The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Furst: Merciful Heaven!

Melchthal (rushing out): Into his eyes! His eyes?

Stauffacher: Who is this youth? His son! Oh, Heaven!

Melchthaclass="underline" Blind, did you say? Quite blind—and both his eyes?

Stauffacher: Ah, I must swell the measure of your grief, Instead of soothing it. They've left him nought! Blind and in rags he moves from door to door.

Melchthaclass="underline" Hence, craven-hearted prudence, hence! and all My thoughts be vengeance, and the despot's blood!

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Stauffacher (to Furst) : The measure's full—and are we then to wait Till some extremity—

Melchthal : Peace! What extremity

Remains for us to dread ? What, when our eyes No longer in their sockets are secure? Heaven! Are we helpless? Wherefore did we learn To bend the crossbow—wield the battle-axe?

Furst: If the three cantons thought as we three do, Something might then be done with good effect.

Stauffacher: When Uri calls, when Unterwald replies, Schwytz will be mindful of her ancient league.

Furst: Hear my opinion. On the lake's left bank A meadow lies, by shepherds called the Rootli; 'Tis where our canton bound'ries verge on yours. Thither by lonely bypaths let us wend At midnight, and deliberate o'er our plans. Let each bring with him there ten trusty men, All one at heart with us; and then we may Consult together for the general weal, And, with God's guidance, fix what next to do.

Stauffacher : So let it be. And now your true right hand! So shall together we three cantons stand In victory and defeat, in life and death.

Act II

[The midnight meeting on the Rootli. Melchthal, Baumgarten, Furst, Stauffacher, and their friends, thirty-three in all, eleven from each canton, are assembled in conclave round a fire. Tell is not among them.

Stauffacher: And so I say,

Nature's primaeval state returns again, Where man stands hostile to his fellow-man;

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A~nd if all other means shall fail his need,

One last resource remains—his own good sword.

Our dearest treasures call to us for aid,

Against th' oppressor's violence; we stand

For country, home, for wives, for children here!

All (clashing their swords) : Here stand we for our homes, our wives, our children.

Reding: Confederates! Have all gentler means been tried ? Perchance the emp'ror knows not of our wrongs.

Hunn : I was at Rheinfeld, at the emperor's court, Deputed by the cantons to complain Of the oppressions of these governors. Expect no justice from the emperor!

Reding: What plan, then, is most likely to succeed?

Furst: To keep our ancient rights inviolate. Not lawless innovation, is our aim. Let Caesar still retain what is his due.

Meyer : I hold my land of Austria in fief.

Furst : Continue, then, to pay your feudal dues.

Rosselmann : Of Zurich's abbess I'm the humble vassal.

Furst : Give to the cloister what the cloister claims.

Stauffacher: The empire only is my feudal lord.

Furst: What needs must be, we'll do, but nothing more. We'll drive these tyrants and their minions hence, And raze their towering strongholds to the ground, Yet shed, if possible, no drop of blood.

Reding : The enemy is armed as well as we, And, rest assured, he will not yield in peace.

Stauffacher: We will surprise him, ere he is prepared.

Meyer : Rossberg and Sarnen both must be secured Before a sword is drawn in either canton.

Winkelried: What if till Christmas we delay! At Sarnen

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'Tis custom for the serfs to throng the castle, Bringing the governor their annual gifts. Thus may some ten or twelve selected men Enter the castle and secure the gates.

Melchthal : The Rossberg I will undertake to scale. I have a sweetheart in the garrison, Who'll lower me at night a hempen ladder.

Reding : Are all resolved in favour of delay ?

Stauffacher (counting the hands): Twenty to twelve is the majority.

Furst: If on th' appointed day the castles fall, From mountain on to mountain we shall speed The fiery signaclass="underline" in the capital Of every canton quickly rouse the landsturm. The tyrants, seeing our martial front, will take Safe conduct forth beyond our boundaries.

Stauffacher: Not so with Gessler. He will make a stand, Surrounded with his dread array of horse.

Baumgarten : Place me where'er a life is to be lost; I owe my life to Tell, and cheerfully Will pledge it for my country. Look—the sun!

Rosselmann: By this fair light which greeteth us before Those other nations living far beneath, A band of brothers true we swear to be, Never to part in danger or in death!

[They repeat his words. We swear we will be free, as were our sires, And sooner die than live in slavery!

[All repeat as before. We swear to put our trust in the Most High, And not to quail before the might of man!

[All repeat as before, and embrace each other.

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Act III

[A meadow near Altdorf. Friesshardt and Leuthold on guard by the cap on a pole at the back of the stage. Enter Mechthild and Elsbeth, with their children. Mechthild: There hangs the viceroy! Your obeisance, children! Elsbeth : I would to God he'd go, and leave his cap! Friesshardt: Out of the way, confounded pack of gossips! Who sent for you ? Go, send your husbands here, If they have courage to defy the order. [Enter Tell with a crossbow, leading his son Walter by the hand. They are about to pass on, when Friesshardt stops them, presenting his pike. Friesshardt : Stand, I command you, in the emperor's