Think, papa--a dead man!--blood!
"But now this chevalier is so good to me! I have just been to see him with Matthew; and he wept as he embraced me."
"Theobald wept, and embraced you, my son!" asked the father.
_Erard_. Yes, dear papa; and even said to me, placing his hand on my head, "May the G.o.d of thy father bless thee, and make thee resemble him!"
_Arnold, (much affected.)_ Erard, did he say that to you?
_Erard_. Yes, dear papa; and when I was coming away, he called me back, and giving me this flower, said to me, "Erard, go to your father and tell him that Theobald sent this:" and he wept much. Here it is, dear papa. I did not dare to give it to you at first, because I did not know whether Ethbert----
"Embrace me, my child," said Arnold; "and go, and tell my good father, that I entreat him to come to me."
_Erard_. O, dear papa, grandpapa would have come before--but he went away in the night, with two servants, in a carriage.
_Arnold_. My father went away in the night, Erard! And do you know, and can you tell me where he is gone?
_Erard_. No, papa. Only he said, when he set out--for I was awake and heard him--"Go by way of the heath."
"He is then gone to Waldhaus," said Ethbert; "since the heath is on the direct road to the chateau."
These are the fruits of Christian love! It is active, fervent, and does not put off until to-morrow the good that may be done to-day. Sure and powerful consolation was necessary for the heart of the wife and mother whom G.o.d had afflicted, and the servant of the "G.o.d of consolation" was hastening, in his name, to Hildegarde, whom he hoped to bring to him whose death she was deploring.
CHAPTER VIII.
FRIENDLY MEETING OF THE WARRIORS--MUTUAL FORGIVENESS--THEOBALD"S DESIRE FOR INSTRUCTION--RETURN OF GOTTFRIED--THE BIBLE--LESSON OF LOVE TO ENEMIES.
Arnold did not at first reply to Ethbert. His mind was troubled; but having sent away his son, he said to the servant, "Ethbert, G.o.d has given you wisdom. Go, therefore, now, to the chevalier, and bear him, in the name of the Lord, the salutation of Arnold. You will also say to him, that my great desire, my true and cordial desire, is to come to him. But say nothing of my father."
Ethbert entered the chamber of Theobald, who said to him, as soon as he saw him, "Ethbert, I have not yet seen your master to-day. Is he sick?"
"My master," said Ethbert, "is not now in the castle. But, my lord, you must know that G.o.d is now displaying his goodness--"
_Theobald_. To me, you would say, Ethbert. I know that Arnold is living; that he is here; that he is near me.
_Ethbert_. And my lord knows also that a disciple of Christ can love even an enemy?
_Theobald_. I was ignorant of it; but I have learned it here. Ethbert, do not fear to tell me all. Do you know whether Erard carried to his father a flower?
_Ethbert_. I know that his father blessed G.o.d when he received it, and that the desire of his soul is that the Baron of Rothenwald----
_Theobald_. Say, simply, Theobald--and you may also say, his friend, his humbled and repentant friend.
_Ethbert, (respectfully.)_ The father of Erard says to the chevalier Theobald, that the cordial desire of his heart is to visit him, without delay.
"Arnold! Arnold!" exclaimed the chevalier; "do you hear my voice? O, why can I not come to you, and ask your pardon?"
"Theobald," was heard through the part.i.tion, "I am coming! Ethbert!
Ethbert!"
The domestic immediately went out, and Theobald remained, with his eyes fixed on the door, until he heard the steps of Arnold and of his servant. Then his heart failed him, and he covered his face with his hands, while Arnold entered, and approached the bed, beside which he sat down, saying, "O, Theobald! I must give way to my joy! It is beyond my strength. May G.o.d support us at this hour!" At these words Ethbert left the room, saying, "Amen."
"It was I--it was I who struck you!" exclaimed Theobald, bathing with tears the hands with which he had covered his face. "Arnold, it was my sword that made this still bleeding wound! Pardon! pardon! in the name of G.o.d alone! Arnold, forgive! O forgive one who would have been your murderer!"
"And let our tears and our hearts mingle," said Arnold, rising, and embracing Theobald, "to bless this great G.o.d who sees us and who has brought me to you!"
"To me!" exclaimed Theobald, looking at Arnold, and coloring. "Ah, that bandage! that wound!"--and he began again to weep.
"But for this wound," replied Arnold, with energy, "would you be here, and would Theobald ever have been my friend?"
"Yes, thy friend, n.o.ble and charitable soul!" repeated Theobald. "You said to me, Arnold, when I advanced to kill you, "Why would you shed my blood and take my life?" To-day, here is my blood and my life! It belongs to you. I call G.o.d, who now hears me, to witness."
"O, how wonderful are his ways!" said Arnold. "What an admirable Providence has united us--you, the Iron-Hearted, and me, the Lion!"
added he, smiling. "Did the Baron of Rothenwald think, three days since, that he would be lying in the bed of the Earl of Winkelthal, and peacefully smiling at the words of a Calixtan?"
Theobald reddened: this last word had surprised and disturbed him; and it was only by controlling the secret indignation of his soul, that he said, "I did not know that peace and charity entered these lofty towers and innumerable battlements. I had been told, Arnold--and I believed it--that impiety alone made its dwelling here."
"No, Theobald--it is not impiety; it is the word of the Lord, and the love of Jesus, we trust, which directs and consoles our hearts."
_Theobald_. Yours! yes: I believe it; for I see it hourly. But these Taborites, Arnold--this ferocious and cruel Ziska--do they know the name of Jesus--they who persecute the Holy Church?
_Arnold_. You have seen them only at a distance, Theobald; and you do not even suspect that it was for the cause of Jesus and for his holy gospel that John Huss ended his days at the stake.
_Theobald, (surprised.)_ Were not this Huss and his friend Jerome infidels?
_Arnold_. Ah, Theobald! was that John Huss an infidel, who, when the sentence that condemned him to be burned was read to him, immediately threw himself on his knees, exclaiming, "O, Lord Jesus, pardon my enemies! Pardon them, for the love of thy great mercy and goodness?"
_Theobald, (affected.)_ Arnold! did John Huss, indeed, speak thus?
_Arnold_. He did! John Huss knew Jesus, and, like Jesus, prayed for his murderers. No, Theobald; he who loves--who loves unto death, and who can pray for his executioners--is not an infidel.
"O, Hildegarde! Hildegarde!" exclaimed Theobald, groaning; "what hast thou done, and what have I done! Poor prisoners! What injustice!"
_Arnold_. Your heart is oppressed, Theobald; some sorrowful remembrance distresses you.
The chevalier was about to reply, when a noise was heard at the door, which was opened by Gottfried, holding Erard by the hand.
"Here they both are!" said the old man to the child. "Look, Erard, and see whether the chevalier hates thy father. See, if what Ethbert told me was not true!
"This dear child," added he, "had some fears for his father: for he knows all, Theobald."
_Theobald, (with tenderness.)_ Come, then, Erard, and give me your hand.
Come, my child, and also pardon me. O, how I need pardon from every heart here! Say, Erard, will you not forgive me?
_Erard, (giving his hand to the chevalier.)_ I love you much, since my father loves you.