Présentation de l'éditeur
Thk Remans, having cffootod the sulijugation of Gaul, conmiitted the government of the conquered pruviiK-o to Pollio, a Proconsul, who became enamoured of Nornia, daughter of the A rch-D ruid (D ruidism being at that time the religion of the country), and who, bc Bides the respect awarded her from till ix nsideration of her birth and connections, was regarded by the superstitious multitude as the unerring oracle through whom their grand deity, I rminsul, condescended to convey to his faithful votaries his divine decrees. Norma having been secretly united to Pollio, the Roman Governor, has become the mother of two children, Mhom she keeps secret from all, excepting Clotilda. Pollio afterwards deserts Norma, and transfers his affections to A dalgisa, a young priestess of the Temple of I rminsul, who permits a similar passion to kindle in hi. rbosom for the faithless Roman, who, after much persuasion, succeeds in gaining her consent to abandon the Temple, and fly with him to Rome. Remorse, however, soon takes possession of her breast, and, in her agony, she resolves to reveal all to Norma, who is already lalx)uring under the influence of slighted love. Pollio makes his appearance at the instant that A di Ugisa is relating her story to Norma, whose anger is transformed into the wildest fury, on being informed by A dalgii-a that he is the cornipter of her youthful heart, and she bitterly reproaches Pollio for his infidelity and baseness. The Second A ct commences by introducing Norma, vdth her children, the former still under the influence of rage, and bent on their destruction, which she is on the point of accomplishing, when the full tide of maternal leciing nishes into her heart, and arrests her uplifted arm. She next resolves to destroy herself, and, as a preliminary step, requests A dalgisa to take charge of her children, who, moved by her distress, endeavou
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)
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