University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Scene—A Gothic Apartment—Tapers burning.
Enter Michael-Ducas and Claudia.
MICHAEL
[holding a letter].
She has judged wisely!—Had my threats been scorned,
This night, though 'twere my last, had made her story
Public as the air she breathes—“St. Hilda's cavern?”—
“While Guiscard's at the banquet?”—'Tis enough.

CLAUDIA.
Oh! send some words of comfort to my friend!
Lothair...

MICHAEL.
She loves him!

CLAUDIA
[eagerly].
By my hopes of Heaven....

MICHAEL.
Well! well!—I know not.... O'er my heart, 'tis certain,
She holds strange power!—Perhaps, her prayers may move me
To spare Lothair, repress my fatal passion,
And yield those letters, which...... But should she fail me....

CLAUDIA.
She will not, be assured.—Oh! Prince, shew mercy,
And when thou need'st it, Heaven will show it thee!

[Exit.
MICHAEL.
Go, thou dull thing, and from experience learn,
That Michael ne'er forgave, where once he hated.
—“St. Hilda's Cave.”—'Twill suit my purpose well!—
Close to the sea.... But lo! Apulia comes!—
Ha! Alciphron?

Enter Guiscard [with a Parchment] and Alciphron.
GUISCARD.
Offers so fair deserve
Acceptance, and I'll urge it strongly, doubt not.
Wait thou apart!

ALCIPHRON.
Humbly I thank your Highness.

[Exit.
GUISCARD.
Health to Byzantium's Emperor! For that title
At length is thine not more in right than fact.

MICHAEL.
Indeed?—Brought Alciphron....?

GUISCARD.
Alexius owns
Thy star's ascendant, and resigns the purple
On certain terms......

MICHAEL.
Terms? Dares the slave prescribe
Terms to his Sovereign?

GUISCARD.
Still Byzantium's his,
And ere 'twere thine by force, much blood would flow.
To save that blood (and sure his heart it honours)
Alexius proffers to throw wide his portals,
So thou'lt engage to spare his life, and those,
Whose names this scroll contains.

MICHAEL
[reading].
“Constantius”—“Phocas”—
“Gratian”—Men potent with Byzantium's rabble;
Who bear tow'rds me such deadly hate as tigers
Bear tow'rds the crocodile—and shall they live
To prate of slaughtered sons and wives dishonoured,
And with such piteous tales excite the croud
Again to hurl me from my throne? No, no!
Such men I dare not pardon.

GUISCARD.
Dare not, say'st thou?
Oh! phrase ill-suited to imperial lips!
Kings should fear nothing but deserving censure,
And he who dares not pardon, should not reign.

MICHAEL.
Gods! give me patience!—Is't not then enough
To know yon cave contains a sleeping lion,
But must I wait his rousing to dispatch him,
And feel the monster's teeth, before I stab?
By Heaven, 'twere better ne'er to see Byzantium,
Than see it in such fear, and spread my couch
Nightly on snakes!

GUISCARD.
And art thou yet to learn,
E'en snakes, if gently used, are rendered harmless,
And dance obedient to their tasker's flute?
Restored to power, shed grace and bounty round thee;
With love meet hatred; conquer frowns with favours;
Be the world's friend, and none will be thy foes.

MICHAEL.
What! Be the friend of those, who from my grasp
My sceptre snatched, and drove me forth an exile?
Oh! were I like Olympian Jove enthroned
With scorn I'd turn me from the ambrosial banquet,
To launch 'gainst those I hate destroying thunders,
And shower my vengeance down in fiery floods.

GUISCARD.
Is such indeed thy wish?—Whate'er my injuries,
Grant, ye blest heavens, that Guiscard ne'er may bend
His knee at dark Revenge's blood-stained altar!
High on a rock his horrid temple stands,
Of burning iron built, and closely paved
With human hearts, which at each step he tramples.
But tremble, fiend! Tears shed in vain have sapped
Thy rock's foundations; Hate and Fear prepare
Their subterranean fires, which, when they burst,
Will hurl thee piece-meal to the winds of Heaven,
And where thou fall'st no dew shall bless the sod—
But fair Forgiveness (robed in vestal-white,
Which speck of blood ne'er stained) her shrine of chrystal,
Her balmy bowers, and ever-gushing fountains,
Quits for the embattled field.—There, when she finds
Some foe o'erthrown, she from her poppy-garland
Shakes dews oblivious on his fainting brows;
And bathes his wounds with tears; and binds them gently
With her torn hair; and if she fails to save him,
She sings so sweet a requiem o'er his corse,
That Hate relenting throws his sword away,
And sinks upon that breast 'twas raised to wound!

