Chapter 56

Enter Privy Counsellor CLARENBACH, SOPHIA, FREDERICA, and GERNAU.

_P. Coun._ Matchless man!

_Soph._ Eternal, eternal gratitude!

_Well._ (Puts his hands in his pockets.) Spare my weak hands; my heart is sound!--

_P. Coun._ How was it possible, how did it happen?

_Gern._ Tell us.

_Fred._ I cannot conceive it.

_Well._ That--

_P. Coun._ He uttered all these benefactions in such a hurry--

_Fred._ And at the same time looked nobody in the face--

_Gern._ And then he ran away.

_Clar._ I never saw a man do so much good in so ungracious a manner.

_Soph._ Good God! but he has done it after all, and--

_Clar._ Well, well; but how did it come about?

_Well._ Never ask that question again!--never! Do you understand me?

_Clar._ We thank God it is so; why should we enquire how it came to be so?

_Well._ That is right, friend Clarenbach! (To the Privy Counsellor.) And you resign the Privy Counsellorship?

_P. Coun._ My abilities are not adequate to it.

_Well._ Have I not told you a hundred times, when he was what they call a Lawyer, and when he wrote with such humane feelings, with such fire, with such indefatigability, in the cause of justice,--Master Clarenbach, said I, Jack stands very high on level ground; do not suffer him to rise higher, for he will tumble down.

_Clar._ It is true upon my word.

_Well._ So you came down of your accord? that is well done!

_P. Coun._ Henceforth I hope to prove useful to mankind. Under your guidance, I will be a Lawyer once more.

_Well._ (with a smile.) Lawyer! I cannot bear that name; it conveys the idea of an entangled net, or of a deceitful guide, that will lead you out of the way into the pathless desert. We should not be called Lawyers, but the Friends of Justice.

_Clar._ Yes, yes; Friends of Justice, the foes of chicanery!

_Well._ Who will not plead in an unjust cause! Do you promise that? Have you the resolution to be an honest Lawyer?

_P. Coun._ With the greatest pleasure.

_Well._ Write little; act a good deal; take little money; have a good stock of honesty and kind intentions; apply but seldom for advice to the _corpus juris_, but often to the heart; and to the hour of death I shall esteem you. I shall lead the way by the course of nature, but it will yet be a consolation to me in my last moments to think I have left an honest man behind me,--a man that will wipe away the tears of the widow and the orphan.

_Clar._ Jack, listen to the words of this good old man; let them sink deep into your heart; let them be your model! He possesses little worldly wealth; but, at the last day, what myriads that now roll in wealth would wish that they had possessed as little and done half as much good with it; but it is not for me to judge; I only say, make him your model.

_P. Coun._ Dear father, I will.

Enter Aulic Counsellor REISSMAN.

_Reiss._ I am come to tell you what I know will please you. How sweet are the tears of repentance! how refreshing to the drooping soul! I have at last settled my accounts with my conscience; I owe much, but I will endeavour to pay all. Now I feel in earnest that I am a father, and this is my dear daughter! (Embraces Sophia.)

_Soph._ O my dear father, the serenity of your brow, like a mild evening-sun, sooths the perturbation of my mind. I see that all is peace within. This single moment of joy would repay an age of sorrow.

_Reiss._ O my child! (embraces her again;) and this is my son! (embraces Privy Counsellor; Clarenbach takes him by the hand.) I am now completely happy, my mind tells me so; my feeble sight was dazzled with the false lustre of gold; but honest Wellenberg took me by the hand and conducted me into the path in which I ought to walk in the evening of life.

_Clar._ I have not wept for some time; but nature, on the present occasion, has indulged me with a few tears, and they shall be paid on sight. (takes Reissman by the hand.) We are both in the evening of life; let us descend with even step to the grave; our dear friend Wellenberg will be our guide. Let us leave our children behind us, and, if any evil should tempt them in an unguarded moment, may our example interpose like a guardian angel! Splendor and ambition are gaudy signs, painted by the hand of delusion, to lead the bewildered traveller still farther astray. (Gernau kisses Sophia's hand, and gazes on Frederica with fond attention.)

_Soph._ (embraces Frederica, and drops a tear.) Excuse me, I have a tear for joy as well as sorrow.

_Clar._ Come, let us not delay the nuptial rites. [Exeunt omnes.

THE END.

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