she
has been led to believe him dead, and dissolved in tears they embrace
tenderly. Thus they are surprised by de Silva who, though for the time
being bound by the laws of hospitality swears to destroy Ernani,
wherever he may find him.

For the moment however he conceals his foe so well, that Don Carlos'
followers cannot find him. Though the King threatens to take the old
man's life, the nobleman remains true to his word and even makes the
greatest sacrifice by delivering Elvira as a hostage into the King's
hands.

Left alone he opens Ernani's hiding-place and challenges him to fight,
but when the latter proves to him, that Don Carlos is his rival and
wants to seduce Elvira, de Silva's wrath turns against the King.

He accepts Ernani's offer to help him in frustrating the King's
designs, but at the same time he reminds him that his life is
forfeited.--Ernani declares himself satisfied and gives de Silva a
bugle, the sound of which is to proclaim, that the hour of reckoning
between the two foes has come.

{413}

The third Act takes place at Aix-la-Chapelle.

The King has heard of the conspiracy against his life. While the
conspirators assemble in the imperial vaults, he is concealed behind
the monument of Charlemagne and frustrates their designs by advancing
from his hiding-place and proclaiming himself Emperor.--

At the same moment the people rush in and do homage to Charles the
Fifth.--Ernani surrenders to his foes, but Elvira implores the
Emperor's pardon, which is granted, and Charles crowns his gracious act
by uniting the lovers and creating Ernani Duke of Segorbia.

Both Elvira and Ernani go to Seville to celebrate their nuptials. But
in the midst of their bliss Ernani hears the sound of his bugle and de
Silva appears and claims his rival's life. In vain the lovers implore
his mercy, de Silva is inexorable and relentlessly gives Ernani the
choice between a poisoned draught and a dagger. Seizing the latter
Ernani stabs himself, while Donna Elvira sinks senseless beside his
corpse, leaving the aged de Silva to enjoy his revenge alone.

WERTHER.

A Lyric Drama lu three Acts by J. MASSENET.

Text from GOETHE by BLAU, MILLIET and HARTMANN.

German Translation by MAX KALBECK.

The subject of this opera is Goethe's famous novel of the same name.

Though the text is not to be compared with {414} that of the novel, the
music to which Massenet has set it is so marvellously adapted to its
lyr