MICHAEL.
Yet when Lothair to-day....

GUISCARD.
His crime was public,
Nor dares my justice pardon crimes, save those
Committed 'gainst myself. But when such faults
As those now charged upon the Byzantine's....

MICHAEL.
Their fault was great; neglect of subject-duty.

GUISCARD.
Have subjects duties, kings have duties too.

MICHAEL.
And I....?—I guess your meaning, Prince!

GUISCARD.
There needs then
No plainer words to speak it—'Twill suffice
To say, that mercy now must seem mere prudence.
All must approve your yielding, since....

MICHAEL
[looking on the parchment].
What this?
The patriarch Priscillian? that false priest,
Who rudely tore the diadem from my brow,
And bound it round my rival's?—Critias, too!
Eudoxus! Cleon!— [furious]
—Now, by Heaven! Not one,
Not one of them shall live! the slaves! the traitors!
Byzantium mine one hour, thus, thus I'll use them,
And strew their limbs thus round me!— [tearing the parchment.]


GUISCARD.
'Tis enough.
Hoa! Alciphron!

Enter Alciphron.
GUISCARD
[pointing to the parchment].
Read there your answer!

ALCIPHRON
[starting].
Prince!

GUISCARD.
When first your exiled sovereign sought my aid,
I saw his sufferings and forgot his faults,
Pitied the monarch and excused the man.
I thought too, in Adversity's rough school
He sure had learnt some lessons, which might teach him
To govern well, if e'er again he governed.
I was deceived!—Michael rejects your terms:
Yet tell Alexius this from me—If e'er
On Michael's side again I draw my faulchion,
May my right arm sink withered!

MICHAEL
[stamping in rage].
How?—Confusion!

ALCIPHRON.
Then, tyrant, do thy worst; we fear thee not!
[To Guiscard]
—But since from him estranged, oh! let Alexius
Hope, that Apulia's aid....

GUISCARD
[with dignity].
Presumptuous Greek,
Urge that bold suit no further!—Guiscard's sword
Shall ne'er be drawn in an usurper's cause.
Whate'er his faults, there stands your rightful monarch;
And though my arms no more oppose Alexius,
Still shall he find ere long, celestial vengeance
Pursue the rebel, who dethroned his king.
Quit thou my realm: no more!
[Exit Alciphron.
[To Michael]
—Prince, thou hast heard me,
And here our ill-assorted union ends.
No further aid.....

MICHAEL
[malignant].
Nay, show thy spite at once,
And send me to the usurper's throne in chains.
Durazzo shall reward thee!

GUISCARD.
Emperor, no!
What Guiscard once has given, he ne'er resumes.
Durazzo's yours; 'twas conquered in your name,
And thither safely shall my barks conduct you:
That done, my service ends. To gain Byzantium,
What further course you chuse.....

MICHAEL.
Should that course prosper,
I'll first employ my power to wreak on thee
My vengeance for this scorn!—There lies my gage,
In token of defiance, and that hatred,
Which here I swear shall to the grave pursue thee,
Deep, deadly, and unchanged.

GUISCARD.
Were all the sceptres
Young Ammon won, thus prostrate thrown before me,
I'd stoop less willing than to seize this pledge
Of lasting feuds between us!—Stretch to the utmost
Thy power to vex Apulia and its lord:
With barks, like locust-clouds, o'erspread the ocean;
Rob all thy realms of men, and at one effort
Pour thy whole population on our coasts:
Still shalt thou see thy squadrons (like ripe corn
Beneath the reaper's scythe) laid low, encountering
The patriot subjects of a patriot prince,
Who loves his people, whom his people love.—
Skulk as thou may'st behind thy brazen bulwarks
Of hired Varangians and degenerate Greeks,
I'll find thee, doubt not; hew my desperate passage
Through swords and shields; nor shall my arm know rest,
Till on thy casque my trusty sword has cleft
Byzantium's crown in twain.

MICHAEL.
I'll hear no more!— [drawing a dagger]

Vain boaster, die!— [attempts to stab Guiscard, who wrests the dagger from him.]


