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Zapolya’s name 240

       Follow me, reverend form! Thou need’st not speak,

       For thou canst be no other than Kiuprili.

      Kiuprili. And are they safe? [Noise without.

      Old Bathory. Conceal yourself, my lord!

       I will mislead them!

      Kiuprili. Is Zapolya safe?

      Old Bathory. I doubt it not; but haste, haste, I conjure

       you! [Enter CASIMIR. 245

      Casimir. Monster!

       Thou shalt not now escape me!

      Old Bathory. Stop, lord Casimir!

       It is no monster.

      Casimir. Art thou too a traitor?

       Is this the place where Emerick’s murderers lurk?

       Say where is he that, tricked in this disguise, 250

       First lured me on, then scared my dastard followers?

       Thou must have seen him. Say where is th’ assassin?

      Old Bathory. There lies the assassin! slain by that same sword

       That was descending on his curst employer,

       When entering thou beheld’st Sarolta rescued! 255

      Casimir. Strange providence! what then was he who fled me?

       Thy looks speak fearful things! Whither, old man!

       Would thy hand point me?

      Old Bathory. Casimir, to thy father.

      Casimir. The curse! the curse! Open and swallow me,

       Unsteady earth! Fall, dizzy rocks! and hide me! 260

      Old Bathory. Speak, speak, my lord!

      Kiuprili. Bid him fulfil his work!

      Casimir. Thou art Heaven’s immediate minister, dread spirit!

       O for sweet mercy, take some other form,

       And save me from perdition and despair!

      Old Bathory. He lives!

      Casimir. Lives! A father’s curse can never die! 265

      Kiuprili. O Casimir! Casimir!

      Old Bathory. Look! he doth forgive you!

       Hark! ‘tis the tyrant’s voice. [EMERICK’S voice without.

      Casimir. I kneel, I kneel!

       Retract thy curse! O, by my mother’s ashes,

       Have pity on thy self-abhorring child!

       If not for me, yet for my innocent wife, 270

       Yet for my country’s sake, give my arm strength,

       Permitting me again to call thee father!

      Kiuprili. Son, I forgive thee! Take thy father’s sword;

       When thou shalt lift it in thy country’s cause,

       In that same instant doth thy father bless thee! 275

      [Enter EMERICK.

      Emerick. Fools! Cowards! follow — or by Hell I’ll make you

       Find reason to fear Emerick, more than all

       The mummer-fiends that ever masqueraded

       As gods or wood-nymphs! —

       Ha! ‘tis done then!

       Our necessary villain hath proved faithful, 280

       And there lies Casimir, and our last fears!

       Well! — Aye, well! ——

       And is it not well? For though grafted on us,

       And filled too with our sap, the deadly power

       Of the parent poison-tree lurked in its fibres: 285

       There was too much of Raab Kiuprili in him:

       The old enemy looked at me in his face,

       E’en when his words did flatter me with duty.

      Enter CASIMIR and BATHORY.

      Old Bathory (aside). This way they come!

      Casimir (aside). Hold them in check

       awhile,

       The path is narrow! Rudolph will assist thee. 290

      Emerick (aside). And ere I ring the alarum of my sorrow,

       I’ll scan that face once more, and murmur — Here

       Lies Casimir, the last of the Kiuprilis!

       Hell! ‘tis Pestalutz!

      Casimir (coming forward). Yes, thou ingrate Emerick!

       ‘Tis Pestalutz! ‘tis thy trusty murderer! 295

       To quell thee more, see Raab Kiuprili’s sword!

      Emerick. Curses on it and thee! Think’st thou that petty omen

       Dare whisper fear to Emerick’s destiny?

       Ho! Treason! Treason!

      Casimir. Then have at thee, tyrant!

      [They fight. EMERICK falls.

      Emerick. Betrayed and baffled 300

       By mine own tool! —— Oh! [Dies.

      Casimir. Hear, hear, my Father!

       Thou should’st have witnessed thine own deed. O Father,

       Wake from that envious swoon! The tyrant’s fallen!

       Thy sword hath conquered! As I lifted it

       Thy blessing did indeed descend upon me; 305

       Dislodging the dread curse. It flew forth from me

       And lighted on the tyrant!

      Enter RUDOLPH, BATHORY, and Attendants.

      Rudolph and Bathory. Friends! friends to Casimir!

      Casimir. Rejoice, Illyrians! the usurper’s fallen.

      Rudolph. So perish tyrants! so end usurpation! 310

      Casimir. Bear hence the body, and move slowly on!

       One moment ——

       Devoted to a joy, that bears no witness,

       I follow you, and we will greet our countrymen

       With the two best and fullest gifts of heaven — 315

       A tyrant fallen, a patriot chief restored!

      [CASIMIR enters the Cavern.

      SCENE. — Chamber in CASIMIR’S Castle. Confederates discovered.

      First Confederate. It cannot but succeed, friends. From this palace

       E’en to the wood, our messengers are posted

       With such short interspace, that fast as sound

       Can travel to us, we shall learn the event! 320

      Enter another Confederate.

      What tidings from Temeswar?

      Second Confederate. With one voice

       Th’ assembled chieftains have deposed the tyrant:

       He is proclaimed the public enemy,

       And the protection of the law withdrawn.

      First Confederate. Just doom for him, who governs without law! 325

       Is it known on whom the sov’reignty will fall?

      Second Confederate. Nothing is yet decided: but report

       Points to Lord Casimir. The grateful memory

      

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