_Vav._ At last I’ve found thee, Florian--far and near I’ve sought thee, for I’m very strong to-day. Why, what a wise physician is this Love! For see--my eyes are bright--my face is flushed-- Flushed with the glow of health. This new-born love Gives me a new-born strength. Oh, Florian, Place thine arms round me--let me rest on thee; I draw my life from thee--my heart--my heart! _Flor._ (_aside._) Alas, poor maiden--I must tell thee all, May Heaven help me break the truth to thee! (_Aloud._) Dear little lady, yield not up thine heart Too readily. The world is set with traps And hidden pitfalls. Keep thy gentle heart For one who, by his pure and godly life, Hath given thee proof of his right worthiness. _Vav._ (_surprised_). Why speakest thou in parable? Behold, Have I not loved thee for a long, long year? _Flor._ What proof hast thou that I indeed am he Whom thou hast loved so long? _Vav._ I have thy word, And had I not thy word, I have my heart To tell me whom to seek and whom to shun. _Flor._ Mistrust that little heart. It is not framed To guide thee of itself. Like virgin gold Untainted by alloy, it is too pure For this rough-ready world of work-a-day! I have a tale to tell. There was a knight Who, as he journeyed, met a gentle maid, With whom he, light of heart and light of tongue, Conversed in playful strain. The maid was fair, And he, in jest, spake loving words to her, Believing that she knew them to be feigned. (_At this point it begins to dawn upon VAVIR that FLORIAN is referring to her._) She, pure as Faith--having no thought of guile Tender and trustful in her innocence-- Believed the madcap knight’s unworthy words, And nursed them in her heart. He, smit with shame, For he was plighted to her sister (_VAVIR, finding her fears confirmed, rises, shrinking from FLORIAN, expressing extreme pain. He rises after her_) whom He loved with an exceeding love, essayed, With clumsy hint and far-fetched parable, To break the truth to her. At length--at length, By very slow degrees--light came to her! Shall I go on? _Vav._ (_faintly_). No need--I know the rest! The maiden died--she pardoned him, and died! (_VAVIR during the ensuing lines shows symptoms of fainting._) _Flor._ (_passionately_). No, no--Vavir--she lived--the maiden lived! He was not worth a tear--she loved him well, But still she lived, Vavir--but still she lived! If only for the gentle sister whom She loved so tenderly, and for whose sake She, in the blushing day-break of her life, Had yielded up the world. Oh, say she lived! [_VAVIR falls senseless in FLORIAN’S arms. HILDA, who has been listening eagerly to the latter part of FLORIAN’S tale, kneels, praying, as the act drop falls._ ACT III.