登陆注册
15302300000010

第10章

Whoever hath a Seignior, let him obey according to the conditions of his service.

We are agreed to receive into these dales no Judge, who is not a countryman and indweller, or who hath bought his place.

Every controversy amongst the sworn confederates shall be determined by some of the sagest of their number, and if any one shall challenge their judgment, then shall he be constrained to obey it by the rest.

Whoever intentionally or deceitfully kills another, shall be executed, and whoever shelters him shall be banished.

Whoever burns the property of another shall no longer be regarded as a countryman, and whoever shelters him shall make good the damage done.

Whoever injures another, or robs him, and hath property in our country, shall make satisfaction out of the same.

No one shall distrain a debtor without a judge, nor any one who is not his debtor, or the surety of such debtor.

Every one in these dales shall submit to the judge, or we, the sworn confederates, all will take satisfaction for all the injury occasioned by his contumacy.And if in any internal division the one party will not accept justice, all the rest shall help the other party.These decrees shall, God willing, endure eternally for our general advantage.

MELCH.

I've many friends in Unterwald, and none That would not gladly venture life and limb, If fairly back'd and aided by the rest.

Oh! sage and reverend fathers of this land, Here do I stand before your riper years, An unskill'd youth, who in the Diet must Into respectful silence hush his voice.

Yet do not, for that I am young, and want Experience, slight my counsel and my words.

'Tis not the wantonness of youthful blood That fires my spirit; but a pang so deep That e'en the flinty rocks must pity me.

You, too, are fathers, heads of families, And you must wish to have a virtuous son, To reverence your grey hairs, and shield your eyes With pious and affectionate regard.

Do not, I pray, because in limb and fortune You still are unassailed, and still your eyes Revolve undimm'd and sparkling in their spheres;Oh, do not, therefore, disregard our wrongs!

Above you, also, hangs the tyrant's sword.

You, too, have striven to alienate the land From Austria.This was all my father's crime:

You share his guilt, and may his punishment.

STAUFF.(to Furst).

Do thou resolve! I am prepared to follow.

FURST.

First let us learn what steps the noble lords Von Sillinen and Attinghaus propose.

Their names would rally thousands to the cause.

MELCH.

Is there a name within the Forest Mountains That carried more respect than yours--and yours?

On names like these the people build their trust In time of need--such names are household words.

Rich was your heritage of manly worth, And richly have you added to its stores.

What need of nobles? Let us do the work Ourselves.Yes, though we have to stand alone, We shall be able to maintain our rights.

STAUFF.

The noble's wrongs are not so great as ours.

The torrent, that lays waste the lower grounds, Hath not ascended to the uplands yet.

But let them see the country once in arms, They'll not refuse to lend a helping hand.

FURST.

Were there an umpire 'twixt ourselves and Austria, Justice and law might then decide our quarrel.

But out oppressor is our Emperor too, And judge supreme.'Tis God must help us, then, And our own arm! Be yours the task to rouse The men of Schwytz.I'll rally friends in Uri.

But whom are we to send to Unterwald?

MELCH.

Thither send me.Whom should it more concern!

FURST.

No, Melchthal, no; you are my guest, and IMust answer for your safety.

MELCH.

Let me go.I know each forest track and mountain path;Friends too, I'll find, be sure, on every hand, To give me willing shelter from the foe.

STAUFF.

Nay, let him go; no traitors harbour there:

For tyranny is so abhorred in Unterwald, No tools can there be found to work her will.

In the low valleys, too, the Alzeller Will gain confederates, and rouse the country.

MELCH.

But how shall we communicate, and not Awaken the suspicion of the tyrants?

STAUFF.

Might we not meet at Brunnen or at Treib, Where merchant vessels with their cargoes come?

FURST.

We must not go so openly to work.

Hear my opinion.On the lake's left bank, As we sail hence to Brunnen, right against The Mytenstein, deep-hidden in the wood A meadow lies, by shepherds called the Rootli, Because the wood has been uprooted there.

[To Melchthal.]

'Tis where our Canton bound'ries verge on yours;[To Stauffacher.]

Your boat will carry you across from Schwytz.

