Old Bathory. What! Do you think I'll suffer my brave boy [85]
[[904]] To be slandered by a set of coward-ruffians,
And leave it to their malice,—yes, mere malice!—
To tell its own tale? [Laska and Servants bow to Lady Sarolta.

Sarolta. Laska! What may this mean?

Laska. Madam! and may it please your ladyship!
This old man's son, by name Bethlen Bathory, 90
Stands charged, on weighty evidence, that he,
On yester-eve, being his lordship's birth-day,
Did traitorously defame Lord Casimir:
The lord high steward of the realm, moreover——

Sarolta. Be brief! We know his titles!

Laska. And moreover 95
Raved like a traitor at our liege King Emerick.
And furthermore, said witnesses make oath,
Led on the assault upon his lordship's servants;
Yea, insolently tore, from this, your huntsman,
His badge of livery of your noble house, 100
And trampled it in scorn.

Sarolta (to the Servants who offer to speak). You have had your spokesman!
Where is the young man thus accused?

Old Bathory. I know not:
But if no ill betide him on the mountains,
He will not long be absent!

Sarolta. Thou art his father? 105

Old Bathory. None ever with more reason prized a son;
Yet I hate falsehood more than I love him.
But more than one, now in my lady's presence,
Witnessed the affray, besides these men of malice;
And if I swerve from truth——

Glycine. Yes! good old man! 110
My lady! pray believe him!