ion!

THE MAN. Keep but thy promise, Eagle, and I will build on this very spot
and upon their bowed necks a new temple to the Son of God, the Merciful!

A CONFUSED CRY FROM MINGLING VOICES. Freedom! Equality! Bliss! Hurrah!
hurrah!

CHORUS OF THE NEW PRIESTS. Where are the lords, where are the kings, who
lately walked the earth with crown and sceptre, ruled with pride and
scorn?

FIRST MURDERER. I killed King Alexander.

SECOND MURDERER. I stabbed King Henry.

THIRD MURDERER. I murdered King Immanuel!

LEONARD. Go on without fear; murder without a sting of conscience!

Remember that you are the Elect of the Elect; the Holy among the Holy;
the brave heroes and blessed martyrs of equality and freedom!

CHORUS OF MURDERERS. We go in the darkness of night; we move in the
gloom of the shadow! With the dagger firmly clutched in our unsparing
hands, we go, we go!

LEONARD (_to the Maiden_). Arouse thee, my beautiful and free!

A loud clap of thunder is heard.

Reply to the living god of thunder: raise high the hymn of strength!
Follow me all, all! Let us once more trample under our feet the ruined
temple of the dead God!

THE MAIDEN. I glow with love to thee and to thy god! I will share my
love with the whole world: I glow! I glow!

THE MAN. Some one blocks the way; he falls upon his knees, raises his
joined hands, struggles, sighs, sobs....

THE BAPTIZED. He is the son of a famous philosopher.

LEONARD. What do you demand, Herman?

HERMAN. High priest, give me the Sacrament of Murder!

LEONARD (_to the Priests_). Give me the oil, the dagger, and the
poison!--(To Herman.) With the sacred oil once used to anoint kings, I
now anoint thee to their destruction!

The arm once used by knights and nobles, I give thee now for their
destruction!

I hang upon thy breast this flask of poison, that where the sword cannot
reach, it may gnaw, corrode, and burn the bowels of the tyrants!

Go, and destroy the old race in all parts of the world!

THE MAN. He is gone! I see him, at the head of a band of assassins,
crossing the crest of the nearest hill.

THE BAPTIZED. They turn, they approach us, we must move out of their
way!

THE MAN. No. I will dream this dream to its end!

THE BAPTIZED (_aside_). I thrice spew thee forth to destruction!--(_To
the Man_). Leonard might recognize me, your excellency. Do you not see
the knife glittering upon his breast?

THE MAN. Wrap yourself up in my cloak. What ladies a