It will be set upon a lofty pole In Altdorf, in the market place: and this Is the Lord Governor's good will and pleasure;The cap shall have like honour as himself, All do it reverence with bended knee, And head uncovered; thus the king will know Who are his true and loyal subjects here;His life and goods are forfeit to the crown That shall refuse obedience to the order.
[The people burst out into laughter.The drum beats and the procession passes on.]
1ST W.
A strange device to fall upon indeed:
Do reverence to a cap! A pretty farce!
Heard ever mortal anything like this?
MAS.M.
Down to a cap on bended knee, forsooth!
Rare jesting this with men of sober sense!
1ST W.
Nay, an it were the imperial crown! A cap!
Merely the cap of Austria! I've seen it Hanging above the throne in Gessler's hall.
MASON.
The cap of Austria? Mark that! A snare To get us into Austria's power, by Heaven!
WORK.
No freeborn man will stoop to such disgrace.
MAS.M.
Come--to our comrades, and advise with them!
[They retire up.]
TELL (to Stauffacher).
You see how matters stand.
Farewell, my friend.
STAUFF.
Whither away? Oh, leave us not so soon.
TELL.
They look for me at home.So fare ye well.
STAUFF.
My heart's so full, and has so much to tell you.
TELL.
Words will not make a heart that's heavy light.
STAUFF.
Yet words may possibly conduct to deeds.
TELL.
Endure in silence! We can do no more.
STAUFF.
But shall we bear what is not to be borne?
TELL.
Impetuous rulers have the shortest reigns.
When the fierce Southwind rises from its chasms, Men cover up their fires, the ships in haste Make for the harbour, and the mighty spirit Sweeps o'er the earth, and leaves no trace behind.
Let every man live quietly at home;
Peace to the peaceful rarely is denied.
STAUFF.
And is it thus you view our grievances?
TELL.
The serpent stings not till it is provoked.
Let them alone; they'll weary of themselves, When they shall see we are not to be roused.
STAUFF.
Much might be done--did we stand fast together.
TELL.
When the ship founders, he will best escape, Who seeks no other's safety but his own.
STAUFF.
And you desert the common cause so coldly?
TELL.
A man can safely count but on himself!
STAUFF.
Nay, even the weak grow strong by union.
TELL.
But the strong man is strongest when alone.
STAUFF.
So, then, your country cannot count on you, If in despair she rise against her foes.
TELL.
Tell rescues the lost sheep from yawning gulfs:
Is he a man, then, to desert his friends?
Yet, whatsoe'er you do, spare me from council!
I was not born to ponder and select;
But when your course of action is resolved, Then call on Tell: you shall not find him fail.
[Exeunt severally.A sudden tumult is heard around the scaffolding.]
MASON (running in).
What's wrong?
FIRST WORKMAN (running forward).
The slater's fallen from the roof.
BERTHA (rushing in).
Heavens! Is he dashed to pieces?
Save him, help!
If help be possible, save him! Here is gold.
[Throws her trinkets among the people.]
MASON.
Hence with your gold,--your universal charm, And remedy for ill! When you have torn Fathers from children, husbands from their wives, And scattered woe and wail throughout the land, You think with gold to compensate for all.
Hence! Till we saw you, we were happy men;With you came misery and dark despair.
BERTHA (to the Taskmaster, who has returned).
Lives he?
[Taskmaster shakes his head.]
Ill-omened towers, with curses built, And doomed with curses to be tenanted!
[Exit.]
