The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 143

_Casimir._ Sire! your words grow dangerous.

High-flown romantic fancies ill-beseem Your age and wisdom. 'Tis a statesman's virtue, To guard his country's safety by what means 220 It best may be protected--come what will Of these monk's morals!

_Raab Kiuprili (aside)._ Ha! the elder Brutus Made his soul iron, though his sons repented.

They boasted not their baseness. [_Draws his sword._ Infamous changeling!

Recant this instant, and swear loyalty, 225 And strict obedience to thy sovereign's will; Or, by the spirit of departed Andreas, Thou diest----

[Chiefs, _&c., rush to interpose; during the tumult enter EMERICK, alarmed._

_Emerick._ Call out the guard! Ragozzi! seize the a.s.sa.s.sin.---- Kiuprili? Ha!---- [_Making signs to the guard to retire._ Pa.s.s on, friends! to the palace. 230

[_Music recommences.--The Procession pa.s.ses into the Palace._

_Emerick._ What? Raab Kiuprili? What? a father's sword Against his own son's breast?

_Raab Kiuprili._ 'Twould best excuse him, Were he thy son, Prince Emerick. I abjure him.

_Emerick._ This is my thanks, then, that I have commenced A reign to which the free voice of the n.o.bles 235 Hath called me, and the people, by regards Of love and grace to Raab Kiuprili's house?

_Raab Kiuprili._ What right hadst thou, Prince Emerick, to bestow them?

_Emerick._ By what right dares Kiuprili question me?

_Raab Kiuprili._ By a right common to all loyal subjects-- 240 To me a duty! As the realm's co-regent, Appointed by our sovereign's last free act, Writ by himself.-- [_Grasping the Patent._

_Emerick._ Aye!--Writ in a delirium!

_Raab Kiuprili._ I likewise ask, by whose authority The access to the sovereign was refused me? 245

_Emerick._ By whose authority dared the general leave His camp and army, like a fugitive?

_Raab Kiuprili._ A fugitive, who, with victory for his comrade, Ran, open-eyed, upon the face of death!

A fugitive, with no other fear, than bodements 250 To be belated in a loyal purpose-- At the command, Prince! of my king and thine, Hither I came; and now again require Audience of Queen Zapolya; and (the States Forthwith convened) that thou dost shew at large, 255 On what ground of defect thou'st dared annul This thy King's last and solemn act--hast dared Ascend the throne, of which the law had named, And conscience should have made thee, a protector.

_Emerick._ A sovereign's ear ill brooks a subject's questioning! 260 Yet for thy past well-doing--and because 'Tis hard to erase at once the fond belief Long cherished, that Illyria had in thee No dreaming priest's slave, but a Roman lover Of her true weal and freedom--and for this, too, 265 That, hoping to call forth to the broad day-light And fostering breeze of glory all deservings, I still had placed thee foremost.

_Raab Kiuprili._ Prince! I listen.

_Emerick._ Unwillingly I tell thee, that Zapolya, Maddened with grief, her erring hopes proved idle-- 270

_Casimir._ Sire! speak the whole truth! Say, her fraud detected!

_Emerick._ According to the sworn attests in council Of her physician----

_Raab Kiuprili (aside)._ Yes! the Jew, Barzoni!

_Emerick._ Under the imminent risk of death she lies, Or irrecoverable loss of reason, 275 If known friend's face or voice renew the frenzy.

_Casimir (to Kiuprili)._ Trust me, my lord! a woman's trick has duped you-- Us too--but most of all, the sainted Andreas.

Even for his own fair fame, his grace prays hourly For her recovery, that (the States convened) 280 She may take counsel of her friends.

_Emerick._ Right, Casimir!

Receive my pledge, lord general. It shall stand In her own will to appear and voice her claims; Or (which in truth I hold the wiser course) With all the past pa.s.sed by, as family quarrels, 285 Let the Queen Dowager, with unblenched honours, Resume her state, our first Illyrian matron.

_Raab Kiuprili._ Prince Emerick! you speak fairly, and your pledge too Is such, as well would suit an honest meaning.

_Casimir._ My lord! you scarce know half his grace's goodness. 290 The wealthy heiress, high-born fair Sarolta, Bred in the convent of our n.o.ble ladies, Her relative, the venerable abbess, Hath, at his grace's urgence, wooed and won for me.

