Wilhelm Tell | Page 3

himself the last. Put trust in God, and help him in his need!
RUODI. Safe in the port, 'tis easy to advise. There is the boat, and there the lake! Try you!
TELL. The lake may pity, but the viceroy will not. Come, venture, man!
SHEPHERD and HUNTSMAN. Oh, save him! save him! save him!
RUODI. Though 'twere my brother, or my darling child, I would not go. It is St. Simon's day, The lake is up, and calling for its victim.
TELL. Naught's to be done with idle talking here. Time presses on--the man must be assisted. Say, boatman, will you venture?
RUODI. No; not I.
TELL. In God's name, then, give me the boat! I will With my poor strength, see what is to be done!
KUONI. Ha, noble Tell!
WERNI. That's like a gallant huntsman!
BAUMGARTEN. You are my angel, my preserver, Tell.
TELL. I may preserve you from the viceroy's power But from the tempest's rage another must. Yet you had better fall into God's hands, Than into those of men. [To the herdsman. Herdsman, do thou Console my wife, should aught of ill befall me. I do but what I may not leave undone.
[He leaps into the boat.
KUONI (to the fisherman). A pretty man to be a boatman, truly! What Tell could risk you dared not venture on.
RUODI. Far better men than I would not ape Tell. There does not live his fellow 'mong the mountains.
WERNI (who has ascended a rock). He pushes off. God help thee now, brave sailor! Look how his bark is reeling on the waves!
KUONI (on the shore). The surge has swept clean over it. And now 'Tis out of sight. Yet stay, there 'tis again Stoutly he stems the breakers, noble fellow!
SEPPI. Here come the troopers hard as they can ride!
KUONI. Heavens! so they do! Why, that was help, indeed.
[Enter a troop of horsemen.
FIRST HORSEMAN. Give up the murderer! You have him here!
SECOND HORSEMAN. This way he came! 'Tis useless to conceal him!
RUODI and KUONI. Whom do you mean?
FIRST HORSEMAN (discovering the boat). The devil! What do I see?
WERNI (from above). Is't he in yonder boat ye seek? Ride on, If you lay to, you may o'ertake him yet.
SECOND HORSEMAN. Curse on you, he's escaped!
FIRST HORSEMAN (to the shepherd and fisherman). You helped him off, And you shall pay for it. Fall on their herds! Down with the cottage! burn it! beat it down!
[They rush off.
SEPPI (hurrying after them). Oh, my poor lambs!
KUONI (following him). Unhappy me, my herds!
WERNI. The tyrants!
RUODI (wringing his hands). Righteous Heaven! Oh, when will come Deliverance to this devoted land?
[Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.
A lime-tree in front of STAUFFACHER'S house at Steinen, in Schwytz, upon the public road, near a bridge.
WERNER STAUFFACHER and PFEIFFER, of Lucerne, enter into conversation.
PFEIFFER. Ay, ay, friend Stauffacher, as I have said, Swear not to Austria, if you can help it. Hold by the empire stoutly as of yore, And God preserve you in your ancient freedom!
[Presses his hand warmly and is going.
STAUFFACHER. Wait till my mistress comes. Now do! You are My guest in Schwytz--I in Lucerne am yours.
PFEIFFER. Thanks! thanks! But I must reach Gersau to-day. Whatever grievances your rulers' pride And grasping avarice may yet inflict, Bear them in patience--soon a change may come. Another emperor may mount the throne. But Austria's once, and you are hers forever.
[Exit.
[STAUFEACHER sits down sorrowfully upon a bench under the lime tree. Gertrude, his wife, enters, and finds him in this posture. She places herself near him, and looks at him for some time in silence.
GERTRUDE. So sad, my love! I scarcely know thee now. For many a day in silence I have marked A moody sorrow furrowing thy brow. Some silent grief is weighing on thy heart; Trust it to me. I am thy faithful wife, And I demand my half of all thy cares.
[STAUFFACHER gives her his hand and is silent.
Tell me what can oppress thy spirits thus? Thy toil is blest--the world goes well with thee-- Our barns are full--our cattle many a score; Our handsome team of sleek and well-fed steeds, Brought from the mountain pastures safely home, To winter in their comfortable stalls. There stands thy house--no nobleman's more fair! 'Tis newly built with timber of the best, All grooved and fitted with the nicest skill; Its many glistening windows tell of comfort! 'Tis quartered o'er with scutcheons of all hues, And proverbs sage, which passing travellers Linger to read, and ponder o'er their meaning.
STAUFFACHER. The house is strongly built, and handsomely, But, ah! the ground on which we built it totters.
GERTRUDE. Tell me, dear Werner, what you mean by that?
STAUFFACHER. No later since than yesterday, I sat Beneath this linden, thinking with delight, How fairly all was finished, when from Kuessnacht The viceroy and his men came riding by. Before this house he halted in surprise: At once