CLAVJOO : A TUAfJEDY. 449 



Woe ! woe is me ! They are men like myself. It is true True ? 

 Canst thou conceive it? She is dead the feeling seizes me with all 

 the horrors of night; she is dead! There she lies, flowers at thy feet 

 and thou have mercy on me, oh my God! I did not kill her! Hide 

 yourselves,, ye stars, shine not down here, ye who so often saw the 

 criminal quit this threshold with sensations of the most exquisite happi- 

 ness even through this street saw him with lute and voice making the 

 air resound to golden phantasies, and kindling his listening maid at her secret 

 lattice with blissful' hopes ! And thou now fillest the house with lamenta- 

 tions and grief! and this scene of thy happiness with a funeral dirge! 

 Maria ! Maria ! take me with thee ! take me with thee ! (Solemn music sounds 

 from lutes within.} They begin to move towards the grave ! Halt, halt ! 

 Close not the coffin ! Let me once more behold her ! ( Goes up to the house 

 distractedly.} Ha! whom whom do I venture to appear before ? whom 

 to meet in the bitterness of their anguish ? Her friends? Her brother ? 

 whose bosom is filled with frantic grief? (Music begins again.) She calls 

 me ! she calls me ! I come ! What awe encompasses me ! What shudder- 

 ing holds me back ! 



(The music begins a third time and continues. The torch bearers move 

 before the door, three others advance towards them, who range them- 

 selves on each side the funeral procession which proceeds from the 

 house. Six carry the bier, over which the pall is thrown. Guilbert 

 and Buenco in deep mourning.) 



Clav. (Coming forward.) Halt! 



Guilb. What voice is that ! 



Clav. Halt! (The bearers stand.) 



Buen. Who dares to interrupt this solemn procession ? 



Clav. Set it down ! 



Guilb. Ha ! 



Buen. Wretch ! Is there no end to thy hideous crimes? Is thy victim 

 not secure from thee in her coffin ? 



Clav. Cease ! Do not drive me mad! The unhappy are dangerous! I 

 must see her! (He removes the pall and the lid. Maria lies in the coffin 

 with folded hands dressed in white. Clavigo starts bach, and hides Ms face 

 in his hands.; 



Buen. Would you awake her again to kill her ? 



Clav. Poor scoffer ! Maria ! (He falls down before the coffin.) 

 Enter Beaumarchais. 



Beau. Buenco has forsaken me. She is not dead, say I must see, spite 

 of the devil ! I must see her. Torches ! Funeral ! (He runs up to them 

 distractedly, sees the coffin, and falls upon it speechless ; they lift him up, 

 apparently in a swoon. Guilbert sustains him.) 



Clav. (Standing on the other side of the coffin). Maria ! Maria ! 



Beau. (Impassionedly) That is his voice ! Who calls Maria ? What 

 burning fury rushes through my veins at the sound of that voice ! 



^ Clav. I am he. (Beaumarchais looking savagely at him, and grasping 

 his sword. Guilbert holds him.) I fear not your flashing eyes, nor the point 

 of your sword ! Look here at these closed eyes, these folded hands ! 



Beau. Dost thou show me that? (He disengages himself, rushes upon 

 Clavigo, who draws; they fight. Beaumarchais thrusts his sword in Cla- 

 vigo's breast.} 



Clav. (Falling) I thank you, brother ! You have married us. (He 

 falls upon the coffin.) 



Beau. (Dragging him away.) Away from this saint, accursed monster ! 



Clav. Woe! (The mourners support him.) 



Beau. Blood ! Look up, Maria, one glimpse at thy bridal ornament, and 



