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?