Arch Sist. (throwing of her mantle.)
Thou has subdued me; thou shalt be obey'd.
Ethw. (casting away the bar.)
Away thou paltry terrour!
Arch Sist. (to Ethw.) We now begin our rights: be firm, be silent.
(She stretches forth her hand with a commanding air, and the Mystics and Mystic Sisters begin their incantations at the bottom of the stage, moving round in several mazy circles one within another. Fire is at last seen flashing from the midst of the inner circle, and immediately they all begin a hollow muttering sound, which becomes louder and louder, till at length it is accompanied with dismal sounds from without, and distant music, solemn and wild.)
Ethw. (grasping Ethelbert's hand.) What dismal sounds are these?
'Tis like a wild responsive harmony,
Tun'd to the answ'ring yells of damned souls.
What follows this? Some horrid thing! Thou smilest:
Nay, press thy hand, I pray thee, on my breast;
There wilt thou find no fear.
Eth. Hush! hear that distant noise.
Ethw. 'Tis thunder in the bowels of the earth.
Heard from afar.
