With my heart's dearest blood, the meed to die

Within thine arms.

CONSTANCE.

Oh! speak not thus-to die!

These wounds may yet be closed.

(She attempts to bind his wounds.)
Look on me, love!

Why, there is more than life in thy glad mien,
'Tis full of hope! and from thy kindled eye
Breaks e'en unwonted light, whose ardent ray
Seems born to be immortal!

RAIMOND.

"Tis e'en so!

The parting soul doth gather all her fires

Around her; all her glorious hopes, and dreams,

And burning aspirations, to illume

The shadowy dimness of th' untrodden path
Which lies before her; and, encircled thus,

Awhile she sits in dying eyes, and thence

Sends forth her bright farewell. Thy gentle cares
Are vain, and yet I bless them.

CONSTANCE.

Say, not vain;

The dying look not thus. We shall not part!

RAIMOND.

I have seen death ere now, and known him wear

Full many a changeful aspect.

CONSTANCE.

Oh! but none

Radiant as thine, my warrior!-Thou wilt live! Look round thee!-all is sunshine-is not this A smiling world?

RAIMOND.

Aye, gentlest love, a world

Of joyous beauty and magnificence,

Almost too fair to leave !-Yet must we tame

Our ardent hearts to this!-Oh, weep thou not!

There is no home for liberty, or love,

Beneath these festal skies!-Be not deceived;
My way lies far beyond !—I shall be soon
That viewless thing which, with its mortal weeds

Casting off meaner passions, yet, we trust,

Forgets not how to love!

CONSTANCE.

And must this be?

Heaven, thou art merciful!-Oh! bid our souls

Depart together!

RAIMOND.

Constance! there is strength

Within thy gentle heart, which hath been proved
Nobly, for me:-Arouse it once again!
Thy grief unmans me-and I fain would meet
That which approaches, as a brave man yields
With proud submission to a mightier foe.

-It is upon me now!

CONSTANCE.

I will be calm.

Let thy head rest upon my bosom, Raimond,
And I will so suppress its quick deep sobs,
They shall but rock thee to thy rest. There is
A world, (aye, let us seek it!) where no blight
Falls on the beautiful rose of youth, and there
I shall be with thee soon!

PROCIDA and ANSELMO enter.

PROCIDA on seeing

RAIMOND starts back.

ANSELMO.

Lift up thy head,

Brave youth, exultingly! for lo! thine hour

Of glory comes!-Oh! doth it come too late?
E'en now the false Alberti hath confess'd
That guilty plot, for which thy life was doom'd
To be th' atonement.

RAIMOND.

"Tis enough! Rejoice,

Rejoice, my Constance! for I leave a name

O'er which thou may'st weep proudly!

(He sinks back.)

Fold me yet closer, for an icy dart

Hath touch'd my veins.

CONSTANCE.

To thy breast

And must thou leave me, Raimond?

Alas! thine eye grows dim-its wandering glance

Is full of dreams.

I was no traitor !

RAIMOND.

Haste, haste, and tell my father

PROCIDA (rushing forward).

To that father's heart

Return, forgiving all thy wrongs, return!
Speak to me, Raimond !-Thou wert ever kind,
And brave, and gentle! Say that all the past
Shall be forgiven That word from none but thee
My lips e'er ask'd.-Speak to me once, my boy,
My pride, my hope!-And is it with thee thus?
Look on me yet!-Oh! must this woe be borne ?

RAIMOND.

Off with this weight of chains! it is not meet

For a crown'd conqueror !-Hark, the trumpet's voice!
(A sound of triumphant music is heard, gradually
approaching.)

Is 't not a thrilling call?-What drowsy spell
Benumbs me thus ?-Hence! I am free again!

Now swell your festal strains, the field is won!
Sing me to glorious dreams.

(He dies.)

From which the eye doth radiantly unclose:
Bow down thy soul, for earthly hope is o'er!

(The music continues approaching. GUIDO enters, with CITIZENS and SOLDIERS.)

GUIDO.

The shrines are deck'd, the festive torches blaze