"Well, my son!" said Gottfried. "Go now to Ethbert, and tell him to be in readiness to accompany me."
_Theobald_. Shall you leave us again? Will it be for many hours?
_Gottfried_. It is on your behalf, chevalier, that I must now act. The express which we expected, did not come, and I feared that my message had not reached your dear Hildegarde. I, therefore, went myself to tell her of your welfare.
_Theobald_. Is it possible! O, tell me if all is well with her!
_Gottfried_. Thanks to G.o.d, Hildegarde and her precious children are well--very well. She has been very anxious until last night. My message did not reach her until then; and her express, who did not start until day-break, was detained on the way. I met him, and bring you more than he would have said himself.
_Theobald_. She knows, then, that her husband is---- with the Count of Winkelthal?
_Gottfried_. Hildegarde knows that her husband is with his friends, and she blesses G.o.d with us.
"Theobald," added Gottfried, "there should be no difference between us.
Jesus will unite us by his grace."
_Theobald_. As he has already done, has he not? The old father, after having bound up with his trembling hands the wounds of a stranger--of an enemy--afterwards to bestow all the treasures of his kindness, and more than paternal charity, on him whose hands he supposed to be stained with the blood of his son! O, may this Jesus, who makes us love, reveal himself in my soul also! Arnold, my dear Arnold! teach me to know him!
"Theobald," replied Arnold, "he who desires to know Jesus is no longer a stranger to his love."
_Theobald_. And yet, my true friends, how far am I still from that charity which flows in your hearts like a river! You have pardoned even me; and you can love, pity, succor, and console your enemies! Arnold, it is to Hildegarde that your father is going--to her who, shall I tell you? caused the eyes of two of your brethren to be put out!
_Arnold_. No, Theobald, no; you could not have done that!
_Theobald, (with a groan.)_ O, what was our injustice!--our cruelty!
(_He weeps._) And when their eyes were pierced, they stretched out their hands on all sides, saying, "Where are you, lord of Rothenwald, that we may take your hand and pardon you in the name of Jesus!"
_Gottfried, (with solemnity.)_ Theobald, these two blind men are now with me; they knew, last evening, who was the chevalier brought here from the forest, and they have already prayed G.o.d for you many times!
They have even asked Ethbert to a.s.sure you of their sincere love, before G.o.d their Saviour.
_Theobald_. O, withdraw from me!--leave me! I am stained with blood! G.o.d of heaven, how severely hast thou punished me!
_Arnold_. Is that to say, Theobald, that you believe us to be better and more charitable than G.o.d? Rash and blind man that you are! You see, that, by his grace in our hearts, we can forget and forgive an injury--an offence; and through the same grace of the same G.o.d, show mercy and love to our enemies,--you see that, you are affected by it, you admire it; then, when you look towards that G.o.d who teaches his children to be charitable or merciful, you see only an angry Judge--an implacable avenger--an enemy, about to strike you! Theobald, do you comprehend your mistake?
"But, Arnold," resumed Theobald, with humility, "by what right, wicked as I am, can I ask G.o.d to pardon me?"
"By the right," replied Gottfried, taking from among his books a Bible, which he placed on Theobald"s bed, "yes, by the right that every man, every sinner has, who reads and believes the word of G.o.d, to receive its precious invitations and promises."
_Theobald, (laying his hand on the Bible.)_ Tell me, my friends, is it by reading and believing this Bible that you learned to love your enemies?
_Gottfried and Arnold, (together.)_ Yes, Theobald.
_Theobald_. I will then read it also; and, if G.o.d enables me, I will believe it: for, if men have called me the Iron-Hearted, I need now that G.o.d should soften my heart and make me his child--his ransomed one; and that his Spirit should teach me, like you, my n.o.ble friends, to imitate Jesus, in pardoning injuries and loving those who hate me!
THE END.