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diff --git a/11107-0.txt b/11107-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1bfaa99 --- /dev/null +++ b/11107-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1513 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11107 *** + +[Illustration: MEETING OF THEOBALD AND ARNOLD.--SEE CHAPTER +III.] + + + + +THEOBALD, THE IRON-HEARTED; + +OR, + +LOVE TO ENEMIES. + + +FROM THE FRENCH OF REV. CESAR MALAN. + + + +1808 + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +GOTTFRIED AND ERARD--PURSUIT OF A HORSEMAN--RESCUE OF THE WOUNDED +CHEVALIER + + +CHAPTER II + +TRAPPINGS OF THE HORSE--MIDNIGHT ARRIVAL--CHARACTER OF THE WOUNDED MAN +DISCOVERED--HIS NARRATIVE--FAMILY WORSHIP + + +CHAPTER III + +THEOBALD'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CONFLICT WITH ARNOLD THE LION--HATRED OF +ENEMIES--DISTRESS OF THE FAMILY + + +CHAPTER IV. + +KINDNESS TO AN ENEMY--ARNOLD ARRIVES ALIVE, BUT WOUNDED--THEOBALD'S +AMAZEMENT AT THE KINDNESS HE RECEIVES + + +CHAPTER V. + +ARNOLD'S NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE AND WHAT FOLLOWED--HILDEGARDE AND +THEOBALD'S CHILDREN + +CHAPTER VI. + +ANXIETIES OF THEOBALD--WORSHIP OF MARY--THEOBALD INFORMED WHERE HE IS + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARNOLD INFORMED OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE--HIS JOYFUL SURPRISE--ABSENCE OF +GOTTFRIED + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FRIENDLY MEETING OF THE WARRIORS--MUTUAL FORGIVENESS--THEOBALD'S DESIRE +FOR INSTRUCTION--RETURN OF GOTTFRIED--THE BIBLE--LESSON OF LOVE TO +ENEMIES + + + + +THEOBALD, THE IRON-HEARTED. + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER I. + + +GOTTFRIED AND ERARD--PURSUIT OF A HORSEMAN--RESCUE OF THE WOUNDED +CHEVALIER + +In the long and bloody war which followed the martyrdom of John Huss and +Jerome of Prague,[1] two hostile armies met, in 1423, in one of the most +beautiful valleys of Bohemia. + +The battle commenced towards the close of day, and continued until after +sunset. + +It was then that old Gottfried, accompanied by Erard, his grandson, +climbed to the summit of a steep hill, from the edge of which might be +perceived, in the depth of the valley, behind a wood, some troops still +fighting. + +The old man and the child, (Erard was scarcely nine years of age,) were +sad and silent. They both looked towards the plain, and it was with a +profound sigh that Erard at last said, "O, how good is the Lord, if he +has preserved my father!" + +"The Lord can preserve him!" said Gottfried, with solemnity, "Arnold +belongs to him; yes, my son, your father is one of his dear children!" + +"But, grandpapa," resumed Erard, looking at the old man, "do not +Christians also die in battle? God does not preserve them all." + +"If my son has laid down his life for the Lord," continued Gottfried, +"he is not dead: his soul has gone from this world to be with his +Saviour." + +"To be with my good mamma!" said the child. "In heaven with the angels, +is it not, dear grandpapa?" + +"To be with thy mother, my son," replied the old man, drawing the child +towards him. "Yes, in the heaven of the blessed! It is there that all +those who love Jesus go, and your mother was his faithful servant." + +Erard sighed, and exclaimed, "O, how good will God be if he has +preserved my father, my good father! O, grandpapa, why did you let him +go?" + +"Erard," replied the old Christian, "your father would rather not have +fought, he has so much patience and in his heart; but then he also has +courage: he has been surnamed----" + +"Grandpapa," interrupted the child, with agitation, and pointing with +his hand towards the plain, under the declivity of the hill, and in a +narrow passage between the rocks and woods, "do you see those three +horsemen?" + +In fact, three armed warriors were hastening, at the utmost speed of +their horses, towards a thick coppice, which they entered, and +disappeared. The first seemed to be flying before the two others, who +appeared to be in furious pursuit. + +Gottfried listened, but no sound was heard; and, a few moments +afterwards, he distinctly saw two of the warriors come out of the wood +and hasten towards the plain, repassing the defile. + +"Alas!" said the old man, groaning, "they have killed him! They have +dipped their hands in the blood of their brother!" + +"They have killed him! Do you say so, grandpapa? Whom have they killed? +Is it my father?" + +"No, my son; the first warrior was not Arnold. But it was a man, and +those are men who have killed him! O Lord, when wilt thou teach them to +love one another? But let us go to him," added the old man. + +"To the dead man!" exclaimed Erard with affright. "Grandpapa, see! it is +already night." + +"Come, my child," said Gottfried, "and fear not. Perhaps he is not yet +dead; and if God sends us to his assistance, will you not be happy?" + +"But, grandpapa, the wood is so dark, that I don't see how we shall +find our way." + +"Well, Erard, I will wait here. Run to the house, and return immediately +with Ethbert and Matthew. Tell them that I have sent for them, and let +them bring a torch and the long hand-barrow. Make haste!" + +Erard was soon out of sight, and only a short time had elapsed before he +returned with the two domestics, who held each a flambeaux and brought +the litter. + +The child trembled while they descended, over the rocks and through the +woods. It seemed to him that he was about to step in the blood or fall +over the body of the dead man. The flame of the torches, which wavered +in the evening breeze, now struck a projection of the rock, which seemed +to assume the form of a man, now penetrated behind the trunks of the +pines, which appeared like ranks of soldiers. The imagination of Erard +was excited: he scarcely breathed, and felt his heart sink when Ethbert, +who was walking before, exclaimed, "Here he is! He is dead!" + +It was a chevalier and a nobleman; whom Gottfried immediately recognized +by the form of his casque and the golden scarf to which was suspended +the scabbard of his sword. + +The visor of the casque was closed. Gottfried raised it, and saw the +pale and bloody countenance of a man, still young, whose features +expressed courage and valor. + +He had fallen under his horse, in whose side was found the point of a +lance which had killed him; and the whole body of his steed had covered +and crushed one of his limbs. The right hand of the chevalier still +grasped the handle of a sword of which the blade was broken. + +Gottfried and his servants looked on some moments. The light of the +torches shone on the rich armor of the chevalier and on the +gold-embroidered housing of his horse, and it seemed as if its +brilliancy must open his closed eyes and re-animate his motionless +limbs. + +Erard kept close to his grandfather and a little behind him. He wept +gently, but not with fear--it was with grief and sorrow,--and he +repeated, in a low voice, "They have killed him! The wicked men!" + +"Perhaps he still lives," said Gottfried, kneeling and placing his ear +to the chevalier's mouth. "Raise him! Loose him!" exclaimed he, rising +hastily. "He is not dead!" + +"He is not dead! he is not dead!" repeated Erard; and he began with all +his little force to push the body of the dead horse, which the three men +raised, and from beneath which they at last disengaged the leg of the +chevalier. It was bruised against a stone which had torn the flesh, and +the blood was flowing from it copiously. + +"Water!" cried Gottfried, unlacing the armor of the chevalier and taking +off his casque, which one of the domestics took that he might fill it +with water from the foot of the rocks. + +Meanwhile the benevolent old man had laid the chevalier on the ground, +upon the housing of his horse and his own garment, which he had taken +off; he supported his head with one hand, and with the other lightly +rubbed his breast, to revive the beating of his heart. + +At last the servant brought water. Gottfried bathed and cooled with it +the face and head of the chevalier, who, after a few moments, sighed, +and half-opened his eyes. + +"Almighty God," exclaimed Gottfried, "thou hast revived him! O, may it +be for thy glory!" "Amen!" said his servants. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Both were burned alive at Constance, by order of the +council held in that city: the first on the 6th of July, 1415; the +second on the 30th of May, 1416.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +TRAPPINGS OF THE HORSE--MIDNIGHT ARRIVAL--CHARACTER OF THE WOUNDED MAN +DISCOVERED--HIS NARRATIVE--FAMILY WORSHIP. + +The dear and sensible Erard was delighted. He laughed, he wept, he +looked at the chevalier, whose cheeks had recovered some color, and +asked him, softly, whether he lived, and whether he heard and saw them. + +"Where am I?" asked the chevalier, faintly, turning his eyes towards one +of the torches. + +"With God and with your brethren!" replied Gottfried, taking one of his +hands. "But say no more now, and may God aid us!" + +It was necessary to transport the warrior to the dwelling of Gottfried, +and the passage was long and difficult. + +Gottfried first spread upon the litter some light pine-branches, over +which he placed the housing of the horse and his own outer garments, +those of his servants, and even that of Erard, who begged him to take +this also; then, after the old man had bound up the bruised limb between +strong splinters of pine, which he had cut with the blade of the +chevalier's sword, and which he tied with his scarf, he laid the warrior +on the branches, while two robust servants carefully raised and bore the +litter towards the summit of the hill. + +"And the poor horse!" said Erard, at the moment when his grandpapa, who +bore the flambeaux and the sword of the Chevalier, began his march. + +"You will return to-morrow morning," said Gottfried to his servants, +"and take off the trappings. As to the body, the eagles and the crows +must devour it. Come, and may God guard and strengthen us!" + +The chevalier had recovered his senses. He saw himself in the hands of +friends, and doubted not that the old man was a supporter of the cause +he had himself defended. + +It was not until midnight that the convoy reached the house of +Gottfried. The journey was made slowly, and more than once the master +had desired his servants to rest. + +The bed of the old man himself received the wounded knight, on whom +Gottfried, who was no stranger to the art of healing wounds and +fractures, bestowed the most judicious cares, and beside whom this +devoted Christian passed the remainder of the night. + +"Go and take some rest," said he to Erard and the domestics, "and may +our God and Saviour keep your souls while his goodness gives you sleep!" + +Erard embraced his grandfather, Ethbert and Matthew bent before him +respectfully, and Gottfried remained alone, in silence, near the bed, +which was lighted by a little lamp, through a curtain which concealed +it. + +"You have saved me!" said the chevalier to the old man, when all was +quiet in the house. "May the Holy Virgin recompense you." + +"It is then one of our enemies!" said Gottfried to himself, as he heard +this prayer. "O God!" said he in his heart, "make thy charity to abound +in me!" + +"I am your friend," replied the old man, affectionately, "and God +himself has granted me the blessing of being useful to you. But, I pray +you, remain silent, and, if possible, sleep a few moments." + +Gottfried needed to collect his thoughts, and to ask God for his Spirit +of peace and love. He had already supposed, at sight of the chevalier's +shield, that he belonged to the army of the enemy; but he had just +received the certainty of it, and "perhaps, perhaps," said he to +himself, "I have before me one who may have killed my son!" + +The old man therefore spent the moments not employed beside the +chevalier in praying to God and in reading his gospel of grace. + +The knight slept peacefully towards morning, and on awaking showed that +he was refreshed. "If it were not," said he, "for my bruised limb, I +would ask for my arms. O, why am I not at the head of my men?" + +Gottfried sighed, and as he gave the warrior some drink, said, in a low +voice, "Why do men hate and kill each other, invoking the name of Him +who died to save them?" + +"But," exclaimed the warrior, in a deep voice, "are those who despise +and fight against the holy Church Christians?" + +At this moment Erard half opened the door, and showed his pretty curly +head, saying, "Grandpapa, has the wounded man been able to sleep? I have +prayed God for him." + +"Much obliged, my child," said the chevalier, extending his hand to him. +"Come! do not fear; approach. O, how you resemble my second son! What is +your age and name?" + +"I am called Erard," replied the child, giving his hand to the +chevalier, "and I shall soon be nine years old." + +"That is also the age of my Rodolph," pursued the chevalier. "Alas! +they will think me dead! Those villains! those cowards! Did they not see +that I had no lance, and that my sword was broken?" + +"Go, my child," said Gottfried. "Let the table and the books be +prepared, I will soon come and pray to God with you. Call all the +servants." + +"Will you also pray for me?" asked the chevalier, "If you will, pray +also for my dear Hildegarde and our five children. O, when shall my eyes +see them again?" + +"Is it long since you left them?" asked Gottfried. + +"It is a week," replied the chevalier, with firmness. "I learned that +the intrepid Arnold----" + +"What Arnold?" asked Gottfried, with anxiety. + +"Arnold the Lion, as he is called," said the warrior, "and one of the +chiefs of these rebels." (_Gottfried turned pale and raised his eyes to +heaven_.) "I learned that this audacious Arnold had joined his camp, and +I felt that my duty called me immediately