Thomas, the Master miner, enters from the wood. Enter the Monk.)
Here will I sit and rest a little while. My soul hath need of rest to find itself After the shocks which I have had to bear.
I greet thee heartily, most valiant son. Thou hast come here in search of solitude. Thy work well done, thou wouldst have peace and quiet In which to turn thy thoughts to spirit-worlds. To see my well-loved pupil thus employed Rejoiceth me. But why so sad thine eyes? 'Twould seem anxiety weighs down your soul.
Pain oft is neighbour unto highest bliss; That this is so my own life proves today.
Hast thou then met with bliss and pain at once?
I told thee, reverend father, that I loved The mountain-warden's daughter, and confessed That she was also greatly drawn to me. She is to marry me and share my life.
She will be true to thee, come weal, come woe; She is a faithful daughter of the Church.
Such an one only would I take to wife; Since, honoured master, I have learned from thee The meaning of obedience to God's will.
And art thou also certain of thy soul, That it will walk still further in the way Of righteousness, which I have pointed out?
So sure as in this body beats a heart, So sure will I, thy son, be true for aye To those exalted teachings which of old From thine own lips I was allowed to learn.
And now that thou hast told me of thy bliss Let me hear also from thee of thy woe.
Oft have I told thee what my life hath been. Scarce had I left my childhood's days behind Than I began to travel and to roam. I never worked for long in any place. Ever I cherished in my heart the wish To meet my father, whom I loved, although I had not heard a good report of him. He left my dear good mother all alone Because he wished to start his life anew Unhampered by a wife and children twain. The impulse for adventure dwelt in him. I was a child still, when he went from us. My sister was a tiny new-born babe. My mother died of grief in no long time. My sister was adopted by good folk Who later moved away from my old home. And of her fate I never more heard tell. Some relatives assisted me to learn A miner's work, in which I expert grew, So that I found employment where I wished. The hope that some day I should once more find My father, never vanished from my heart. And now my hope at last is realized But also is for ever torn from me. Matters of business led me yesterday To seek for speech with my superior. Thou knowst how lightly I esteem the knight Who issueth the directions for my work Since I have learned thou art his enemy. From that time forward I made up my mind Not to remain in service under him. For reasons which remain unknown to me The knight alluded in our interview To matters which allowed him to declare Himself to be--the father whom I sought. What followed ... I would gladly leave untold. It would not have been hard to overlook My mother's sufferings at his hands, and mine, When he and I once more stood face to face, And when he spoke, grief-burdened, of old days. But in his form, stood facing me, thy foe. And one thing then was manifest to me:-- How deep a gulf must ever separate Myself from him, whom I so fain would love, And whom I sought so long and ardently. Now have I lost him for the second time, Such is the lot that hath befallen me.