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The Masque over, the Cloister reunites as at first, the fountain in the Court begins again to play, and the Chorus of Priests and Virgins withdraws.
Enter Azael and Companions.

AZAEL
(kneeling to Ithuriel).
Mighty Prince, our task is o'er,
And from phantasy's domain,
Through the secret golden door,
Hither we return again;
And commend our pageantry
To this noble Company,
Ready to receive for it
Praise or blame as may befit.

ITHURIEL.
Rise, Azael, and for this your Mystery
Accept our general thanks to each and all;
Scarce could we deem it but a spectacle;
So true was each performer to his part;
So true your evanescent scenery
To nature's subtlest tints and lineaments.
See, even yet there lingers on the cheek
Of this fair sleeping Maid a roseate smile,
As from the fanning of the balmy wings
Of some inspiring vision, foretaste sweet
Of heavenly joys; such power your masque hath had:
Whereof that perfect soul, which evermore
Receives of all things in proportion due,
Admitted whatsoever for her state
Was most expedient.

ANGEL OF ROME.
We, Azael, too,
Render our grateful thanks; in sign of which
Accept this ring of purest chrysolite,
Which anciently on Numa's finger shone,
Numa, of early Rome pacific king.
And he, when in his cradle, so 'tis said
From the great Sibyl of Cumæan song
Received it as the heirloom of his race.
A royal province scarce could purchase it.

AZAEL.
Aught by thy hand bestow'd were high reward,
Most noble Potentate. Would that the work
Had equall'd but the will; then had there been
A spectacle more worthy the spectators.

ANGEL OF ROME
(to the Angels of Italy).
[The Angels of Italy kneel, two and two, before Mary, still asleep, and kiss her feet, singing meanwhile as follows:

ITHURIEL
(to the Angel of Rome).
Doubt not, imperial Chieftain, but our Lady
Will breathe her supplications to high Heav'n,
Omnipotential with the Omnipotent,
For every several object of your prayers.
And for thy comfort learn, that mighty Rome,
Now in the bonds of pagan darkness swathed,
Hereafter shall, in reverence to Mary
And Mary's Child, exceed your utmost hope.
A prophecy there is of ancient date,
Unbrokenly preserved from age to age
By this high Temple's angel guardians;—
That, in the times to come, this holy Salem
In ruins laid, must to a holier city
Give place, whose name is ‘Strength,’ prepared of old
Upon the bosom of th' eternal floods,
And lifted on a sevenfold mystic hill;
Which in its day predestined shall become
The hierarchic centre of the world,
(As to the Jews Jerusalem before)
Embracing in one faith, one polity,
Beneath one Head in Heaven, and one on earth
Pontifical, the whole of human kind;
With ordinances, priesthood, all things, new,
Promised through endless ages to endure.
This mystery to thy attentive mind
We here commit, in its most certain time
To be reveal'd before the universe
In sight of all. And now, if go ye must,
At least, in memory of your visit here,
Accept, celestial Princes, at our hands
These parting gifts; for thee, high Potentate,
This fair embroider'd piece, the priceless work
Of Mary's pearly fingers; which remember
To keep for happy Rome in after-days.
For thy companions here these flowers new cull'd,
[He plucks some flowers from the plants at Mary's side.
Children of Mary's care, and like herself
Of bloom and fragrance immarcessible,
So only they approach no mortal hand;
And if, as we entreat, ye shall appear
At our festivities another year,
There wait you other gifts more precious still,
So promises your own Ithuriel.
[The Angels of Rome and Italy withdraw.