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Or else she were my mother!

      Sarolta. Noble youth!

       From me fear nothing! Long time have I owed

       Offerings of expiation for misdeeds

       Long past that weigh me down, though innocent!

       Thy foster-father hid the secret from thee, 405

       For he perceived thy thoughts as they expanded,

       Proud, restless, and ill-sorting with thy state!

       Vain was his care! Thou’st made thyself suspected

       E’en where suspicion reigns, and asks no proof

       But its own fears! Great Nature hath endowed thee 410

       With her best gifts! From me thou shalt receive

       All honourable aidance! But haste hence!

       Travel will ripen thee, and enterprise

       Beseems thy years! Be thou henceforth my soldier!

       And whatsoe’er betide thee, still believe 415

       That in each noble deed, achieved or suffered,

       Thou solvest best the riddle of thy birth!

       And may the light that streams from thine own honour

       Guide thee to that thou seekest!

      Glycine. Must he leave us?

      Bethlen. And for such goodness can I return nothing 420

       But some hot tears that sting mine eyes? Some sighs

       That if not breathed would swell my heart to stifling?

       May heaven and thine own virtues, high-born lady,

       Be as a shield of fire, far, far aloof

       To scare all evil from thee! Yet, if fate 425

       Hath destined thee one doubtful hour of danger,

       From the uttermost region of the earth, methinks,

       Swift as a spirit invoked, I should be with thee!

       And then, perchance, I might have power to unbosom

       These thanks that struggle here. Eyes fair as thine 430

       Have gazed on me with tears of love and anguish,

       Which these eyes saw not, or beheld unconscious;

       And tones of anxious fondness, passionate prayers,

       Have been talked to me! But this tongue ne’er soothed

       A mother’s ear, lisping a mother’s name! 435

       O, at how dear a price have I been loved

       And no love could return! One boon then, lady!

       Where’er thou bidd’st, I go thy faithful soldier,

       But first must trace the spot, where she lay bleeding

       Who gave me life. No more shall beast of ravine 440

       Affront with baser spoil that sacred forest!

       Or if avengers more than human haunt there,

       Take they what shape they list, savage or heavenly,

       They shall make answer to me, though my heart’s blood

       Should be the spell to bind them. Blood calls for blood! 445

      [Exit Bethlen.

      Sarolta. Ah! it was this I feared. To ward off this

       Did I withhold from him that old Bathory

       Returning hid beneath the selfsame oak,

       Where the babe lay, the mantle, and some jewel

       Bound on his infant arm.

      Glycine. Oh, let me fly 450

       And stop him! Mangled limbs do there lie scattered

       Till the lured eagle bears them to her nest.

       And voices have been heard! And there the plant grows

       That being eaten gives the inhuman wizard

       Power to put on the fell hyæna’s shape. 455

      Sarolta. What idle tongue hath bewitched thee, Glycine?

       I hoped that thou had’st learnt a nobler faith.

      Glycine. O chide me not, dear lady; question Laska,

       Or the old man.

      Sarolta. Forgive me, I spake harshly.

       It is indeed a mighty sorcery 460

       That doth enthral thy young heart, my poor girl,

       And what hath Laska told thee?

      Glycine. Three days past

       A courier from the king did cross that wood;

       A wilful man, that armed himself on purpose:

       And never hath been heard of from that time! 465

      [Sound of horns without.

      Sarolta. Hark! dost thou hear it!

      Glycine. ‘Tis the sound of horns!

       Our huntsmen are not out!

      Sarolta. Lord Casimir

       Would not come thus! [Horns again.

      Glycine. Still louder!

      Sarolta. Haste we hence!

       For I believe in part thy tale of terror!

       But, trust me, ‘tis the inner man transformed: 470

       Beasts in the shape of men are worse than war-wolves.

      [SAROLTA and GLYCINE exeunt. Trumpets, &c. louder. Enter

       EMERICK, LORD RUDOLPH, LASKA, and Huntsmen and

       Attendants.

      Rudolph. A gallant chase, sire.

      Emerick. Aye, but this new quarry

       That we last started seems worth all the rest.

      [then to Laska.

      And you — excuse me — what’s your name?

      Laska. Whatever

       Your majesty may please.

      Emerick. Nay, that’s too late, man. 475

       Say, what thy mother and thy godfather

       Were pleased to call thee.

      Laska. Laska, my liege sovereign.

      Emerick. Well, my liege subject, Laska! And you are

       Lord Casimir’s steward?

      Laska. And your majesty’s creature.

      Emerick. Two gentle dames made off at our approach. 480

       Which was your lady?

      Laska My liege lord, the taller.

       The other, please your grace, is her poor handmaid,

       Long since betrothed to me. But the maid’s froward —

       Yet would your grace but speak —

      Emerick. Hum, master steward!

       I am honoured with this sudden confidence. 485

       Lead on. [to Laska, then to Rudolph.

       Lord Rudolph, you’ll announce our coming.

       Greet fair Sarolta from me, and entreat her

       To be our gentle hostess. Mark, you add

       How much we grieve, that business of the state

       Hath forced us to delay her lord’s return. 490

      Lord Rudolph (aside). Lewd, ingrate tyrant! Yes, I will announce

       thee.

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