Saying, “Help me, or I die!”
Allegro Allegretto.
| Cas. Beef. Pudd. Gren. Trou. Waiter, and Pot. with enthusiasm. | } Let us fly, let us fly, } Let us help, ere he die! |
[Exeunt omnes, waving their hats.
Scene, the Abbey Gate, with Ditches, Drawbridges, and Spikes; Time, about an hour before Sunrise.—The conspirators appear as if in ambuscade, whispering and consulting together, in expectation of the signal for attack.—The Waiter is habited as a Knight Templar, in the dress of his Order, with the Cross on his breast, and the scallop on his shoulder.—Puddingfield and Beefington armed with blunderbusses and pocket-pistols; the Grenadiers in their proper uniforms.—The Troubadour with his attendant minstrels bring up the rear; martial music: the conspirators come forward, and present themselves before the Gate of the Abbey.—Alarum; firing of pistols; the Convent appear in Arms upon the Walls; the Drawbridge is let down; a body of choristers and lay-brothers attempt a sally, but are beaten back, and the Verger killed.—The besieged attempt to raise the Drawbridge; Puddingfield and Beefington press forward with alacrity, throw themselves upon the Drawbridge, and by the exertion of their weight preserve it in a state of depression; the other besiegers join them, and attempt to force the entrance, but without effect.—Puddingfield makes the signal for the battering-ram.—Enter Quintus Curtius and Marcus Curius Dentatus in their military habits, preceded by the Roman Eagle; the rest of their Legion are employed in bringing forward a battering-ram, which plays for a few minutes to slow time, till the entrance is forced.—After a short resistance, the besiegers rush in with shouts of Victory.
Scene changes to the interior of the Abbey.—The inhabitants of the Convent are seen flying in all directions.
The Count of Weimar and the Prior, who had been found feasting in the Refectory, are brought in manacled. The Count appears transported with rage, and gnaws his chains.—The Prior remains insensible, as if stupefied with grief.—Beefington takes the keys of the Dungeon, which are hanging at the Prior’s girdle, and makes a sign for them both to be led away into confinement.—Exeunt Prior and Count, properly guarded.—The rest of the conspirators disperse in search of the Dungeon where Rogero is confined.
END OF ACT THE FOURTH.
