 | Count Julian |  |
68
SCENE V.
Enter Rupert, Ada, Nurse, Albrecht, and Attendants.Rupert.
Rudolf slain!—who lies here?
Albrecht.
'Tis he, 'tis Klebel.
Nurse.
Klebel!
Albrecht.
It must be he that slew Count Rudolf,
And has in turn from him receiv'd his death.
Klebel.
From the Countess. (Dies.)
Albrecht.
Ha!— (He approaches Klebel.)
He'll never speak again.
(A shriek heard behind the scenes.)
Rupert.
Whence came that cry?
(Enter a female Attendant.)
Attendant.
O! horror! O! the Countess!
Rupert.
What of her?
Attendant.
She is dead, Ere we could stay her
She struck her bosom with a sword she held,
And falling on Count Rudolf's corpse, she died.
Rupert.
In this Heav'n speaks its doom with awful voice.
Death strikes here like a wrath-enchaf'd avenger,
Amazing our weak souls with ghastly sights!—
Unto these prostrate ones we will perform,
With thoughts unquestioning, our human duties:
And then, the rites of sepulture discharg'd,
Of these raz'd walls we'll make to them a tomb:
That jocund life the blood-stain'd spot may shun
And gloomy silence dwell here evermore.
69
Count Julian.
The child—the child—where, where?
Rupert.
Here, Uncle, here.
Count Julian.
(Perceives the body of Klebel and goes up to it inquiringly.)
Klebel!
Rupert.
O! Uncle, wilt thou not embrace me?
Count Julian.
(Turns to Rupert with a look of recognition.)
Ha, ha, ha. (Totters up to Rupert and dies at his feet.)
Rupert.
His heart is still.—Too soon for my forgiveness.
Speed it with his flown spirit to that dread court
Where he will stand for judgment; and if there
A mortal's wish may find admittance, let it,
Eternal Judge, plead with his penitence.
(Curtain falls.)
| Count Julian | |