A frightful thing, Human nature is so! The poor unfortunate! Come, let us go To Notre Dame To get a sight Of the young woman Who dies to-night! _The crowd increases; noise; a gloomy procession begins to appear on the Place du Parvis. Rows of black penitents. Banners of La Miséricorde. Torches, archers, officers of the law and the watch. The soldiers disperse the crowd. Esmeralda appears. She wears a chemise; a rope is around her neck; her feet are bare, and she is covered with a long black veil of crape. Following her, come the executioners and the King's officers. As the prisoner reaches the front of the church, a somber chant is heard in the distance, coming from the interior of the church, whose doors are closed._ CHORUS (_in the church_). Omnes fluctus fluminis Transierunt super me In imo voraginis Ubi plorant animæ. [_The chant draws nearer. It bursts forth, at length, when near the doors, which open suddenly and discover the interior of the church. It is filled with a long procession of priests in their robes of ceremony; banners are borne before them. Claude Frollo, in sacerdotal costume, leads the procession. He goes toward the criminal._ THE PEOPLE. Alive to-day, to-morrow dead! Heaven! thy wings around her spread! ESMERALDA. It is Phoebus who calls me Unto our home eternal, Where God will hold us in His arms, Safe from misfortunes cruel. Though plunged in the abyss of woe, A joyful hope is given: I am to die upon the earth To be re-born in heaven! CLAUDE FROLLO. To die so young, so beautiful! Alas! the guilty priest Must suffer greater woe than she; He ne'er will be released. Oh, hapless child of sorrow, Lost through my infamy, You only die from off this earth, While heaven is lost to me! THE PEOPLE. Alas! she is an infidel. God's words, unto us spoken, Say that in heaven for such as she No blessed gate shall open. Death holds her fast, what misery! She can escape it, never! She dies unto the world this day, And unto heaven forever! [_The procession approaches. Claude accosts Esmeralda._ ESMERALDA (_frozen with terror_). It is the priest! CLAUDE FROLLO (_low_). Yes, it is I! I love you, I entreat you! Say but one word! 'Tis not too late; I can yet save you! Say, I love you! ESMERALDA. I abhor you! Go! CLAUDE FROLLO. Then die! I'll go where I can find you! [_Claude turns to the crowd._ We deliver this woman to the secular arm; At this solemn moment may the breath of the Lord Pass over her soul! [_As the officers of the law are about to seize Esmeralda, Quasimodo jumps into the square, thrusts back the archers, takes Esmeralda in his arms, and throws himself with her into the church._ QUASIMODO. Sanctuary! sanctuary! sanctuary! THE PEOPLE.