Sarolta. Hush, Glycine
Be silent, I command you. [Then to Bathory.
Speak! we hear you!

Old Bathory. My tale is brief. During our festive dance,
Your servants, the accusers of my son,
Offered gross insults, in unmanly sort, 115
To our village maidens. He (could he do less?)
Rose in defence of outraged modesty,
And so persuasive did his cudgel prove,
[[905]] (Your hectoring sparks so over-brave to women
Are always cowards) that they soon took flight, 120
And now in mere revenge, like baffled boasters,
Have framed this tale, out of some hasty words
Which their own threats provoked.

Sarolta. Old man! you talk
Too bluntly! Did your son owe no respect
To the livery of our house?

Old Bathory. Even such respect 125
As the sheep's skin should gain for the hot wolf
That hath begun to worry the poor lambs!

Laska. Old insolent ruffian!

Glycine. Pardon! pardon, madam!
I saw the whole affray. The good old man
Means no offence, sweet lady!—You, yourself, [130]
Laska! know well, that these men were the ruffians!
Shame on you!

Sarolta. What! Glycine? Go, retire! [Exit Glycine.
Be it then that these men faulted. Yet yourself,
Or better still belike the maidens' parents,
Might have complained to us. Was ever access [135]
Denied you? Or free audience? Or are we
Weak and unfit to punish our own servants?

Old Bathory. So then! So then! Heaven grant an old man patience!
And must the gardener leave his seedling plants,
Leave his young roses to the rooting swine 140
While he goes ask their master, if perchance
His leisure serve to scourge them from their ravage?

Laska. Ho! Take the rude clown from your lady's presence!
I will report her further will!

Sarolta. Wait then,
Till thou hast learnt it! Fervent good old man! 145
Forgive me that, to try thee, I put on
A face of sternness, alien to my meaning! [Then speaks to the Servants.
Hence! leave my presence! and you, Laska! mark me!
Those rioters are no longer of my household!
If we but shake a dewdrop from a rose 150
In vain would we replace it, and as vainly
Restore the tear of wounded modesty
[[906]] To a maiden's eye familiarized to licence.—
But these men, Laska—