University of Virginia Library

SCENE SECOND.

COUNT CILLEY, THE GOVERNOR MICHAEL ZILUGO.
(Zilugo enters hastily as Rodolpho goes out.)
COUNT CILLEY.
What trouble read I in your looks, Zilugo?

ZILUGO.
Grief at the loud laments of starving thousands,
And at the silent tears of hardy veterans,
Drooping dismay'd.—The fleet is now in flames—

COUNT CILLEY.
The Regent's fleet, which came this morn in sight?

ZILUGO.
Is now destroying. Nought can be seen of it,
For bursting flames, and volumes of thick smoke,
Which the west wind towards the city blows.
We fear our godlike champion now expires,
Or, chain'd, is led in triumph by the victor.
I have just call'd the council to advise
What, in this exigence, we ought to do.
Fain would Corvinus sally forth, with all
Our force, at the west gate, and through the invaders,
On that side now redoubling, force a passage;
And save, from Mahomet, his gallant Father,
With those brave troops who may escape the flames.

COUNT CILLEY.
The attempt is madness. What, risk our whole force
To save one man? Hazard Belgrade for him?

ZILUGO.
Huniades that One,—hazard an Empire.
Though gratitude were dumb, yet interest pleads;
For seven score thousand Turks, inur'd to war,
Round our beleaguer'd walls have trenches open'd,
And our own safety now demands his aid.
Who but himself had fought against their fleet
This morn? Yet he, undaunted Chief, engag'd
Their ships at fearful odds. Had victory smil'd.
Boldly must he his landing have made good
I' the teeth of all the Sultan's chosen soldiers.
And after that, although you think it madness
For us to pass athwart the Turkish lines,
Yet he, with not the tenth of half our force,
Would, through their camp, have hewn himself a path;
Then with tir'd troops, from a third battle panting,
Belgrade had been again by him reliev'd.
This godlike man shall we, with coward caution,
Desert, now, when for us, he stands the mark
Of hostile rage?

COUNT CILLEY.
Defeat, in mid career,
His boldness stops; and, with less daring, prudence
Warns us to act, nor, by our ruin, grace
His fall. Huniades, or dead, or captive,
The tottering state must chuse another Regent:
A Nation's praise will that brave man deserve,
Who, in this peril, dares to take the helm.

ZILUGO.
Now, at this stormy crisis, to be Regent
Is to encounter toil and certain danger:
A thankless office, where all may be lost,
And nothing can be won. Much the King's flight
To Frederick's court, the people has displeas'd.
This beardless King, deserting his own cause,
Is grown unpopular. The soldiers fight
Dead-hearted. Yet where great Corvinus leads,
Adoring him, with ready swords they follow.
Another Regent strew'd with thorns will find
His road, unless our well-plac'd choice select
That hero whom the soldiers love and fear.

COUNT CILLEY.
A Regent must be chosen, or this Corvinus,
This boy, will arrogate his Father's power,
Defy the council's orders, waste our strength,
And lose the city of the most importance
In the Hungarian realm. If you should aid
This rash exploit, I shall suspect your loyalty.
Traitors I deem Corvinus, and Huniades,
Who would usurp my infant Nephew's throne.
To guard his rights, I claim the General's truncheon.

Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER
(addressing the Governor).
My Lord! approaching tow'rds the eastern gate
A train of Turks appears, so very numerous,
That it resembles more a hostile army
Than a state embassy. They sound a parley.

ZILUGO.
Let trumpets from the eastern tower accept it,
And send forth Heralds to demand their purpose,
Which here report.

Exit Messenger.
COUNT CILLEY.
Now shew your zeal to serve
The state; and in the council name me Regent.

ZILUGO.
Forego that thought, nor hazard a repulse.
My Lord! at present, if the council chuse
A man for that high office, much I doubt,
Nay I foretell, they never will name you.

COUNT CILLEY.
And yet this realm demands my care, Zilugo!
This new alliance with the Prince of Servia,
Will keep the sword for ever in our hands
Against the Turk, who, when he quits Belgrade,
With fire and sword, will ravage Servia,
Which, by the treaty, we are bound to succour.
Huniades has some base views in this;
Some secret tribute, or some promis'd service.
My Niece is sold.

ZILUGO.
Unjust are your suspicions.
The Regent knows no interest, but his Country's;
And Servia, aided by our arms, will prove
Hungaria's bulwark 'gainst the Turk's invasion.
Therefore he gives the Princess to Matthias.
Although her heart in secret loves another;
Yet has his counsel o'er that love prevail'd,
For the state's welfare, and his sovereign's safety.

COUNT CILLEY.
And can you, Governor! approve this marriage?
The Servian Prince will, like his treacherous father,
Deceitful prove; that father who, before you,
Murder'd your Brother, basely, in cold blood.