GUISCARD.
Ha!— [A pause, after which he returns the dagger.]
Take thy steel again,
And use it to a nobler end.— [Michael stamps in rage.]
—How now?

Enter Rainulf.
RAINULF.
Lothair has fled, my Prince!—the traitor Julian
Has loosed his chains, and shares his flight.

GUISCARD.
Pursue them,
And straight inform me, should Lothair be found.
[Exit Rainulf.
Oh! lend his feet your speed, ye winds, and spare me
The sad necessity of shedding blood
Still to my heart so precious.—Prince, farewell;
We meet no more, except we meet in battle,
Where one of us must fall.—Meanwhile, live thou
Wronging and wronged, detesting and detested,
And boast of slaughtered foes and power unbridled:
While I (with juster thought) esteem it nobler
To gain one friend, than crush a thousand foes;
Boast, that I reign despotic o'er my passions,
And hold, man's proudest conquest is.... himself!

[Exit.
MICHAEL.
Aye! triumph now!—But soon thy haughty front
Shall strike the earth in anguish—Now, Dercetus!

Enter Dercetus.
MICHAEL.
Say, is the bark prepared?

DERCETUS.
Among the rocks
'Tis anchored.

MICHAEL.
Call my slaves! collect my treasure!
And straight conduct my daughter to the vessel.
This night we quit Otranto.

DERCETUS.
How! this night?

MICHAEL.
Durazzo's mine, and thither points our course.
Speed, speed, my friend!

[Exit Dercetus.
MICHAEL.
And thou good doating husband,
Dream on securely, while far hence I bear
Thy soul's most precious treasure. Thus the pilgrim,
(While near his couch the snake creeps slow and silent,)
Slumbers unconscious on some flowery bank.
Sweet is his rest; his dreams are bright—when lo!
Deep strikes the sting, and the wretch wakes to anguish!

[Exit.
Scene—A Gallery formed in the Rock.
Enter Adelgitha and Claudia [bearing a torch.]
ADELGITHA.
Here must we part!

CLAUDIA.
Moment of grief and terror!

ADELGITHA.
If I succeed, if he resigns those proofs,
All's well!—I'll fly to Guiscard, and implore him
With such fond energy to save Lothair,
He needs must grant my suit.—But should I fail,
And yonder cave prove my untimely tomb,
Be it thy care to tell my mournful story,
Clear that dear hapless youth, and teach the world,
Though treacherous arts had stained my youthful honour,
My heart was pure, and not unworthy Guiscard's.
Now to my fearful task!—Friend, give my veil!
Thy torch too.—Wait thou yonder.

CLAUDIA
[bursting into tears].
Oh! my Princess!
Oh! friend!— [kneeling.]


ADELGITHA
[embracing her with emotion].
Farewell!

CLAUDIA.
Farewell!

ADELGITHA
[breaking from her].
Perhaps.... for ever!

[Exeunt severally.
Scene—A Cavern; through a natural Arch in the centre of the back-scene the Sea is visible, with the Moon shining on it. On one Side of the Arch is a rough-hewn Staircase, conducting to an upper Gallery, and on the same Side is the Mouth of an inner Cave, partly overgrown with Ivy and other tangling Weeds; it is ornamented with a Cross, an Image, a Skull and Cross-Bones, &c.—On the opposite Side is the great Entrance to the Cavern.
Julian enters with a Lamp, conducting Lothair and Imma, by the great Entrance.
JULIAN
[to Lothair].
Here thou may'st rest in safety, while I seek
The bark to bear us hence; but, gentle Princess,
First let me guide thee back....

LOTHAIR
[to Imma].
And must you go?
Oh! first repeat the assurance, that no longer
You doubt his faith who only lives for you!
Say, that no more you'll wrong your charms by thinking
The heart can ever change, that once is yours!
And swear, by yon fair Moon, whose mournful radiance
Silvers the billows which must waft me hence,
No power of absence and no rival's arts
Shall e'er efface Lothair from Imma's bosom!

IMMA.
Alas! Before your lips affirmed your truth,
So much I hoped you true, I half believed it.
Yet still such proofs.... My father's heavy charge ..
And she, pure honour's mirror, Adelgitha,
She too attested.... Hence, distracting doubts,
For I will credit what I wish were true!
Still, dear enchanter, breathe those magic vows,
Which charmed to rest the tempest of my bosom!
E'en though you're false, persuade me that you're faithful;
E'en though you hate me, swear I'm fondly loved:
Close to my heart I'll press the sweet delusion,
And kiss the veil that hides such cruel truths!