to the field. I therefore left +my family and my house, and have shown the rebels that my arm and my +heart are as strong as ever," + +"Have you encountered this Arnold?" asked Gottfried, hardly daring to +ask this question. + +"Have I encountered him!" cried the chevalier. "And who but myself could +have----?" + +"They are waiting for prayers," said Erard, opening the door. "Dear +grandpapa, will you come?" + +The old man followed the child, and his tearful eyes soon rested on the +Book of God. + +"Grandpapa, you are weeping!" said Erard, approaching the old man. "What +is the matter? Are you suffering?" + +"Listen to the word of consolation," said Gottfried, making the child +sit down; "and may the Spirit of Jesus himself address it to our +hearts." + +He read then from the book of Psalms, and said a few words on +resignation to the will of God, and in his humble prayer supplicated God +to remember the chevalier and his family, and to bless him in the house +whither he had been brought in his mercy. "Amen! Amen!" repeated all the +servants. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +THEOBALD'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CONFLICT WITH ARNOLD THE LION--HATRED OP +ENEMIES--DISTRESS OF THE FAMILY. + +"You are pious people," said the chevalier to Gottfried, in the +afternoon of the same day, and while Erard was present. "Religion is a +good thing." + +"One who loves Jesus is always happy," said the child. + +"Let them love Jesus!" replied the warrior. "But this is what I heard +last evening, when I was about to fight the Lion." + +"I pray you," said Gottfried, do not talk any more now; it will increase +your sufferings." + +"I do not suffer," replied the chevalier, "This leg is very painful, it +is true; but it is only a leg," added he, smiling. "Ought I to make +myself uneasy about it?" + +"You fought with a lion, then, last evening?" asked Erard, with +curiosity, "Was he very large and strong?" + +Gottfried would have sent Erard away, for he feared for him the story of +the chevalier; but the latter asked that he might be allowed to remain. +"Erard must become a man," added he. "My children know what a battle is. +Let Erard then not be afraid at what I am about to say. + +"My name is Theobald," continued the chevalier, "and from my earliest +youth I was surnamed _the iron-hearted_, because I never cried at pain, +and never knew what it was to be afraid. My father, one of the powerful +noblemen of Bohemia, accustomed me, from my earliest years, to despise +cold, hunger, thirst and fatigue; and I was scarcely Erard's age when I +seized by the throat and strangled a furious dog that was springing upon +one of my sisters. + +"War has always been my life. This has now lasted nearly four years, and +my sword has not been idle. The Hussites and the Calixtans[2] have felt +it." + +At these words Erard, who was sitting beside the bed of the chevalier, +rose and went to a window, at the farther end of the room. + +"I had spent some weeks with my family, when I learned that the enemy +was approaching, and that one of their principal chiefs had just joined +them. This chief was the Lion." + +_Erard, rising_. Grandpapa, perhaps it was----. + +"Be silent, my son," said Gottfried. + +"Our camps had been in sight of each other two days," continued +Theobald, "when we decided at last to attack them; and last evening the +combat took place. + +"It had lasted more than three hours, when I caused a retreat to be +sounded, in order to suspend, if possible, the conflict, and myself to +terminate the day by a single combat with the most valiant of the +enemy's chieftains. + +"Our troops stopped, retired, and I challenged the Lion, who, without +delay, left the ranks and advanced alone to meet me." (_Gottfried leans +against a table, and rests his head on his hand_.) + +He was a man younger than myself, and of noble appearance. His sword +was attached to a scarf of silver and azure, and from beneath his +casque, the visor of which was raised, escaped curls of light hair. + +"Grandpapa!" exclaimed Erard, running towards Gottfried, "was it not--?" + +"Be quiet, Erard," said his grandfather, ordering him to sit down. +"Should a child interrupt an older person who is speaking?" + +"This chevalier," resumed Theobald, "advanced towards me, who had also +left the ranks, and when all was ready, stopped his horse, and said to +me, mildly, but with a deep and manly voice, 'Jesus has shed his blood +for us: why would you shed mine? I will defend myself,' added he, +pulling down his visor and holding out his shield, 'but I will not +strike.'" + +"These words affected me, I confess, and I was on the point of +withdrawing, when, fixing my eyes on the shield which he presented, I +saw that golden chalice." + +"It was he! yes, it was he!" exclaimed Erard, sobbing and flying from +the room. + +"This boy," said Theobald, "is still a child, and the idea of bloodshed +inspires him with fear." + +"Ah!" said Gottfried, "his father is also in the army, and this +narrative gives him anxiety on his account. You did not then spare this +warrior?" + +"I have told you: the sight of the chalice awoke my fury, and +exclaiming, Defend thyself, I took my sword with both hands, and with a +single blow dashed aside his shield and cleft his helmet. + +"But my sword broke; and at the moment when the Lion fell----" + +_Gottfried, with terror_. Did Arnold then fall? Was Arnold killed? + +"So perish all who hate the Holy Church! (_Gottfried conceals his face +in his hands_.) But as soon as I had struck him, his soldiers +precipitated themselves upon ours, and five of their chevaliers threw +themselves upon me and surrounded me. I had no arms: I had laid down my +lance to combat with the Lion, and my sword was broken. I could yet, +with the fragment that remained, repulse and strike down three men; but +I was alone, my people were themselves surrounded, and I saw that I must +perish. It was then that I fled. (O, how I regret it! But the cowards! +they did not give me even a sword!) Yes, I fled towards the forest, +hoping to find there a branch with which I could arm and defend myself; +but my horse stumbled over the roots, in consequence of which I fell +and fainted. + +"The rest you know. I owe my life to you; and you have taken care of me +like a father." + +"Arnold is then dead!" cried Gottfried, without perceiving that the +chevalier had finished his narrative. + +"Do not regret it," replied Theobald. "He was an enemy of our faith; one +of those ferocious Taborites,[3] who deny the Holy Father and demolish +sacred places." + +"And it was you," continued Gottfried, "it was you yourself who struck +him, when he refused to draw his sword against you!" + +"It was not I, it was the Holy Virgin, who overthrew him! It was she to +whom I had devoted my sword, and it was in her service that it was +broken. It is thus she consecrated it. May she bless you also,--you who, +for love of her, receive