Theobald, the Iron-Hearted Part 2

"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 n.o.ble 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 s.h.i.+eld, '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 s.h.i.+eld 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 s.h.i.+eld 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 pa.s.sed 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 G.o.d speaks the word of G.o.d; and G.o.d is love. G.o.d will not revenge and kill with hatred. G.o.d pardons and bestows grace.

_Theobald, agitated_. You would say, perhaps, that G.o.d is not with me, because I avenge myself of my enemies. Have they not deserved my hatred?

_Ethbert_. "Love your enemies," saith G.o.d 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 G.o.d."

Theobald was silent. These words: "He who loveth is of G.o.d," had touched his heart, and he was affected and humbled. Ethbert was also silent, secretly asking of G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d nor the Church of G.o.d!

"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 a.s.sumed 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! G.o.d has not preserved him, grandpapa! My father is dead!"