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Stir but a step,

       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

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