The mimic glory drops, and in a flash expires.




BOOK III.




ARGUMENT.


_Ernestus enters Dalecarlia--View of the scene round Mora--Transition to
Gustavus Vasa, who it represented as reclining under a tree near his
friend, the pastor's house, and retracing past events in his mind--His
soliloquy--After briefly recounting the late disasters of Sweden, and
the arguments which induced him to resolve to quit his country, he
concludes with a prayer--Ernestus then appears, and delivers his message
from the Genius of Sweden--Gustavus treats his mission as a fiction,
upbraids him as a traitor, and attempts his life, but is prevented by
apparent prodigies, which, however, do not entirely convince him or
alter his resolution._




BOOK III.