The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 142

_Chef Ragozzi._ This life of mine, O take it, Lord Kiuprili!

I give it as a weapon to thy hands, 70 Mine own no longer. Guardian of Illyria, Useless to thee, 'tis worthless to myself.

Thou art the framer of my n.o.bler being; Nor does there live one virtue in my soul, One honourable hope, but calls thee father. 75 Yet ere thou dost resolve, know that yon palace Is guarded from within, that each access Is thronged by armed conspirators, watched by ruffians Pampered with gifts, and hot upon the spoil Which that false promiser still trails before them. 80 I ask but this one boon--reserve my life Till I can lose it for the realm and thee!

_Raab Kiuprili._ My heart is rent asunder. O my country, O fallen Illyria, stand I here spell-bound?

Did my King love me? Did I earn his love? 85 Have we embraced as brothers would embrace?

Was I his arm, his thunder-bolt? And now Must I, hag-ridden, pant as in a dream?

Or, like an eagle, whose strong wings press up Against a coiling serpent's folds, can I 90 Strike but for mockery, and with restless beak Gore my own breast?--Ragozzi, thou art faithful?

_Chef Ragozzi._ Here before Heaven I dedicate my faith To the royal line of Andreas.

_Raab Kiuprili._ Hark, Ragozzi!

Guilt is a timorous thing ere perpetration: 95 Despair alone makes wicked men be bold.

Come thou with me! They have heard my voice in flight, Have faced round, terror-struck, and feared no longer The whistling javelins of their fell pursuers.

Ha! what is this?

[_Black flag displayed from the Tower of the Palace: a death-bell tolls, &c._

Vengeance of Heaven! He is dead. 100

_Chef Ragozzi._ At length then 'tis announced. Alas! I fear, That these black death-flags are but treason's signals.

_Raab Kiuprili._ A prophecy too soon fulfilled! See yonder!

O rank and ravenous wolves! the death-bell echoes Still in the doleful air--and see! they come. 105

_Chef Ragozzi._ Precise and faithful in their villainy Even to the moment, that the master traitor Had pre-ordained them.

_Raab Kiuprili._ Was it over-haste, Or is it scorn, that in this race of treason Their guilt thus drops its mask, and blazons forth 110 Their infamous plot even to an idiot's sense?

_Chef Ragozzi._ Doubtless they deem Heaven too usurp'd! Heaven's justice Bought like themselves!

Being equal all in crime, Do you press on, ye spotted parricides!

For the one sole pre-eminence yet doubtful, 115 The prize of foremost impudence in guilt?

_Raab Kiuprili._ The bad man's cunning still prepares the way For its own outwitting. I applaud, Ragozzi!

Ragozzi! I applaud, In thee, the virtuous hope that dares look onward And keeps the life-spark warm of future action 120 Beneath the cloak of patient sufferance.

Act and appear, as time and prudence prompt thee: I shall not misconceive the part thou playest.

Mine is an easier part--to brave the usurper.

[_Enter a procession of EMERICK'S Adherents_, n.o.bles, Chieftains, _and_ Soldiers, _with Music. They advance toward the front of the stage. KIUPRILI makes the signal for them to stop.--The Music ceases._

_Leader of the Procession._ The Lord Kiuprili!--Welcome from the camp. 125

_Raab Kiuprili._ Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria, In good time come ye hither, if ye come As loyal men with honourable purpose To mourn what can alone be mourned; but chiefly To enforce the last commands of royal Andreas 130 And shield the Queen, Zapolya: haply making The mother's joy light up the widow's tears.

_Leader._ Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession; A warrior best will greet a warlike king.

_Raab Kiuprili._ This patent written by your lawful king, 135 (Lo! his own seal and signature attesting) Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring, The Queen, and the Prince Emerick, and myself.

[_Voices of_ Live KING EMERICK! an EMERICK! an EMERICK!

