s to the lectern._

Pining along the pages of a book--
This, telling of that Italy madonna
Whose days were sad--I have forgotten how.
Is it not so?

_Yolanda._ No, no. The tears of women
Come as the air and sighing of the night,
We know not whence or why.

_Amaury._ Often, perhaps.
I am not skilled to tell. But never these!
They are of trouble known.

_Yolanda._ Yet now forget them.

_Amaury._ It will not leave my heart that somehow--how
I cannot fathom--Camarin----

_Yolanda_ (_lightly, to stop him_). No farther!

_Amaury._ That Camarin of Paphos is their cause.--
Tell me----

_Yolanda._ Yes, that I love thee!

_Amaury._ Tell me----

_Yolanda._ Love thee!
As sea the sky! and as the sky the wind!
And as the wind the forest! As the forest--
What does the forest love, Amaury? I
Can think of nothing!

_Amaury._ Tell me then you have
Never a moment of you yielded to him,
That never he has touched too long this hand--
Till evermore he must, even as I--
Nor once into your eyes too deep has gazed!
You falter? darken?

_Yolanda._ Would he ne'er had come
Into these halls! that it were beautiful,
Holy to hate him as the Lost can hate.

_Amaury._ But 'tis not?

_Yolanda._ God shall judge him.

_Amaury._ And not you?

_Yolanda._ Though he is weak, there is within him--

_Amaury._ That
Which women trust? and you?

[BERENGERE _enters. He turns to her._

Mother?

_Berengere._ A runner,
A soldier of your troop within the forts
Has come with word.

_Amaury_ (_starting_). Mother!

_Berengere._ It is ill news?
I've seen that battle-light in you before.
'Tis of the Saracens? you ride to-night
Into their peril?

_Amaury._ Come, the word, the word!

_Berengere._ Only this token.

_Amaury._ The spur? the spur? (_Takes it._)
They then
Are landing!

_Yolanda._ How, Amaury; tell your meaning!

_Amaury._ The galleys of the Saracens have found