A meadow near Altdorf.Trees in the foreground.At the back of the stage a cap upon a pole.The prospect is bounded by the Bannberg, which is surmounted by a snow-capped mountain.
Friesshardt and Leuthold on guard FRIESS.
We keep our watch in vain.Zounds! not a soul Will pass, and do obeisance to the cap.
But yesterday the place swarm'd like a fair;Now the old green looks like a desert, quite, Since yonder scarecrow hung upon the pole.
LEUTH.
Only the vilest rabble show themselves, And wave their tattered caps in mockery at us.
All honest citizens would sooner make A weary circuit over half the town, Than bend their backs before our master's cap.
FRIESS.
They were obliged to pass this way at noon, As they were coming from the Council House.
I counted then upon a famous catch, For no one thought of bowing to the cap, But Rosselmann, the priest, was even with me:
Coming just then from some sick man, he takes His stand before the pole,--lifts up the Host--The Sacrist, too, must tinkle with his bell, When down they dropp'd on knee--myself and all--In reverence to the Host, but not the cap.
LEUTH.
Hark ye, companion, I've a shrewd suspicion, Our post's no better than the pillory.
It is a burning shame, a trooper should Stand sentinel before an empty cap, And every honest fellow must despise us.
To do obeisance to a cap, too! Faith, I never heard an order so absurd!
FRIESS.
Why not, an't please you, to an empty cap?
You've duck'd, I'm sure, to many an empty sconce.
[Hildegard, Mechthild, and Elsbeth enter with their children, and station themselves around the pole.]
LEUTH.
And you are a time--serving sneak, that takes Delight in bringing honest folks to harm.
For my part, he that likes may pass the cap:
I'll shut my eyes and take no note of him.
MECH.
There hangs the Viceroy! Your obeisance, children!
ELS.
I would to God he'd go, and leave his cap!
The country would be none the worse for it.
FRIESS.(driving them away).
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.
[Tell enters with his cross-bow, leading his son Walter by the hand.
They pass the hat without noticing it, and advance to the front of the stage.]
WALT.(pointing to the Bannberg).
Father, is't true, that on the mountain there The trees, if wounded with a hatchet, bleed?
TELL.
Who says so, boy?
WALT.
The master herdsman, father!
He tells us there's a charm upon the trees, And if a man shall injure them, the hand That struck the blow will grow from out the grave.
TELL.
There is a charm about them--that's the truth.
Dost see those glaciers yonder--those white horns--That seem to melt away into the sky?
WALT.
They are the peaks that thunder so at night, And send the avalanches down upon us.
TELL.
They are; and Altdorf long ago had been Submerged beneath these avalanches' weight, Did not the forest there above the town Stand like a bulwark to arrest their fall.
WALT.(after musing a little).
And are there countries with no mountains, father?
TELL.
Yes, if we travel downwards from our heights, And keep descending where the rivers go, We reach a wide and level country, where Our mountain torrents brawl and foam no more, And fair large rivers glide serenely on.
All quarters of the heaven may there be scann'd Without impediment.The corn grows there In broad and lovely fields, and all the land Is like a garden fair to look upon.
WALT.
But, father, tell me, wherefore haste we not Away to this delightful land, instead Of toiling here, and struggling as we do?
TELL.
The land is fair and bountiful as Heaven;But they who till it never may enjoy The fruits of what they sow.
WALT.
Live they not free, As you do, on the land their fathers left them?
TELL.
The fields are all the bishop's or the king's.
WALT.
But they may freely hunt among the woods?
TELL.
The game is all the monarch's--bird and beast.
WALT.
But they, at least, may surely fish the streams?
TELL.
Stream, lake, and sea, all to the king belong.
WALT.
Who is this king, of whom they're so afraid?
TELL.
He is the man who fosters and protects them.
WALT.
Have they not courage to protect themselves?
TELL.
The neighbour there dare not his neighbour trust.
WALT.
I should want breathing room in such a land.
I'd rather dwell beneath the avalanches.
TELL.
'Tis better, child, to have these glacier peaks Behind one's back, than evil-minded men!
[They are about to pass on.]
WALT.
See, father, see the cap on yonder pole!
TELL.
What is the cap to us? Come, let's begone.
[As he is going, Friesshardt, presenting his pike, stops him.]
FRIESS.
Stand, I command you, in the Emperor's name!
TELL.(seizing the pike).
What would ye? Wherefore do ye stop me thus?
FRIESS.
You've broke the mandate, and with us must go.
LEUTH.
You have not done obeisance to the cap.
TELL.
Friend, let me go.
FRIESS.
Away, away to prison!
WALT.
Father to prison.Help!
[Calling to the side scene.]
This way, you men!
Good people, help! They're dragging him to prison!
[Rosselmann the priest and the Sacristan, with three other men, enter.]
SACRIS.
What's here amiss?
ROSSEL.
Why do you seize this man?
FRIESS.
He is an enemy of the King--a traitor.
TELL.(seizing him with violence).
A traitor, I!
ROSSEL.
Friend, thou art wrong.'Tis Tell, An honest man, and worthy citizen.
WALT.(descries Furst, and runs up to him).
Grandfather, help; they want to seize my father!
FRIESS.
Away to prison!
FURST (running in).
Stay, I offer bail.
For God's sake, Tell, what is the matter here?
[Melchthal and Stauffacher enter.]
LEUTH.
He has contemn'd the Viceroy's sovereign power, Refusing flatly to acknowledge it.
STAUFF.
Has Tell done this?
MELCH.
Villain, you know 'tis false!
LEUTH.
He has not made obeisance to the cap.
FURST.
And shall for this to prison? Come, my friend, Take my security, and let him go.
FRIESS.
Keep your security for yourself--you'll need it.
We only do our duty.Hence with him.
MELCH.(to the country people).
This is too bad--shall we stand by and see Him dragged away before our very eyes?
SACRIS.