me as a son!" + +Gottfried had nothing to say in reply. He wished to pour out his tears +before the Lord, and left the chevalier, to whom he sent the faithful +and prudent Ethbert. + +"Sit down," said Theobald to the domestic, and tell me who is this +Prince of peace, of whom you spoke to me, last night. "Was it not you +who bore me hither with another servant, and who, leaning towards me, +when we passed the threshold of this house, said to me: May the Prince +of peace himself receive you? Who is this Prince? Is it thy master, this +venerable and mild old man?" + +"Jesus is the Prince of peace," replied Ethbert; "for he is love, and +love does not war against any one." + +"Jesus! did you say, is the Prince of peace! But is he not with us who +support his cause, and who yet fight valiantly?" + +_Ethbert_. The cause of Jesus is the gospel of his grace. His cause is +not supported by the sword and lance; but is defended by truth and love. + +_Theobald, surprised_. Your words, Ethbert, are sermons. Where do they +come from? + +_Ethbert_. He who is acquainted with God speaks the word of God; and God +is love. God will not revenge and kill with hatred. God pardons and +bestows grace. + +_Theobald, agitated_. You would say, perhaps, that God is not with me, +because I avenge myself of my enemies. Have they not deserved my +hatred? + +_Ethbert_. "Love your enemies," saith God to those who know him. "Avenge +not yourselves," he says again to his beloved. + +_Theobald, still more astonished_. Your words trouble me. Is it then a +crime to destroy an adversary? + +_Ethbert_. Cain rose up against his brother Abel; and it was because the +works of his brother were good, but his own were evil. The Christian +does not hate. The Christian does not avenge himself. + +_Theobald_. Am I then not a Christian? + +_Ethbert, mildly and respectfully_. He who is of Christ, walks as Christ +himself walked. Christ went from place to place doing good; and it is +Christ himself, who says to his Church: "Love one another. He who +loveth is of God." + +Theobald was silent. These words: "He who loveth is of God," had touched +his heart, and he was affected and humbled. Ethbert was also silent, +secretly asking of God to enlighten and soften the heart of the +chevalier, for which Matthew and himself had already prayed more than +once. + +At last Theobald said, slowly, "It is not, then, like Christians, for +men to hate and war with each other? And yet these impious men deserve +to be burned; and are not those who imitate them the enemies of God and +of the Church?" + +"It is no Christian," replied Ethbert, "who kindles the fire that +consumes a friend of Jesus; and this Huss and Jerome, who were delivered +to the flames, loved Jesus." + +_Theobald_. But did they not blaspheme the Holy Church? + +_Ethbert_. He who loves Jesus does not blaspheme his name; and the name +of Jesus is written on the Church of Jesus. No, no: the Christian does +not hate or revenge himself; and he blasphemes neither his God nor the +Church of God! + +"It is enough!" said Theobald to the servant. "Leave me--I have need of +repose and silence:" and the servant went out. + +Meanwhile Gottfried had retired into his room, and, like David, wept and +sobbed before the Lord, repeating, with bitterness, "Arnold! my son +Arnold! Thou art no more! thy father will never more see thee on earth!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: Those who followed the doctrine of John Huss against the +Church of Rome. The Calixtans, in particular, maintained that in the +sacrament the cup or _chalice_ should be given to the people.] + +[Footnote 3: A name assumed by the Hussites, under the command of John +Ziska, after having built a fortress which they called Tabor, near the +city of Bechin, in Bohemia.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +KINDNESS TO AN ENEMY--ARNOLD ARRIVES ALIVE, BUT WOUNDED--THEOBALD'S +AMAZEMENT AT THE KINDNESS HE RECEIVES. + +Erard heard the voice of his grandfather, and ran to throw himself in +his arms, exclaiming, "The wicked man! the wicked man!--he has killed my +father! God has not preserved him, grandpapa! My father is dead!" + +"Adore God, my son!" said Gottfried, overcoming his grief, "and do not +murmur! Especially, my son, do not grow angry, and do not hate!" + +"But, grandpapa," replied Erard, with anguish, "it was he who was +struck! It was my father whom he killed!" + +"No, my son; the warrior killed one whom he fancied an enemy, Erard! +Theobald believed himself serving God, and doing a holy work, in +killing a Calixtan." + +"He then does not love Jesus--this poor chevalier!" exclaimed the pious +child. "O, grandpapa, how unhappy he must be!" + +"Yes, my son--very unhappy!" replied Gottfried. "Do not hate him, +therefore, but pray to God for him. Was it not God who conducted him +hither--and was it not that we might speak to him of Jesus, and that we +might love him--yes, Erard, that we might love him, for the sake of our +Saviour?" + +"But," exclaimed the old man, rising and advancing towards the window of +his room, "what is this? What do I see in the distance, toward the +rocks, at the entrance to the wood?" Erard looked also, and was sure +that he saw men. "Yes--soldiers!" exclaimed he; "for I see their +helmets glisten. There are many of them, grandpapa! Are they coming to +kill us also, because we love Jesus?" + +"Yes," continued the old man, without replying to the child; "they are, +indeed, soldiers. But they are marching slowly, and it would seem---- +Ah, my child! they are our own warriors; and it is my son--it is the +body of your father--that they are bearing. O God of mercy, support us +at this hour!" + +"I dare not see him!" exclaimed Erard, running after the old man, who +hastened to the road. "Grandpapa, hide me! hide me, I pray you!" + +"Here is some one coming to us," said Gottfried: and at the same time, +and in the opposite direction, Matthew and Ethbert ran out of the house, +from which they had perceived the convoy; and all together hastened to +meet a warrior, who advanced, waving a scarf, and exclaiming, "Praise +God! Arnold is living!" + +Gottfried staggered, and his servants received him in their arms, where +he remained weak and motionless. Erard embraced him, sobbing. + +The soldier, all out of breath, reached them, and taking the cold hands +of the old man, said, "Joy, my dear lord! Bless God! your son is living! +Here he is! Come, come; he desires your presence--he calls for you!" + +"Grandpapa, he is calling for you!" repeated Erard, approaching the pale +countenance of the old man. "Do not weep any more. Come, come quickly, +and embrace him!" + +"O the kindness of God! the mercy of Jesus!" said Gottfried, as he +recovered; Arnold is living! He is restored to me!"--and leaning on the +arms of his servants, he walked to meet the approaching troops. + +"My father!