University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

—Camp of Rudolph. Rudolph R. H. and Gesler L. H. at a table with Dice. Officers engaged at play. Razman L. C. and Servitz L. H. corner.
Rud.
(Throwing the dice box down.)
Deuce ace! Fortune's against me still!

Ges.
Fortune's a woman, and 'tis e'er her art
To thwart her woers wishes for a while
To pay him all at once, the bliss he asks.
Tempt her once more, my lord! Here are the dice!

Rud.
Well then, for fifty pieces! [Throws.]
Eleven!

Ges.
Said I not rightly? the maid becomes less coy
[Throws.]
Eight! the stake is yours! Wilt tempt her smile again?

Rud.
Aye, will I Gesler! But fill, sirs; fill a pledge
To madam fortune! She is the soldier's mistress
And should be greeted with a brimming cup. [They fill.]

To the blind goddess “Fortune.”

Omnes.
[Drink.]
To fortune.

Raz.
This smacks of life cousin! give me the camp
With all its sweet uncertainties! The doubt
That mingles with each draught we drain, whether we
Quaff another ere we die, gives a zest
That keeps satiety a stranger to our revels.

Rud.
(Who has thrown and again won.)
Comrades! another to our lady-love!
If she wants eyes, her ears are not o'er dull;
She answers to our pledge in shining gold,
Scarce duller than our wine. Again!

Omnes.
To fortune.

Enter Hertman, L. H.
Hert.
My lord, the rebels are assembling fast,
And in great numbers. Beacon's are pil'd
Upon the hills in readiness to tell
The signal for assault. Our scouts report
'Twere easy to surprise them, ere they form;
And to secure a speedy and certain victory.

Rud.
Nay, nay, the game shall rise, ere we unstrike Unhooding the Falcon preparatory to flight.

Our falcons. 'Tis your throw Gesler.

Raz.
Our cousin has studying 'mong frog's;
He croaks so well. [Observing Rudolph.]

Ha, ha! another lucky cast!
The gold imparts its shunshine to his face.

Hert.
The beacon's on the hills are fired my lord;
Their wreathy smoke is circling to the skies
On every side.

Rud.
No matter Hertman,
So that it does not hide the sun's broad light!
he throws against me Gesler.

Hert.
(Aside.
He tempts his fate;
The game we play grows hazardous! my lord,
Each minute adds new courage to the foe!

Ges.
You win, my lord.

Raz.
How like a rusty bell
Our cousin has become, which harshly creaks
With every passing wind, but cannot raise
A sound beyond the music that the owl
Delights in for her lullaby!

Enter Soldiers, bringing in Gortz, L. H.
Soldier.
This peasant
Was found lurking about our camp, my lord.

Rud.
Look to him Hertman. Seven!

Hert.
Madman! [To Gortz.]

Well, sirrah, thou'rt a spy?

Gortz.
Marry, not I sir;
I am a loyal servant to the state,
As cousin Peter there can testify. [Points to Razman.]


Raz.
I your cousin? Hertman I know him not.

Gortz.
Oh, Peter! Peter! Art thou grown so great
That thou forget'st thy kindred? Fie Peter, fie!
It was to seek thee out, I hither came.

Raz.
(L. C.)
My lord I know him not. [To Rudolph.]
My lord he is a spy!

Rud.
(R. H.)
Hang him then. The throw's with you.

Gortz.
(Crossing to C.)
My lord! my lord! for cousin Peter's sake,
I prithee hang me not! let me go free.
I'm but a simple lad, a poor minstrel,
And no spy. I'll guide your troops my lord, by ways
You have no mind of—oh, anything but hang
[To Hertman.)
You know me, sir, I am he whose wit you question'd
Upon old Eberhard's daughter's wedding day,
She's dead, sir. 'Twas that which roused the people.
You see I'm honest: for I blink not aught
I've knowledge of good, sirs.

[Rudolph throws down the box and advances.]
Rud.
He is not worth
The very hangman's pains: a rope were wasted
On a thing like him.

Gortz.
Oh blessings on thy wit
That can discern the worth of nothingness.

Rud.
How many do the rebels number?

Gortz.
As near as may be, about a thousand men,
And those half dead with fear. They fight my lord?
Some score or two of men with me to lead them—
I mean as guide.

Rud.
We'll take the field on foot.
To arms! [Trumpets sound and Officers take up arms.]

We'll teach the slaves submission
To our will. Now knave fulfil thy office.

[Exit L. H.
Gortz.
My lord I'm ready. I'm a made man!
The gov'nors special guide. Faugh! for Peter.

