rottenness; shadows of her lustrous curls, come--twine round my
burning brow!

Under this fallen cross, two soft eyes of heavenly blue are dying in
their sunken sockets--to me! to me! the pure and lambent flame which
once lightened and glimmered through them!

Behind those iron bars which guard that vault of kings, a hundred
torches burn to light corruption--a princess was buried there to-day: ye
white and lustrous robes of costly satin, come! fluttering like snowy,
downy doves leave to the worms, undraped, the youthful form--fly through
the trellised grating--and softly fall around my scathed and fleshless
limbs!

And now, on! on! on!

* * * * *

A sleeping apartment. A night lamp stands upon a table, and shines
upon the face of the husband sleeping beside his wife.

THE MAN (_still sleeping_). Ha! whence comest thou? I have neither heard
nor seen thee for months--for years.

As water softly flows, so flow thy feet, two white waves!

A holy calm is on thy brow--all that I have ever dreamed--have ever
loved--unite in thee!

Awaking suddenly.

Where am I?... Ha! I am sleeping by my wife--yes, that _is_ my wife--

Gazing long upon her.

Ah! I once thought thou wert my early Dream--but thou art it not;--after
years of time, it has returned to me--and is not thee, Mary, nor like
thee!

Thou art mild, pure, good--but she....

My God! what do I see? Am I really awake?

THE MAIDEN. Thou hast deserted and betrayed me! Vanishes.

THE MAN. Cursed be the hour in which I married a wife, in which I
deserted the Love of my youth, the thought of my thought, the soul of my
soul....

WIFE (_awaking_). What is it, Henry? Does the day already break? Is the
carriage at the door? We have so much to attend to to-day.

THE MAN. No: it is only midnight. Go to sleep--sleep soundly!

WIFE. Have you been taken suddenly ill, my dear? Shall I rise and get
anything for you?

THE MAN. Sleep, sleep, I pray.

WIFE. My dearest, tell me what is the matter with you! Your voice
trembles, your cheeks burn with fever.

THE MAN (_jumping out of bed_). I only want fresh air--for God's sake,
stay here; do not follow me! Once more I beg you will not rise!

He leaves hurriedly the chamber.

* * * * *

The Man is seen standing in a garden lighted by the moon. A gothic
church is in the distance.

THE MAN. Since the bells rang