University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

An Interior View of the Convent.
Nuns discovered in attitudes of devotion—the Lady Abbess introduces Julia, who shudders at the melancholy picture before her, but resolves on taking the veil, though strongly dissuaded from it by Sister Theresa, in the following
PATHETIC BALLAD.

However, at her request, she for the present becomes but a novice—on withdrawing to exchange her dress for that purpose, St. Pierre enters with Father Boneffe, whom he bribes to destroy her or make her his, at the same time agreeing for the concurrence of the abbess.
BRAVURA—St. PIERRE.

Abbess appears leading on Julia in the habit of a novice—Father Boneffe and St. Pierre meeting them, Julia shudders at again beholding her persecutor, who renews his hateful addresses—she spurns him as the last alternative, Father Boneffe presents her the following scroll: “Death or St. Pierre.”—St. Pierre, &c. retire, leaving her to reflect, and speedily determine—she resolves on the former, kissing the word “Death” on the scroll—at which period Clifford, disguised as a friar, approaches her.—She wildly screams on his discovering himself, and St. Pierre, &c. rushing on, he is overpowered and hurried off by the brotherhood—St. Pierre once more proffers her his hand, which she again resolutely refusing, as he goes off, he commands Father Boneffe to do his duty, who throws open the folding doors in the centre of the scene, leading to a gloomy sepulchre, in which she is forced (in vain appealing to the abbess) to pine away existence, as the melancholy companion of decayed mortality.