Rinaldo Rinaldini ; or, The Secret Avengers A Grand Ballet of Action, in two parts |
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2. | PART II. |
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Rinaldo Rinaldini ; or, The Secret Avengers | ||
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2. PART II.
SCENE I.
An open Quinquangular space, five Streets there meeting, St. Bartholomew's Cross and Fountain occupying the centre of the Stage—the Streets and Cross illuminated.Enter Rosalia, followed by Rinaldo, who leans almost fainting on his staff, perceiving the fountain, she assists him towards it—the water refreshes him, and he requests her to seek for food, while he there, worn out, reclines, and waits her return—a bell tolls—he starts up, and hastily conceals himself —enter in procession, by torch light, the Prince Roscella, Aurelia, the Abbess, and Nuns of St. Clare—Boys of the choir, &c. following.
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Pale, trembling, the Agents of terror to meet,
With heart piercing awe, we their vengeance await.
Bell tolls—enter Ministers of Vengeance.
DUET—NUNS.
Hark! yon summons, deep tolls! like, alas! thy death bell!
Aurelia, companion, forlorn one, farewell!
We offer up for innocence a prayer; and shed a tear—
(Bell tolls. Ministers of Vengeance approach.)
Min.
Aurelia! thou Traitress! appear! appear!
CHORUS repeated.
Hark! yon summons, deep tolls, like, alas! thy death bell!
Aurelia, companion, forlorn one, farewell!
After taking an affectionate leave of her Father, she is borne off by the Ministers of Vengeance— Abbess, &c. returning to their Convent—Rinaldo comes forward, much agitated, solicits Roscella's sword, and follows Aurelia, determined to rescue her or die in the attempt.
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SCENE II.
Ruins; appertaining to the Scene mysterious yawning chasms—a practicable iron ladder, and a platform on which characters may pass, seen through an aperture in the Ruins.Enter Minister of Vengeance, indicates that those Ruins lead to the awful spot where the secret Tribunal meet—stamps four times, and another Minister appears—while they are mysteriously consulting, Rinaldo cautiously enters, and, seeing others approaching with Aurelia, determines to explore their secret haunts—she is brought on, and blindfolded.— Rinaldo, while they are thus engaged, endeavours to steal in, but is prevented—the Minister again stamps four times—gong sounds—a chasm opens in the Ruins, and a ladder is lowered, which Aurelia is compelled to ascend, when it is suddenly drawn up, and the chasm closes on them, Rinaldo attempting, in vain, to follow!—Thunderstruck, he wildly gazes on the scene, and perceives them, through an aperture, pass across behind the Ruins, which, with difficulty, he climbs up to, and forces himself through, the following strain being sung at the same time within:
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The Traitress Aurelia's heart's blood is our prize,
And by art or by force shall Rinaldo die!
SCENE III.
Inside of a Vaulted Subterraneous Dome—over a Gothic Throne, a transparent blood-red cross, and radiated Eye—near it a Gothic Table, on which is a large Book, which is lettered with “Book of Blood”—at the upper end of the Stage a half obscured Cell, over which is inscribed, “Condemned by the Secret Avengers,” and which discovers on opening, Skeletons, &c.—on the opposite side flights of practicable steps.Rinaldo is discovered cautiously descending; on reaching the last step, a solemn bell distinctly tolls four times—he starts—reads the inscription, and, bursting open the door, beholds a variegated mass of human skeletons—kneeling, to Omnipotence, he dedicates his sword to Justice and Revenge—the toll of the bell is repeated, and he conceals himself in the Cell.
Solemn March with muffled drums, a Procession of the Members takes place by torch light;
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“Aurelia accused of Incontinence and Treason.”
The gong sounds—her eyes are unbound—she beholds with terror her melancholy prospect, and on her knees solicits mercy—the President sternly approaches, and thus addresses her:
To the plighted vows, false! what appeal canst thou make,
To induce the Eternal's Avengers to save?
(Throws off his black cloak and mask.)
In Rovezzo behold thy Accuser and Judge,
Death! death on the Traitress! a premature grave!—
The Book of Blood is opened, and in blood-red letters is inscribed:
“Aurelia, guilty, Death!”
She faints—Rinaldo, pallid, and breathless with agitation, steals from his hiding place, and, while they are busied in supporting Aurelia, disguises himself
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SCENE IV.
Outside of Paolo's Cave.Enter Florella, goes to the mouth of the Cave, stamps three times, and Paolo appears; she informs him Rinaldo approaches with Aurelia—they conceal themselves.—Enter Donato (the Old Man of the Hill) whom Paolo, peeping out, perceives, and recollecting,
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Grant thy Repentance may thy Crimes atone!
stumbles over Paolo's dagger, which perceiving stained with blood, alarmed for Rinaldo's safety, she snatches up, timidly pursues his footsteps, and enters the Cave.
SCENE V.
Interior of the Cave, consisting of an upper Apartment, to which a flight of steps from above leads, which is parted from the landing place by a curtain drawn round it on an iron rod; from the landing place another flight of steps descends to the lower Apartment—on one side of which is a gloomy recess, in which two or three Carbines, and a barrel of Powder are visible—on the other a circular aperture, which gives light to another recess, Paolo's Dormitory; to which a passage, from the other recess, leads—under the aperture, on a rocky fragment, is a Couch—a Guitar hanging up.Rinaldo is discovered seated on the couch, his eyes fixed on Aurelia's miniature, otherwise insensible to all around him—Florella and Paolo in the recess, viewing him with murderous intent, and fixing a bayonet to a carbine, while Rosalia is cautiously
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SCENE VI. AND LAST.
A Distant splendid Encampment.Roscella and Rosalia discovered on their knees before the Grand Duke of Tuscany, attended by Officers, &c. soliciting Rinaldo's pardon, who, aided by Rosaria, faintly approaches, and throws himself at his feet, sighing forth:
Wounded Rinaldo repentant—unforgiven—
Craves pardon for his Crimes of Man and Heaven!
His pardon is granted—the Prince joins the lovers hands, and the characters forming an interesting groupe, the curtain drops to slow music.
FINIS.
Rinaldo Rinaldini ; or, The Secret Avengers | ||