disagreeable atrabilious parents that ever made his
appearance on the stage. He next addresses and reproaches his daughter
Johanna, who is beloved by Raimond, but who rejects the ties of earthly
affection. He has taken an exceedingly morose view of the character of
his daughter; a circumstance which becomes of great importance in the
progress of the piece; for Johanna's reverse of fortune is brought about
by the strange intervention of this dark and sinister parent. He
believes his child more prone to ally herself with evil spirits, through
a vain and sinful ambition, than, inspired by piety, to emulate the
lives of saints. Raimond combats this gloomy notion. He thinks that the
love of Johanna, like the most costly fruits, is only late in ripening.

"_Raimond._--As yet she loves to dwell upon the hills,
And trembles to descend from the free heath
To man's low roof, beset with narrow cares.
_Thibaut._--Ay, that it is displeases me. She flies
Her sisters' frolicsome companionship
For the bare hills--deserts her sleepless couch
Before the cock-crow--in that fearful hour
When man so willingly his shelter seeks,
Housed with his kind, within familiar walls,
She, like a solitary bird, hies forth
Into the gloomy, spirit-haunted, night,
Stands on the cross-way, holding with the air
Mysterious intercourse. Why will she choose
Perpetually _this_ place? Why will she drive
Her flocks for ever _here?_ I've seen her sit
Musing whole hours together underneath
This Druid oak, which all good Christians shun;
There's nothing blest beneath it; a foul spirit
Has made his refuge in it ever since
The old and sinful times of Paganism.
The old men of the village can relate
Horrible tales of this same tree: one hears
Oft, in its thick dark branches, whisperings
Of strange unearthly voices. I, myself,
As once my way led past the tree at night,
Saw sitting at its trunk a spectral woman,
Who slowly, from her wide enfolding robe,
Stretch'd a thin hand and beckon'd me."

Raimond points to the sacred image of the Virgin, which stands opposite
the oak, and replies that _it_ is the attraction which brings Johanna to
this spot. But the old man persists in his own interpretation. Because
his daughter is more beautiful than any other maiden in the valley, she
is proud, and disdains her humble condition. He