Scene-26 The Guest Room of the Convent. Hugo, Eric,and Orion. Enter Ursula, Agatha, and Nuns. Bravado, consternation, and fear has set in amongst those assembled, now that the robbers are at the Convent gates. URSULA (Please note. I have inserted Stops** 1-4 both in the music score** and the text** for convenience.) Hugo, we reject thine offers, Not that we can buy Safety from the Church's coffers, Neither can we fly. Far too great the price they seek is, Let their lawless throng Come, we wait their coming; weak is Man, but God is strong. ERIC (A friend of Hugo's) Think again on our proposals, It will be too late When the robbers hold carousals On this side of the gate. URSULA For myself I speak and others Weak and frail as I; We will not desert our brothers In adversity. * HUGO (to the Nuns) Does the Abbess thus advance her Will before ye all? A NUN We will stay. HUGO Is this thine answer, Agatha? The wall Is a poor protection truly, And the gates are weak, And the Norsemen most unruly. Come, then. A NUN (to Agatha) Sister, speak! ORION (aside to Hugo) Press her! She her fears dissembling, Stands irresolute, She will yield--her limbs are trembling, Though her lips are mute. [A trumpet is heard without. ERIC Hark! their savage war-horn blowing Chafes at our delay. HUGO Agatha, we must be going. Come, girl! AGATHA (clinging to Ursula) Must I stay? URSULA Nay, my child, thou shalt not make me Judge; I cannot give Orders to a novice. AGATHA Take me, Hugo! Let me live! ** ERIC(to Nuns) Foolish women! will ye tarry, Spite of all we say? HUGO Must we use our strength and carry You by force away? URSULA Bad enough thou art, Sir Norman, Yet thou wilt not do This thing. Shame!--on men make war, man Not on women few. ERIC Heed her not--her life she barters, Of her free accord, For her faith; and, doubtless, martyrs Have their own reward. URSULA In the Church's cause thy father Never grudged his blade-- Hugo, did he rue it? ORION Rather! He was poorly paid. HUGO Abbess, this is not my doing, I have said my say; How can I avert the ruin, Even for a day, Since they count two hundred fairly, While we count a score; And thine own retainers barely Count a dozen more? *** AGATHA (kneeling to Ursula) Ah! forgive me. Lady Abbess, Bless me ere I go; She who under sod and slab is Lying, cold and low, Scarce would turn away in anger From a child so frail; Not dear life, but deadly danger, Makes her daughter quail. HUGO Eric, will those faces tearful To God's judgement seat Haunt us? ERIC Death is not so fearful. HUGO No, but life is sweet-- Sweet for once, to me, though sinful. ORION (to Hugo) Earth is scant of bliss, Wisest he who takes his skinful When the chance is his. ORION (to Ursula) Lady Abbess! stay and welcome Osric's savage crew; Yet when pains of death and hell come, Thou thy choice may'st rue. URSULA (to Orion) What dost thou 'neath roof-trees sacred? Man or fiend, depart! ORION Dame, thy tongue is sharp and acrid, Yet I bear the smart. URSULA (advancing and raising up a crucifix) I conjure thee by this symbol Leave us! [Orion goes out hastily **** HUGO Ha! the knave, He has made an exit nimble: Abbess! thou art brave. Yet once gone, we're past recalling; Let no blame be mine. See, thy sisters' tears are falling Fast, and so are thine. URSULA Fare you well! the teardrop splashes Vainly on the ice. Ye will sorrow o'er our ashes And your cowardice. ERIC Sorry am I, yet my sorrow Cannot alter fate; Should Prince Otto come to-morrow, He will come too late. HUGO Nay, old comrade, she hath spoken Words we must not hear; Shall we pause for sign or token-- Taunted twice with fear? Yonder, hilt to hilt adjusted, Stand the swords in which we trusted, Years ago. Their blades have rusted, So, perchance, have we. Ursula! thy words may shame us, Yet we once were counted famous, Morituri, salutamus, Aut victuri, te! Adam Lindsay Gordon [They go out.
