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 pet.i.tion!

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 pa.s.s, 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 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----