Below, bass voices of invisible choirs chant through the din:
“Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos!”
Seized from the throne with the Muses, Miranda—at the centre—is borne in faint dread to the reaching arms of Caligula, who is about to place upon her his crown, when a sudden pealing of silvery trumpets strikes silence over all. In awe the revellers gaze upward, and turn toward the background, listening.
Above them there, from the darkness, appears a colossal CROSS, burning with white fire.
Caligula drops his crown.
Shadow falls on the colorful pageantry, and all sink slowly to their knees, as the Spirits of Ariel appear again above—their luminous wings outspread like seraphim.
At either end one blows a slim tapering trumpet.
High and clear, then, their choirs chant in Gregorian unison:
SPIRITS OF ARIEL Vexilla Regis pródeunt; Fulget Crucis mystérium, Quo carne carnis Cónditor Suspénsus est patíbulo.
Quo vulneratis ínsuper Mucróne diro lanceæ, Ut nos laváret crimine, Manavit unda et sánguine.