Still she is kneeling when the Roman comes creeping softly towards her.
She cries affrightedly as he touches her, and clings to the altar. Yet he speaks.
Hark how he pleads!
“Thou art weeping.”
“No, no; but I pray—thou durst not speak to me as I pray.”
“’Tis a false God thou prayest to. Come with me—come with me—pray to the gods I love—the true gods!”
“Let me go—let me go.”
“Where thou goest I follow, Adalgisa!”
“Thou mayest not follow me to the sacred Temple!”
“The Temple—hast thou not whispered that thou lovest me?”