Great things, indeed, you've wrought in little time.
I did still more than this. The fortresses, Rossberg and Sarnen, are the country's dread; For from behind their adamantine walls The foe, like eagle from his eyrie swoops, And, safe himself, spreads havoc o'er the land. With my own eyes I wish'd to weigh its strength, So went to Sarnen, and explored the castle.
Disguised in pilgrim's weeds I entered it; I saw the Viceroy feasting at his board-- Judge if I'm master of myself or no! I saw the tyrant, and I slew him not!
Fortune, indeed, upon your boldness smiled.
_[Meanwhile the others have arrived and join_ MELCHTHAL _and_ STAUFFACHER.]
Yet tell me now, I pray, who are the friends, The worthy men, who came along with you Make me acquainted with them, that we may Speak frankly, man to man, and heart to heart.
In the three Cantons, who, sir, knows not you? Meyer of Sarnen is my name; and this Is Struth of Winkelried, my sister's son.
No unknown name. A Winkelried it was Who slew the dragon in the fen at Weiler, And lost his life in the encounter, too.
That, Master Stauffacher, was my grandfather.
These two are men who till the cloister lands Of Engelberg, and live behind the forest. You'll not think ill of them, because they're serfs, And sit not free upon the soil, like us; They love the land, and bear a good repute.
Give me your hands. He has good cause for thanks That to no man his body's service owes. But worth is worth, no matter where 'tis found.
That is Herr Reding, sir, our old Landamman;
I know him well. I am at law with him About a piece of ancient heritage. Herr Reding, we are enemies in court-- Here we are one.
WINK. Listen! They come. The horn of Uri! Hark!
_[On the right and left armed men are seen descending the rocks with torches_.]
Look, is not that the holy man of God? A worthy priest! The terrors of the night, And the way's pains and perils scare not him, A faithful shepherd caring for his flock. BAUM. The Sacrist follows him, and Walter Fürst. But where is Tell? I do not see him there.
[WALTER FÜRST, RÖSSELMANN _the Pastor,_ PETERMANN _the Sacrist_, KUONI _the Shepherd_ WERNI _the Huntsman_, RUODI _the Fisherman, and other countrymen, thirty-three in all, advance and take their places round the fire.]_