[Exeunt to trumpets, R. H.

SCENE II.

—A Valley, Moonlight. Arnold and Peasantry enter R. H. and L. H. Arnold walks in front looking at them attentively.
Arn.
Not one, not one! I've look'd among ye for
A quailing eye, and find it not. 'Tis well!
The victory's half achiev'd, when the results not feared!
(He advances to one.)
Lend me thy buckler. I've heard thy grandsire say
He bore it at Mortgartem. That was a day
Will live in Switzerland's annals till her hills
Are levell'd with the plain. See how many a blow
This trusty friend hath borne, and yet thy grandsire
Liv'd to tell the part he bore in that great day!
Bring thou it back but with as many records
Of thy valour, thy country will not be
A niggard of her thanks.
(To William.)
Come here my boy. [Draws.]

This was my father's sword. Thou see'st how closely
It hath question'd and been answer'd. Thy sinews
Are more firm than those of my old arm,
I would not have it handless, give me thine.

(They exchange swords.)
Wil.
I take it father, and you shall find it with me,
When you require it back again, and sheathless
As you give it me. I owe our foes a debt
Which in its payment may this lustre dim,
But shall not stain it. I thank thee for the gift!

[A parly sounded.]
Arn.
Hark! hark! they mock us even in the field
For now their war trumps sound the notes of peace.
Enter Gesler, L. H.
Whom seek you sir?

Ges.
Arnold of Winkelried!

Arn.
Your search is ended, sir, for I am he.
What is the purport of your message?

Ges.
Peace!

Arn.
Most welcome is it if to justice join'd.
Speak on sir.

Ges.
Count Rudolph greets ye all
And will forego his much provok'd resentment
If now ye quit your hostile bearing.

Arn.
What if we refuse?

Ges.
The worst the law may warrant.

Arn.
We understand you, sir, the fire which kindles
The rooftree of one home will light up hundreds,
The sword which reeks in slaughter of one Swiss
Will cleanse its crimsomed surface in another.
Said I not rightly?

Ges.
You do sir.

Arn.
What say ye friends?
Surrender leaves us where the morning found us
The serfs of strangers, nay, the worst of slaves.
To sail in this our enterprize will bring
Death in exchange for abject servitude.
To struggle and to conquer leaves us free!
Which is your choice?

Omnes.
(R. H.)
Death or freedom!

Arn.
(C.)
You are answered, sir.

Ges.
(L. H.)
Your pardon, sir, a more defined reply
Is needed to my lord's proposal.

Arn.
(To one of the Peasants.)
Give me an arrow, one that is sure of flight.
(Aside to him)
Speed you to Martin bid him without delay
Bring up his friends. [Aloud.]
I do not like your shafts.
[Exit Peasant, R. H.
(To another.)
Pray you show me yours. [Aside.]
Find Walter of Uri
Tell him what you've observed. [Exit Peasant—Aloud.]
This will do. [Takes an Arrow.]

(Aside to him.)
Speed as you've hopes of life, we meet them at the dawn.

[Exit Peasant R. H.
Ges.
I wait your answer, sir.

Arn.
I'll task your patience
But a little longer. [To William.]
Give me your bow
[Aside to him.]
Conceal your force behind the mountain—
We'll drive the Austrians towards the close defile—
Away, and shun observance. [To Gesler.]
I claim your notice, sir. [Suiting the action to the word.]

The knock's on the string—the bow is bent—
The arrow's gone—'till now—the impulse spent
Which gave it motion—it falls to earth!
Such is the answer we to Rodolph send.
The will which guides our actions had its rest
Upon our heartstrings. It hath begun its course,
And as the arrow cannot be recall'd,
When once it hath commenc'd its airy flight,
Our purpose changes not—we die or conquer.

Ges.
Pause, ere you dismiss me; our numbers double yours,
Train'd to the ways of war, and arm'd as soldiers
Who have the keeping of a nation's glory.

Arn.
Were they ten times doubled we should reply the same,
For though our ranks are fill'd by husbandmen,
We have a cause which gives each lowly heart
The aspirations of a hero's soul—
A cause which justice sanctions and supports.

Ges.
Then be it so. I bid you now farewell,
With the assurance we shall meet again
Where blows will serve for language.

Arn.
Farewell, sir.
[Exit Gesler, L. H.
The sun! the sun is rising! Let its set
Find us more worthy of its glorious light.
Forth every sword! [All draw.]
See how they catch the beams
As though to light us to our blessed toil.
Away with every thought but that of victory!
Let your loud halloo serve the trumpet's voice!
Huzza for Switzerland, the land we love!

