation 360
Make the rocks flatter thee, and the volleying air,
Unbribed, shout back to thee, King Emerick!
By wholesome laws to embank the sovereign power,
To deepen by restraint, and by prevention
Of lawless will to amass and guide the flood 365
In its majestic channel, is man’s task
And the true patriot’s glory! In all else
Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves
When least themselves in the mad whirl of crowds
Where folly is contagious, and too oft 370
Even wise men leave their better sense at home
To chide and wonder at them when returned.
Emerick (aloud). Is’t thus thou scoff’st the people? most of all,
The soldiers, the defenders of the people?
Raab Kiuprili. O most of all, most miserable nation, 375
For whom the imperial power, enormous bubble!
Is blown and kept aloft, or burst and shattered
By the bribed breath of a lewd soldiery!
Chiefly of such, as from the frontiers far,
(Which is the noblest station of true warriors) 380
In rank licentious idleness beleaguer
City and Court, a venomed thorn i’the side
Of virtuous kings, the tyrant’s slave and tyrant,
Still ravening for fresh largess! But with such
What title claim’st thou, save thy birth? What merits 385
Which many a liegeman may not plead as well,
Brave though I grant thee? If a life outlaboured
Head, heart, and fortunate arm, in watch and war,
For the land’s fame and weal; if large acquests,
Made honest by the aggression of the foe, 390
And whose best praise is, that they bring us safety;
If victory, doubly-wreathed, whose under-garland
Of laurel-leaves looks greener and more sparkling
Thro’ the grey olive-branch; if these, Prince Emerick!
Give the true title to the throne, not thou — 395
No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy
Be judge and arbiter between us!) I,
I were the rightful sovereign!
Emerick. I have faith
That thou both think’st and hop’st it. Fair Zapolya,
A provident lady —
Raab Kiuprili. Wretch beneath all answer! 400
Emerick. Offers at once the royal bed and throne!
Raab Kiuprili. To be a kingdom’s bulwark, a king’s glory,
Yet loved by both, and trusted, and trust-worthy,
Is more than to be king; but see! thy rage
Fights with thy fear. I will relieve thee!
Ho! [To the Guard. 405
Emerick. Not for thy sword, but to entrap thee, ruffian!
Thus long I have listened — Guard — ho! from the Palace.
[The Guard post from the Guard-house with CHEF RAGOZZI
at their head, and then a number from the
Palace — CHEF RAGOZZI demands KIUPRILI’S sword, and
apprehends him.
Casimir. O agony! [To EMERICK.
Sire, hear me!
[To KIUPRILI, who turns from him.
Hear me, father!
Emerick. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin!
Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sovereign’s. 410
Raab Kiuprili. As the Co-regent of the Realm, I stand
Amenable to none save to the States
Met in due course of law. But ye are bond-slaves,
Yet witness ye that before God and man
I here impeach Lord Emerick of foul treason, 415
And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion
Of murder —
Emerick. Hence with the madman!
Raab Kiuprili. Your Queen’s murder,
The royal orphan’s murder: and to the death
Defy him, as a tyrant and usurper.
[Hurried off by RAGOZZI and the Guard.
Emerick. Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my sceptre 420
This insolence shall be avenged.
Casimir. O banish him!
This infamy will crush me. O for my sake,
Banish him, my liege lord!
Emerick. What? to the army?
Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger.
The child o’erpowers the man. In this emergence 425
I must take counsel for us both. Retire. [Exit CASIMIR.
Emerick (alone, looks at a Calendar). The changeful planet, now
in her decay,
Dips down at midnight, to be seen no more.
With her shall sink the enemies of Emerick,
Cursed by the last look of the waning moon: 430
And my bright destiny, with sharpened horns,
Shall greet me fearless in the newborn crescent. [Exit.
Scene