es," 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