_Long._ Ha! the castle is alarmed--look out, Sanguine:--what means this tumult? _Sang._ My lord! the glare of numerous torches wavers through the grove--this way the crowd directs its course. _Long._ Distraction! --Florian, beware my just resentment, and instantly resign this woman! (_Attempting to force her from him._) _Flor._ Never!--my word stands pledged for her protection, and only with my life will I desert my honor. _Long._ Hell!--ho! Lenoire! --Lenoire! [He rushes furiously to the bank, and motions to the boat.] _Eug._ (_just recovering._) Stay, blessed vision!-- (_recognizing Florian_) ah! 'twas real--I fold him to my heart, and am blessed at last. [The boat, rowed by a man enveloped in a mantle and a masque, at that instant gains the bank.] _Long._ (_triumphantly_) Ha! the boat arrives!--now then presumptuous boy! receive the chastisement you dare provoke. [He draws and rushes upon _Florian_, who disengages himself from _Eugenia_ and stands upon the defence.] _Flor._ In the just cause I would not shrink before a giant's arm! (_they engage._) _Eug._ (_frantic_) Inhuman Longueville!--forbear! forbear! [While _Florian_ encounters _Longueville_, _Sanguine_ suddenly darts upon _Eugenia_, who is too enfeebled to resist; by the action of a moment he transports her from her protector's side to the Baron's. Florian's position is next to the audience, so that Longueville's sword now equally intercepts him from _Eugenia_ and from the river.] _Long._ (_Perceiving his advantage_) Away!--drag--her to the boat--be mine the task to curb her champion's valor. _Flor._ Hold! dastard--unless thou art dead to every sense of manhood--hold! _Long._ Boy! I triumph, and deride thy baffled spleen. [_Sanguine_ lifts _Eugenia_ into the boat, and the masque receives her.] _Eug._ (_from the boat_) Great nature! speed my dying words! --Thou dear-lov'd youth! thy mother blesses thee--long-lost--late-found-- behold! she struggles _now_ to bless her child--and _now_ she dies content! _Flor._ Eternal Providence! what words were those? --Longueville! --Barbarian! --Fiend! [He rushes madly upon the _Baron_, who parries the assault; then in an agony casts himself before his feet.] Oh! if thou art human, hold! --I kneel--I fall thy slave--spurn me--trample on my neck--take my life--but O! respect and spare my parent! _Sang._ (_from the boat_) Decide, my lord; the crowd approach, already they o'erlook the bank. _Long._ 'Twere vain to pause--I founder upon either course--nay then, revenge shall brighten ruin; swift! plunge your poniards in Eugenia's bosom! let me behold my victim perish, and then commit me to my fate! _Flor._ (_starting up in desperation_) Monster! _Long._ They come--obey me, slaves! [_Sanguine_ draws _Eugenia_ back, and the _Masque_ lifts a dagger over her.] _Sang._ We are prepared. _Long._ Now. _Sang._ Comrade! strike! _Masque._ Ay! to the heart!