Butte record., 1854-05-20
From Heath. Beuutiy. of the Opera end Ballet.
NORMA.

N1khNAh.
At the rising of tine curtain. the thea
ire represents an immeuse Druidical for
est, the abode of gloom and terror -
Towering above his compeers rises the
tacrcd oak of the irminsul, the Collos-
eus of the forest, whose hundred branch
es, each assuming a Wild and threaten
,ng attitude, convey the idea Of an aps,v
and implicable deity, issuing his own
fearful edicts Of death and punishment
1t is easy to recognize it in the tree of
savnge aud saoguinity scenes, which had
grown on a soil watered with human
blood, and been nurtured and frd from a
soil partly composed of human atoms -
The moons fiitering light aud chequcr-
I'D shade are cast over the Druidical
stone and the elevation on which the
pricstess stands to perform the solemn
rites. 1t is night slow and solrina mu-
sic is heard. In the back grounds. Gau.
l;sh troops are seen de6ling while long
procession of Druids, followed By their
chief, Oroveso, who is escorted bv the
high fpriests and assistants, crosses the
stage. To these last il deputrd the task
Of awaiting, on the sumlnit Of the neigh
boring mountain, the auSpicions moment
when the pale light of the new moon
ehali shed her first silver beams on the
horizon
''Shine forth, OH avenging moon -
they exclaim and following the footsteps
of Oroveso, they are lost ia the recesses
Of the forest. Scarcely have their voices
died away, when two individuals appear,
whose large folding mantles and classic
costume proclaim the children of Rome.
The one is Polio, the Gaulish proconsul,
aud the other Flavius, his confident and
friend.
Why inquiries Flavius, '.have you
v'ntured hither Has not Norma her
self assured you of the inevitable destruc-
tion that would attend US if discovered
within these sacred precincts -
Norma ~ responded Folio. shudder-
ing ''Ah for mercy's sake pronounce
not that name; its very recollection
rends my soul,'
''How :" eIclaims Flavus, '.is it not
the appellation of one you dearly love-
of the mother of your children -
"Flavius, reproach me as you Will
for my talsehood-my perjury, to the
daughter of Oroveso; but hear the full
confession of an overcharged heart The
passion | once felt for Norma Is at an
end-I love her no longer.''
"And you have transferred your tickle
love to another :" exclaimed the aston
ished Flavius.
Alas it was but too true The faith
less Polio had become fascinated By the
charms Of the youthful priestess Adilgi-
sa, who, he had every reason to believe,
returned his passion. All this he con-
sessed, mingled with much self-reproach.
to his wondering friend He had now
entered these forbidden groves, in the
hope Of once again beholding and con-
versiug with Adelgisa; but at this in
slant the sounds from the brazen gong
announced that the silvery light of the
new moon had just burst upon the blue
vault of heaven, while the voices Of the
priests cushing in crowds towards the
stone of sacrifice, warned himself and
his companion to make hasty depart
are from the sacred grove, which is rap
sdly filed by eager and expectant par
ties Of Druids, some of whom, clad in
their long white garments, place them
solves behind the altar; at each SIDE
stands the priests, bards. sacrifcers,
Tarriors, &c, and in the midst Of all is