and wails--judgment, threatening, and eternal doom!

GEORGE. The prisoner! he raises his haughty head as thou dost, father,
when thou art angered! He answers with proud words, as thou dost, when
thou scornest--father!

CHORUS OF VOICES. In vain! thou plead'st in vain! there is no redemption
for him more, in earth or heaven!

A VOICE. Yet another day of passing earthly glory, of all share in which
thine ancestors have robbed me and my brethren--and then thou fallest
forever--thou, with thy brethren!

Your burials will be, as once were ours, without the toll of holy
knells, without tears, sobs, or wailing mourners, without friends,
without relations, and you will die transfixed upon the same rock of
universal human pain!

THE MAN. I know you, wretched ghosts! wandering stars amid the angelic
hosts!

He goes forward into the darkness.

GEORGE. Father! go not into that fearful gloom! Father! in the name of
Jesus Christ--I implore--I conjure thee--father!

THE MAN (_turning toward his son_). Whom do you see below? Speak, and
tell me truly, George!

GEORGE. The prisoner--he is thyself, my father!

He is white as snow--gagged--chained--they drag him on--they torture
thee, my father!

I hear thy gasping breath--thy groans--thy sobs! (_He falls upon his
knees._) Forgive me, father! My mother shines through the dark--and
commands me to....

He falls back in a fainting fit.

THE MAN (_catching the falling boy in his arms_). This alone was
wanting! Ha! my own, my only child has led me to the brink of hell!

Mary--inexorable spirit! God!!

And thou, second Mary, to whom I have so often prayed!

Here then is the beginning of eternal darkness, eternal torture!...

Back! back into life! one day of glory is at least still left me! First
must I combat with my fellow men--and then for my eternal struggle!

CHORUS OF SPIRITS (_dying away in the distance_). _Because thou hast
loved nothing, revered nothing, save thyself and thine own
thoughts--thou art, damned to all eternity!_

* * * * *

A large hall in the castle of the Holy Trinity; arms and armor hang
upon the walls, with various Gothic ornaments. The Man; women,
children, some old men, and nobles are kneeling at his feet. The
Godfather stands in the centre of the hall, and crowds of men are
in the background.

THE MAN. No, no. By my son--by the memory of my wife--never! never!

VOICES OF WO