LOTHAIR.
And will these sounds, which on his parting ear
Vibrate so sweetly, greet Lothair's return?
Soon at thy beauty's shrine adoring monarchs
Shall boast, they bear thy chains, and swear in rapture,
—“If crowns are brilliant, 'tis when Imma wears them!”—
Blessed while you listen to the flattering tale,
All thoughts of passion past will fade away,
And in some rival's arms, thou'l't ne'er remember,
A wretch like me exists!

IMMA.
Unjust suspicions!
Oh! would 'twere in my power at once to crush them,
And share thy flight, thy dangers, and thy woes;
More blest with thee to taste the bread of want,
Than here in splendid slavery weep out life,
Robbed of all joy, for joy will fly with thee.
But oh! that fearful thought, my father's curse ...
A father, who, whate'er his faults to others,
Has none to me .... No, no! I dare not grieve him,
And we must part, Lothair!— [weeping.]


JULIAN.
Your pardon, Princess;
Time flies; your absence may create suspicions,
Whose danger....

IMMA.
Straight I come—and whither wilt thou,
Dear friend, direct thy wandering course?

LOTHAIR.
Thou know'st,
The Christian kings prepare a potent force
To free the Holy Land from hands of heathens:
I'll aid the attempt.—Who knows but Heaven may grant me
To hurl some fierce barbarian from that throne,
His foul idolatry and crimes pollute?
Oh! then how swift my keel shall cut the billows;
Love's purple wings shall agitate the air
To swell my sails, and waft me back to Europe,
In Imma's eyes to read my purest praise,
And lay at Imma's feet my heart and sceptre.

IMMA.
Come thus, and Imma's thine—But should'st thou fall,
Rest thou assured, my love, no rival e'er
Shall clasp this hand, on which thy lips have rested,
A cloistered mourner, wrapt in sable weeds,
I'll weep thy loss, till life be wept away:
But at my dying hour, a form more bright
Than Love's first blush, or Fancy's brilliant visions,
Shall blaze on my charmed sight, and hovering o'er me,
Cry—“Imma, rise! the trial's past!—I call thee,
Thy guardian angel now, but once Lothair!”—
Then will I break my fragile chains of clay,
Spring from the earth, and soar aloft with thee
To yon blest realms, where sorrow never comes,
But light, and life, and joy are all eternal:
Songs of according spheres shall hymn our union,
And saints and seraphs bless our loves divine!—
Farewell!—Oh! Heaven!—Farewell!

[Exit.
JULIAN.
I'll straight return:
Wait thou in yonder cave.

[Exit.
LOTHAIR.
Celestial Imma!
O'er this fond heart how potent is thy reign;
Condemned to die, fame, freedom, hope, all lost....
She came! she spoke! she smiled, and all was bright.
Such, Beauty, is thy power.—Oh! woman, woman!
Enchantress! Angel! All things own thy sway!
The neck, which scorns all other yokes, is proud
To draw thy roseate car! thy melting voice
Lures the light flutterer from its tree!—thy smile
Tames the fierce tiger's rage; and hearts, more cold
And hard than rock-born chrystal, melt like wax,
Touched by the magic fires of thy bright eyes.
Hear, Goddess, hear my vows! Lothair adores thee!

[Exit into the inner Cavern.
Adelgitha [with a torch] descends the flight of Steps.
ADELGITHA.
Not come yet? [She fixes the Torch in a crevice of the Rock]
—then I've still some moments left
To think.... to pray!— [She sinks on her knee, and raises her hands to Heaven]
—Save me!—
[A pause, after which she rises]
How dread this silence!—
The night-wind chills my blood—the pale cold moon....
These echoing rocks.... the murmuring waves ... yon cave too....
Thither St. Hilda fled from treacherous man,
There lived in innocence, there died in peace.
Oh! virgin saint, would I had lived like thee,
And that like thee, the grave long since had held me,
For I have lived to find life grown unlovely,
And prove the sage's mournful words too true,
—“Whom the Gods love, dies early!”—

MICHAEL
[without].
Sure yon torch.....

ADELGITHA.
He comes—his voice seemed thunder to my ear—
Now then for life or death.

