Bethlen. Lady, be calm! fear not this king of the buskin! 315
A king? Oh laughter! A king Bajazet!
That from some vagrant actor's tiring-room,
Hath stolen at once his speech and crown!

Emerick. Ah! treason!
Thou hast been lessoned and tricked up for this!
As surely as the wax on thy death-warrant [320]
Shall take the impression of this royal signet,
So plain thy face hath ta'en the mask of rebel!

[Bethlen seizes Emerick's hand and eagerly observes the signet.

Bethlen. It must be so! 'Tis e'en the counterpart!
But with a foul usurping cypher on it!
The light hath flashed from Heaven, and I must follow it! 325
O curst usurper! O thou brother-murderer!
That mad'st a star-bright queen a fugitive widow!
Who fill'st the land with curses, being thyself
All curses in one tyrant! see and tremble!
[[936]] This is Kiuprili's sword that now hangs o'er thee! 330
Kiuprili's blasting curse, that from its point
Shoots lightnings at thee. Hark! in Andreas' name,
Heir of his vengeance, hell-hound! I defy thee.

[They fight, and just as Emerick is disarmed, in rush Casimir, Old Bathory, and Attendants. Casimir runs in between the combatants, and parts them; in the struggle Bethlen's sword is thrown down.

Casimir. The king! disarmed too by a stranger! Speak!
What may this mean?

Emerick. Deceived, dishonored lord! [335]
Ask thou yon fair adultress! She will tell thee
A tale, which would'st thou be both dupe and traitor,
Thou wilt believe against thy friend and sovereign!
Thou art present now, and a friend's duty ceases:
To thine own justice leave I thine own wrongs. [340]
Of half thy vengeance I perforce must rob thee,
For that the sovereign claims. To thy allegiance
I now commit this traitor and assassin. [Then to the Attendants.
Hence with him to the dungeon! and to-morrow,
Ere the sun rises,—Hark! your heads or his! 345

Bethlen. Can Hell work miracles to mock Heaven's justice?

Emerick. Who speaks to him dies! The traitor that has menaced
His king, must not pollute the breathing air,
Even with a word!

Casimir (to Bathory). Hence with him to the dungeon!