--my son!" was soon heard. "Let us bless God! I am restored +to you. He has preserved my life!" + +This was Arnold--who had just perceived his father and his child, and +was making an effort to glorify the Lord with them. + +He was lying on five lances tied together, which ten warriors sustained +by five other lances passed across beneath. A shield and some cloaks +supported the head of Arnold, while a company of soldiers followed and +guarded their chief. + +Gottfried embraced his son, and blessed the name of the Lord: but after +Erard had also manifested his tenderness, the strength of the chief did +not allow him to speak any more; and it was in quiet and in silence that +Arnold was borne into the house, then laid in a chamber adjoining that +in which Theobald was. + +The latter had fallen asleep, after Ethbert left him; and when he awoke, +all was tranquil around him. The warriors, after having taken some +nourishment, had returned to their camp, and Arnold was sleeping beneath +the eyes of his happy father, and of Erard, who repeated incessantly, in +a low voice, "O, how good the Lord is! He has preserved my father!" + +"This is a singular house," thought Theobald. "What kindness, what +benevolence, and, at the same time, what seriousness and solemnity, even +down to this child! How they speak of God, of Jesus, and of heaven! +But, am I mistaken? No: not one among them has named either the Holy +Virgin or the saints! + +"Can it be possible!" added he, after long reflection. "Perhaps I am in +the family of a Hussite, one of those Calixtans whom I abhor. No, no! +They would hate me also--for they know now who I am--and perhaps I shall +see no more of the love and interest they have shown me. + +"But," said he again, "there is something here that I cannot comprehend. +I must inquire and inform myself." + +Gottfried had returned. His countenance was serene; and it was with +affectionate cordiality that he inquired of the chevalier if he was +refreshed by his sleep. + +"I am as quiet as possible," replied Theobald; "though this limb pains +me some, and I am slightly feverish. O, if I could only learn the +welfare of my family! What keen anxiety must torment my wife and my dear +children! For it will be published in the two camps that the +Iron-Hearted has been killed!" + +"Reassure yourself!" said Gottfried. "I have attended to that. I have +caused the army to be informed that you are living and comfortable. But +they are ignorant of your retreat. We shall also have, as soon as +to-morrow, certain intelligence of your family. Do not agitate yourself, +therefore; but be patient, and await the Lord's will--for he alone +reigneth." + +In fact, Gottfried, at the moment of the departure of the soldiers, had +placed in the hands of their captain, a letter, to be read on the way, +in which, under the seal of secrecy, he confided to him all that +concerned Theobald, and charged him to send the intelligence to his +family; but concealing the place where he was. He also requested of the +captain that a messenger might bring back some reply from the family, as +soon as possible. + +"Angel of goodness!" exclaimed Theobald, with profound emotion, which he +was almost ashamed to display, "your love confounds me! I have never +seen such up to this day. Whence do you derive it? Who gives it to you +all?--for you all have the same love." + +"God is love!" said Gottfried. "And if we know him, if he has revealed +his love to us, ought we not also to love one another? Is it not in +this, before everything else, that his image consists?" + +_Theobald_. His image! The image of God! These words were never before +spoken in my ears. I have never thought that I myself might bear the +image of God. Who has suggested to you this unheard-of and sublime idea? + +_Gottfried_. Was it not for this that the Son of God purchased us by his +blood? Was it not that his Spirit might renew and sanctify us, to the +resemblance of God our Father? + +_Theobald_, (_leaning his forehead on one of his hands._) Purchased by +his blood! Renewed by his Spirit! What does that mean? These are, I am +sure, the things of God, of heaven; but they are hid from my eyes. I do +not understand them. Repeat them, I pray you. + +_Gottfried_. Is it possible that the sacrifice of Jesus can be unknown +to you? Do you not know, then, that the Saviour has shed his blood on +the cross? + +At this question, Theobald drew from beneath his tunic of fine linen, a +little crucifix, which was suspended from his neck by a chain of gold, +and after having kissed it, showed it to Gottfried. + +"Well, then," said the old man, "since you wear upon your person a +representation of this sacrifice, why do you not rejoice in what He has +done for us? Yes; why do you not glorify him who loved us with such a +love?" + +"But I have not yet merited it," said Theobald, casting down his head, +and coloring. + +"Merited it!" exclaimed Gottfried. "Is Jesus, think you, a Saviour, if +his salvation is not a gift?" + +Theobald looked at the old man a long time in silence, and at last said, +"This thought has never before occurred to me. If Jesus is a Saviour, +you say his salvation is a gift. What a faith! Is that your religion?" + +_Gottfried_. I am by nature a wicked man, like all others, but my soul +reposes upon Jesus; and I desire to love him, because he has loved me, +even unto dying for my sins. His blood has washed my soul; I therefore +know that I am saved. Can I love him enough for such grace----?" + +"Some one knocks at the door," said Theobald; and on the permission to +enter, Ethbert announced that the hour for supper approached, and that +his master was expected to attend prayers. + +"You will not forget me!" said Theobald, extending his hand to +Gottfried. "Go! and may God himself be with me as he is with you! I have +much, much to think of." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +ARNOLD'S NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE AND WHAT FOLLOWED--HILDEGARDE AND +THEOBALD'S CHILDREN. + +Prayers were held in Arnold's room. His wound was severe, but not +dangerous, and his heart needed to hear his father thank God for the +great deliverance which he had granted him. + +It was carefully concealed from the two wounded men, that they were so +near each other. The father did not, therefore, pray for Theobald, to +whom neither himself nor any person made the least allusion. It was from +Arnold that his father was to learn all that concerned him; and it was +not until the next day, and in the afternoon, that Gottfried, having +summoned Erard and Ethbert, listened with them to the narrative of his +son. Matthew remained with the chevalier. + +"You know, my father," said Arnold, "that I went forth against my will. +Ah, what a denial of faith, to make war in the name of the religion of +Jesus! But I thought my presence would control certain spirits, and that +I might, perhaps, even prevent a conflict between the two parties. + +"I communicated my sentiments to some true friends of the Saviour, who +had repaired