The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 81

MANY PEASANTS; MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE WALDSTETTEN.

WILLIAM TELL (1804)[36]

TRANSLATED BY SIR THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B, LL.D.

ACT I

SCENE I

_A high rocky sh.o.r.e of the lake of Lucerne opposite Schwytz.

The lake makes a bend into the land; a hut stands at a short distance from the sh.o.r.e; the fisher boy is rowing about in his boat. Beyond the lake are seen the green meadows, the hamlets and farms of Schwytz, lying in the clear suns.h.i.+ne.

On the left are observed the peaks of the Hacken, surrounded with clouds; to the right, and in the remote distance, appear the Glaciers. The Ranz des Vaches, and the tinkling of cattle bells, continue for some time after the rising of the curtain._

FISHER BOY (_sings in his boat_) _Melody of the Ranz des Vaches_

The smile-dimpled lake woo'd to bathe in its deep, A boy on its green sh.o.r.e had laid him to sleep; Then heard he a melody Floating along, Sweet as the notes Of an angel's song.

And as thrilling with pleasure he wakes from his rest, The waters are rippling over his breast; And a voice from the deep cries, "With me thou must go, I charm the young shepherd, I lure him below."

HERDSMAN (_on the mountains_) _Air--Variation of the Ranz des Vaches_

Farewell, ye green meadows, Farewell, sunny sh.o.r.e, The herdsman must leave you, The summer is o'er.

We go to the hills, but you'll see us again, When the cuckoo calls, and the merry birds sing, When the flowers bloom afresh in glade and in glen, And the brooks sparkle bright in the suns.h.i.+ne of Spring.

Farewell, ye green meadows, Farewell, sunny sh.o.r.e, The herdsman must leave you, The summer is o'er.

CHAMOIS HUNTER (_appearing on the top of a cliff_) _Second Variation of the Ranz des Vaches_

On the heights peals the thunder, and trembles the bridge, The huntsman bounds on by the dizzying ridge.

Undaunted he hies him O'er ice-covered wild, Where leaf never budded, Nor Spring ever smiled; And beneath him an ocean of mist, where his eye No longer the dwellings of man can espy; Through the parting clouds only The earth can be seen; Far down 'neath the vapor The meadows of green.

[_A change comes over the landscape. A rumbling, cracking noise is heard among the mountains. Shadows of clouds sweep across the scene_.]

[RUODI, _the fisherman, comes out of his cottage_. WERNI, _the huntsman, descends from the rocks_. KUONI, _the shepherd, enters, with a milkpail on his shoulders, followed by_ SEPPI, _his a.s.sistant_.]

RUODI.

Come, Jenni, bustle, get the boat on sh.o.r.e.

The grizzly Vale-King[37] comes, the Glaciers moan, The Mytenstein[38] is drawing on his hood, And from the Stormcleft chilly blows the wind; The storm will burst, before we know what's what.

KUONI.

'Twill rain ere long; my sheep browse eagerly, And Watcher there is sc.r.a.ping up the earth.

WERNI.

The fish are leaping, and the water-hen Keeps diving up and down. A storm is brewing.

KUONI. (_to his boy_).

Look, Seppi, if the beasts be all in sight.

SEPPI.

There goes brown Liesel, I can hear her bells.

KUONI.

Then all are safe; she ever ranges farthest.

RUODI.

You've a fine chime of bells there, master herdsman.

WERNI.

And likely cattle, too. Are they your own?

KUONI.

I'm not so rich. They are the n.o.ble lord's Of Attinghaus, and told off to my care.

RUODI.

How gracefully yon heifer bears her ribbon!

KUONI.

Ay, well she knows she's leader of the herd, And, take it from her, she'd refuse to feed.

RUODI.

You're joking now. A beast devoid of reason--

WERNI.

Easily said. But beasts have reason, too-- And that we know, we chamois-hunters, well.

They never turn to feed--sagacious creatures!

Till they have placed a sentinel ahead, Who p.r.i.c.ks his ears whenever we approach, And gives alarm with clear and piercing pipe.

RUODI. (_to the shepherd_).

Are you for home?

KUONI.

The Alp is grazed quite bare.