A sunny shaft did I behold,
From sky to earth it slanted:
And poised therein a bird so bold—
Sweet bird, thou wert enchanted!
He sank, he rose, he twinkled, he trolled [70]
Within that shaft of sunny mist;
His eyes of fire, his beak of gold,
All else of amethyst!
[[920]] And thus he sang: 'Adieu! adieu!
Love's dreams prove seldom true. [75]
The blossoms, they make no delay:
The sparkling dew-drops will not stay.
Sweet month of May,
We must away;
Far, far away! 80
To-day! to-day!'

Zapolya. Sure 'tis some blest spirit!
For since thou slew'st the usurper's emissary
That plunged upon us, a more than mortal fear
Is as a wall, that wards off the beleaguerer 85
And starves the poor besieged. [Song again.

Raab Kiuprili. It is a maiden's voice! quick to the cave!

Zapolya. Hark! her voice falters! [Exit Zapolya.

Raab Kiuprili. She must not enter
The cavern, else I will remain unseen!
[Kiuprili retires to one side of the stage. Glycine enters singing.

Glycine. A savage place! saints shield me! Bethlen! Bethlen! [90]
Not here?—There's no one here! I'll sing again! [Sings again.
If I do not hear my own voice, I shall fancy
Voices in all chance sounds! [Starts.
'Twas some dry branch
Dropt of itself! Oh, he went forth so rashly,
Took no food with him—only his arms and boar-spear! 95
What if I leave these cakes, this cruse of wine,
Here by this cave, and seek him with the rest?

Raab Kiuprili (unseen). Leave them and flee!

Glycine (shrieks, then recovering.) Where are you?

Raab Kiuprili (still unseen.) Leave them!

Glycine. 'Tis Glycine!
Speak to me, Bethlen! speak in your own voice! [100]
All silent!—If this were the war-wolf's den!
'Twas not his voice!—