“Holy, holy, holy!” Behold the sanctuary, and the sacred priests, ready with open arms to receive the sinning, but now repentant Robert!
And so was the spell his father’s wicked vow entwined about his life, for ever broken and destroyed. So was Robert the Devil transformed to Robert the Man, loving and beloved.
IL TROVATORE. (Verdi.)
THE MINSTREL.
Part I.—The Duel.
In the fifteenth century, and away in Spain, lived the Count di Luna—he was as handsome as he was implacable, and folks said he was as implacable as death.
In the fifteenth century too, and in Spain, a great lord was a petty king, and would as frequently make war against his neighbor on his own account, as on account of their common country.
But proud and implacable as he was, he had bowed to the power of love, and weak and pliant in the presence of the Lady Leonora.
His castle was always well defended—for attacks might be made on it when least expected. Attached to his castle was a palace with superb grounds. On the approach of danger both palace and grounds were deserted, and all communication between them and the castle was cut off by the up-heaving of heavy draw-bridges.
One night the guard-room of the palace was filled, as usual, with soldiers off duty and various servants; but both soldiers and servants were half asleep. This being observed by Ferrando, he woke them up by saying it was near the count’s time for passing through the room.