[_Exeunt._

SCENE II.--_The interior of the abbey._

_Enter the_ abbot _and_ Agnes.

_Ab._ An unknown orphan, named Agnes Lindorf, by him, your benefactor!

_Ag._ By baron Ravensburg, whose son has so befriended me. But I detain
you from most urgent duty. The great, the good, all, all advance to
grace your installation.

_Ab._ They do. But he, this baron, you suspect may know the motive for
your accusation? (_Agnes accords._) Oh that I knew! for I would court
each, the most trifling circumstance, still further to destroy your fell
accuser's hopes. Well, well, they are destroyed! Long ere this dark
tribunal had a name, ages had sanction'd our monastic rights. And let
but your protecting friend arrive, you may pass free from this devoted
land, to one where unmask'd justice sits in open day, and prince and
peasant meet with equal hearing.

_Ag._ We may, we may--and live to recompense thy matchless kindness.
But still these awful these enrag'd avengers! Why, why does he delay?

_Enter_ St. Clair.

_St. Clair._ My lord, a stranger!

_Ag._ (_looking out._) 'Tis he! 'tis Ravensburg!

[_Exit St. Clair._

_Enter_ Ravensburg.

Welcome! Oh welcome! Behold the man (_pointing to the abbot_) who
scorning prejudic'd, corrupt compliance--(_Ravensburg turns away, and
hides his face._) Hah! that look! those tears!

_Rav._ For thee they fall, and for thy more than father! I've watch'd,
I've hasten'd from my fell associates--(_abbot starts_)--Ay, I, by oath,
am sworn to be the deadly foe of Agnes, and of all who give her aid. But
when I know that she deserves that aid, and that this boasted
institution's power is made subservient to such lawless crime, as
ancient record of tyrannic guilt can give no proof of, I trust that he,
who boldly shall retract such oath, is deem'd less guilty in the eye of
Heaven, than he who cowardly fulfills it. This for myself--for you, who,
singly, have oppos'd this hydra of rapacious power, and in a glorious
cause, claim'd the just right of sanctuary and of pardon--how will you
meet the tenfold horrors that will soon burst forth on till within these
walls!

_Ag._ On all!

_Ab._ They cannot--dare not!

_Rav._ They dare! for her escape discover'd, they sent forth sanguinary
knights, who soon return'd, and in full council stated, that one, most
nobly acting on his founder's edict, defied their power, and pardon'd
the condem'd! All murmur'd, and all menac'd! till I, declaiming on