Venoni. You weep? you repent?—ah! then my resentment is over, and I find my mother once more! (kissing her hand affectionately, and in the gentlest voice) Look on me, my mother! cast on me one kind look; twill be the last; you will never see the wretched frantic youth again—tomorrow—oh! Hortensia, before we part for ever, tell me that you forgive me—tell me, that you do not hate me for having thus wounded your feelings—for having inflicted on you this unnecessary pain!
Hor. (embracing him passionately as he kneels) Forgive you? yes, yes my son! my beloved son! I pardon you——heaven knows, I pardon you—and oh! in return may heaven and you pardon me!
Pri. (aside) Ah! how I suffer!
Venoni. I thank you! tis enough! now then I have no more to do with the world! (to the prior) good father, your pardon: I offended you even now; I remember it well.
Prior. (embracing him with dissembled affection) And I, my son, had already forgotten it—but tis time for us to retire—come!
Venoni. Yes, yes! let us away—farewell, my friends! my mother, farewell! I shall never see you more; but you will never cease to be dear to me; never, never!—and you too, my Josepha—farewell! for a little while farewell! whom death hath divided, death shall soon re-unite—come, father, come!—farewell! bless you, bless you: oh! come, come, come! (during this speech, his voice grows fainter; he leans on the prior, who conducts him slowly towards the door; at the end of the speech he sinks totally exhausted on the bosom of the prior, who conveys him away; while the viceroy and marquis lead off Hortensia on the other side).
End of Act I.
[ACT II.]
[SCENE I.]—The gardens of St. Mark—in the background is a gothic chapel, to which is a flight of steps; adjoining is the cemetery of the Ursuline convent, and several tombs are visible through a large iron gate.
[Vespers are performing in the chapel; the last words are chanted, while the curtain rises—the organ plays a voluntary, while the prior and his monks, descend from the chapel in procession. Father Jeronymo enters hastily, and accosts the prior, who comes forward; he starts at the information given him, and hastily bestows his benediction on the monks, who go off.]