Wilhelm Tell Part 43

TELL.

Stand up, stand up!

DUKE JOHN.

Not till thou shalt extend Thy hand in promise of a.s.sistance to me.

TELL.

Can I a.s.sist thee? Can a sinful man?

Yet get thee up,--how black soe'er thy crime, Thou art a man. I, too, am one. From Tell Shall no one part uncomforted. I will Do all that lies within my power.

DUKE JOHN (springs up and grasps him ardently by the hand).

Oh, Tell, You save me from the terrors of despair.

TELL.

Let go my band! Thou must away. Thou canst not Remain here undiscovered, and discovered Thou canst not count on succor. Which way, then, Wilt bend thy steps? Where dost thou hope to find A place of rest?

DUKE JOHN.

Alas! alas! I know not.

TELL.

Hear, then, what heaven suggested to my heart, Thou must to Italy,--to Saint Peter's city,-- There cast thyself at the pope's feet,--confess Thy guilt to him, and ease thy laden soul!

DUKE JOHN.

But will he not surrender me to vengeance!

TELL.

Whate'er he does receive as G.o.d's decree.

DUKE JOHN.

But how am I to reach that unknown land?

I have no knowledge of the way, and dare not Attach myself to other travellers.

TELL.

I will describe the road, and mark me well You must ascend, keeping along the Reuss, Which from the mountains dashes wildly down.

DUKE JOHN (in alarm).

What! See the Reuss? The witness of my deed!

TELL.

The road you take lies through the river's gorge, And many a cross proclaims where travellers Have perished 'neath the avalanche's fall.

DUKE JOHN.

I have no fear for nature's terrors, so I can appease the torments of my soul.

TELL.

At every cross kneel down and expiate Your crime with burning penitential tears And if you 'scape the perils of the pa.s.s, And are not whelmed beneath the drifted snows That from the frozen peaks come sweeping down, You'll reach the bridge that hangs in drizzling spray; Then if it yield not 'neath your heavy guilt, When you have left it safely in your rear, Before you frowns the gloomy Gate of Rocks, Where never sun did shine. Proceed through this, And you will reach a bright and gladsome vale.

Yet must you hurry on with hasty steps, For in the haunts of peace you must not linger.

DUKE JOHN.

Oh, Rudolph, Rudolph, royal grandsire! thus Thy grandson first sets foot within thy realms!

TELL.

Ascending still you gain the Gotthardt's heights, On which the everlasting lakes repose, That from the streams of heaven itself are fed, There to the German soil you bid farewell; And thence, with rapid course, another stream Leads you to Italy, your promised land.

[Ranz des Vaches sounded on Alp-horns is heard without.

But I hear voices! Hence!

HEDWIG (hurrying in).

Where art thou, Tell?

Our father comes, and in exulting bands All the confederates approach.

DUKE JOHN (covering himself).

Woe's me!

I dare not tarry 'mid this happiness!

TELL.

Go, dearest wife, and give this man to eat.

Spare not your bounty. For his road is long, And one where shelter will be hard to find.

Quick! they approach.

HEDWIG.

Who is he?

TELL.

Do not ask And when he quits thee, turn thine eyes away That they may not behold the road he takes.

[DUKE JOHN advances hastily towards TELL, but he beckons him aside and exit. When both have left the stage, the scene changes, and discloses in--

SCENE III.

The whole valley before TELL'S house, the heights which enclose it occupied by peasants, grouped into tableaux. Some are seen crossing a lofty bridge which crosses to the Sechen. WALTER FURST with the two boys. WERNER and STAUFFACHER come forward.

Others throng after them. When TELL appears all receive him with loud cheers.

ALL.

Long live brave Tell, our shield, our liberator.

[While those in front are crowding round TELL and embracing him, RUDENZ and BERTHA appear. The former salutes the peasantry, the latter embraces HEDWIG. The music, from the mountains continues to play. When it has stopped, BERTHA steps into the centre of the crowd.

BERTHA.

Peasants! Confederates! Into your league Receive me here that happily am the first To find protection in the land of freedom.

To your brave hands I now intrust my rights.

Will you protect me as your citizen?

PEASANTS.

Ay, that we will, with life and fortune both!