Second Servant (Pushes him away).—Begone, I say!

Magistrate.—Begin; fell it.

Servant drops the raised axe.

Zajíček (Clasping his hands, addresses the Magistrate).—Most noble—for mercy’s sake, stop them!

Magistrate.—So you are even concerned about the linden! Or else—ah! (He gets an idea.) So that is where she is! (Quickly addresses the servants.) Cut—cut, and then saw, quickly!

Zajíček (Forcing his way to the linden).—No, you shall not cut it down, you must not, because—

Miller (From the left, rushes forth from the woods).—If you dare to— (Strikes the servants.) Begone! (Snatches the axe from one of them.)

Zajíček.—O Lord!

Braha (Forces his way to the Miller, holding up his bound hands). O sir, I’ll help you!—But see (showing his hands) those rascals have—

Miller (Cuts the rope, steps in front of the linden. Addresses the Magistrate).—Come on, come on, Your Honor! (To the servants.) Which of you will move!

Braha (Steps beside the Miller).—If any one of you dares—

Zajíček (To the Miller).—Hanička is saved. (Stands beside the Miller.) She is here, in the linden.

Magistrate.—A rebellion! (To servants.) You old women, make for them!

Courtier, the preceding, a servants of the Courtier.

Courtier (Enters from left, out of the forest).—Where is that girl from the mill!

Magistrate.—She escaped us; she had already vanished by the time we got to the mill!

Courtier.—So? The girl gone and the linden still standing? Sir Magistrate, you are an accomplice of theirs.