PART I: THE PRELUDE, ENTITLED ‘THE USURPER’S FORTUNE’

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CHARACTERS

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      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

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      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