FRIESS.
Who dares resist the governor's commands?
OTHER THREE PEASANTS (running in).
We'll help you.
What's the matter? Down with them!
[Hildegard, Mechthild and Elsbeth return.]
TELL.
Go, go, good people, I can help myself.
Think you, had I a mind to use my strength,
These pikes of theirs should daunt me?
MELCH. (to Friesshardt).
Only try-
Try from our midst to force him, if you dare.
FURST and STAUFF.
Peace, peace, friends!
FRIESS. (loudly).
Riot! Insurrection, ho!
[Hunting horns without.]
WOMEN.
The Governor!
FRIESS. (raising his voice).
Rebellion! Mutiny!
STAUFF.
Roar till you burst, knave!
ROSSEL. and MELCH.
Will you hold your tongue?
FRIESS. (calling still louder).
Help, help, I say, the servants of the law!
FURST.
The Viceroy here! Then we shall smart for this!
[Enter Gessler on horseback, with a falcon on his wrist; Rudolph der
Harras, Bertha, and Rudenz, and a numerous train of armed attendants,
who form a circle of lances round the whole stage.]
HAR.
Room for the Viceroy!
GESSL.
Drive the clowns apart.
Why throng the people thus? Who calls for help?
[General silence.]
Who was it? I will know.
[Friesshardt steps forward.]
And who art thou?
And why hast thou this man in custody?
[Gives his falcon to an attendant.]
FRIESS.
Dread sir, I am a soldier of your guard.
And station'd sentinel beside the cap;
This man I apprehended in the act
Of passing it without obeisance due,
So as you ordered, I arrested him,
Whereon to rescue him the people tried.
GESSL. (after a pause).
And do you, Tell, so lightly hold your King,
And me, who act as his viceregent here,
That you refuse obeisance to the cap,
I hung aloft to test your loyalty?
I read in this a disaffected spirit.
TELL.
Pardon me, good my lord! The action sprung
From inadvertence,-not from disrespect.
Were I discreet, I were not Wilhelm Tell.
Forgive me now-I'll not offend again.
GESSL. (after a pause).
I hear, Tell, you're a master with the bow,
From every rival bear the palm away.
WALT.
That's very truth, sir! At a hundred yards
He'll shoot an apple for you off the tree.
GESSL.
Is that boy thine, Tell?
TELL.
Yes, my gracious lord.