What means this clamour? Are these madmen's voices?

Or is some knot of riotous slanderers leagued 140 To infamize the name of the king's brother With a lie black as h.e.l.l? unmanly cruelty, Ingrat.i.tude, and most unnatural treason? [_Murmurs._ What mean these murmurs? Dare then any here Proclaim Prince Emerick a spotted traitor? 145 One that has taken from you your sworn faith, And given you in return a Judas' bribe, Infamy now, oppression in reversion, And Heaven's inevitable curse hereafter?

[_Loud murmurs, followed by cries_--EMERICK! No Baby Prince! No Changelings!

Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this 150 Bled for your safety, conquered for your honour?

Was it for this, Illyrians! that I forded Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice Fought with the foe, and stained its jagged points With gore from wounds I felt not? Did the blast 155 Beat on this body, frost-and-famine-numbed, Till my hard flesh distinguished not itself From the insensate mail, its fellow warrior?

And have I brought home with me Victory, And with her, hand in hand, firm-footed Peace, 160 Her countenance twice lighted up with glory, As if I had charmed a G.o.ddess down from Heaven?

But these will flee abhorrent from the throne Of usurpation!

[_Murmurs increase--and cries of_ Onward! Onward!

Have you then thrown off shame, And shall not a dear friend, a loyal subject, 165 Throw off all fear? I tell ye, the fair trophies Valiantly wrested from a valiant foe, Love's natural offerings to a rightful king, Will hang as ill on this usurping traitor, This brother-blight, this Emerick, as robes 170 Of gold plucked from the images of G.o.ds Upon a sacrilegious robber's back. [_Enter LORD CASIMIR._

_Casimir._ Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand The elected King, our chosen Emerick?

My father!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Casimir! He, he a traitor! 175 Too soon indeed, Ragozzi! have I learnt it. [_Aside._

_Casimir._ My father and my lord!

_Raab Kiuprili._ I know thee not!

_Leader._ Yet the remembrancing did sound right filial.

_Raab Kiuprili._ A holy name and words of natural duty Are blasted by a thankless traitor's utterance. 180

_Casimir._ O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn Homage to Emerick. Illyria's sceptre Demands a manly hand, a warrior's grasp.

The queen Zapolya's self-expected offspring At least is doubtful: and of all our n.o.bles, 185 The king, inheriting his brother's heart, Hath honoured us the most. Your rank, my lord!

Already eminent, is--all it can be-- Confirmed: and me the king's grace hath appointed Chief of his council and the lord high steward. 190

_Raab Kiuprili._ (Bought by a bribe!) I know thee now still less.

_Casimir._ So much of Raab Kiuprili's blood flows here, That no power, save that holy name of father, Could shield the man who so dishonoured me.

_Raab Kiuprili._ The son of Raab Kiuprili a bought bond-slave, 195 Guilt's pander, treason's mouth-piece, a gay parrot, School'd to shrill forth his feeder's usurp'd t.i.tles.

And scream, Long live King Emerick!

_Leaders._ Aye, King Emerick!

Stand back, my lord! Lead us, or let us pa.s.s.

_Soldier._ Nay, let the general speak!

_Soldiers._ Hear him! hear him!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Hear me, 200 a.s.sembled lords and warriors of Illyria, Hear, and avenge me! Twice ten years have I Stood in your presence, honoured by the king: Beloved and trusted. Is there one among you Accuses Raab Kiuprili of a bribe? 205 Or one false whisper in his sovereign's ear?

Who here dares charge me with an orphan's rights Outfaced, or widow's plea left undefended?

And shall I now be branded by a traitor, A bought, bribed wretch, who, being called my son, 210 Doth libel a chaste matron's name, and plant Hensbane and aconite on a mother's grave?

The underling accomplice of a robber, That from a widow and a widow's offspring Would steal their heritage? To G.o.d a rebel, 215 And to the common father of his country A recreant ingrate!