to the camp with the same intentions as myself; and we +often assembled together, in my tent, to arrange our plans, and +especially to pray to God. + +"But the number in favor of peace and forgiveness of injuries was too +small, and all our efforts were useless. The only thing we could obtain +was, that we should not be the first to attack, and that, at the first +signal of truce, we should cease fighting. + +"For myself and brethren, we had pledged ourselves before God to limit +ourselves to defense, and to use our arms only to protect our own lives, +but not to strike our enemies. + +"We had learned that Theobald, one of their chieftains, the lord of +Rothenwald, a strong castle in the neighborhood, and who, for his +indomitable courage, as well as the inflexible firmness of his manners, +has been surnamed 'The Iron-Hearted,' had arrived at their camp, +breathing only retaliation and revenge. We knew, besides, that his wife, +the lady of the castle, named Hildegarde, was very hostile to the cause +of the gospel, and had even treated harshly two of our brethren, who had +been taken prisoners by Theobald, in a preceding action, and to whom +the hatred of his wife had been cruelly manifested. + +"Nevertheless, my brethren and myself had all a sincere desire to pray +to God fervently for the welfare of Theobald and his men. Alas, he has +been killed! He is dead! He has gone to give an account of his soul to +God. Poor, poor Theobald!" + +Here Erard, who was seated beside his grandfather, laid his hand on his +knee and looked at him with a knowing expression. His grandfather placed +his finger on Erard's lips, and kept it there, as if to enjoin upon the +child the greatest secrecy; and Erard, with a sigh, turned his eyes +again upon his father. + +"But it was he, it was Theobald, who commenced the combat. He ordered +his troops forward; and, himself advancing in front of ours, who had +also formed themselves in battle array, he provoked us, calling us +heretics and infidels, whom Heaven had already cursed, and whom the Holy +Virgin, he said, was about to crush beneath her feet. + +"We did not reply; and the conflict which then took place, soon became +terrific. We were almost equal in number, and well armed. But neither of +us had that powder of sulphur and fire which strikes and kills the most +valiant, even by the most cowardly hand. + +"We, therefore, fought hand to hand; and those of us who only defended +ourselves, disabled several men, by the extreme fatigue which we caused +them in warding off all their blows. + +"I do not know whether the Iron-Hearted perceived this; but toward +evening, about sunset, he sounded a retreat. At that instant, our army, +according to our decision, paused, and we thought the conflict was +over; but it was only suspended, that Theobald might send me a challenge +to fight single-handed. + +"I immediately advanced, and heard my brethren say, 'Arnold, may God +preserve thee! We pray for thee!' + +"Theobald, with closed visor, approached me. Our horses neighed, while +the two armies each uttered a cry, only a space necessary for the combat +being left between them. + +"I advanced, and in the profound silence which surrounded us, said aloud +to Theobald, 'Jesus has shed his blood for us. He sees us from heaven; +he bids us love one another. Why, Theobald, will you not hear him? Why +will you shed my blood, and, if you can, take my life?' + +"'Perish the infidels!' replied the Iron-Hearted, approaching me and +brandishing an enormous sword. + +"'Well, then, I am ready for you,' I exclaimed, drawing down my visor +also. 'Let God be our judge!' I will defend myself--but I will not +strike.' + +"On saying these words, I held up my shield and fixed myself firmly in +the stirrups of my saddle. We had both laid down our lances, and were +armed only with a sword--mine was still in its scabbard. + +"It seemed to me that Theobald trembled, when I spoke to him of the love +of Jesus; but as soon as I had raised my shield, he became furious, and +seizing his sword with both hands, he urged his horse against mine, and +struck me on the head with all his force, so that I was overthrown and +my casque cleft by the blow. + +"See in this, my father, the hand of God; for it was thus that he saved +my life. When I came to myself, I was in a cottage, in the midst of a +wood, and surrounded by three of my brethren, who had transported me +thither. My wound was stanched; I did not suffer much, and my soul was +in perfect peace. I was able to sleep a little towards the latter part +of this night--alas, so fatal for the unfortunate Theobald and his men!" + +"To his men also?" asked Gottfried, almost betraying the secret of his +heart. + +"Ah! the vengeance of our soldiers, I was told, was terrible! As soon as +they saw me fall, they threw themselves furiously upon the enemy. +Theobald, they said, was overwhelmed by numbers and killed in a thick +wood, whither he had fled. His troops were repulsed and routed, and +many lives lost; and about midnight a soldier came from one of the +chieftains, to tell us that they were about to seize on the fort of +Rothenwald. + +"Then my heart was moved. I thought of the wife and children of the +unfortunate Theobald, and I entreated one of my brethren, a captain, in +great favor with his chieftain, to bear to the latter a letter which I +wrote, notwithstanding my great weakness, in which I earnestly +requested, as a personal favor, that he would allow the wife and family +of Theobald to be conducted safely from the chateau. I told him that +their lives were precious to me; and that, since I could not myself be +their protector, I committed this charge to him, in the name of the Lord +Jesus. + +"My friend immediately set out, after having received from me +particular instructions as to the house to which he should himself +conduct the lady of the castle and her children; and towards day-break, +I received from this brother the message, that my wishes had been +received and regarded as commands, and that the whole family of Theobald +was in safety." + +"Dear papa," said Erard, taking his father's hand and covering it with +kisses, "you have done as the Saviour commanded--'Do good to them that +hate you.'" + +"My son," replied Arnold, "it was my duty, and I glorify God for having +made it easy for me. Rothenwald is now only a smoking ruin. It was +pillaged, then burnt. O, my poor soldiers, how deluded they have been! +O, how far are they still from comprehending that religion of Jesus +which they professed to defend!" + +"But, my dear Arnold," asked Gottfried, "how were you restored to me? +Who brought you here?" + +"It was, truly, the hand of God, my father. I was in the cabin of the +wood-cutter, with the two friends who never left me, when the +wood-cutter's daughter came running in, alarmed, to tell us that a +numerous company of soldiers were advancing towards the wood, and +appeared to be in search of the house where I was concealed. 