[Drums, Shouting, &c. Exeunt omnes, R. H.

SCENE III.

—The Mountains.
Alarom. Drums, Trumpets, &c. Enter William and Hertman, U. E. R. H. fighting.
Hert.
Spare my life, and I will give you gold
More than my armour weighs.

Wil,
I prize thy word
As highly as thy gold, and both at nothing.

Hert.
I pledge it by honour! My name is
Hertman!

Wil.
Hertman! Devil! I would not sell
Thy life, if every drop thy blacken'd heart gives out
Were by a ruby, priceless as the sun,
To be redeemed! My wife! my wife was priceless.

[They fight off, R. H. Drums and Trumpets.
Enter Bertha, 3 E. L. H. watching the conflict.
Ber.
Brave hearts! brave hearts! how breathlessly they move,
And yet how firmly. That is my father's form
Hurrying thus to and fro! Now they pause! [A shout.]

That was a noisy greeting, well answer'd
By a cloud of arrows. Brave hearts, 'tis vain!
They rattle on their steel but do not scathe—
The iron forest moves towards them—they close!
Oh God! how fast they fall! Mercy! they fly!
Oh, that I were a man to shame them! 'Tis well!
My father strikes the foremost recreant down,
But they press by him. In vain he strives to stay
Their flight—they bear him onward with them!
I know his mighty heart is now nigh bursting.
They are not worthy freedom who could fly
So soon before their enslavers! [Shouts and drum.]


[Exit behind the rock, U. E. L. H.
Enter Arnold, 3 E. L. H. forced on by Peasantry. His sword broken.
Arn.
Oh, miserable show of manhood! Fly on,
But herd not more with men! Go seek the hare
And chamois they are most fit to be your comrades!
What has so scar'd ye? Ye'd wear the iron
Of their weapons were it beat into an edgeless chain,
But dare not face them now, lest ye should bleed!

Mar.
We fear not equal conflict, but their spears
Are charmed—we cannot beat them down.

Arn.
Methinks if they were straws and tipp'd with pins,
So that they drew blood, ye dare not face them! [Trumpet.]

Oh, look ye look ye! from what things ye fly!
A troop of women! for the little mound
They've climb'd hath well nigh drain'd them of their breath,
And yet these pamper'd things have power to scare
Helvetia's sons from Freedom's glorious feast!

Wal.
Arnold, beat down their spears, and we will earn
More of your praise than now we have your censure!

Arn.
Ye fear their spears! Beheld, I am unarm'd,
And yet all naked as I am, I will not move
One backward step from where I take my stand!
Our word be “Onward!” Let the dastard fly—
Not to his home, for that will be accurs'd—
Not to the hills, for they are for the free—
Not to our plains, for where his foot doth fall
The grass will wither ne'er to spring again—
But to the desert, where nothing of life
Is found to hold communion with the slave!
[Drums and Trumpets.
They come! now let them find a foeman's greeting—
The rude embrace of undissembling hate!

[The Austrians enter R. H. in compact order, led by Hertman and Rudolph. The Swiss shout and advance cautiously towards them, Arnold encouraging them by his gestures. He rushes towards the Austrians, and spreading out his arms, seizes a number of their Spears and falls upon their points, exclaiming, “Charge, for Helvetia! charge!” The Peasants rush through the openings thus made, and at length force the enemy off. Arnold is discovered supported in the centre of the Stage.]
Enter Bertha, U. E. L. H.
Ber.
My father! [Runs to him.]


Arn.
This is no time for tears! Pray,
Bertha! pray my death be not in vain!

Ber.
Death! no, no! thou art not dying, father!
There is no prize that is worth half the ransom.

Arn.
Yes! yes! a fellow's freedom! Give me thine hand.
I've won to-day the best of requiems—
The good man's praise!
Enter Martin, R. H.
[To Martin.]
How speed's the day?

Mar.
Well, good Arnold! for when I left the field
The knights were turning from our friends.

Arn.
Then, God, I thank thee, and but ask for life
To hear the cause has triumph'd!
Enter Albert, with the Standard of Austria, Peasantry shouting, bringing in Rudolph and others wounded.
My pray'r is answer'd!
[To Rud.]
You see how calmly an old man can die,
When 'tis for liberty! Friends, let this day
Be memorial in your hearts; that should a tyrant
Again attempt to chain ye, ye may know
The way to check his power! Tell! I come!

[Chorus repeated very piano. The Curtain descends.