PASTOR.

I am to answer Yes or No?  Indeed, it is not right in the ordinary sense, but—­

FORESTER (interrupts triumphantly).

Then it is not right?  And if it is not right, it must be wrong.  And for this purpose the courts are there, that no wrong shall be done.  No man shall make me doubt my good right.  And I shall break friendship forever with him who says another word to me about yielding.  Amen!  If only a But were required to make wrong right, then I would rather live among the savages, then I would rather be the most miserable beast on God’s earth than a human being.  Are you ready, boys?

ANDREW and WILLIAM.

Yes.

FORESTER.

Come then, boys.  Everything else may go to the devil, sir.  But right, sir, right must remain right!

[Exeunt.]

ACT III

The Boundary Inn.

SCENE I

LINDENSCHMIED; HOST. Enter MOeLLER, after him FREI.

MOeLLER.

Host, let me have a drink. [Aside.] I guess he will find his way home; Godfrey will.  From the mill in the Dell it is scarcely a quarter of an hour to his house.—­Good evening.

FREI (still without).

Let’s take a drink while we are passing.

[Enters.]

I am going over to the duke’s estate.  There they are having a jolly time.

HOST.

God save us from that sort of jollity!  Your health, Mr. Moeller!

MOeLLER.

Fine company!

HOST.

Will you not take a seat, Mr. Moeller?

MOeLLER.

Thank you.  I still have to go to the blast-furnace this evening; my men have gone ahead.

[Aside, while putting the glass to his lips.]

To the happy consummation of the marriage with Loehlein and Co!

FREI.

Over yonder things are going topsy-turvy, and with us here the crisis will come today or tomorrow.  The Hereditary Forester has already barricaded himself in his house.

HOST.

Nonsense!  He!  He is conscientiousness personified!

FREI.

One is conscientious as long as it pays.  That man is a fool who remains so one hour longer.  He or his people are going to shoot Godfrey wherever they find him.

[Makes a gesture.]

And the Hereditary Forester does not waste many words.  In that respect I know the old fellow with his white moustache.

LINDENSCHMIED (laughing hoarsely).

Is that so?

FREI (looks at him).

Do you mean to say you are going to take Godfrey’s part?  Hey,
Lindenschmied?

LINDENSCHMIED (as before).

Godfrey’s—­

FREI.

Every child knows how much you love him!