Regent.—Ay! The child, too—You will hold the child?... This roar Deafens but will not drown us.

This roar

[Within the Chapel the choir is chanting a dirge. Gamba goes and closes the door on the sound: then creeps to the foot of the couch. The dying woman gently motions aside the cross a priest is holding to her, and looks up at her husband.

[Below the terrace a voice is heard singing the Rondinello song.

 Look! beyond Be waters where no galley moves with oar, So wide, so waveless,—and, between the woods, Meadows—O land me there!... Hark, my lord's voice Singing in Vallescura! Soft my, love, I am so tired—so tired! Love, let me play! [Dies.

Look! beyond

[The Courtiers lift the body in silence and bear it to the Chapel, the Duke and his train following. The doors close on them. On the stage are left only Cesario, standing by the balustrade; and Gamba, who has seated himself with his viol and touches it, as still the voice sings below—

Addio, Addio! ed un'altra volt'addio! La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio!

[On the last note a string of the viol cracks, and with a cry the Fool flings himself, heart-broken, on the empty couch. Cesario steps forward and stands over him, touching his shoulder gently.

CURTAIN.

POEMS

EXMOOR VERSES

I. VASHTI'S SONG

Over the rim of the Moor, And under the starry sky, Two men came to my door And rested them thereby. 

And under the starry sky,

And rested them thereby.

 Beneath the bough and the star, In a whispering foreign tongue, They talked of a land afar And the merry days so young! 

In a whispering foreign tongue,

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