PETER the Cobbler and OTHERS
( Bind him, but do not kill him!—Oh, beware!
( What is he saying?—Peace.
PIPER
[brokenly]
The wife of Kurt!
Off! what can you do?—Oh! I came, I came
Here, full of peace, and with a heart of love;—
To give—but now that one live Soul of all
Is gone!—No, no!
—I say she shall not die!
She shall not!
ANSELM
Hush!—She is in the hands of God.
She is at peace.
PIPER
No, never! Let me by!
[ANSELM bars the threshold and steps out.]
ANSELM
Thou froward fool!—Wouldst rend with tears again
That shriven breath? And drag her back to sorrow?
It is the will of God.
PIPER
—And I say No!
ANSELM
Who dare dispute—
PIPER
I dare!
ANSELM
With death?—With God?
PIPER
I know His will, for once! She shall not die.
She must come back, and live!—Veronika!