Wilhelm Tell [35]
have no second to send after thee. [Travellers pass over the stage.] I'll sit me down upon this bench of stone, Hewn for the way-worn traveller's brief repose-- For here there is no home. Men hurry past Each other, with quick step and careless look, Nor stay to question of their grief. Here goes The merchant, all anxiety,--the pilgrim, With scanty furnished scrip,--- the pious monk, The scowling robber, and the jovial player, The carrier with his heavy-laden horse, That comes to us from the far haunts of men; For every road conducts to the world's end. They all push onwards--every man intent On his own several business--mine is murder! [Sits down.] Time was, my dearest children, when with joy You hail'd your father's safe return to home From his long mountain toils; for, when he came, He ever brought with him some little gift,-- A lovely Alpine flower--a curious bird-- Or elf-bolt such as on the hills are found. But now he goes in quest of other game, Sits in this gorge, with murder in his thoughts, And for his enemy's life-blood lies in wait. But still it is of you alone he thinks, Dear children. 'Tis to guard your innocence, To shield you from the tyrant's fell revenge, He bends his bow to do a deed of blood! [Rises.] Well--I am watching for a noble prey-- Does not the huntsman, with unflinching heart, Roam for whole days, when winter frosts are keen, Leap at the risk of death from rock to rock,-- And climb the jagged, slippery steeps, to which His limbs are glued by his own streaming blood-- And all to hunt a wretched chamois down? A far more precious prize is now my aim-- The heart of that dire foe, who seeks my life. [Sprightly music heard in the distance, which comes gradually nearer.] From my first years of boyhood I have used The bow--been practised in the archer's feats; The bull's eye many a time my shafts have hit, And many a goodly prize have I brought home From competitions. But this day I'll make My master-shot, and win what's best to win In the whole circuit of our mountain range. [A bridal party passes over the stage, and goes up the pass. Tell gazes at it, leaning on his bow. He is joined by Stussi, the Ranger.] STUSSI. There goes the cloister bailiff's bridal train Of Morlischachen. A rich fellow he! And has some half score pastures on the Alps. He goes to fetch his bride from Imisee. At Kussnacht there will be high feast to-night-- Come with us--ev'ry honest man is asked. TELL. A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast. STUSSI. If you've a trouble, dash it from your heart! Take what Heaven sends! The times are heavy now, And we must snatch at pleasure as it flies. Here 'tis a bridal, there a burial. TELL. And oft the one close on the other treads. STUSSI. So runs the world we live in. Everywhere Mischance befalls and misery enough. In Glarus there has been a landslip, and A whole side of the Glarnisch has fallen in. TELL. How! Do the very hills begin to quake? There is stability for nought on earth. STUSSI. Of strange things, too, we hear from other parts. I spoke with one but now, from Baden come, Who said a knight was on his way to court, And, as he rode along, a swarm of wasps Surrounded him, and settling on his horse, So fiercely stung the beast, that it fell dead, And he proceeded to the court on foot. TELL. The weak are also furnish'd with a sting. [Armgart enters with several children, and places herself at the entrance of the pass.] STUSSI. Tis thought to bode disaster to the land,-- Some horrid deeds against the course of nature. TELL. Why, every day brings forth such fearful deeds; There needs no prodigy to herald them. STUSSI. Ay, happy he who tills his field in peace, And sits at home untroubled with his kin. TELL. The very meekest cannot be at peace If his ill neighbour will not let him rest. [Tell looks frequently with restless expectation towards the top of the pass.] STUSSI. So fare you well! You're waiting some one here? TELL. I am. STUSSI. God speed you safely to your home! You are from Uri, are you not? His grace The Governor's expected thence to-day. TRAVELLER (entering). Look not to