Serlio. O Lord!
Alessa (staring). No!... Well, such things
There are perchance. And now they say that Venus,
The Anadyomene, who once ruled this isle,
Is come again.... But you have finished? Soon
They bring her body here.
Hilarion. Now have I, now!
It will not totter again. (Descends.)
Alessa Would that it might
Upon the head of —— (catches herself; calmly)
You are awaited
There in the sacristy.... The chant begins!
(The acolytes go. She grows more disquieted.)
Begins! and lady Yolanda still awaits
Heedless, though Lord Amaury's desperate
As is the Paphian!... They near!... The curtains!
(Goes to them and draws them back. As she does so the chant swells louder. Then the cortège enters—Moro, the acolytes with tapers; Berengere on a litter, Amaury, Renier, Vittia, the women, Hassan, and last Yolanda. The litter, Amaury by it, comes to the altar; the chanting ceases.)
Moro (as Amaury bows, shaken).
No moan or any toil of grief be here
Where we have brought her for sainted appeal.
But in this holy place until the tomb
Let her find rest.
Amaury. Set down the bier.
(It is placed.)