INCANTATION SCENE.

The scene represents a craggy glen surrounded by high mountains, down the side of one of which falls a cascade. The full moon is shining dimly. In. the fore-ground is an old blasted tree, on the knotty branch of which an owl (with flaming eyes) is sitting. CASPAR, with a pouch and hanger, is engaged in making a circle of black stones, in the middle of which is placed a skull, an eagle's wing, a crucible, and a bullet-mould. Chorus of invisible spirits, with the yells of beasts and birds of prey.

Spirits. Milk hath fallen from the moon,
Uhüi, uhüi,

Blood the spider's web hath dyed,
Uhüi, uhüi.

E'er to-morrow reaches noon,

Uhüi, uhüi.

Ere descends to-morrow's sun,
Deeds of darkness will be done.
Uhüi, uhüi.

During the performance of the chorus, CASPAR is interrupted by the yells before described; but proceeds with the Incantation. First, baring his left arm, he strikes his hunting knife into it, from whence fall large drops of blood; he guides them round the outside of the black stones; they immediately ignite and form a circle of blue flame, over which nothing can pass but by the aid of CASPAR.

The clock at a distance strikes twelve. The circle being finished, CASPAR draws his hanger, and at the twelfth stroke strikes it into the skull. Casp. (raising the skull on the hanger)

Zamiel, Zamiel, bear me, hear!

By th' enchanter's skull, appear!
Zamiel, Zamiel, hear me, hear!

A subterranean noise is heard; the moon and waterfall turn to blood; a rock splits asunder, and ZAMIEL appears in the opening. CASPAR falls before him.

Casp.

Zam.

Casp.

To be supplied

One who till now would never dare

Within thy dark and dreary realms appear.

What does he seek?

With bullets thou wilt guide.

Casp.

Zam.

Six shall achieve;
The seventh deceive.
Dark spirit of the hour,
By the magic of thy power,
Let death his hopes devour;
Then turn the seventh aside,
And let it kill his bride.
O'er her I have no power.
Will be suffice to pay?

He may.

Grant this delay,

But three years to be free,
And Rodolph shall thy victim be.
The boon I grant; but hear and know,
With me to-morrow, he or thou.

CASPAR falls to the earth. A peal of thunder is heard, and repeated irs echo. ZAMIEL vanishes, the skull and hanger likewise disappear, and in their place a flask with liquor, and a hearth with lighted coals and faggots, rise out of the earth. CASPAR rises slowly, and discovers the flask and fire.

Casp.

Well serv'd.

Bless thee, Zamiel! (drinks)
But where does Rodolph tarry?
He will not surely break his word.
Help, Zamiel!

He throws fuel on the fire, and prepares all the materials for casting the balls. RODOLPH appears on the rock opposite the cascade.

Rod. (from the distant rock, looking into the Glen.)
How horrid, dark, and wild, and drear,
Doth this yawning gulph appear;

It seems the hue of hell to wear.
The distant thunder bursts yon clouds!

The moon with blood hath stained her light!
What forms are those, in misty shrouds,

That stalk before my sight?

And now, bush, bush,

The night bird hoots from yonder bush:
See how that oak tree's blasted branches
Upon me seem to frown;

My heart recoils-but dread is vain ;
Fate calls; I must-down! down!

(He descends a few steps, and then stops again.) Casp. (aside) Thanks, Zainiel! my respite is obtained. (To Rod.) So, comrade, you are come at last; Do you see how I am labouring?

After fanning the fire with the cagle's wing, he holds it up to RODOLPH.

Rod.

Casp.

Rod.

I shot that eagle in yonder sky.
I dare not tarry! I cannot fly!

Alas! (stooping and rivetting his eyes on
the opposite rock.)

Lose not the fav'ring time.

I cannot come.

In yonder gloom (pointing to the rock, over which a veiled figure with uplifted hands is seen) My mother's spirit roams before mine eyes, Thus in her shroud, thus in her grave she lies. She fondly seems to pray;

She warns me away.

(She warns RODOLPH from the circle.)

Casp. (aside.) Help, Zamiel!

Rod.

(To Rod.) What folly! but look again, and see
to what your folly leads.

(The apparition of Agnes appears.)
My Agnes! She plunges below,
Then I then I must go!

The figure vanishes; RODOLPH leaps down from the rock; the moon grows dark; CASPAR seizes RODOLPH, and draws him violently into the magic circle.

Casp.

