. When he awakes to
consciousness, the pale face of his child is bending tenderly over him,
her caresses call him back to life. Hark! again he hears the sounding
strophes of the wedding song; the chanting maidens cross the threshold;
slowly singing, they surround the bride with snowy circle; nearer and
nearer they cluster round her--she throws herself for refuge in the old
man's arms!

* * * * *

The maidens now clasp, embrace the trembling bride, take her from her
father's arms, and bear her on with them. They strew flowers in her
path, burn incense around her, as they chant in ever-renewed chorals the
dawning of a new and happy life, full of honor and blessing. The old man
solemnly follows the choir until they reach the great stairway leading
to the bridal chamber: there he bids them stop, and, making the sign of
the cross, for the last time blesses the half-swooning girl.

He stands for a moment wrapt in thought, then wends his way to the hall
of feasting. Recovering his presence of mind, he flings aside the truth
just forced upon him, as if it were all a dream; he commands it not to
be; he almost persuades himself to believe it has never been! Greeting
his guests anew, his air is calm and regal.

The bridegroom, turning to his friends, exclaims:

'Companions in arms, with whom I have spent so many joyous hours in camp
and hall, I dedicate to you the hours of this my wedding night; nor will
I seek my bride until the flush of dawn is in the sky. What hour do the
heavens tell?'

One of the revellers rises, draws back the curtain from the window, and
says:

'It is just past midnight; the moon rides high in the sky.'

'Then am I still yours,' exclaims the youth, 'and again I pledge you in
the rosy wine.' As he speaks he fills the cup of gold studded with
diamonds, swallows the contents, and passes it to the nearest guest. But
the heavy palm of the castle's lord rests upon his shoulder. Seizing
another brimming cup, he says: 'I drain this to thy health, father, and
our guests will surely pledge it with me.'

The lord of the castle thanks him not; he points to the open door,
through which may be seen, as they wind along the distant galleries and
archways, the retreating forms of the now silent bridesmaids. Shaking
his blonde curls, the youth answers:

'These brave men have always served me faithfully; I have sworn to
consecrate this night to them; we drink and feast together until