1st Guard (to the kneeling shepherd).
Wake up! Thou too must go within
The church. Now come!
Shepherd.
The sun fell down!
It grazed my eyes!
A Girl.
I'll pray with all my heart
For our poor Queen!
A 2d Girl.
We all will pray—and curse
The King!
3d Guard.
Thou slut, be still, and hold thy tongue!
Make haste into the church—go in!
1st GUARD.
I hear
The lepers coming! hark!
3d Guard.
Here, girl, thou'st dropped
Thy kerchief! [He picks it up.]
The Girl.
Thanks!
1st Guard (taking the old man by the arm).
Take hold of me, old man.
Make haste.
[The doors of the church close: the stage
remains empty for a few seconds. The music
of the organ swells, and a hymn is heard.
Then, by snatches, first distantly, then
nearer, the rythmical rattling of the lepers
resounds.]