'Here they +are!' she exclaimed. 'They are coming to kill you! O, may God save you!' + +"But these soldiers were of our own party, and came to carry me to some +other place. Their captain was known to me: he was a man who feared God +and protected his servants. I expressed to him the ardent desire I had +to be with you, my father; and my request was granted. The wood-cutter +wished to make me a litter; but the soldiers cried, 'Our lances and our +arms are the Lion's!' And you have seen how these brave people +accomplished their work of love and honor. + +"My two brethren insisted upon accompanying me: I opposed them. 'Go!' +said I; 'hasten to your own families: for many hearts are in anguish on +your account.' They embraced me; they committed me to the care of the +faithful captain, and to our God; and our God himself has preserved me, +and brought me to you." + +"And Hildegarde, and her children?" asked Gottfried, with lively +interest. + +"Thanks to God, I have been able to send them to the house of your +sister, my worthy and pious aunt, at Waldhaus. Her dwelling is at a +safe distance; and her heart has received this unfortunate mother and +her five orphans, as you, my father, would have welcomed them yourself. +A messenger from my aunt reached me, while I was on my way hither, and I +know that all is well. Alas! as well as it can be for a widow, suddenly +driven from her home, despoiled of all her property, and who, I fear, +knows not yet the peace and strength which are from God." + +"The thoughts of the Almighty," said Gottfried, rising, "are not our +thoughts, and his ways are not our ways! His mercies are over all his +works, and his judgments are a great deep! Remain quiet, then, beneath +his hand, and let his Spirit teach you to wait. He can 'make the +wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water,' So his +holy word declares; and this word, saith Jesus, is truth." + +Thereupon the old man embraced his son. "I have received thee from God, +the second time, dear Arnold," said he, "and it is a new and great joy +to my heart. Happy the son," added he, with emotion, "who has been to +his father only a subject of gratitude to God." + +Arnold pressed the hand of his father, who went out with Erard. Ethbert +was left with Arnold, and upon Gottfried's order, revealed to him +cautiously all which concerned Theobald, to whose room the old man now +went. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +ANXIETIES OF THEOBALD--WORSHIP OF MARY--- THEOBALD INFORMED WHERE HE IS. + +"No news yet?" asked the chevalier, sadly; "and the night has come, and +a long day has also passed! Matthew led me to hope the speedy arrival of +the express; but he does not come: and I know not why, I experience in +my heart oppression and anguish. O, who will tell me what has become of +Hildegarde and my children? But what have I to fear? Rothenwald is +impregnable, and should all our enemies surround it, is it not under the +protection of Our Lady? Who shall conquer it?" + +"He who dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High," said Gottfried, +"shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Happy is the man who +makes his refuge in the shadow of his wings, until his calamity be +overpast." + +"Your confidence is then in God alone!" replied Theobald. "You do not +even name the Holy Virgin!" + +"It is because she did not create me, nor does she keep me alive. This +woman, blessed as she has been, did not purchase me with her blood, and +is only a creature of God. What dependence can I place upon a creature?" + +"But," said Theobald, "if God made the queen of heaven and the angels, +and if all power has been given them----" + +"Chevalier!" exclaimed Gottfried, "it is Jesus--it is the Eternal Son of +the Father--it is the King, sitting on the holy mount of Zion--who says +these words, applying them to himself, 'All power has been given to me +in heaven and on earth.' Beware then, for the love of your soul, of +attributing this authority to a woman, to whom, when she forgot that she +was in the presence of her son, Jesus said, reproachfully, 'Woman! what +have I to do with thee?'" + +Upon this, Gottfried approached Theobald, whom he looked at +affectionately, as he pressed his hand, saying, "May God himself be with +you, and strengthen your heart! To-morrow, certainly, we shall have news +of your family, and we know it will be good news, since it will be the +will of God: and God, Theobald, is love." + +Gottfried went out, and Matthew came to sit with the chevalier, whom he +was to take care of during the night, and to whom he had orders to say a +few words about Arnold and his arrival. + +The night rolled away, and Theobald could not sleep. He was suffering, +and sometimes groaned, and the name of Hildegarde was continually on his +lips. + +Matthew did not cease to pray to God in his heart, that he would visit +this soul in mercy; and as the chevalier exclaimed, "O, how my heart +aches!" Matthew approached him, and said, "My lord is suffering. What +can I do for him?" + +"Ah, Matthew!" replied Theobald, "it is my heart that suffers. It seems +to me that it will break." + +"If my lord," said Matthew, gently, "could weep, it would surely relieve +him." + +"Weep!" exclaimed Theobald, looking at Matthew; "weep, do you say? I do +not know what it is. I have never wept. Shall the Iron-Hearted become a +woman?" + +"'Jesus wept!' is written in the Gospel," replied Matthew. "And our good +Saviour is our pattern in all things." + +"You weep, then, here?" said the chevalier, with visible interest; "for +here you do in all things like Jesus?" + +_Matthew, (humbly.)_ At least, we desire to. Our pious lord-- + +_Theobald_. Gottfried is then a nobleman? + +_Matthew_. My master is the Count of Winkelthal. + +_Theobald, (with agitation.)_ The Count of Winkelthal, Matthew? Arnold, +the Lion, was then his son? Am I then, indeed, in the house of his +father? + +_Matthew_. Arnold is the only son of my master; and he is not dead! + +"Not dead!" exclaimed Theobald, extending his hands to the domestic. +"Tell me, Matthew, are you sure of this?" + +_Matthew_. Arnold is living. God has preserved him, and he is here; he +is near you--yes, in the room adjoining! + +"Now I can weep!" said Theobald, putting his hands over his face, and +sobbing aloud. + +Matthew approached him with emotion, and Theobald, passing his arm +around the neck of the servant, leaned his head upon his bosom, weeping +abundantly, and saying, + +"Have pity on me, Matthew. My soul is overwhelmed!" + +"O, my lord!" said the Christian to him, "it is God himself who has +visited you and who calls you. Fear not; and let your tears flow before +him." + +"Matthew! dear Matthew!" said Theobald, clasping his hands; "pray to God +for me!" + +Matthew knelt beside the bed of the chevalier, and poured out his soul +in prayer. Theobald was still weeping when the servant rose; and it was +only by degrees that he