THE MAN. The rain drops from thy heart, and freezes as it falls;--skeleton bones look forth from thy bosom! THE MAIDEN. Thou hast promised, hast sworn! THE MAN. The lightning has burned out the apples of thine eyes! CHORUS OF EVIL SPIRITS. Old Satan, welcome back to hell! Thou hast seduced and ruined a mighty spirit, admired by men, a marvel to itself. Sublime soul, haughty heart--follow thy beloved! THE MAN. Wilt thou then damn me, O my God! because I have believed that Thy Beauty far surpassed the loveliness of earth; because I have left all to follow it; and have suffered for it until I have grown the very jest of devils? EVIL SPIRIT. Hear, brothers, hear! THE MAN. The last hour strikes! the storm whirls in black and ever-widening circles--the sea is breaking and dashing higher and higher against the rocks, and as it mounts them, draws me on--an invisible power urges me forward--nearer--ever nearer--bands of men advance from behind upon me--mount my neck--and plunge me into the abyss! EVIL SPIRIT. Rejoice, brothers, rejoice! He comes! THE MAN. It is vain to struggle; useless to combat! the giddy bliss of the abyss draws me on--my head is dizzy--the plunge is inevitable--my brain whirls!--O God!--Thy fiend has conquered! THE GUARDIAN ANGEL (_floating over the sea_). Peace, ye waves! Be still! At this very moment of time the holy water of baptism is poured upon the head of the infant, George Stanislaus. GUARDIAN ANGEL. Return to thy house: and sin no more! Return to thy house: and love thy child! * * * * * The saloon with the piano. The Man enters, and a servant follows with a light. THE MAN. Where is the countess? SERVANT. My lady is ill. THE MAN. She is not in her chamber; I have been there, and found it empty. SERVANT. The countess is not here, my lord. THE MAN. Has she left the castle? Where is she to be found? SERVANT. They came for my lady yesterday, and carried her away. THE MAN. Answer at once, and tell me where they have taken the countess! SERVANT. To the madhouse! He rushes out. THE MAN. Hear me, answer me, Mary! Ah, I know you are only hiding for a moment to punish me for my desertion; but I suffer, Mary! Mary, my own Mary, in pity speak! No--it is not so. She is not here, or she would answer to my cries. John! Caroline! nurse! The whole house seems deaf and dumb! But what he has just told me, is not, cannot be true; it would be too horrible! Ah! I have never wished to wrong any human being; I would have made the whole world happy; yet I have plunged the woman who trusted herself to me, the innocent creature whom I swore to love and guard, into the hell of those already damned on earth! I blast all upon whom I breathe; and am doomed to destroy myself also! Hell has only released me for a few hours, that I might present to men its living image upon earth!