heed to this plan, and insists on carrying out what she has resolved. Adalgisa, however, pleads with her, showing her devotion and her love for the high priestess, and Norma consents to the girl's plan...

Act Four

Scene One: a rocky cave near the sacred forest.

The Gallic warriors, eager to fight the Romans and drive them from the country, gather in one of their secret places in the forest. Soon the high priest Oroveso appears before them, saying that he brings them bad news: Pollione has been summoned to Rome, and the commander appointed to succeed him is reputed to be harsher and more oppressive than he.

The warriors, weary of waiting, ask whether Norma still counsels keeping to the path of calm... Oroveso answers that the high priestess has as yet given no signal... Then he assures them that he hates the Romans as they hate them, and advises them to go on feigning submission and weakness until the fitting time comes. When victory is certain, they will rid themselves forever of the hateful occupiers.

Scene Two: the temple of Irminsul.

Norma stands before the altar, waiting in hope for Adalgisa's return from her mission to Pollione. Clotilde enters — not Adalgisa — bearing the news of Adalgisa's failure in her attempts to persuade Pollione to return to her. Instead of listening to her entreaties, he renewed his own pleas to make her flee with him to Rome, and even tried to force her to it. Adalgisa fled from his presence and took refuge in the temple.

Norma is nearly driven mad on hearing this news; a violent fury takes hold of her, and she goes to the huge bronze shield and strikes it three times, its echo resounding through the temple and the forest around it. A great multitude pours into the place in answer

to the summons — priests, priestesses, and warriors, with Oroveso in their midst. When this chief of the priests asks the meaning of the signal, Norma answers with composure that the hour of war has struck. A mighty shout rises from the assembled throng, which vows the enemy the worst of vengeance. Oroveso comes forward and says that no victim has been brought for the sacrifice — a ceremony necessary before embarking on so great a venture — and Norma answers

that the victim will be ready at the fitting time.

A commotion is heard outside, and Clotilde rushes in, crying that a Roman has profaned the sacred forest. On her heels enter soldiers dragging Pollione; he breaks loose from the hands of his captors and stands before the altar, his hands bound, gazing at

his enemies with arrogance.

Oroveso raises the knife of sacrifice and advances toward the haughty Roman; but Norma snatches the knife from him and raises it over the defenseless