_Jo._ Oh! why is this mysterious silence? for what purpose have you taken me from my prison? who are you, and whither have you brought me? have mercy on my agony! see, how this silence terrifies me: see how I kneel at your feet; see how I kiss them and bathe them with my tears. Answer me-- in pity answer. Still no reply? still no kind consoling sound? (_Lucia motions to leave her_) oh! no, no, no! do not leave me! even though you speak not, stay, oh, stay! let me at least be conscious, that there is a human being near me-- that I am not the only thing within these mournful walls, which possesses life and feeling! stay, stay, in charity! (_the nun breaks from her and exit_) they leave me-- they are gone! hark! a door closes! I hear their retiring footsteps! alas! alas! even in the noise of that closing door, even in the echo of those departing steps, there was some little comfort: they at least betokened the existence of a human being. I am alone-- let me remove the bandage, and examine. Dark! dark! all dark! still all silence, still all gloom! where am I? I dare not advance lest some abyss-- oh! light, light! glorious light! shall I then never see thee more? any thing but this dead and hollow silence! any thing but this sepulchral, this dreadful, this heart-oppressing gloom. _Chorus_ within, very full and sweet. --“O! love! sweet love!”-- _Jo._ Hark! voices! I heard them! I am sure I heard them! it was music! melody! enchantment-- hark! hark! again. CHORUS. “Love rules the court, the camp, the grove. For love is heaven, and heaven is love.” _During this chorus, the curtain rolls up, and discovers a banquet splendidly illuminated; large folding doors are in the centre; chandeliers descend, and the stage becomes as light as possible-- Veronica and nuns are in the front._ _Jos._ See! see! all bright! all brilliant; a dream-- a fairy vision-- the blaze overpowers me, my eyes are dazzled; my brain grows dizzy: I cannot support the rapture-- (_sinks against a pillar_) _Ve._ Josepha! _Jos._ (_starting_) Surely that voice-- the abbess, what can mean-- _Ve._ How? not speak to me, my child? not look upon your mother? _Jos._ Mother? child? oh! it is long since I heard those dear, dear names-- my heart-- my feelings-- (_throwing herself into her arms_) oh! if I am your child, then mother, mother! be to me a mother indeed! _Ve._ And do I not prove myself one, my Josepha, when now, in spite of all your past perverseness I again clasp you to my bosom, I again put it in your own choice to live in liberty, in society, in delight? look round you, my daughter! see how every countenance smiles to welcome you; see, how every heart springs towards you; see, how--