Though I have lost Camilla, I will be worthy of her.

Not a pen no pen; it is the sword that I must write with.

Strike, O count! I am here: I stand alone.

By the edge of this sword, I swear that never deed of mine shall rob Camilla of her heritage; though I die the death, she shall not weep for a craven!' The multitude break away from Camilla--veiled no more, but radiant; fresh as a star that issues through corrupting vapours, and with her voice at a starry pitch in its clear ascendency: 'Tear up the insufferable scroll!-- O thou, my lover and my soul! It is the Sword that reunites; The Pen that our perdition writes.' She is folded in her husband's arms.
Michiella fronts them, horrid of aspect:-- 'Accurst divorced one! dost thou dare To lie in shameless fondness there?
Abandoned! on thy lying brow Thy name shall be imprinted now.' Camilla parts from her husband's embrace: 'My name is one I do not fear; 'Tis one that thou wouldst shrink to hear.
Go, cool thy penitential fires, Thou creature, foul with base desires!' CAMILLO (facing Count Orso).
'The choice is thine!' COUNT ORSO (draws).
'The choice is made!' CHORUS (narrowing its circle).
'Familiar is that naked blade.
Of others, of himself, the fate How swift 'tis Provocation's mate!' MICHIELLA (torn with jealous rage).
'Yea; I could smite her on the face.
Father, first read the thing's disgrace.
I grudge them, honourable death.
Put poison in their latest breath!' ORSO (his left arm extended).
'You twain are sundered: hear with awe The judgement of the Source of Law.' CAMILLA (smiling confidently).
'Not such, when I was at the Source, It said to me;--but take thy course.' ORSO (astounded).
'Thither thy steps were bent ?' MICHIELLA (spurning verbal controversy).
'She feigns! A thousand swords are in my veins.
Friends! soldiers I strike them down, the pair!' CAMILLO (on guard, clasping his wife).
''Tis well! I cry, to all we share.
Yea, life or death, 'tis well! 'tis well!' MICHIELLA (stamps her foot).
'My heart 's a vessel tossed on hell!' LEONARDO (aside).
'Not in glad nuptials ends the day.' ORSO (to Camilla).
'What is thy purpose with us ?--say!' CAMILLA (lowly).
'Unto my Father I have crossed For tidings of my Mother lost.' ORSO.
'Thy mother dead!' CAMILLA.
'She lives!' MICHIELLA.
'Thou liest! The tablets of the tomb defiest! The Fates denounce, the Furies chase The wretch who lies in Reason's face.' CAMILLA.
'Fly, then; for we are match'd to try Which is the idiot, thou or I' MICHIELLA.
Graceless Camilla!' ORSO 'Senseless girl! I cherished thee a precious pearl, And almost owned thee child of mine.' CAMILLA.
'Thou kept'st me like a gem, to shine, Careless that I of blood am made; No longer be the end delay'd.
'Tis time to prove I have a heart-- Forth from these walls of mine depart! The ghosts within them are disturb'd Go forth, and let thy wrath be curb'd, For I am strong: Camillo's truth Has arm'd the visions of our youth.
Our union by the Head Supreme Is blest: our severance was the dream.
We who have drunk of blood and tears, Knew nothing of a mortal's fears.
Life is as Death until the strife In our just cause makes Death as Life.' ORSO ''Tis madness ?' LEONARDO.
'Is it madness ?' CAMILLA.
'Men! 'Tis Reason, but beyond your ken.
There lives a light that none can view Whose thoughts are brutish:--seen by few, The few have therefore light divine Their visions are God's legions!--sign, I give you; for we stand alone, And you are frozen to the bone.
Your palsied hands refuse their swords.
A sharper edge is in my words, A deadlier wound is in my cry.
Yea, tho' you slay us, do we die?
In forcing us to bear the worst, You made of us Immortals first.
Away! and trouble not my sight.' Chorus of Cavaliers: RUDOLFO, ROMUALDO, ARNOLDO, and others.
'She moves us with an angel's might.
What if his host outnumber ours! 'Tis heaven that gives victorious powers.' [They draw their steel.

ORSO, simulating gratitude for their devotion to him, addresses them as to pacify their friendly ardour.] MICHIELLA to LEONARDO (supplicating).
'Ever my friend I shall I appeal In vain to see thy flashing steel ?' LEONARDO (finally resolved).
'Traitress! pray, rather, it may rest, Or its first home will be thy breast.' Chorus of Bridal Company.
'The flowers from bright Aurora's head We pluck'd to strew a happy bed, Shall they be dipp'd in blood ere night?
Woe to the nuptials! woe the sight!' Rudolfo, Romualdo, Arnoldo, and the others, advance toward Camillo.
Michiella calls to them encouragingly that it were well for the deed to be done by their hands.