Enter Michael-Ducas.
MICHAEL.
Lo! where she stands,
Destined to crown at once my love and vengeance!
—Now, Princess.... Ha!—I miss that high demeanour
Inspiring such respect, when last we parleyed!
No scornful smile! no virtuous lightnings flashing
Quick from thine eyes to strike presumption dead!
Nay, speak, and let me hear thy lips once more
School with condign reproof licentious passion,
And teach, how great Salerno's virtuous daughter
—“Sees nothing fearful but deserved disgrace!”—

ADELGITHA.
I'm humbled.... weak..... a sufferer.... and a woman!
Now (if thou hast the heart) insult me still.

MICHAEL.
Insult thee?—No, ungrateful: those bright eyes
Still o'er my heart hold an unbounded empire.
Fain would I hush thy grief....

ADELGITHA.
Oh! if thou would'st,
How easy were the task! Look on me, Prince!
Grief tears my heart; my eyes are swoll'n with weeping,
And thou may'st calm that heart, and dry those eyes.
Those fatal letters.... Yield them to my prayers;
Save me from shame, and I'll through life implore
Heaven on thy head to shower its choicest blessings!

MICHAEL.
Nay, we'll not trouble Heaven, fair dame; In thee
I see that blessing, which my soul most covets,
And mine it must be.—Vainly darts thine eye
That look of horror, for thy fate is fixed,
And Vengeance speaks thy doom, if Love were silent.
I hate thy Guiscard, and to glut that hate
With costly food, have probed his inmost soul:
I find his dearest gems are thee and honour,
And both this night are lost.

ADELGITHA
[starting].
Mean'st thou...?

MICHAEL.
This night
I'll bear thee hence, at once content my passion,
And brand the man I hate with shame immortal.
Thou'rt in my power....

ADELGITHA.
No, tyrant, thou'rt deceived;
I've still one refuge left; and here I swear,
Ere Guiscard's cheek shall know one tear of grief,
Or blush of shame, occasioned by my fault,
In death's embrace I'll shelter me from thine,
And stab my heart rather than Guiscard's honour.

MICHAEL
[ironically].
Thou'lt die?—Alas! I'm skilled in woman's courage,
And know, what vows she swears, and how she keeps them.
Swords, precipices, poison, racks, and flames,
Viewed in perspective, she esteems mere trifles:
But when the moment comes, she thinks, 'twere pity
To stain a skin so very white with blood;
So wipes her eyes, and lays aside her dagger.

ADELGITHA.
Unmanly slanderer!

MICHAEL
[fiercely].
Yet though fate had sworn,
The hour, which made thee mine, should hear thy knell,
Mine would I make thee still!

ADELGITHA.
Barbarian! fiend!
Thou lov'st, as others hate.

MICHAEL.
Though Pleasure fly me,
I'll quaff full draughts from sweet Revenge's bowl:
Living, thou'rt mine....

ADELGITHA.
And dead....?

MICHAEL.
Thou art not Guiscard's,
And that's some comfort still.

ADELGITHA
[drawing a dagger].
Then take that comfort,
And triumph o'er my corse!— [offering to stab herself.]


MICHAEL.
Rash woman, hold!— [wrests the dagger from her, and throws it on the ground.]
—And now....

ADELGITHA.
Oh! treacherous arm!

MICHAEL.
No power can save thee.
Know, mid yon rocks e'en now the vessel waits
Destined to waft thee hence.

ADELGITHA.
Oh! Heaven!

MICHAEL.
Away then;
I'll bear thee to the bark.

ADELGITHA
[throwing herself at his feet].
I sink before thee!
She kneels to thee, who ne'er yet knelt to man!
Have thou compassion!

MICHAEL.
Idle prayers!—Nay, rise!

ADELGITHA.
I kiss thy feet: I bathe them with my tears!

MICHAEL.
Thy tears increase thy beauty.

ADELGITHA
[struggling].
Spare me! Spare me!
Show mercy yet!

MICHAEL.
None! none!

ADELGITHA
[in a terrible voice, while she seizes the dagger, which lies near her, and starts from the ground].
Then perish, tyrant!— [stabs him.]


MICHAEL.
'Tis to my heart!—Oh! rage!—What hoa!—Dercetus!—
Fly to my aid .. and seize.... I faint!.. Oh; murderess.— [He staggers back some paces, and falls senseless on the earth.]