_Emerick._ Long may the race, and long may that name flourish, 295 Which your heroic deeds, brave chief, have rendered Dear and ill.u.s.trious to all true Illyrians.

_Raab Kiuprili._ The longest line that ever tracing herald Or found or feigned, placed by a beggar's soul Hath but a mushroom's date in the comparison: 300 And with the soul, the conscience is coeval, Yea, the soul's essence.

_Emerick._ Conscience, good my lord, Is but the pulse of reason. Is it conscience, That a free nation should be handed down, Like the dull clods beneath our feet, by chance 305 And the blind law of lineage? That whether infant, Or man matured, a wise man or an idiot, Hero or natural coward, shall have guidance Of a free people's destiny, should fall out In the mere lottery of a reckless nature, 310 Where few the prizes and the blanks are countless?

Or haply that a nation's fate should hang On the bald accident of a midwife's handling The unclosed sutures of an infant's skull?

_Casimir._ What better claim can sovereign wish or need 315 Than the free voice of men who love their country?

Those chiefly who have fought for't? Who by right, Claim for their monarch one, who having obeyed, So hath best learnt to govern; who, having suffered, Can feel for each brave sufferer and reward him? 320 Whence sprang the name of Emperor? Was it not By Nature's fiat? In the storm of triumph, 'Mid warriors' shouts, did her oracular voice Make itself heard: Let the commanding spirit Possess the station of command!

_Raab Kiuprili._ Prince Emerick, 325 Your cause will prosper best in your own pleading.

_Emerick (aside to Casimir)._ Ragozzi was thy school-mate--a bold spirit!

Bind him to us!--Thy father thaws apace! [_Then aloud._ Leave us awhile, my lord!--Your friend, Ragozzi, Whom you have not yet seen since his return, 330 Commands the guard to-day.

[_CASIMIR retires to the Guard-house; and after a time appears before it with CHEF RAGOZZI._

We are alone.

What further pledge or proof desires Kiuprili?

Then, with your a.s.sent----

_Raab Kiuprili._ Mistake not for a.s.sent The unquiet silence of a stern resolve Throttling the impatient voice. I have heard thee, Prince! 335 And I have watched thee, too; but have small faith in A plausible tale told with a flitting eye.

[_EMERICK turns as about to call for the Guard._

In the next moment I am in thy power, In this thou art in mine. Stir but a step, Or make one sign--I swear by this good sword, 340 Thou diest that instant.

_Emerick._ Ha, ha!--Well, Sir!--Conclude your homily.

_Raab Kiuprili._ A tale which, whether true or false, comes guarded Against all means of proof, detects itself.

The Queen mew'd up--this too from anxious care 345 And love brought forth of a sudden, a twin birth With thy discovery of her plot to rob thee Of a rightful throne!--Mark how the scorpion, falsehood, Coils round in its own perplexity, and fixes Its sting in its own head!

_Emerick._ Aye! to the mark! 350

_Raab Kiuprili._ Had'st thou believed thine own tale, had'st thou fancied Thyself the rightful successor of Andreas, Would'st thou have pilfered from our school-boys' themes These shallow sophisms of a popular choice?

What people? How convened? or, if convened, 355 Must not the magic power that charms together Millions of men in council, needs have power To win or wield them? Better, O far better Shout forth thy t.i.tles to yon circling mountains, And with a thousand-fold reverberation 360 Make the rocks flatter thee, and the volleying air, Unbribed, shout back to thee, King Emerick!

By wholesome laws to embank the sovereign power, To deepen by restraint, and by prevention Of lawless will to ama.s.s and guide the flood 365 In its majestic channel, is man's task And the true patriot's glory! In all else Men safelier trust to Heaven, than to themselves When least themselves in the mad whirl of crowds Where folly is contagious, and too oft 370 Even wise men leave their better sense at home To chide and wonder at them when returned.

_Emerick (aloud)._ Is't thus thou scoff'st the people? most of all, The soldiers, the defenders of the people?

_Raab Kiuprili._ O most of all, most miserable nation, 375 For whom the imperial power, enormous bubble!

Is blown and kept aloft, or burst and shattered By the bribed breath of a lewd soldiery!