Theobald, the Iron-Hearted Part 4

"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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d. 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 G.o.d 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 s.p.a.ce 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d; 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d; and our G.o.d himself has preserved me, and brought me to you."

"And Hildegarde, and her children?" asked Gottfried, with lively interest.

"Thanks to G.o.d, 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 G.o.d."

"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 G.o.d, 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 grat.i.tude to G.o.d."

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 pa.s.sed! 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d. What dependence can I place upon a creature?"

"But," said Theobald, "if G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d: and G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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."