consents to my
son's marriage.

_Well._ Even so, he has done no more than the duty of a Christian.

_Clar._ He does not disinherit his daughter; he gives the children
their inheritance.

SCENE XIII.

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 ho