C. Rag. Here before Heaven I dedicate my faith To the royal line of Andreas. R. Kiu. 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, 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. C. Rag. At length then 'tis announced. Alas' I fear, C. Rag. Precise and faithful in their villany R. Kiu. Was it over-haste, Or is it scorn, that in this race of treason Their guilt thus drops its mask, and blazons forth Their infamous plot even to an idiot's sense. C. Rag. Doubtless they deem Heaven too usurp'd! Heaven's justice Bought like themselves! Being equal all in crime, Do you press on, ye spotted parricides ! For the one sole pre-eminence yet doubtful, R. Kiu. The bad man's cunning still prepares the way For its own outwitting. I applaud, Ragozzi! Ragozzi, I applaud, Act and appear, as time and prudence prompt thee: Mine is an easier part-to brave the usurper. [Enter a procession of Emerick's adherents, nobles, chieftains, and soldiers, with music. They advance toward the front of the stage. Kiuprili makes the signal for them to stop.-The music ceases. Leader of the Procession. The Lord Kiuprili!-Welcome from the camp. R. Kiu. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria, In good time come ye hither, if ye come As' loyal men with honorable purpose To mourn what can alone be mourned; but chiefly Leader. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession; A warrior best will greet a warlike king. R. Kiu. This patent written by your lawful king, (Lo his own seal and signature attesting) Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring, The Queen, and the Prince Emerick, and myself. [Voices of Live King Emerick! an Emerick! an Emerick! What means this clamor? Are these madmen's voices? Or is some knot of riotous slanderers leagued To infamize the name of the king's brother Infamy now, oppression in reversion, And heaven's inevitable curse hereafter? [murmurs. [Loud murmurs, followed by cries-Emerick! No Baby Prince! No Changelings! Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this Bled for your safety, conquered for your honor! Was it for this, Illyrians! that I forded Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice Fought with the foe, and stained its jagged points With gore from wounds, I felt not? Did the blast Beat on this body, frost-and-famine-numbed, Tili my hard flesh distinguished not itself As if I had charmed a goddess down from Heaven? Of usurpation! [Murmurs increase-and cries of onward! onward! Have you then thrown off shame, And shall not a dear friend, a loyal subject, Throw off all fear? I tell ye, the fair trophies Valiantly wrested from a valiant foe, Love's natural offerings to a rightful king, Will hang as ill on this usurping traitor, This brother-blight, this Emerick, as robes Of gold plucked from the images of gods Upon a sacrilegious robber's back. Enter Lord Casimir. Cas. Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand The elected King, our chosen Emerick? My father! R. Kiu. Casimir! He, he a traitor! Too soon, indeed, Ragozzi! have I learnt it. Cas. My father and my lord! I know thee not! [aside R. Kiu. Are blasted by a thankless traitor's utterance. Cas. O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn Hath honored us the most. Your rank, my lord! Confirmed and me the king's grace hath appointed Chief of his council and the lord high steward. R. Kiu. (Bought by a bribe!) I know thee now still less Cas. So much of Raab Kiuprili's blood flows here, That no power, save that holy name of father, Could shield the man who so dishonored me. R. Kiu. The son of Raab Kiuprili a bought bond-slave, Guilt's pander, treason's mouth-piece, a gay parrot, School'd to shrill forth his feeder's usurp'd titles, And scream, Long live king Emerick! Leaders. Aye, king Emerick! Stand back, my lord! Lead us, or let us pass. Soldiers. R. Kiu. Hear him! hear him! Assembled lords and warriors of Illyria, Hear me, Twice ten years have I Or one false whisper in his sovereign's ear? A bought, bribed wretch, who, being called my son, A recreant ingrate ! Cas. Sire! your words grow dangerous. High-flown romantic fancies ill-beseem Your age and wisdom. 'Tis a statesman's virtue, To guard his country's safety by what means It best may be protected-come what will Of these monk's morals! R. Kiu. (aside.) Made his soul iron, though his sons repented, Ha! the elder Brutus They boasted not their baseness. [draws his sword. Infamous changeling ; Recant this instant, and swear loyalty, And strict obedience to thy sovereign's will; Or, by the spirit of departed Andreas, Thou diest [Chiefs, &c., rush to interpose; during the tumult, enter Emerick, alarmed. Eme. Call out the guard! Ragozzi! seize the assassin. Pass on, friends! to the palace. [Music recommences.-The Procession passes into the Palace. Eme. What? Raab Kiuprili! What! a father's sword Against his own son's breast? R. Kiu. 'Twould best excuse him, Were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him. Eme. This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced A reign to which the free voice of the nobles Hath called me, and the people, by regards Of love and grace to Raab Kiupili's house? R. Kiu. What right hadst thou, Prince Enerick, to bestow them? Eme. By what right dares Kiuprili question me? R. Kiu. By a right common to all loyal subjects To me a duty! As the realm's co-regent R. Kiu. I likewise ask, by whose authority Eme. By whose authority dared the general leave His camp and army, like a fugitive? R. Kiu. A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade, Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death! A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements To be belated in a loyal purpose At the command, Prince! of my king and thine, Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States |