How they ring! With all their might, Let them hum Day and night! Our festival shall be Magnificent, I swear! Assail it fiercer yet, The palpitating air! The stupid peasants run, And o'er the bridges tear! Let them ring, Let them hum, Day and night! Every feast Is increased By their might! [_He turns toward the front of the church._ I saw black hangings in the chapel. Are they dragging some misery here? God! a presentiment! I'll not believe it! [_Enter Claude Frollo and Clopin without perceiving Quasimodo._ It is my master! I'll observe him. He is gloomy too! [_He hides himself in an obscure angle of the porch._ Oh, my mistress! Oh, Notre Dame! Take my life! save my soul! SCENE III _Quasimodo hidden, Claude Frollo, Clopin_ CLAUDE FROLLO. So Phoebus is at Montfort? CLOPIN. My lord, he is not dead! CLAUDE FROLLO. Provided nothing brings him here! CLOPIN. Do not fear it; He is too feeble yet for such a journey. If he came, 'twould be his death. My lord, you can feel sure That every step would reopen his wound; Do not fear anything this morning. CLAUDE FROLLO. Oh! let me hold her just to-day For life or death within my power! Hell! I'll give you all the rest, If you grant me this one hour! [_To Clopin._] They will soon bring the gypsy here! You remember everything! In the square--with your men-- CLOPIN. Yes. CLAUDE FROLLO. Keep in the shadow; If I cry, "To me!" you come. CLOPIN. Yes! CLAUDE FROLLO. Have plenty with you! CLOPIN. If you cry, "To me!" CLAUDE FROLLO. Yes. CLOPIN. I rush to her, I tear her from the King's men-- CLAUDE FROLLO. Yes. CLOPIN. And give her to you. CLAUDE FROLLO. Go, mix among the crowd, And perhaps she Will look upon the priest More tenderly; Then rush--rush all of you-- CLOPIN. Yes, my master! CLAUDE FROLLO. Hold yourselves close! CLOPIN. Yes. CLAUDE FROLLO. Hide your arms, Not to excite suspicion! CLOPIN. Master, you shall see! CLAUDE FROLLO. But hell may take her quick, With my good-will, If now this insane creature Refuses still! Destiny! Oh, fatal stroke! Friend, I count on thee! On this my only chance I wait With fierce anxiety. CLOPIN. Fear nothing terrible, my lord, Count faithfully on me, And on this last and only chance Rely courageously! [_They go out hurriedly. The populace begin to enter the square._ SCENE IV _The populace; Quasimodo; afterward Esmeralda, and her escort; then Claude Frollo, Phoebus, Clopin Frouillefou, priests, archers, officers of the law_ CHORUS. To Notre Dame Come, get a sight Of the young woman Who dies to-night! This gypsy woman Who stabbed, they say, The handsomest officer In the King's pay. In vain did Heaven Beauty lend her! Is it possible-- God defend her!-- A soul so black, An eye so tender!