The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Illustrated Edition). Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Читать онлайн книгу.
I had detected ere I left the city
The tyrant’s curst intent. Lewd, damnéd ingrate!
For him did I bring down a father’s curse! 360
Swift, swift must be our means! Tomorrow’s sun
Sets on his fate or mine! O blest Sarolta!
No other prayer, late penitent, dare I offer,
But that thy spotless virtues may prevail
O’er Casimir’s crimes, and dread Kiuprili’s curse! 365
[Exeunt.
himself: then with scorn). 1817, 1828, 1829.
1828, 1829.
[Before 115] Bethlen (holding up his hand as if to strike him). 1817,
1828, 1829.
[Before 118] Laska (still more recovering). 1817, 1828, 1829.
[Before 161] [Then very pompously. 1817, 1828, 1829.
Bathory. Go! Go! [BETHLEN breaks off and exit. BATHORY looks
affectionately after him.
1817, 1828, 1829.
[After 213]
Scene changes … tapestry.
SAROLTA in an elegant Night Dress, and an Attendant.
1817, 1828, 1829.
you!’ 1817, 1828, 1829.
Stained with adulterous blood, and — [Then to Sarolta.
1817, 1828, 1829.
[After 322] [EMERICK points his hand haughtily towards BETHLEN, who
catching a sight of the signet, seizes his hand and eagerly observes the
signet, then flings the hand back with indignant joy. 1817, 1828, 1829.
[After 353] [Pointing to the sword which BETHLEN had been disarmed of
by the Attendants. 1817, 1828, 1829.
Casimir. Hush! Hush! [In an under voice.
1817, 1828, 1829.
[After 362] [Embracing her. 1817, 1828, 1829.
[After 365] [Exeunt consulting. 1817, 1828, 1829.
END OF ACT III. 1817.
ACT IV
SCENE I
A glade in a wood. Enter CASIMIR looking anxiously around.
Casimir. This needs must be the spot! O, here he comes!
Enter LORD RUDOLPH.
Well met, Lord Rudolph! ——
Your whisper was not lost upon my ear,
And I dare trust —
Lord Rudolph. Enough! the time is precious!
You left Temeswar late on yester-eve? 5
And sojourned there some hours?
Casimir. I did so!
Lord Rudolph. Heard you
Aught of a hunt preparing?
Casimir. Yes; and met
The assembled huntsmen!
Lord Rudolph. Was there no word given?
Casimir. The word for me was this: — The royal Leopard
Chases thy milk-white dedicated Hind. 10
Lord Rudolph. Your answer?
Casimir. As the word proves false or true
Will Casimir cross the hunt, or join the huntsmen!
Lord Rudolph. The event redeemed their pledge?
Casimir. It did, and
therefore
Have I sent back both pledge and invitation.
The spotless Hind hath fled to them for shelter, 15
And bears with her my seal of fellowship! [They take hands.
Lord Rudolph. But Emerick! how when you reported to him
Sarolta’s disappearance, and the flight
Of Bethlen with his guards?
Casimir. O he received it
As evidence of their mutual guilt. In fine, 20
With cozening warmth condoled with, and dismissed me.
Lord Rudolph. I entered as the door was closing on you:
His eye was fixed, yet seemed to follow you, —
With such a look of hate, and scorn and triumph,
As if he had you in the toils already, 25
And were then choosing where to stab you first.
But hush! draw back!
Casimir. This nook is at the furthest
From any beaten track.
Lord Rudolph. There! mark them!
[Points to where LASKA and PESTALUTZ cross the Stage.
Casimir. Laska!
Lord Rudolph. One of the two I recognized this morning;
His name is Pestalutz: a trusty ruffian 30
Whose face is prologue still to some dark murder.
Beware no stratagem, no trick of message,
Dispart you from your servants.
Casimir (aside). I deserve it.
The comrade of that ruffian is my servant:
The one I trusted most and most preferred. 35
But we must part. What makes the king so late?
It was his wont to be an early stirrer.
Lord Rudolph. And his main policy.
To enthral the sluggard nature in ourselves
Is, in good truth, the better half of the secret
To enthral the world: for the will governs all. 40
See, the sky lowers! the cross-winds waywardly
Chase the fantastic masses of the clouds
With a wild mockery of the coming hunt!
Casimir. Mark yonder mass! I make it wear the shape
Of a huge ram that butts with head depressed. 45
Lord Rudolph (smiling). Belike, some stray sheep of the oozy
flock,
Which, if bards lie not, the Sea-shepherds tend,
Glaucus or Proteus. But my fancy shapes it
A monster couchant on a rocky shelf.
Casimir. Mark too the edges of the lurid mass — 50
Restless, as if some idly-vexing Sprite,
On swift wing coasting by, with tetchy hand
Pluck’d at the ringlets of the vaporous Fleece.
These are sure signs of conflict nigh at hand,
And elemental war!
[A single trumpet heard at some distance.