WILLIAM.

“And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.  And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.  And if a man cause a blemish on his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.  And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it:  and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.”

FORESTER.

He shall be put to death.

WILLIAM.

“Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country:  for I am the Lord your God.”

FORESTER.

Amen.

[Puts on his hat and is about to go; turns back.]

When did she say they might be there, William?

[Illustration:  SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD JACOB AND RACHEL AT THE WELL]

WILLIAM.

The soldiers?

FORESTER.

Before—­

WILLIAM.

Before one o’clock.

FORESTER.

There’s time enough.

WILLIAM.

For what, father?

FORESTER.

For—­getting a sound sleep.

WILLIAM.

Father, how strangely you look at me?

FORESTER.

Go to bed, William.

[As SOPHY enters.]

Shake hands with your mother.

SOPHY (surprised).

Are you going out now, Christian?

FORESTER.

Yes.

SOPHY.

Did Weiler pick up the trail of the stag again?

FORESTER.

Yes.  Maybe.

SOPHY.

How you look!  One might be afraid of you, if one did not know how it is with you when you have taken wine.

FORESTER.

For that reason I want to go out into the open air.

SOPHY.

At such times you see everything different from what it is.  You may fall into the abyss.

FORESTER.

Then you cut the leaf there from the Bible and put it into my coffin.

SOPHY.

How you talk!

FORESTER.

GO to bed, William.

[Exit WILLIAM.]

Pray—­or do not pray—­

SOPHY.

What is the matter with you, Christian?  Why am I so anxious?  Stay, for
God’s sake, stay!  Your business surely can wait.

FORESTER.

No.  It must be done even today. [Going.]

SOPHY (about to follow him).

Ulrich—­

FORESTER (turning around at the door, softly to himself).

“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.”

[Exit.]

SOPHY (recoiling from the glare of the sheet-lightning which is seen through the open door).

God have mercy on us!

[At the door.]

Ulrich!

[In far-away voice, outside.]