became composed, and at last fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +ARNOLD INFORMED OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE--HIS JOYFUL SURPRISE--ABSENCE OF +GOTTFRIED. + +So passed the night in the chamber of Theobald. Arnold had slept +quietly. Ethbert did not at first speak of Theobald; and it was not +until morning, after his master had awakened and had with Ethbert lifted +his soul to God in prayer, that the servant pronounced the name of +Rothenwald, lamenting the ruin of that beautiful and splendid dwelling. + +"It is the Lord!" replied Arnold: "'He casteth down and he raiseth up, +and his judgments are over all the earth.' But what bitterness for the +wife, alas! for the widow of the unfortunate Theobald! Imprudent man! +why did he flee? Would it not have been better for him to have +submitted to numbers, and been taken prisoner? He would now be living, +and his house would not have been burned!" + +"Did his pursuers say," asked Ethbert, "that he was dead?" + +_Arnold_. They were two of our chevaliers; and I was informed, that +their intention was to seize him; that they called to him repeatedly, +and at last, in the wood, pierced his horse with a lance, that they +might be able to take him prisoner; but they declared that, in falling, +the horse had crushed his rider, who had been killed immediately by +striking his head against a rock. Such was their account. The Lord knows +whether it was so; but Theobald has perished. Poor widow! Sorrowful and +feeble orphans! + +"My lord would then have defended him," said Ethbert, feelingly, "had +he been able?" + +_Arnold, (with warmth.)_ I would have preserved his life at the peril of +my own. + +_Ethbert_. The life of your enemy? + +_Arnold_. Does Ethbert forget the word of his God? Or, does he not yet +know that "if we love those who love us," we act only like publicans and +men of the world? + +_Ethbert_. Arnold, the Lion, will, therefore, bless the Lord, when he +learns that the Iron-Hearted was not killed, and that he was taken, a +living man, from the spot where he fell. + +"Ethbert! is that the truth?" said Arnold, seizing the arm of his +servant. + +"It was I, my lord, who held the torch which illuminated the dark +forest, and it was between the trunks of the oaks and pines that I saw +first a horse extended on the motionless body of a warrior." + +_Arnold_. And this warrior---- + +_Ethbert_. Was Theobald! Yes, my lord, it was he who had just, as he +thought, struck your death-blow. + +_Arnold_. And who directed your steps thither, at night? + +_Ethbert_. God, himself. O, what a work of his wonderful love! Yes, God +himself guided your noble father and your son to the Stag Cliffs at the +moment when Theobald, flying before the two chevaliers, passed through +the defile of the wood; and your father summoned Matthew and myself to +descend there with him. + +_Arnold, (with adoration.)_ My father! sent from God to the murderer of +his son? How wonderful are the ways of the Most High! But, Ethbert, did +you not say that he was dead? + +_Ethbert_. We thought so. But your pious and benevolent father, my lord, +knelt, touched the supposed, corpse, and exclaimed, "He is not dead!" +and aided by our hands, disengaged him. He extended him on the mossy +ground, called for water, bathed and refreshed the pale countenance of +the chevalier; his life returned, and your father glorified God. + +"Theobald is living!" said Arnold, lifting towards heaven his eyes +filled with tears. "O, who will make it known to his wife and children?" + +_Ethbert_. Your father, my lord, commissioned the captain who brought +you here, to inform them of his safety; but she is still ignorant of the +asylum of her husband. + +"And where is he?" asked Arnold. + +Ethbert turns, and pointing to one side of the chamber, says, "Behind +that wall, my lord--Theobald is in your father's bed." + +Arnold clasped his hands, praying, and blessing God. Erard, who had just +entered softly, approached him, and said to him, with tenderness, "Good +papa, have you slept well? It is I, papa!--It is your little Erard! Will +you not embrace me?" + +"O, my son," said Arnold, placing one hand upon the shoulder of his +child, "if you knew how good the Lord is!" + +"O, yes, dear papa," said Erard; "God is good--since he has preserved +you." + +"And he has also preserved Theobald," added the father. + +"Theobald, papa!--the cavalier who was dead! and whom grandpapa, by the +goodness of God restored! Do you know him?" + +Erard looked at Ethbert, as if to know whether he might continue; and +his father, who saw this look, said to him, "Yes, dear child--I know +him; and I know that God has confided him to our care. O, Erard, +remember that even an enemy has a claim on our love." + +"Yes, dear papa," continued the child, "and, like the good Samaritan, we +should love him and bind up his wounds. Papa, that is what grandpapa did +the other night, in the wood. O, if you knew how afraid I was at first! +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 God 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 God had afflicted, and the servant of the "God 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, God 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 God 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 God 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 partition, "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 God 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 God 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 God 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, noble 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 God, 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. + +"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 God, 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 God 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 God for you many times! +They have even asked Ethbert to assure you of their sincere love, before +God their Saviour. + +_Theobald_. O, withdraw from me!--leave me! I am stained with blood! God +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 God? 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 God, show +mercy and love to our enemies,--you see that, you are affected by it, +you admire it; then, when you look towards that God 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 God 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 God, 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 God enables me, I will +believe it: for, if men have called me the Iron-Hearted, I need now that +God should soften my heart and make me his child--his ransomed one; and +that his Spirit should teach me, like you, my noble friends, to imitate +Jesus, in pardoning injuries and loving those who hate me! + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Theobald, The Iron-Hearted, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11107 *** |