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Show PROGRAMMES OF BALLETS. 447 the skies in gloom ; lightnings flame along the air, and the savages of the forest send forth horrible howlings; the ground appears in motion with earthquake-it opens, a black vapour ascends, and the demons of darkness arise. They remain motionless before her who has summoned them, awaiting her commands. S C E N E VIII.-Aldegonde informs them that she has called them up to execute her schemes of revenge, which have become lawful from the provocation she has received. The infernal spirits devote themselves to her service, with horrible imprecations; the Sorceress is satisfied. She then, with her bodkin, traces upon a tablet the figure of Silvia, and binds a riband round the picture. Having done this, she is presented with a vase of gold, into which she throws the portrait; the demons, who are ranged in a circle around her, now advance one by one, and cast into the vase the juice of certain poisonous herbs. Aldegonde then takes the head of a serpent, and pressing it between her hands, the venom flows in amongst the other charms ; at this moment the moon appears ; the silvery face of the queen of night is stained with faintish crimson, as if affected by the charm. The Sorceress seizes a torch from one of the demons ; she shakes the sparks from it into the vase, and a universal tremor, observable in all the surrounding objects, follows, and announces that the charm has succeeded. Aldegonde, by the power of her art, instantly transports herself and the infernal spirits to her palace ; they depart in a fiery cloud, and hasten to execute their dire and revengeful designs. |