Raab Kiuprili. Grave magistrates and chieftains of Illyria,
In good time come ye hither, if ye come
As loyal men with honourable purpose
To mourn what can alone be mourned; but chiefly
To enforce the last commands of royal Andreas 130
And shield the Queen, Zapolya: haply making
The mother's joy light up the widow's tears.

Leader. Our purpose demands speed. Grace our procession;
A warrior best will greet a warlike king.

Raab Kiuprili. This patent written by your lawful king, [135]
(Lo! his own seal and signature attesting)
Appoints as guardians of his realm and offspring,
The Queen, and the Prince Emerick, and myself.
[Voices of Live King Emerick! an Emerick! an Emerick!
What means this clamour? Are these madmen's voices?
Or is some knot of riotous slanderers leagued 140
To infamize the name of the king's brother
With a lie black as Hell? unmanly cruelty,
Ingratitude, and most unnatural treason? [Murmurs.
What mean these murmurs? Dare then any here
Proclaim Prince Emerick a spotted traitor? 145
One that has taken from you your sworn faith,
And given you in return a Judas' bribe,
Infamy now, oppression in reversion,
And Heaven's inevitable curse hereafter?
[Loud murmurs, followed by cries—Emerick! No Baby Prince! No Changelings!
Yet bear with me awhile! Have I for this 150
[[889]] Bled for your safety, conquered for your honour?
Was it for this, Illyrians! that I forded
Your thaw-swoln torrents, when the shouldering ice
Fought with the foe, and stained its jagged points
With gore from wounds I felt not? Did the blast [155]
Beat on this body, frost-and-famine-numbed,
Till my hard flesh distinguished not itself
From the insensate mail, its fellow warrior?
And have I brought home with me Victory,
And with her, hand in hand, firm-footed Peace, [160]
Her countenance twice lighted up with glory,
As if I had charmed a goddess down from Heaven?
But these will flee abhorrent from the throne
Of usurpation!
[Murmurs increase—and cries of Onward! Onward!
Have you then thrown off shame,
And shall not a dear friend, a loyal subject, 165
Throw off all fear? I tell ye, the fair trophies
Valiantly wrested from a valiant foe,
Love's natural offerings to a rightful king,
Will hang as ill on this usurping traitor,
This brother-blight, this Emerick, as robes [170]
Of gold plucked from the images of gods
Upon a sacrilegious robber's back. [Enter Lord Casimir.

Casimir. Who is this factious insolent, that dares brand
The elected King, our chosen Emerick?
My father!

Raab Kiuprili. Casimir! He, he a traitor! [175]
Too soon indeed, Ragozzi! have I learnt it. [Aside.

Casimir. My father and my lord!

Raab Kiuprili. I know thee not!

Leader. Yet the remembrancing did sound right filial.

Raab Kiuprili. A holy name and words of natural duty
Are blasted by a thankless traitor's utterance. 180

Casimir. O hear me, Sire! not lightly have I sworn
Homage to Emerick. Illyria's sceptre
Demands a manly hand, a warrior's grasp.
[[890]] The queen Zapolya's self-expected offspring
At least is doubtful: and of all our nobles, [185]
The king, inheriting his brother's heart,
Hath honoured us the most. Your rank, my lord!
Already eminent, is—all it can be—
Confirmed: and me the king's grace hath appointed
Chief of his council and the lord high steward. [190]