His dying-moan itself avert thy dagger When th' hour of vengeance comes, shall this gray head, ADALBERT. So be it, if I break my oath! PHILIP. Then man thee! (Looking up, then shrinking together, as with dazzled eyes.) ADALBERT (alone.) (Retires hastily.) Yes, Grayhead, whom the beckoning of the Lord I will remember thee and this stern midnight, Enter an ARMED MAN. (He is mailed from head to foot in black harness; his visor is closed.) Bare thyself! ARMED MAN. Pray! (He strips him to the girdle and raises him.) Look on the ground, and follow! (He leads him into the background to a trap door, on the right. He descends first himself; and when ADALBERT has followed him, it closes.) SCENE SECOND. Cemetery of the Templars, under the Church. The scene is lighted only by a Lamp which hangs down from the vault. Around are Tombstones of deceased Knights, marked with Crosses and sculptured Bones. In the background, two colossal Skeletons holding between them a large white Book, marked with a red Cross; from the under end of the Book hangs a long black curtain. The Book, of which only the cover is visible, has an inscription in black ciphers. The Skeleton on the right holds in its right hand a naked drawn sword; that on the left holds in its left hand a Palm turned downwards. On the right side of the foreground, stands a black Coffin open; on the left, a similar one with the body of a Templar in full dress of his Order; on both Coffins are inscriptions in white ciphers. On each side, nearer the background, are seen the lowest steps of the stairs, which lead up into the Temple Church above the vault. ARMED MAN (not yet visible; above on the right-hand stairs.) CONCEALED VOICES. Yea! ARMED MAN (who after a pause shows himself on the stairs.) CONCEALED VOICES. Yea! (ARMED MAN with drawn sword leads ADALBERT carefully down the steps on the right hand.) ARMED MAN (to Adalbert.) Look down! 'Tis on thy life! ADALBERT. An open empty Coffin. ARMED MAN. "T is the house Where thou one day shalt dwell. Canst read th' inscription? No. ADALBERT. ARMED MAN. Hear it, then; 'Thy wages, Sin, is Death.' (Leads him to the opposite Coffin where the Body is lying.) Look down! "T is on thy life! What seest thou? (Shows the Coffin.) Hear: 'Corruption is the name of Life.' Now look around; go forward, move, and act! ---- (He pushes him towards the background of the stage.) ADALBERT (observing the Book.) Ha! Here the Book of Ordination? - Seems As if th' inscription on it might be read. (Approaching.) (He reads it.) "Knock four times on the ground, Thou shalt behold thy loved one.' O Heavens! And may I see thee, sainted Agnes? My bosom yearns for thee! (Hastening close to the Book.) (With the following words, he stamps four times on the ground.) One, Two, Three, - Four! (The Curtain hanging from the Book rolls rapidly up, and covers it. A colossal Devil's-head appears between the two Skeletons; its form is horrible; it is gilt; has a huge golden Crown, a Heart of the same in its Brow; rolling flaming Eyes; Serpents instead of Hair ; golden Chains round its neck, which is visible to the breast; and a golden Cross, yet not a Crucifix, which rises over its right shoulder, as if crushing it down. The whole Bust rests on four gilt Dragon'sfeet. At sight of it, ADALBERT starts back in horror, and exclaims :) Defend us! ARMED MAN. Dreaded, may he hear it? CONCEALED VOICES. VOL. I. 10 Yea! under end of the Book hangs a long black curtain. The Book, of which only the cover is visible, has an inscription in black ciphers. The Skeleton on the right holds in its right hand a naked drawn sword; that on the left holds in its left hand a Palm turned downwards. On the right side of the foreground, stands a black Coffin open; on the left, a similar one with the body of a Templar in full dress of his Order; on both Coffins are inscriptions in white ciphers. On each side, nearer the background, are seen the lowest steps of the stairs, which lead up into the Temple Church above the vault. ARMED MAN (not yet visible; above on the right-hand stairs.) CONCEALED VOICES. Yea! ARMED MAN (who after a pause shows himself on the stairs.) CONCEALED VOICES. Yea! (ARMED MAN with drawn sword leads ADALBERT carefully down the steps on the right hand.) ARMED MAN (to ADALBERT.) Look down! "T is on thy life! ADALBERT. An open empty Coffin. ARMED MAN. "T is the house Where thou one day shalt dwell. Canst read th' inscription? No. ADALBERT. ARMED MAN. Hear it, then; 'Thy wages, Sin, is Death.' (Leads him to the opposite Coffin where the Body is lying.) Look down! "T is on thy life! — What seest thou? (Shows the Coffin.) Hear: 'Corruption is the name of Life.' Now look around; go forward,—move, and act! (He pushes him towards the background of the stage.) ADALBERT (observing the Book.) Ha! Here the Book of Ordination? - Seems As if th' inscription on it might be read. (Approaching.) (He reads it.) 'Knock four times on the ground, Thou shalt behold thy loved one.' O Heavens! And may I see thee, sainted Agnes? My bosom yearns for thee! (Hastening close to the Book.) (With the following words, he stamps four times on the ground.) One, Two, - Three, Four! (The Curtain hanging from the Book rolls rapidly up, and covers it. A colossal Devil's-head appears between the two Skeletons; its form is horrible; it is gilt; has a huge golden Crown, a Heart of the same in its Brow; rolling flaming Eyes; Serpents instead of Hair ; golden Chains round its neck, which is visible to the breast; and a golden Cross, yet not a Crucifix, which rises over its right shoulder, as if crushing it down. The whole Bust rests on four gilt Dragon'sfeet. At sight of it, ADALBERT starts back in horror, and exclaims :) Defend us! ARMED MAN. Dreaded, may he hear it? CONCEALED VOICES. VOL. I. 10 Yea! |