The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 97

STAUFF.

Fortune, indeed, upon your boldness smiled.

_[Meanwhile the others have arrived and join_ MELCHTHAL _and_ STAUFFACHER.]

Yet tell me now, I pray, who are the friends, The worthy men, who came along with you Make me acquainted with them, that we may Speak frankly, man to man, and heart to heart.

MEYER.

In the three Cantons, who, sir, knows not you?

Meyer of Sarnen is my name; and this Is Struth of Winkelried, my sister's son.

STAUFF.

No unknown name. A Winkelried it was Who slew the dragon in the fen at Weiler, And lost his life in the encounter, too.

WINK.

That, Master Stauffacher, was my grandfather.

MELCHTHAL _(pointing to two peasants)_.

These two are men who till the cloister lands Of Engelberg, and live behind the forest.

You'll not think ill of them, because they're serfs, And sit not free upon the soil, like us; They love the land, and bear a good repute.

STAUFFACHER _(to them)_.

Give me your hands. He has good cause for thanks That to no man his body's service owes.

But worth is worth, no matter where 'tis found.

HUNN.

That is Herr Reding, sir, our old Landamman;

MEYER.

I know him well. I am at law with him About a piece of ancient heritage.

Herr Reding, we are enemies in court-- Here we are one.

_[Shakes his hand_.]

STAUFFACHER.

That's well and bravely said.

WINK. Listen! They come. The horn of Uri! Hark!

_[On the right and left armed men are seen descending the rocks with torches_.]

MAUER.

Look, is not that the holy man of G.o.d?

A worthy priest! The terrors of the night, And the way's pains and perils scare not him, A faithful shepherd caring for his flock.

BAUM. The Sacrist follows him, and Walter Furst.

But where is Tell? I do not see him there.

[WALTER FuRST, RoSSELMANN _the Pastor,_ PETERMANN _the Sacrist_, KUONI _the Shepherd_ WERNI _the Huntsman_, RUODI _the Fisherman, and other countrymen, thirty-three in all, advance and take their places round the fire.]_

FuRST.

Thus must we, on the soil our fathers left us, Creep forth by stealth to meet like murderers, And in the night, that should her mantle lend Only to, crime and black conspiracy, a.s.sert our own good rights which yet are clear As is the radiance of the noonday sun.

MELCH.

So be it. What is hatch'd in gloom of night Shall free and boldly meet the morning light.

RoSSEL.

Confederates! Listen to the words which G.o.d Inspires my heart withal. Here we are met, To represent the general weal. In us Are all the people of the land convened.

Then let us hold the Diet, as of old, And as we're wont in peaceful times to do.

The time's necessity be our excuse, If there be aught informal in this meeting.

Still, wheresoe'er men strike for justice, there Is G.o.d, and now beneath His heav'n we stand.

STAUFF.

'Tis well advised.--Let us, then, hold the Diet, According to our ancient usages.-- Though it be night, there's suns.h.i.+ne in our cause.

MELCH.

Few though our numbers be, the hearts are here Of the whole people; here the BEST are met.

HUNN.

The ancient books may not be near at hand, Yet are they graven in our inmost hearts.

RoSSEL.

'Tis well. And now, then, let a ring be formed, And plant the swords of power within the ground.[52]

MAUER.

Let the Landamman step into his place, And by his side his secretaries stand.

SACRIST.

There are three Cantons here. Which hath the right To give the head to the united Council?

Schwytz may contest that dignity with Uri; We Unterwald'ners enter not the field.

MELCH.