_Yolanda._ With whoever Your peace and this compelling pain.... Ah no!
_Amaury._ You drive and drain her. To me her words shall be--me and no other. So my Yolanda now dissolve the cling Of this invisible but heavy hydra; I've striven with it till no more I can. If any tare has been unseemly sown Upon the April vision of our love, Say it at once that I may rend and fling it Away from us. Say it!
_Renier._ Vainly implored.-- Yet ask her this, If she three nights ago----
_Renier._ Insult? She knows what I would bid and does she hurl Her soul in any disavowal?
_Amaury._ I Will speak to her alone. Go, all of you, There to the fountain.
_Yolanda._ Yes, Amaury, then One searching of my face shall free your fear. Alone, alone.
_Yolanda_ (_warningly_). Choose! I cannot suffer more of this.
_Amaury._ Nor I To breathe ever the burning of this mist Of anguish and insatiate accusal.-- This wound upon my throat, fever it not With longer fire of doubt, Yolanda.
_Berengere._ I am not well. I will go to my chamber.
_Renier._ But I never until this guiler grants I found her in the arms of Camarin, Drinking the frenzied wine of passion He poured from his soul.
_Renier._ She is silent; Dumb to deny it.
_Amaury._ But she will, she will. You've driven her with dread and awe.
_Amaury._ Have wounded her. But do not fear, Yolanda; Fiercely disown.
No, no; I have not been faithless to you-- Even a moment To the divinity of love high-altared Here in my breast! to the immutable Beauty of it! ... look, look not on me so-- As if I had struck, murdered a little child! Or palsied one who put a hand to help me; Or through eternity had desecrated, Vainly, virginity and trust and truth! No, my Amaury! I ... do you not see?
Not faithless, hear! it is not true! not true! But only this----
[_A moment, then she sinks down, her face in her hands._ AMAURY _groans; then starting goes fiercely to_ HASSAN, _and taking his sword recrosses trembling to_ CAMARIN.
_Amaury._ The day you first set step in Lusignan An image of the Magdalen within The chapel yonder fell--presaging this. Only your death, your death or mine stands pale Between us now, awaiting silently. Draw, and at once.
_Camarin._ Do your will. I'll put no more To the guilt I bear, or to the misery That guilt has brought upon you.