[_The child passes on._ VOICES FROM THE RIVER Hélas! Hélas! Miséricorde! [_A nun advances from the shadow. She is in ecstasy, her hands clasped, her eyes raised._ THE NUN The skies open: heaven appears! Heaven my home! O for the wings of the dove, The eagle’s speed! The gates of pearl are opening, My harp is strung. The Virgins come to meet me. Sainte Agnès, Sainte Claire! Our Lady stoops to greet me. My father smiles. My brothers two I see there! Who is that one Who kneels and to me beckons? ‘Tis he I loved! What radiance grows, what splendour? Who waiting stands? Light! O Light! O Christ my Lord! Heaven my home! O Love! O Death, come quickly! I would be gone! [_A soldier touches her on the arm._ THE SOLDIER Thy time it is! [_The nun regards him with a radiant and dazzling smile, then turns and moves swiftly before him to the river._ THE VOICES Woe, woe! Miséricorde! YVETTE Heaven my home! Shall I see heaven then? Oh me! so much of ill thou’st done, Yvette! Alas! Alas! What if I cannot win To heaven! but must ever weeping stand With all the lost and strain my eyes to see The form I love move ‘neath the living trees, And all in vain, so great the distance is!— Not see him! O Our Lady, let me in! THE VOICES Woe, woe!—I die!—I die!—O countrymen! YVETTE O God, and is it true I murdered her, That lady high, that fair, so fair Clarice? O God! I would that she were happy here, Alive and laughing, gay of heart again! O God! I do repent me of my sin! THE VOICES Ayez pitié! [_From a group of the condemned is heard the voice of_ THE ABBÉ. THE ABBÉ _Miserere mei Deus Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam!_ THE CONDEMNED (_kneeling_) Have mercy, O God! VOICES FROM THE RIVER Miséricorde! [YVETTE _kneels_. THE ABBÉ _In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum, Redemisti me Domine Deus veritatis!_ THE CONDEMNED O God, receive our souls! VOICES FROM THE RIVER Woe, woe! We die! SOLDIERS That one is swimming there! Your musket! Fire!— [_A musket shot._ Ha, ha! Ha, ha! THE ABBÉ