Tell me, why you delay me?
Why do I see thy hand now
A-tremble? Why should that be?”
And Tilde, with great force of sentiment, replied:
“At such a solemn moment, how
Can you ask why of me?”
The duet increased in tenderness. The melody of the cavalier Petrella delighted the ears of the audience. All of the women leaned intently over the rails of the gallery and their faces, throbbing in the green reflection of the flags, were pallid.
“Like a journey from paradise
Death will appear to us.”
Tilde appeared; and now entered, singing, the Duke Carnioli, who was a man fat, fierce, and long haired enough, to be suited to the part of baritone. He sang with many flourishes, running over the syllables, sometimes moreover boldly suppressing.