[They are about to pa.s.s 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 gra.s.s 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 pa.s.s, 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 pa.s.sage; The pa.s.s 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 G.o.d, have mercy on my soul!

HARRAS.

My lord! my lord! Oh G.o.d! 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 G.o.d 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.