Wilhelm Tell by Friedrich Schiller (best books for students to read .txt) 📕

DER HARRAS appear upon the
heights on horseback.

STUSSI (to FRIESSHARDT).
How got ye through the stream When all the bridges have been carried down?

FRIESSHARDT. We've battled with the billows; and, my friend, An Alpine torrent's nothing after that.

STUSSI. How! Were you out, then, in that dreadful storm?

FRIESSHARDT. Ay, that we were! I shall not soon forget it.

STUSSI. Stay, speak - -

FRIESSHARDT.
I cannot. I must to the castle, And tell them that the governor's at hand.

[Exit.

STUSSI. If honest men, now, had been in the ship, It had gone down with every soul on board: - Some folks are proof 'gainst fire and water both.

[Looking round.

Where has the huntsman gone with whom I spoke?

[Exit.

Enter GESSLER and RUDOLPH DER HARRAS on horseback.

GESSLER. Say what you please; I am the emperor's servant, And my first care must be to do his pleasure. He did not send me here to fawn and cringe And coax these boors into good humor. No! Obedience he must have. We soon shall see If king or peasant is to lord it here?

ARMGART. Now is the moment! Now for my petition!

GESSLER. 'Twas not in sport that I set up the cap In Altdorf - or to try the people's hearts - All this I knew before. I set it up That they might learn to bend those stubborn necks They carry far too proudly - and I placed What well I knew their eyes could never brook Full in the road, which they perforce must pass, That, when their eyes fell on it, they might call That lord to mind whom they too much forget.

HARRAS. But surely, sir, the people have some rights - -

GESSLER. This is no time to settle what they are. Great projects are at work, and hatching now; The imperial house seeks to extend its power. Those vast designs of conquests, which the sire Has gloriously begun, the son will end. This petty nation is a stumbling-block - One way or other it must be subjected.

[They are about to pass on. ARMMGART throws herself
down before GESSLER.

ARMGART. Mercy, lord governor! Oh, pardon, pardon!

GESSLER. Why do you cross me on the public road? Stand back, I say.

ARMGART.
My husband lies in prison; My wretched orphans cry for bread. Have pity, Pity, my lord, upon our sore distress!

HARRAS. Who are you, woman; and who is your husband?

ARMGART. A poor wild hay-man of the Rigiberg, Kind sir, who on the brow of the abyss, Mows down the grass from steep and craggy shelves, To which the very cattle dare not climb.

HARRAS (to GESSLER). By Heaven! a sad and miserable life! I prithee, give the wretched man his freedom. How great soever his offence may be, His horrid trade is punishment enough.

[To ARMGART.

You shall have justice. To the castle bring Your suit. This is no place to deal with it.

ARMGART. No, no, I will not stir from where I stand, Until your grace restore my husband to me. Six months already has he been in prison, And waits the sentence of a judge in vain.

GESSLER. How! Would you force me, woman? Hence! Begone!

ARMGART. Justice, my lord! Ay, justice! Thou art judge! The deputy of the emperor - of Heaven! Then do thy duty, as thou hopest for justice From Him who rules above, show it to us!

GESSLER. Hence! drive this daring rabble from my sight!

ARMGART (seizing his horse's reins). No, no, by Heaven, I've nothing more to lose. Thou stirrest not, viceroy, from this spot until Thou dost me fullest justice. Knit thy brows, And roll thy eyes; I fear not. Our distress Is so extreme, so boundless, that we care No longer for thine anger.

GESSLER.
Woman, hence! Give way, I say, or I will ride thee down.

ARMGART. Well, do so; there!

[Throws her children and herself upon the ground before him.

Here on the ground I lie, I and my children. Let the wretched orphans Be trodden by thy horse into the dust! It will not be the worst that thou hast done.

HARRAS. Are you mad, woman?

ARMGART (continuing with vehemence).
Many a day thou hast Trampled the emperor's lands beneath thy feet. Oh, I am but a woman! Were I man, I'd find some better thing to do, than here Lie grovelling in the dust.

[The music of the wedding party is again heard
from the top of the pass, but more softly.

GESSLER.
Where are my knaves? Drag her away, lest I forget myself, And do some deed I may repent hereafter.