ADELGITHA.
[Who has remained in a menacing attitude, starts with horror at the last word].
Murderess?—Right! right!—'tis now my fittest name!
Rise, dæmons, rise! 'Tis Adelgitha calls you;
Her hand has signed in blood the infernal bond,
Which makes her yours for ever! Rise then, rise,
And shake the rocks with horrid mirth, loud shrieking
—“Rejoice! rejoice! the murderess is our own!”—

Enter Lothair [from the Cave, with his Sword drawn.]
LOTHAIR.
Murder was shrieked!—Ha!—Speak thy business here,
And what thou art?

ADELGITHA.
A fiend, who comes to banquet
On blood among these rocks; who much has drank,
And thirsts for more!—Observe these flaming eyes;
Mark the black drops, which trickle from this steel,
And if thy life is dear, avoid my presence.—
Advance not, or thou diest!

LOTHAIR.
That voice.... Amazement!
'Tis she! the Princess sure!— [dropping his sword.]


ADELGITHA
[shrieking].
Lothair! Oh! horror!
This still was wanting!— [supports herself against the Rock.]


LOTHAIR.
Blood imbrues her dagger:—
And lo!—a corse.... whose gaping wound...... Oh! Princess,
What hast thou done?

ADELGITHA.
A deed of guilt, of madness;
And of what guilt thine eyes express too well!
Nay, give thy hatred words: I fain would die;
And speak but thou with truth and force—“I hate thee!”—
And lightning would not strike me dead so soon.

LOTHAIR.
Hate thee? Oh! powers of bliss!—My brain whirls round!
I know not what to think .... or say ... or do:
I can but feel, all guilty as thou art ....
The world holds nothing, which my soul loves dearer!

ADELGITHA.
Say'st thou?—Thanks, Heaven, for this last drop of comfort
Thrown in my bitter cup! Lothair, Lothair!
This heart..... thou dost not know..... Hark! the rock echoes
With hurried steps!—If here I'm found, my fame,
My life are lost!—Save me, Lothair, oh! save me,
For I'm so guilty, that I dare not die!
Oh! save me, save me!

LOTHAIR.
They're at hand!—Fly! fly!
Yon steps conduct....

ADELGITHA
[Attempting to reach them, but sinking back ready to faint, and catching at a broken piece of the Rock.]
I cannot! my strength fails me!
My doom is fixed!

LOTHAIR
[raising her].
Take courage!—Rest on me!—
The torch! [taking it in one hand, while the other clasps Adelgitha]

Come, come... Fear not! I'll die or save you!
Nay, come!—Away!—Away!

[Exeunt by the steps.
Enter Imma [hastily.]
IMMA.
Fly, fly, Lothair!
Julian is seized, and Rainulf this way hastens!
Lothair?—He answers not!—Oh! Heaven, they come.

Enter Rainulf, Julian, and Guards with Torches.
RAINULF
[to Julian].
If thou deceiv'st me, wretch, thy life shall pay for't.
Not here?

JULIAN.
In yonder cave....

IMMA
[placing herself before the entrance of the Cave.
Stay, Rainulf, stay!
Pursue your search no further! On my life,
The babe, who ne'er yet lisped the name of mother,
Is not more guiltless than Lothair.

RAINULF.
His flight
Argues not innocence.—Your pardon, Princess;
I needs must on.— [To the Guards]
This way.

[Exeunt into the Cave.
IMMA
[alone].
Ye guardian angels,
Hear, hear my prayers, and spread your sheltering wings
O'er poor Lothair!

MICHAEL
[half raising himself with difficulty].
That voice seemed .... Oh! that pang!

IMMA.
Hark! 'twas a groan!—Who breathed it?

MICHAEL
[faintly].
Imma!—Imma!

IMMA
[with a loud shriek].
My father!—Help!— [running to him.]


MICHAEL.
My child!—Farewell!— [dies.]


IMMA.
Oh! horror!— [faints on the body.]


LOTHAIR
[rushing down the steps].
'Twas Imma shrieked!

RAINULF.
[entering at the same moment, followed by the Guards].
Lothair!
Guards! seize him!

LOTHAIR
[held by the Guards].
Imma!

[Part of the Guards detain Lothair in the back ground, while the rest form a groupe round Imma and her Father.—Rainulf (a tall martial figure in armour) stands in the middle, extending one arm towards Lothair.]