_Aga._ For that, The world without it were a sorry thing! It’s meat and drink to me! (_Sighing._) _Bar._ (_to BESSIE_). Thou foolish child, Revile not that of which thou knowest naught. Some day, maybe--observe, I say _maybe_-- Some one will love _thee_--strange things come to pass-- And then thou’lt change thy note. _Bess._ If so, I pray ’Twill not be such a one as that gay knight, Who hath so wondrously bewitched our Gretchen! But three months since, no happier maiden lived; And now--kind Heaven help us all!--they say She will not live to see her twentieth year! _Enter LISA, unobserved._ _Bar._ Girls do not die of honest-hearted love. (_Maliciously._) They sometimes die of shame and penitence, When love has carried them beyond themselves. _Lisa_ (_coming forward_). Foul shame on thee, who darest couple shame With the most pure and perfect heart on earth! May Heaven pardon thee thy bitter words! I’ll stake my soul upon her innocence! _Bar._ Thy stake is small--in that thou showest wisdom. Thou shouldst be an unerring judge of guilt. But as to innocence--leave innocence To those who know the meaning of the word. _Lisa._ Rail on at me--I heed a mocking tongue As little as I heed a winter’s wind; For misery hath hardened me to both. But bow thy head, and stop thy shameless tongue, When others speak of that pure angel heart, Which, day by day, draws nearer to its heaven! _Aga._ (_looking off_). See, see, the soldiers! [_All look off._ _Bess._ Marry, how they march! I love a soldier? _Aga._ (_sighing_). I love several! _Enter the _Soldiers_, led by FRIEDRICH, and accompanied by _Men_ and _Girls_. They halt in line, in front of cathedral, at FRIEDRICH’S word._ _Aga._ There’s Karl! _Bar._ And Otto! _Bess._ Max! _Aga._ And Friedrich, too! Oh, what a beard! _GOTTFRIED enters, dressed as an officer._ _Gott._ Break off! [_They recover pikes and break off, mingling with the crowd._ Whom have we here? Why, Agatha! and Bessie! Barbara! [_They crowd around him as he greets them._ How fares it with you? Are you married yet? [_They sigh and shake their heads._ What, none of you? Well, there are plenty here To set that right! _Aga._ Sir, welcome home again! _Bess._ And you’re a captain! _Gott._ (_laughing_). Yes, unworthily! _Fried._ Nay, never credit that. There never lived A doughtier soldier! _Bar._ How came it to pass?