ho does not
cease to press his love-suit. Brian's deed soon becomes known, and his
brother-Templars, believing Brian to be innocent, but seduced by a
sorceress, condemn Rebecca to the stake. She makes use of her right to
ask for a champion, and is allowed till sunset to find one. Brian
himself tries all he can to save her, but she rejects his aid, for she
loves Ivanhoe, though she is well aware {325} that at this noble knight
loves his beautiful cousin Rowena.

The day has nearly passed, the funeral pile awaits its victim, and no
champion appears. The trumpets sound for the last time, when Ivanhoe
presents himself in the lists to fight Brian, whom the Templars have
appointed as his adversary. Ivanhoe is victorious; Brian falls
lifeless, even before the enemy's sword touches him. All recognize the
judgment of God and Rebecca is given back to her desolate father. At
the last moment King Richard, who has long been absent on a crusade to
Jerusalem, appears on the scene. He announces that henceforth he alone
will govern the land and punish all injustice. Ivanhoe and Rowena are
united by consent of Sir Cedric, who is now wholly reconciled to his
valorous son.

LA TRAVIATA (OR VIOLETTA).

Opera in three acts by VERDI.

Text taken from the French by PIAVE.

The original of the libretto is Dumas' celebrated novel "La dame aux
camelias."

The opera is like all of Verdi's works full of melody and there are
numberless special beauties in it. The prelude which opens the opera
instead of an overture, is in particular an elegy of a noble and
interesting kind. But as the text is frivolous and sensual, of course
the music cannot be expected to be wholly free from these
characteristics.

{326}

The scene is laid in and near Paris. Alfred Germont is passionately in
love with Violetta Valery, one of the most frivolous beauties in Paris.
She is pleased with his sincere passion, anything like which she has
never hitherto known, and openly telling him, who she is, she warns him
herself; but he loves her all the more, and as she returns his passion,
she abandons her gay life and follows him into the country, where they
live very happily for some months.

Annina, Violetta's maid dropping a hint to Alfred that her mistress is
about to sell her house and carriage in town in order to avoid
expenses, he departs for the Capital to prevent this.

During his absence Violetta receives a visit from Alfred's father, who