Give the true title to the throne, not thou

No! (let Illyria, let the infidel enemy

Be judge and arbiter between us!) I,

I were the rightful sovereign!

EMER.

I have faith

That thou both think'st and hop'st it. Fair Zapolya,

A provident lady—

KRUP.

Wretch beneath all answer!

EMER. Offers at once the royal bed and throne! KIUP. To be a kingdom's bulwark, a king's glory, Yet lov'd 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]

EMER, 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.

CASIM. O agony ! (To Emerick) Sire, hear me !

(To Kiuprili, who turns from him.)

Hear me, Father!

EMER. Take in arrest that traitor and assassin!

Who pleads for his life, strikes at mine, his sov'reign's.
KIUP. 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,

And on strong grounds attaint him with suspicion

Of murder

EMER.

KIUP.

Hence with the madman!

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.

EMER. Ere twice the sun hath risen, by my

EMER. (Scornfully.)

What? to the army?

Be calm, young friend! Nought shall be done in anger. The child o'er-powers the man. In this emergence

I must take council for us both.

Retire.

[Exit Casimir in agitation.

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,
Curst by the last look of the waning moon:
And my bright destiny, with sharpen'd horns,
Shall greet me fearless in the new-born crescent.

[Exit.

Scene changes to another view, namely, the Back of the Palace-a Wooded Park, and Mountains.Enter ZAPOLYA, with an Infant in Arms.

ZAPO. Hush, dear one! hush! My trembling arm disturbs thee!

Thou, the protector of the helpless! thou,
The widow's husband and the orphan's father,

Direct my steps! Ah whither? O send down

Thy angel to a houseless babe and mother,

Driven forth into the cruel wilderness!

Hush, sweet one! Thou art no Hagar's offspring:

Thou art

The rightful heir of an anointed king!

What sounds are those? It is the

vesper chaunt

Of laboring men returning to their home!

Their queen has no home! Hear me, heavenly Father! And let this darkness

Be as the shadow of thy outspread wings

To hide and shield us! Start'st thou in thy slumbers?
Thou can'st not dream of savage Emerick. Hush!
Betray not thy poor mother! For if they seize thee
I shall grow mad indeed, and they'll believe
Thy wicked uncle's lie. Ha! what? A soldier?

[She starts back-and Enter Chef Ragozzi. RAGOZ. Sure heaven befriends us. Well! he hath

escaped!

O rare tune of a tyrant's promises

That can enchant the serpent treachery

From forth its lurking hole in the heart. Ragozzi! "O brave Ragozzi! Count! Commander! What not?"

And all this too for nothing! a poor nothing!

Merely to play the underling in the murder

Of my best friend Kiuprili! His own son-monstrous!
Tyrant! I owe thee thanks, and in good hour

Will I repay thee, for that thou thought'st me too
A serviceable villain. Could I now

But gain some sure intelligence of the queen:

Heaven bless and guard her!

ZAPO. (Coming fearfully forward)

Art thou not Ragozzi?

RAGOZ. The Queen! Now then the miracle is

full!

I see heaven's wisdom is an over-match

For the devil's cunning. This way, madam, haste!

ZAPO. Stay! Oh, no! Forgive me if I wrong

thee!