Pietro Mascagni 
Isabeau a Dramatic Legend in Three Acts 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. It is evening; the scene, a small public court on which Open the doors of the lower portion of the palace, including those leading to the subterranean prison cells where Folco is immured. Isabeau’s two attendants are-reciting a prayer. They withdraw as. The princess enters. Her soul is terribly agitated by the swift happenings of so strange a day, and at thought of its imminent tragic ending. Her revery is interrupted by shrill screams, and Giglietta rushes in to implore her to save F olco. Ethel, then entering, reminds her that Folco’s fate is the people’s edict to avenge her shame; outside the populace is frenziedly demanding the pris oner; and Ethel, at a sign from Isabeau, goes out to still their clamor, when she arrives at a swift resolution and promises Giglietta to save her grandson, at the same time showing her the way to the prisons. On Ethel’s reappearance she begs him to have Folco brought to her that she may Speak with him. He is accordingly brought up after a brief pause during which Ethel returns to tell her that he found the prisoner asleep. The idea of the possibility of such a thing amazes, confuses, almost oflends the royal maiden, who, when left alone with Folco, reproaches him for sleeping while she was tormented by the shame he had inflicted. He replies that he had dreamed a glad dream, untroubled by fears or tears, by doubt or dis may, a glory as of stars and flowers. And, gathering strength under her renewed reproaches, he asks whether the sun offended by gazing on her, whether the flowers offended by daring to breathe upon her nakedness; revealing the full purity of his soul to her astonished, melting heart, and ending with the words.