).

Aufer immensam, Deus aufer iram;
Et cruentatum cohibe flagellum
Nec scelus nostrum proferes ad aequam
Pendere lancem.

Mother. Is that you, Marten?

Marten. It's Brother Nils praying to the Holy Virgin. (Nils lights the
censer without interrupting his reading.)

Mother. What a precious boon to hear the word of the Lord in the sacred
tongue!

Marten. No sweeter sacrifice is known to God than the prayers of pious
souls.

Mother. Like the incense, my heart is set on fire with holy devotion.

Marten (sprinkling her with holy water). The stains of sin are by your
God washed off!

Mother. Amen!--Marten, I am passing away--The godlessness of the King
makes it impossible for me by earthly gifts to strengthen the Holy
Church in her power of saving souls. You are a pious man--take my
property and pray for me and for my children. Pray that the Almighty
may turn their hearts away from all lies, so that some time we may meet
again in heaven.

Marten (taking the bag of money she hands him). Goodwife, your sacrifice
is acceptable to the Lord, and for your sake my prayers will be heard by
God.

Mother. I want to sleep awhile in order to be strong enough to receive
the last sacrament.

Marten. No one shall disturb your final moments--not even those who were
your children once.

Mother. It seems cruel, Father Marten, but it's the will of God. (She
falls asleep; Marten and Nils withdraw from the bed.)

Marten (opening the bag and kissing the gold coins). What stores of
pleasure lie hidden beneath the hardness of this gold--Ah!

Nils. Are we going now?

Marten. Oh, we might, as our errand here is done, but I think it would
be a pity to let the old woman die unsaved.

Nils. Unsaved?

Marten. Yes!

Nils. Do you believe in that?

Marten. It's hard to know what one is to believe nowadays. One dies
happily in this faith, and another in that. All assert that they have
found the truth.

Nils. And if you were to die now, Marten?

Marten. That's out of the question!

Nils. But if?

Marten. Then I suppose I should go to heaven like the rest. But I should
prefer to settle a small account with Master Olof first. You see, there
is one pleasure that surpasses all the rest, and that's the pleasure of
revenge.

Nils. What has he done to you?

Marten. He has dared to see through me; he has exposed me; he can read
what I am thinking--Oh!

Nils. And that's why you