Ah, my Sister, Because it is so safe in Nantes I go! Once I did love this people; once I thought Beyond this Revolution lay the morn, The dewy morn of a most noble day! It may be so; I know not; but I am A soldier of the King. Needs must I go, My bugles call; I’m breaking camp. Farewell! SISTER FIDELIS You will return. DE VARDES If I’m in life I will! YVETTE O Our Lady! O Our Lady! [_The noise in the street increases. The tocsin rings. The sky begins to darken before an approaching storm._ COUNT LOUIS Ring on! Ye bells! ring on to the deaf sky! O France, Of old thou wast a pleasant land and free, In palace and in field a courteous place! Now thou art desolate! Come, Austria, come! Come, D’Artois, come, Brunswick, and come, Provence! Rend the tricolour from the breast of France And plant the fleur-de-lis where stood the Jacobins! VOICES (_from the street_) _Quoi! ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers!_ MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI Hast said farewell to the Marquise? DE VARDES Not yet, As far as Vannes I ride beside her coach. YVETTE Oh!— MLLE. DE CHÂTEAU-GUI Soon or late, she’ll draw you back to Nantes! Now will she not? DE VARDES (_smiling_) Perhaps. YVETTE Jesu Maria! SISTER FIDELIS Monsieur, if you must go, oh, rest you sure Jealously will we guard and spotless keep The soul you stooped and drew from the foul mire!— Yvette, come make your reverence to your lord! YVETTE I kiss your hand, monseigneur! THE ABBÉ There will be A storm to-night! COUNT LOUIS Come, come, René de Vardes! I’d see the courier who brought this news! DE VARDES I’ll follow you, Monsieur le Comte! [_Exeunt_ COUNT LOUIS, _his daughter_, DE L’ORIENT, THE ABBÉ, _and the Sisters_. YVETTE Wilt thou go? DE VARDES I must. YVETTE Why must thou go? To-day the kingdom fell! Oh, in the dust Of old things let it rest for evermore! Take up the Revolution! [_Lightning._