HARRAS. My lord, the servants cannot force a passage; The pass is blocked up by a marriage party.

GESSLER. Too mild a ruler am I to this people, Their tongues are all too bold; nor have they yet Been tamed to due submission, as they shall be. I must take order for the remedy; I will subdue this stubborn mood of theirs, And crush the soul of liberty within them. I'll publish a new law throughout the land; I will - -

[An arrow pierces him, - he puts his hand on his heart,
and is about to sink - with a feeble voice.

Oh God, have mercy on my soul!

HARRAS. My lord! my lord! Oh God! What's this? Whence came it?

ARMGART (starts up). Dead, dead! He reels, he falls! 'Tis in his heart!

HARRAS (springs from his horse). This is most horrible! Oh Heavens! sir knight, Address yourself to God and pray for mercy; You are a dying man.

GESSLER.
That shot was Tell's.

[He slides from his horse into the arms of RUDOLPH
DER HARRAS, who lays him down upon the bench. TELL
appears above, upon the rocks.

TELL. Thou knowest the archer, seek no other hand. Our cottages are free, and innocence Secure from thee: thou'lt be our curse no more.

[TELL disappears. People rush in.

STUSSI. What is the matter? Tell me what has happened?

ARMGART. The governor is shot, - killed by an arrow!

PEOPLE (running in). Who has been shot?

[While the foremost of the marriage party are coming
on the stage, the hindmost are still upon the heights.
The music continues.

HARRAS.
He's bleeding fast to death. Away, for help - pursue the murderer! Unhappy man, is't thus that thou must die? Thou wouldst not heed the warnings that I gave thee!

STUSSI. By heaven, his cheek is pale! His life ebbs fast.

MANY VOICES. Who did the deed?

HARRAS.
What! Are the people mad That they make music to a murder? Silence!

[Music breaks off suddenly. People continue to flock in.

Speak, if thou canst, my lord. Hast thou no charge To intrust me with?

[GESSLER makes signs with his hand, which he repeats
with vehemence, when he finds they are not understood.

What would you have me do? Shall I to Kuessnacht? I can't guess your meaning. Do not give way to this impatience. Leave All thoughts of earth and make your peace with Heaven.

[The whole marriage party gather round the dying man.

STUSSI. See there! how pale he grows! Death's gathering now About his heart; his eyes grow dim and glazed.

ARMGART (holds up a child). Look, children, how a tyrant dies!

HARRAS.
Mad hag! Have you no touch of feeling that you look On horrors such as these without a shudder? Help me - take hold. What, will not one assist To pull the torturing arrow from his breast?

WOMEN. We touch the man whom God's own hand has struck!

HARRAS. All curses light on you!

[Draws his sword.

STUSSI (seizes his arm).
Gently, sir knight! Your power is at an end. 'Twere best forbear. Our country's foe is fallen. We will brook No further violence. We are free men.

ALL. The country's free!

HARRAS.
And is it come to this? Fear and obedience at an end so soon?

[To the soldiers of the guard who are thronging in.

You see, my friends, the bloody piece of work They've acted here. 'Tis now too late for help, And to pursue the murderer were vain. New duties claim our care. Set on to Kuessnacht, And let us save that fortress for the king! For in an hour like this all ties of order, Fealty, and faith are scattered to the winds. No man's fidelity is to be trusted.

[As he is going out with the soldiers six
FRATRES MISERICCRDIAE appear.

ARMGART. Here come the brotherhood of mercy. Room!

STUSSI. The victim's slain, and now the ravens stoop.

BROTHERS OF MERCY (form a semicircle round the body, and sing in solemn tones).

With hasty step death presses on,
Nor grants to man a moment's stay,
He falls ere half his race be run
In manhood's pride is swept away!
Prepared or unprepared to die,
He stands before his Judge on high.

[While they are repeating the last two lines, the curtain falls.


ACT V.

SCENE I.

A common near Altdorf. In the background to the right the keep
of Uri, with the scaffold still standing, as in the third scene
of the first act. To the left the view opens upon numerous
mountains, on all of which signal fires are burning. Day is
breaking, and bells are heard ringing from various distances.

RUODI, KUONI, WERNI, MASTER MASON, and many other country people,
also women and children.

RUODI.