ACT V.

[Exit Audulf. The rest kneel round the cross.]

ACT V.

Scene—The interior of a log hut. The walls are draped with rare skins and decorated with horns and heads. The furniture is covered with skins. There are interesting collections of curios, dried grasses and ferns; and everywhere freshly gathered asters in horn mugs. The whole presents a most artistic appearance. Emma sits on a couch beside a cradle, crooning a slumber song to the infant in her arms. Beside her sits Eginhardt, attaching feathers to his arrows. Through the door, centre back, fruit trees are seen. Six years have greatly changed Emma and Eginhardt. The latter has a long black beard; both are tanned and seem stouter.

Little one, close fast thine eyes,Thy guardian angel near thee flies;Close thy rosebud-mouth, thine earsTo all want and needless fears.Little one, lie still and rest,Mother holds thee at her breast,Like a flower by lover plucked,Kissed and in maid's kerchief tucked.Little one, thou'rt sweeter farThan any petal-textured star,Sweeter than a lover's gift;Thou art joy that God hath whiffed.Little one, keep pure and true,Let no taint thy heart bedew.Mother's prayer is spent for thee,Now and through eternity.Little one, if dreams should come,Hurt, or aught that's troublesome,Put thy trust in God aboveAs now thou lean'st on mother-love.Little one, thy cradle's here,Mother stays and watches near.Swansdown-pillowed, slumber long,Mother ends her drowsy song.

Little one, close fast thine eyes,Thy guardian angel near thee flies;Close thy rosebud-mouth, thine earsTo all want and needless fears.

Little one, close fast thine eyes,

Thy guardian angel near thee flies;

Close thy rosebud-mouth, thine ears

To all want and needless fears.

Little one, lie still and rest,Mother holds thee at her breast,Like a flower by lover plucked,Kissed and in maid's kerchief tucked.

Little one, lie still and rest,

Mother holds thee at her breast,

Like a flower by lover plucked,

Kissed and in maid's kerchief tucked.

Little one, thou'rt sweeter farThan any petal-textured star,Sweeter than a lover's gift;Thou art joy that God hath whiffed.

Little one, thou'rt sweeter far

Than any petal-textured star,

Sweeter than a lover's gift;

Thou art joy that God hath whiffed.

Little one, keep pure and true,Let no taint thy heart bedew.Mother's prayer is spent for thee,Now and through eternity.

Little one, keep pure and true,

Let no taint thy heart bedew.

Mother's prayer is spent for thee,

Now and through eternity.

Little one, if dreams should come,Hurt, or aught that's troublesome,Put thy trust in God aboveAs now thou lean'st on mother-love.

Little one, if dreams should come,

Hurt, or aught that's troublesome,

Put thy trust in God above

As now thou lean'st on mother-love.

Little one, thy cradle's here,Mother stays and watches near.Swansdown-pillowed, slumber long,Mother ends her drowsy song.

Little one, thy cradle's here,

Mother stays and watches near.

Swansdown-pillowed, slumber long,

Mother ends her drowsy song.

[Emma gently rocks the cradle in which she has laid thesleeping child.]

[Emma gently rocks the cradle in which she has laid the

sleeping child.]

[He drops his head in his hands.]

[Enter David.]

[Enter Charles, who stoops to pass thedoorway. He does not recognize his hosts.]

[Enter Charles, who stoops to pass the

doorway. He does not recognize his hosts.]

[Who, with Eginhardt, recognizes Charles, layingher hand on her heart as though to still its throbbings.]

[Who, with Eginhardt, recognizes Charles, laying

her hand on her heart as though to still its throbbings.]

[He sits by the central table.]

[While Emma places the venison on the table, David,who has his eyes on Charles, drops a dish, waking thelatter.]

[While Emma places the venison on the table, David,

who has his eyes on Charles, drops a dish, waking the

latter.]

[He mumbles an Ave Maria while all crossthemselves and sit down. Emma carves the venison,Eginhardt opens his book. Charles stares wonderinglyround.]

[He mumbles an Ave Maria while all cross

themselves and sit down. Emma carves the venison,

Eginhardt opens his book. Charles stares wonderingly

round.]

[He reads from Chapter XII. of the Nineteenth Book of"The City of God."]

[He reads from Chapter XII. of the Nineteenth Book of

"The City of God."]

[Eginhardt blows the horn, while Charles turns to hisvenison and Emma quiets the baby. An answering callcomes faint, then louder.]

[Eginhardt blows the horn, while Charles turns to his

venison and Emma quiets the baby. An answering call

comes faint, then louder.]

[Exit.]

[She pours some wine for Charles.]

[After a pause enter Hildebold, Eginhardt, David,Albert, Ernst and Courtiers.]

[After a pause enter Hildebold, Eginhardt, David,

Albert, Ernst and Courtiers.]

Ya ho! ya ho! let Frankland ringWith daring deeds, with battles won;Great Lords submit to Charles, our King,As stars that fear the rising sun.Ya ho! ya ho! for Victory!Now Frankland's voice is heard afar,It trumpets peace o'er land and sea,The War God lists and stays his car.Ya ho! ya ho! for huntsman's hornAwakes once more the forest glade,With mirth and joy that put to scornThe battle scar, the murky blade.Ya ho! ya ho! the quarry's traced,Six years of search have ended now,The fairest doe that ere was chased,To her we make a lowly bow.

Ya ho! ya ho! let Frankland ringWith daring deeds, with battles won;Great Lords submit to Charles, our King,As stars that fear the rising sun.

Ya ho! ya ho! let Frankland ring

With daring deeds, with battles won;

Great Lords submit to Charles, our King,

As stars that fear the rising sun.

Ya ho! ya ho! for Victory!Now Frankland's voice is heard afar,It trumpets peace o'er land and sea,The War God lists and stays his car.

Ya ho! ya ho! for Victory!

Now Frankland's voice is heard afar,

It trumpets peace o'er land and sea,

The War God lists and stays his car.

Ya ho! ya ho! for huntsman's hornAwakes once more the forest glade,With mirth and joy that put to scornThe battle scar, the murky blade.

Ya ho! ya ho! for huntsman's horn

Awakes once more the forest glade,

With mirth and joy that put to scorn

The battle scar, the murky blade.

Ya ho! ya ho! the quarry's traced,Six years of search have ended now,The fairest doe that ere was chased,To her we make a lowly bow.

Ya ho! ya ho! the quarry's traced,

Six years of search have ended now,

The fairest doe that ere was chased,

To her we make a lowly bow.

[The courtiers all make obeisance to Emma.]

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