AMELIA (her eyes fixed on the earth in amazement). 'Tis strange, most strange! 'Tis horrible! MOOR. Ay, strange and horrible! My child, there is much--ay, much for man to learn ere his poor intellect can fathom the decrees of Him who smiles at human vows and weeps at human projects. My Amelia is an unfortunate maiden! AMELIA. Unfortunate! Because she rejected you? MOOR. Unfortunate. Because she embraced the man she betrayed. AMELIA (with melancholy tenderness). Oh, then, she is indeed unfortunate! From my soul I pity her! She shall be my sister. But there is another and a better world."] CHARLES. He is no more? AMELIA. He sails on troubled seas--Amelia's love sails with him. He wanders through pathless, sandy deserts--Amelia's love clothes the burning sand with verdure, and the barren shrubs with flowers. Southern suits scorch his bare head, northern snows pinch his feet, tempestuous hail beats down on his temples, but Amelia's love lulls him to sleep in the midst of the storm. Seas, and mountains, and skies, divide the lovers--but their souls rise above this prison-house of clay, and meet in the paradise of love. You appear sad, count! CHARLES. These words of love rekindle my love. AMELIA (pale). What? You love another? Alas! what have I said? CHARLES. She believed me dead, and in my supposed death she remained faithful to me--she heard again that I was alive, and she sacrificed for me the crown of a saint. She knows that I am wandering in deserts, and roaming about in misery, yet her love follows me on wings through deserts and through misery. Her name, too, like yours, is Amelia. AMELIA. How I envy your Amelia! CHARLES. Oh, she is an unhappy maid. Her love is fixed upon one who is lost--and it can never--never be rewarded. AMELIA. Say not so! It will be rewarded in heaven. Is it not agreed that there is a better world, where mourners rejoice, and where lovers meet again? CHARLES. Yes, a world where the veil is lifted--where the phantom love will make terrible discoveries--Eternity is its name. My Amelia is an unhappy maid. AMELIA. Unhappy, and loves you?* *[In the acting edition the scene closes with a different denouement. Amelia here says, "Are all unhappy who live with you, and bear the name of Amelia. "CHARLES. Yes, all--when they think they embrace an angel, and find in their arms--a murderer. Alas, for my Amelia! She is indeed unfortunate. "AMELIA (with an expression of deep affliction). Oh, I must weep for her. "CHARLES (grasping her hand, and pointing to the ring). Weep for thyself. "AMELIA (recognizing the ring). Charles! Charles! O heaven and earth! (She sinks fainting; the scene closes.)"] CHARLES. Unhappy, because she loves me! What if I were a murderer? How, Lady Amelia, if your lover could reckon you up a murder for every one of your kisses? Woe to my Amelia! She is an unhappy maid.