Now, Rodolph, attend; and learn the art,
On which depends thy future fate.

Puts the ingredients into the crucible.

First, some lead-next, some glass, stolen from a church window.

Some quicksilver.

Three charmed balls that have already hit

their mark.

The right eye of a lapwing.

The left of a lynx.

And now for the blessing of the balls.

CASPAR bows slowly three times over the crucible.

Casp.

Thou, who roam'st at midnight hour,
Zamiel, Zamiel, work thy pow'r.
Spirits of the evil dead,

In mystic numbers bless the lead;
Three murderers, deep in blood alike,
Charm the bullets that they strike;
Child that hath its mother slain,
Corn the powder grain by grain;
Though our senses sink with fear,
Zamiel! Zamiel! be near!

THE CASTING OF THE BALLS.

At No. 1 (repeated by the echoes), the moon is eclipsed; night birds and apparitions of various monsters appear.

At No. 2, the witch of the glen and various reptiles appear.

At No. 3, a storm and hurricane break down trees and scatter the fire; monstrous forms move through the glen.

At No. 4, the rattle of wheels and tramp of horses are heard, and two wheels of fire roll over the glen.

At. No. 5, neighing and barking are heard, amid discordant and eccentric music, supposed to accompany the wild chase in air. The misty forms of a skeleton stag, skeleton horsemen, and hounds, pass over the magic circle, in the clouds, to a hunting

CHORUS.

Spirits. Through hill and dale, through glen and mire,
Through dew and cloud, through storm and night,
Through earth and water, air and fire,
Unhurt, we spirits wing our flight.

Casp.

Oh! horror!

See the wild chase in the air!
'Tis a fearful omen.

;

At No. 6, darkness, tremendous storms of thunder,lightning, and hail meteors dart through the air, and dance on the hills; the torrent foams and roars; the rocks are riven, and fresh apparitions appear; and all the horrors of the preceding scenes are accumulated.

At No. 7, a tree is rent asunder; ZAMIEL

and the scene closes as the clock strikes one.

ACT MUSIC.

appears, surrounded by fire;

This Act Music is intended as a programme of the music in the third act, as the Overture was to the first and second.

CAVATINA, (Agnes) Miss PATON.
Though clouds by tempests may be driven
Across the glorious throne of day,
The sun, that never sets in heaven,

Soon smiles the gathering clouds away;
For though o'er the earth the clouds may lower,
O'er him in heaven they have no power.
And thus, although the clouds of sorrow
A shadow o'er the soul may throw,
Yet hope, that dwells within the morrow,
Though hidden, may not cease to glow:
For though round mortals care may lower,
O'er him in heaven it has no power.

ROMANCE and AIR, Miss GOODALL.
My aunt, poor soul, now gone to heaven,
Was once before half kill'd with fright;
The village clock had chim'd eleven.
No sound disturb'd the silent night,

She heard the door so gently ope,
And o'er the floor light footsteps grope,
And the clank of a chain.

She saw something glisten,
She lay still to listen,
And close by her bed-side

She heard the footsteps glide,

And a groan as of pain.

She call'd, she bawl'd, and scream'd with fear.
Oh! Susan! Margaret! oh! Margaret! come here;
And they came with a light,

And they saw such a sight!
This spirit in cog

Was, oh! heavens! 'twas Nero, the mastiff dog!
Nay, do not frown!

Full well thou know'st thy sorrows are my own:
But something sure to joy thou owest.

AIR.

Let not sorrow dare to borrow

Pleasure from my happy bride.

She, in duty, should her beauty

Shew in all its sweetest pride.

Thoughts of sadness now were madness,
Naught but dreams of mirth and gladness
Sparkle lightly round thee now.

Nuns by cloisters bounded,

Are by grief surrounded,

For young Love ne'er ventures there.
Let not sorrow dare to borrow
Pleasure from my happy bride:
But the maidens, wreaths will bring thee,
Bridal songs they'll come and sing thee;
Come, then, banish every care.

BRIDESMAID's SONG, Miss BETTS, and CHORUS.
Bridesmaid. A bridal wreath we will twine for thee,
Of purple silk the twine shall be,
For love will strew thy future hours
With myrtle leaves and rosy flowers.

Chorus. Love with myrtle leaves and rosy flowers
Now will strew thy future hours.

Bridesmaid. Oh let not sorrow venture now,
To cast its shadow o'er thy brow,
For love will strew thy future hours
With myrtle leaves and rosy flowers.