The fountains of the light spring silently,
And slowly, and the tide of beamy noon
Hath fled up to the arch, and sleeps.. how near
Its source! There's something crawls on earth
alive,
Which shall not be when past those massy clouds,
The rocks of that most glorious ocean shore,
That tide flows by again.... She dies to night!
[Exit.

END OF ACT FOURTH.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A Banquetting Room.-The QUEEN and RODNA (as King) on chairs of state.-Nobles and Ladies assembled at table.-Officer by the side of RODNA with Missives, who has just perused the dispatch.

Ro. Thus have we happily begun our reign.

The army, awed by our stern front 's dispersed; Their exiled leader bends again his course Towards Syria: so 'tis given out... My Queen! Qu. (Descends from the seat in agitation.)

I taste the bitter fruit of rashness. God!
Did Andreas never purpose to unqueen me?
Then had I made a pause, this union shunned,
I had been still mine own! My headlong ire
Drew after it reason. waking, I am mad,
Indeed to think what's done.

Ro. (Apart.)

My thoughts are now My obscure spring The heav'n-blue veins haughty bosom, may

Wedded unto my wish.
Has a right royal vent.
That lace, and swell her
Wave with a stream, more lively than runs here,
But for the rest.. tut! tut! 'tis place, not blood,
Determines what we are.

(Shouts without; RODNA addressing himself

to those near.)

Does not it thunder?

Make proclamation of our dread displeasure :
Hang him who lacks obedience.

(To an Officer.)

Go about it.

Qu. The tyrant demagogue!... Gone to Syria,
Is't likely without Beatrice? He'll be here
To compass her; I know the means are plotted,
And I but dream of vengeance; ah! I've ran
My bark upon a rock by my own arts.

Ro.

I'll have the forehand of him. Sister mine,
I'll match you a second time, and with a king
Whose purple cleaves to his gaunt and marrow-
less bones.

In whose embraces of perpetual winter
You'll freeze to a ne'er-melting icicle . . .
I'll wed you to him straight.

[Exit.

Ah! the night deepens. Break up the banquet, Lords. Our gentle Consort By her sudden 'parture schools us. All good

night.

Nob. The fairest blessings rest on your Highness'

couch.

We humbly take our leave.

[Exeunt Noblemen, &c.

Ro. (To Servant.) Attend those men you told me of?

Serv.

Below, your Grace.

They wait

Ro. (Apart.) I'll make quick work and sure. (To Servant.) Bertald!

Serv.

Ro. (Apart.)

Serv.

My Lord?

Suppose it be to night?
Why should I dally with occasion? Andreas
In exile, and the common heart mine own . . .
Yes, it shall be to-night. (To Servant) Bertald!
My Lord?

Ro. Presently. (Apart.) If after all I wed not Beatrice
Whence grows my profit? Not a thought I have
But anchors on her. When I would respire,
The air comes coffined up in sepulchres;
Food in digestion turns to aconite;

The flowing goblet mantles to the brim

With slime of asps. , and all because of her.
What cure for this, save to dispatch her sister,
And so make way for her to bless my bed?
(To Servant.)

Dost thou wait still? Go bid her Majesty
Not leave her chamber, but attend me there. .
At midnight, and alone. [Exeunt separately.

SCENE II.-A Gothic Hall.-WARADIN and HASSAN disguised as two Outlaws; their faces concealed in drapery.

HA. Let me beseech your Grace, if he lay bare
His devilish nature, which I know to be
A hell of hideous thoughts, not to betray
Yourself in any way.

WA.

HA.

I'm armed 'gainst aught
Would mar my ends in this disguise, which aim
Even at the heart of his councils, and, .. no matter.
Yet had the Queen not cast her lot so wide
Of her own worth, I had wrenched her royalty
From her disloyal subjects' gripe; it had been
Deep service then, which now

(Enter RODNA.)

Lord Rodna, Sir.

Ro. You're here; .. and yet I know ye not: whence

My Lord, he's taken sick, and suddenly. Ro. Are ye of his bosom?

HA.

Ro.

Oh, my Lord, his ledger;

He enters all his thoughts in us, so please you. You guess the business then you are come upon? HA. Some trifle of phlebotomy, I conceive?

Ro. What, wouldst thou let men's blood to lap it merely?

That were suspicious.. fraught with fears. Thou

wolf!

Wet-lipped, that liv'st on steam of human gore, I do not like thine instincts. Know she is A high offender, and must not be scarred. WA. (Aside.) She? who?

HA.

A Lady? goodness bless me! Ah! You're married now...I see it clear enough! You have a cardinal virtue 'mong the Ladies. Ro. (Apart.) If not in blood, how then?

hither.

HA. My Lord?

Ro.

HA.

Ro.

WA.

HA.

I have it :

I did... I want ye. Reptile Horror! How thou dost creep about me!.... You're inclined

To this?

We've cut the veins of small white infants,
Of beauteous maids, and more such delicates
Ere now, and never cared to wipe our steel
Till dry. We mind not bathing our strong hands,
So we're well paid.

(TO WARADIN.)

Softly; no blood, I tell ye.

Hither! Thou Sir!.. The deed I have to do

Is necessary, for she is a culprit.

(To HASSAN, who retires a few paces.)

List if there be a footstep to disturb us.

(To WARADIN.)

Let me take hold upon thy raiment. Silence!
What was it?

Air.

It whistles as in scorn.

Ro. This way come further; deeper: oh! if possible
Into the heart of rest. Let us have no
Society but our own terrors... Lightly!
Thou know'st within the melancholy grove,

Girt by the bastion of our royal palace,
A tardy, deep, and sullen current rolls
Unwillingly thou may'st have sat upon

:

Its banks, and seen its glassy face made black By tall pines, which lean over it; and talk So sad.. they weep to hear themselves. WA. (Aside.)

HA.

Ro.

So drop
Their foolish rheum at every pause, the while
Fall fast the sick leaves they have worn to ruin.
... Oh that's a parable!

We know the place.
Hard by Balassi and yourself hold counsel:
The band meet there to night.

So ran my orders;
But do not speak so loud. No mortal secret
Beneath that solitary water's grave

Can the shrewd eye pry into: Heaven's lights Wot not what's done under the strict embrace Of those protecting boughs... You wander, Sir? WA. I've known the spot from childhood.

Ro.

WA.

Good! this hour...
Now all is hushed and quiet in the city,
Enter the bedroom of the kings of Hungary:...
She will not sleep; tear her away from silence
Thither; transport the bright and beautiful wretch
Lower than the last creeping water next
The earth,.. plunge!..

Say! Pray say on whom? . Oh speak! HA. Why 'tis all one: some rub in his Lordship's way. Ro. Remember! do not spill her blood, for that

HA.

Ro.

HA.

Ro.

Were criminal! But let her drown, immured
By waves from the common eye as close as marble.
Watch ye by torchlight that she yield her

E'en so.

But ye are resolved? Oh swerve not! though