CURTAIN.

SCENE SEVENTH.

[Leonore's _room_.
_Enter_ Leonore _with a letter_.]

Leonore. 'Tis strange; an unknown page thrust this into my hand while
kneeling in the chapel. Ah, surely, I should know this hand! 'Tis
Louis's, and at last he hath returned, and still remembers Leonore
[_opens letter and reads_].

Dearest Lady,--I am banished from the land by Count Rodolpho's
false tales to the king; and thus I dare not venture near thee.
But by the love my lips have never told, I do conjure thee to
bestow one last look, last word, on him whose cruel fate it is
to leave all that he most fondly loves. If thou wilt grant this
prayer, meet me at twilight in the glen beside old Norna's
cave. She will be there to guard thee. Dearest Leonore, before
we part, perchance forever, grant this last boon to one who in
banishment, in grief and peril, is forever thy devoted
Louis.

He loves me, and mid danger still remembers. Ah, Louis, there is nothing
thou canst ask I will not gladly grant. I'll go; the sun is well-nigh
set, and I can steal away unseen to whisper hope and comfort ere we part
forever. Now, Count Rodolpho, thou hast given me another cause for hate.
Louis, I can love thee tho' thou art banished and afar.

Hark! 'tis the vesper-bell. Now, courage, heart, and thou shalt mourn no
longer.

[_Exit_ Leonore.

CURTAIN.

SCENE EIGHTH.

[_Glen near_ Norna's _cave.
Enter_ Leonore.]

Leonore. Norna is not here, nor Louis. Why comes he not? Surely 'tis the
place. Norna! Louis! art thou here?

[_Enter_ Rodolpho, _masked_.

Rod. I am here, dear lady. Do not fear me; I may not unmask even to
thee, for spies may still be near me. Wilt thou pardon, and still trust
me tho' thou canst not see how fondly I am looking on thee. See! here is
my ring, my dagger. Oh, Leonore, do not doubt me!

Leonore. I do trust thee; canst thou doubt it now? Oh, Louis! I feared
thou wert dead. Why didst thou not tell me all before. And where wilt
thou go, and how can I best serve thee? Nought thou canst ask my love
shall leave undone.