Betray'd my whole tale to thee, if it told thee And mystery is contagious. All things here And bad mens' hopes infect the good with fears. R. KIUP. (His hand to his heart.) I have trembling proof within, how true thou speak'st. CH. RAG. That the prince Emerick feasts the sol diery, Gives splendid arms, pays the commander's debts, And (it is whisper'd) by sworn promises Makes himself debtor-hearing this, thou hast heard (then in a subdued and saddened voice.) All But what my. Lord will learn too soon himself. R. KIUP. Ha?-Well then, let it come! Worse scarce can come. This letter written by the trembling hand And with his life breathe forth a father's blessing. CH. RAG. Remember you, my Lord! that Hebrew leech, Whose face so much distemper'd you? R. KIUP. Barzoni? I held him for a spy; but the proof failing (More courteously, I own, than pleased myself) I sent him from the camp. CH. RAG. To him in chief Prince Emerick trusts his royal brother's health. R. KIUP. Hide nothing, I conjure you! What of him? CH. RAG. 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 fancies; hints That 'twere a useless and a cruel zeal To rob a dying man of any hope, However vain, that soothes him: and, in fine, Denies all chance of offspring from the Queen. R. KIUP. The venemous snake! My heel was on' its head, And (fool!) I did not crush it! CH. RAG. Nay, he fears, Zapolya will not long survive her husband. R. KIUP. Manifest treason! Ev'n this brief delay Half makes me an accomplice(If he live,) [Is moving toward the Palace. If he but live and know me, all may CH. RAG. Halt! [Stops him. On pain of death, my Lord! am I commanded To stop all ingress to the palace. R. KIUP. Thou! CH. RAG. No Place, no Name, no Rank excepted R. KIUP. Thou! CH. RAG. This life of mine, O take it, Lord Kiup, rili! I give it as a weapon to thy hands, Mine own no longer. Guardian of Illyria, One honorable hope, but calls thee father. Is guarded from within, that each access Is throng'd by arm'd conspirators, watch'd by ruffians Pamper'd with gifts, and hot upon the spoil Which that false promiser still trails before them. I ask but this one boon-reserve my life Till I can lose it for the realm and thee! R. KIUP. My heart is rent asunder. O my country, O fall'n Illyria, stand I here spell-bound? Did my King love me? Did I earn his love? Or, like an eagle, whose strong wings press up CH. RAG. Here before Heaven I dedicate my faith To the royal line of Andreas. R. KIUP. Hark, Ragozzi! Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration : Despair alone makes wicked men be bold. Come thou with me! They have heard my voice in flight, Have fac'd round, terror-struck, and fear'd no longer The whistling javelins of their fell pursuers. Ha! what is this? [Black Flag displayed from the Tower of the Palace: a Death-bell tolls, &c. Vengeance of Heaven! He is dead. CH. RAG, At length then 'tis announced. Alas! I fear, That these black death flags are but treason's signals. R. KIUP. (Looking forwards anxiously.) A prophecy too soon fulfill'd! See yonder! O rank and ravenous wolves! the death-bell echoes CH. RAG. Precise and faithful in their villainy Had pre-ordained them. R. KIUP. Was it over haste, Or is it scorn, that in this race of treason Their guilt thus drops its mask, and blazons forth CH. RAG. Doubtless they deem Heaven too usurp'd! Bought like themselves! [During this conversation music is heard, first solemn and funeral, and then changing to spirited and triumphal. Being equal all in crime Do you press on, ye spotted parricides! |