Thither by lonely bypaths let us wend At midnight, and deliberate o'er our plans.

Let each bring with him there ten trusty men, All one at heart with us; and then we may Consult together for the general weal, And, with God's guidance, fix what next to do.

STAUFF.

So let it be.And now your true right hand!

Yours, too, young man! and as we now three men Among ourselves thus knit our hands together In all sincerity and truth, e'en so Shall we three cantons, too, together stand In victory and defeat, in life and death.

FURST and MELCH.

In life and death!

[They hold their hands clasped together for some moments in silence.]

MELCH.

Alas, my old blind father!

The day of freedom, that thou canst not see, But thou shalt hear it, when from Alp to Alp The beacon fires throw up their flaming signs, And the proud castles of the tyrants fall, Into thy cottage shall the Switzer burst, Bear the glad tidings to thine ear, and o'er Thy darken'd way shall Freedom's radiance pour.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 一生何安,贪婪

    一生何安,贪婪

    一生何其漫长,何其短暂。茫茫人海中能够相遇那便是缘分。
  • 僵尸传说之三清种莲

    僵尸传说之三清种莲

    天收地养,却被轮回抛弃,沉睡五百年化身僵尸,幸与不幸,剑神剑圣为他唤醒前世记忆,巧合还是天意?醒来早不知今昔是何时何地,自己将何去何从?但前世的记忆让他仍然觉得自己是一个人,当世界的真实面貌慢慢显现出来,他以人族的身份走向世界,为人类争取那一席生存空间······前世因,今生果;世情浓,情义重
  • 执剑录

    执剑录

    一生江湖岁月蹉跎,二十年芳走遍天下,三尺青锋执剑载手,满身皆伤有何惧之。(本书没有女主角,也不要让我写,不会。)
  • 遗失王冠

    遗失王冠

    人兽混血儿,在父母皆被其外公杀害后,他将何去何从。小灰的处女作,文笔稚嫩,但绝对走心。
  • 原木时光

    原木时光

    陈沐在一个贵族高校发生的一系列有趣爱情故事......陈沐是一个平民出来的孩子,因为母亲的激励让她努力的考取好成绩去贵族高校,可是没想到,考上之后,却发生了怎么多事,本来还想好好的读完高中三年,可是却因为一个人,从此改变了她的命运......陈沐是会选择爱了她十年的青梅竹马,还是会选择只仅仅认识了几个月的校草呢?
  • 穿越真帅

    穿越真帅

    轻松搞笑的情节加上现代语言的穿越文,不中马,不无敌,相信你会喜欢上。
  • 农家小女,嫁个老公是只虎

    农家小女,嫁个老公是只虎

    断掌命,犯孤煞,她是施家不受宠的庶女;挖眼痛,分尸恨,她成了野兽的口中食;再次睁眼,摇身一变农家女!本想藏身农户养精蓄锐,只盼有朝一日能将大仇得报;可现在是怎么回事??为何能听到不属于这世间的声音?流言起,闲话漫天,她竟成了和自家亲姐抢男人的下作女子?!某男站出来,“我的女人,谁敢质疑?”
  • 妃你莫属:毒医嫡长女

    妃你莫属:毒医嫡长女

    21世纪最强毒医的她,在21世纪拥有双重身份:医者、杀手,生活交替与光明和黑暗间,却被人暗算,穿越到这历史中没有出现的大陆,两世她始终遵循自己的宗旨:你毒,我比你更毒。但遇上宠她如命的他,也只能缴械投降……传说凌天宫宫主冷酷无情,杀伐果断,那谁能告诉她这只不明物体是什么!看她如何与他齐心协力,在这异世闯出一片天下!本文轻虐绝宠,欢迎跳坑。
  • 寻.梦.流年

    寻.梦.流年

    三个不同身世的女孩,一段艰辛的复仇过程,三个美丽女孩,一个绝佳组合,三对绝世男女,一段美妙爱情。复仇即将开始,最后到底是成功的喜悦还是失败的错落.....
  • 我的一条龙之养成之路

    我的一条龙之养成之路

    杨青在放学时,遭遇了一场车祸......在医院醒来的他会遭遇更多什么离谱的事?别着急~打开书看看吧......