Olivia, come back to me from the great Dark—
All life is but a ghost. Where are you, Olivia?
Olivia
I am here—close to you, Florio!
Florio
What have you women done to me!
[To Olivia.] Your face!
An evil dream is in my heart!
[He gropes, catches her quickly on each side of the head with both hands. He draws her down to him. He runs his fingers flickeringly over the smooth, rosy beauty of her face....
Then, with an eyeless, uplifted countenance which reveals complete understanding and an abyss of horror and madness, he slowly pushes Olivia away....
He lifts his fingers up grotesquely in the air, each distinct and widespread—painfully, as if fire spurted out of the ends of them. Olivia weeps....
Lizzia intones prayers....
Violante holds herself erect and triumphant, clinging to the great arras in back, struggling for strength to go out.