Oh, see! The flaming sword before the gates of Eden! Thou’rt safe within the garden! Go not forth. Go not to Paris! Stay in Nantes, ah, stay! Wear the tricolour— [_Thunder._ Hark! It is the voice, The menacing voice of the Republic! It threatens thee, it threatens all who pass That flaming sword, to lift the thing that was And is not any more! Oh, let it lie!— Thou’lt not to Paris? DE VARDES To-night, Citoyenne! Ah, thou art skilful at betraying! YVETTE Quoi! _Enter_ SISTER BENEDICTA. SISTER BENEDICTA Monsieur le Baron de Morbec, the page Of Madame la Marquise de Blanchefôret Attends— YVETTE Name of a name! THE ABBÉ (_appearing in the door behind_ _Sister Benedicta_) De Vardes, De Vardes! You gather the furze while the red rose waits! DE VARDES At once, my Sister! (_To_ YVETTE.) Ah, not in anger, Must thou and I part for this little while! If I’m in life I will return, be sure, To Nantes and all this garden loveliness, Those fruit trees and this fountain!—Fare thee well. The nuns will care for thee; I’ve ordered all. Too fierce of aspect is the world without! Here is fair peace, security, and calm; Here thou art fenced from storm and violence. Abide thou here until I come again! [_Lightning._ YVETTE The flaming sword! DE VARDES Hearest thou not, Yvette, How sings the lark in Paimpont Wood to-day? YVETTE I hear the dirge of the salt sea! DE VARDES And there, Seest thou not through yonder trees the stone, The Druid Stone where thou didst lie in sleep? YVETTE I see a broken fan! DE VARDES Abide thou here And dream of Paimpont Wood until I come. I too will dream, I too will dream, Yvette! YVETTE Is not Clarice a lovely name? DE VARDES Why, yes, A very lovely name.—Farewell, farewell! I’ll see thy face, be sure, this very night, Upon the road before me as I ride. YVETTE Oh, fare you well beneath the silver moon As slow you ride beside a lady’s coach, Discoursing of the dazzling, snowy heights! I kiss your hand, monseigneur! Fare you well!