Beatrice comes. Giulietta, weeping,
opens the door, and stands in it, shaking her head sadly.]

GIU. [Suddenly lifting her head and listening.] Nay, it is so! I hear it
now myself!
Ay, there's a horse upon the bridge!

BIA. She's coming!
Stand back! Stand out of the doorway! [Pause.]

SERVANT. [Entering.] Majesty,
The Queen is here.
Ay, ay! Stand out of the doorway! [Pause.]

GIU. She is here! She is in the court! She has leapt from horse!
Madam, Oh, God be praised! This way!

BIA. Sister!

[Beatrice enters in her riding clothes, leaps to the bed, Bianca
throws her arms about her neck, and dies.]

BEA. [After a moment, looking down at her.]
Snow-White! Oh, no! Oh, no! Snow-White! [She screams.] Ah-h! Help me!
She is dying!

[Attendants and nurses rush in, also the children.]

LITTLE SNOW-WHITE. Mother, wake up!

LITTLE ROSE-RED. Come out of doors!

BEA. Take them away. Snow-White! [Leaning over the bed.]

NURSE. Nay, it is over,
Madam.

BEA. Leave me. Leave me alone with her.

[Exeunt all but Beatrice. She kneels beside the bed.]

Scene 5

[A room at Lagoverde, The next day. Beatrice alone.]

BEA. In sooth, I do not feel the earth so firm
Under my feet as yesterday it was.
All that I loved are gone to a far land,
And left me here alone, save for two children
And twenty thousand enemies, and the thing
Of horror that's in store for me. Almost
I feel my feet uprooted from the earth,
There's such a tugging at me to be gone.
Save for your children, [Looking off stage towards Bianca's room.]
'twould be simple enough
To lay me down beside you in your bed,
And call on Death, who is not yet out of hearing,
To take me, too. [Enter Fidelio.]

FID. Mistress I have news for you.
Guido is dead!

BEA. Is dead?

FID. Ay, he is dead,
Dead of a dagger i' the back,--and dead enough
For twenty. Scarce were you gone an hour's time
We came upon him cold. And in a pool
Nearby, the Lady Francesca floating drowned,
Who last was seen a-listening like a ghost
At the door of the dungeon, 'Tis a marvelous thing!
But that's not all!

BEA. Why, what more can there be?

FID. Mistress, in the night the people of Fiori
Rose like a wind and swept the Duke's men down
Like leaves! Your throne is empty,--and awaits you!

[Enter Giulietta,]

GIU. Madam.

BEA. Ay,