WERNI.
You"ve cleft his skull, then, have you, with your axe?
KUONI.
Oh, tell us all! You"ve time enough, before The boat can be unfastened from its moorings.
BAUMGARTEN.
When I was in the forest, felling timber, My wife came running out in mortal fear: "The seneschal," she said, "was in my house, Had ordered her to get a bath prepared, And thereupon had taken unseemly freedoms, From which she rid herself and flew to me."
Armed as I was I sought him, and my axe Has given his bath a b.l.o.o.d.y benediction.
WERNI.
And you did well; no man can blame the deed.
KUONI.
The tyrant! Now he has his just reward!
We men of Unterwald have owed it long.
BAUMGARTEN.
The deed got wind, and now they"re in pursuit.
Heavens! whilst we speak, the time is flying fast.
[It begins to thunder.
KUONI.
Quick, ferrymen, and set the good man over.
RUODI.
Impossible! a storm is close at hand, Wait till it pa.s.s! You must.
BAUMGARTEN.
Almighty heavens!
I cannot wait; the least delay is death.
KUONI (to the fisherman).
Push out. G.o.d with you! We should help our neighbors; The like misfortune may betide us all.
[Thunder and the roaring of the wind.
RUODI.
The south wind"s up! [4] See how the lake is rising!
I cannot steer against both storm and wave.
BAUMGARTEN (clasping him by the knees).
G.o.d so help you, as now you pity me!
WERNI.
His life"s at stake. Have pity on him, man!
KUONI.
He is a father: has a wife and children.
[Repeated peals of thunder.
RUODI.
What! and have I not, then, a life to lose, A wife and child at home as well as he?
See, how the breakers foam, and toss, and whirl, And the lake eddies up from all its depths!
Right gladly would I save the worthy man, But "tis impossible, as you must see.
BAUMGARTEN (still kneeling).
Then must I fall into the tyrant"s hands, And with the port of safety close in sight!
Yonder it lies! My eyes can measure it, My very voice can echo to its sh.o.r.es.
There is the boat to carry me across, Yet must I lie here helpless and forlorn.
KUONI.
Look! who comes here?
RUODI.
"Tis Tell, brave Tell, of Buerglen. [5]
[Enter TELL, with a crossbow.
TELL.
Who is the man that here implores for aid?
KUONI.
He is from Alzellen, and to guard his honor From touch of foulest shame, has slain the Wolfshot!
The imperial seneschal, who dwelt at Rossberg.
The viceroy"s troopers are upon his heels; He begs the boatman here to take him over, But he, in terror of the storm, refuses.
RUODI.
Well, there is Tell can steer as well as I.
He"ll be my judge, if it be possible.
[Violent peals of thunder--the lake becomes more tempestuous.
Am I to plunge into the jaws of h.e.l.l?
I should be mad to dare the desperate act.
TELL.
The brave man thinks upon himself the last.
Put trust in G.o.d, and help him in his need!
RUODI.
Safe in the port, "tis easy to advise.
There is the boat, and there the lake! Try you!
TELL.
The lake may pity, but the viceroy will not.
Come, venture, man!