He's nought to fear.--
Look there.
Mark how he breathes! Upon him! Help, help, ho!--
Thou piping knave!
OTHERS
Tie--chain him!--Kill him!--Kill him!
[They surround him. He thrusts them off.]
PETER the Cobbler and OTHERS
( Bind him, but do not kill him!--Oh, beware!
( What is he saying?--Peace.
PIPER
[brokenly]
The wife of Kurt!
Off! what can you do?--Oh! I came, I came
Here, full of peace, and with a heart of love;--
To give--but now that one live Soul of all
Is gone!--No, no!
--_I say she shall not die_!
_She shall not_!
ANSELM
Hush!--She is in the hands of God.
She is at peace.
PIPER
No, never! Let me by!
[ANSELM bars the threshold and steps out.]
ANSELM
Thou froward fool!--Wouldst rend with tears again
That shriven breath? And drag her back to sorrow?
It is the will of God.
PIPER
--And I say No!
ANSELM
Who dare dispute--
PIPER
I dare!
ANSELM
With death?--With God?
PIPER
I know His will, for once! She shall not die.
She must come back, and live!--_Veronika_!
[He calls up to the lighted window. The people stand aghast:
ANSELM bars the threshold.
I come, I come! I bring your Own to you!
Listen, Veronika!
[He feels for his pipe. It is gone.--His
face shows dismay, for a moment]
Where?--Where?
PEOPLE
( He's lost the pipe.--He's hiding it!
( He cannot pipe them back! 'tis gone--'tis gone.
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