ZILUGO.
My sword the traitor slew; and, justice satisfy'd,
Resentment sleeps within its victim's tomb.

COUNT CILLEY.
Had I a Regent's power, I would oppose
This purpos'd marriage: highly I dislike it.
Form'd by Huniades, it hides some treason.
Let my Niece wed with some Hungarian Lord,
Whose service such a high reward may merit,
Amongst the gallant nobles of this realm,
I know not who has from the state, Zilugo!
Such claims to honour as yourself. Your son—

ZILUGO
(haughtily).
I understand you, Count! I know, my interest
Is, with the Council, of sufficient weight
For such a bribe: and, when inclin'd to sell
Honour and faith, I know a purchaser,
Who, wanting both, would give a prodigal price,
Glut my revenge, and my ambition feed.

COUNT CILLEY.
I prize your zeal, and therefore court your friendship.
'Tis my esteem for you, which makes me chuse
Your Son to wed my Niece. Whilst to your merit
I am thus just, you through mistake oppose me.

ZILUGO.
It now behoves me bluntly to inform you,
You lose your dignity in these attempts.
Your sanguine temper grasps at unjust power,
Which vested in you would prove dangerous.
The man who asks more than he ought to have,
Must meet repulse. When honest minds are rous'd
To oppose audacity, respect is lost
In that contempt, which, all unfair designs,
Whether in public or in private life,
Sooner or later ever must incur.

COUNT CILLEY
(half drawing his sword).
I'll teach your bluntness to contemn my power,

ZILUGO
(drawing his sword and retreating).
Ulrick! this sword is practis'd 'gainst assassins—

COUNT CILLEY
(drawing his sword advances).
As man to man, in equal fight advance.

ZILUGO.
No! whilst my sword can serve my Country's cause,
I will not use it but for her; except
To guard my life. If I escape the peril,
Which now awaits us, call me forth—the friend
Of Elsinger will meet you; brave, fallen Elsinger!
His, and our noble Regent's, threatening sword
Kept from your grasp all Austria's rich domains;
For had not they in your career oppos'd you,
Instead of Guardian to your infant Nephew,
You first had rebel been, and then usurper.
The power you have our nobles think unfate;
Therefore the Council will not chuse you Regent.

COUNT CILLEY.
They shall by force elect me, if not peaceably;
The army shall control them in my favour.

ZILUGO.
Only that army, which you hither brought.
Ulrick! you now confess, what all suspected,
That here your troops were station'd with design
Most hostile to this State; we knew, your purpose
Was not to grace the nuptials of your Niece,
Though that was your pretence to gain them entrance:
Yet, as 'twas rumour'd, that the unnumber'd host,
Which Mahomet led, was marching to Belgrade,
Its gates were open'd to receive your forces,
Unquestion'd your designs.

COUNT CILLEY.
And who should question them?
Am I, a German Prince, and Austria's Regent,
To move without due state, lest you should frown?

ZILUGO.
Conceal'd ambition lures you to a plan,
In which success will prove most fatal to you.
I know your valour; but in Europe's wars
However skill'd, in Asiatic modes
Of wily fight, or fierce terrific onset,
Your courage and your conduct are untry'd.
Your first essay, in this extreme of danger,
Cannot be made. We must give battle soon,
Or else by famine perish. I am your friend—

COUNT CILLEY.
Let me but find you so. Such vast returns—

ZILUGO.
Mistake me not: I am your friend who warns you
To shun dishonour's gulph, which yawns beneath
The mouldering precipice, whose brink you tread
With such temerity. Mark, that I speak not,
Solely, to save your honour; but to avoid
Intestine war, to you, to us, unsafe;
To avoid disgrace and ruin, chains and slavery,
Which, if you lead our troops, must be our fate.
Then be advis'd—

Enter Heralds.
FIRST HERALD.
Impatient to gain entrance,
The Turks declare they come with terms of honour,
Though, our fleet burnt, they might as victors come;
And that, provided the Hungarians
Aid not the Servian Prince, and instant give
Agmunda for a bride to Mahomet,
With thirty thousand ducats yearly tribute,
The Sultan will consent to raise the siege;
But if refus'd, Belgrade he means to storm.

ZILUGO.
I fear some craft. The Council now is met:
These terms, unlook'd for, shall be laid before them.
May Heaven direct their choice! Admit the embassy!
Exit Heralds.
Your Austrian troops, my Lord! in serried files,
So guard this palace, and the eastern gate,
We need not fear their numbers should surprise us.

COUNT CILLEY.
It will be well, if their best services
Can make me less suspected by Zilugo.

ZILUGO.
My Lord! will you with me the Council join?
There your advice, as Uncle to the Princess,
With due respect and deference will meet.