Then friendship swear, ye faithful bands, Swear to save a shackled hero! See where yon abbey frowning stands! Rescue, rescue, brave Rogero! CAS. Thrall’d in a monkish tyrant’s fetters Shall great Rogero hopeless lie? Y. POT. In my pocket I have letters, Saying, “Help me, or I die!” _Allegro Allegretto._ CAS. BEEF. PUDD. GREN. TROU. } Let us fly, let us fly, WAITER, AND POT. _with enthusiasm_. } Let us help, ere he die! [_Exeunt omnes, waving their hats._ _Scene, the Abbey Gate, with Ditches, Drawbridges, and Spikes; Time, about an hour before Sunrise.—The conspirators appear as if in ambuscade, whispering and consulting together, in expectation of the signal for attack.—The_ WAITER _is habited as a Knight Templar, in the dress of his Order, with the Cross on his breast, and the scallop on his shoulder._—PUDDINGFIELD _and_ BEEFINGTON _armed with blunderbusses and pocket-pistols; the_ GRENADIERS _in their proper uniforms.—The_ TROUBADOUR _with his attendant minstrels bring up the rear; martial music: the conspirators come forward, and present themselves before the Gate of the Abbey.—Alarum; firing of pistols; the Convent appear in Arms upon the Walls; the Drawbridge is let down; a body of choristers and lay-brothers attempt a sally, but are beaten back, and the Verger killed.—The besieged attempt to raise the Drawbridge_; PUDDINGFIELD _and_ BEEFINGTON _press forward with alacrity, throw themselves upon the Drawbridge, and by the exertion of their weight preserve it in a state of depression; the other besiegers join them, and attempt to force the entrance, but without effect._—PUDDINGFIELD _makes the signal for the battering-ram.—Enter_ QUINTUS CURTIUS _and_ MARCUS CURIUS DENTATUS _in their military habits, preceded by the Roman Eagle; the rest of their Legion are employed in bringing forward a battering-ram, which plays for a few minutes to slow time, till the entrance is forced.—After a short resistance, the besiegers rush in with shouts of Victory._ _Scene changes to the interior of the Abbey.—The inhabitants of the Convent are seen flying in all directions._ _The_ COUNT OF WEIMAR _and the_ PRIOR, _who had been found feasting in the Refectory, are brought in manacled. The_ COUNT _appears transported with rage, and gnaws his chains.—The_ PRIOR _remains insensible, as if stupefied with grief._—BEEFINGTON _takes the keys of the Dungeon, which are hanging at the_ PRIOR’S _girdle, and makes a sign for them both to be led away into confinement.—Exeunt_ PRIOR _and_ COUNT, _properly guarded.—The rest of the conspirators disperse in search of the Dungeon where_ ROGERO _is confined._