He'll keep his oath, for he has felt our arm.
[*] The Urphede was an oath of peculiar force. When a man, who was at
feud with another, invaded his lands and was worsted, he often
made terms with his enemy by swearing the Urphede, by which he
bound himself to depart, and never to return with a hostile
intention.
FURST.
Oh! well for you, you have not stain'd with blood
Our spotless victory!
CHILDREN (running across the stage with fragments of wood).
We're free! we're free!
FURST.
Oh! what a joyous scene! These children will
Remember it when all their heads are grey.
[Girls bring in the cap upon a pole. The whole stage is filled with
people.]
RUODI.
Here is the cap, to which we were to bow!
BAUM.
What shall we do with it? Do you decide!
FURST.
Heavens! 'Twas beneath this cap my grandson stood!
SEVERAL VOICES.
Destroy the emblem of the tyrant's power!
Let it be burnt!
FURST.
No. Rather be preserved;
'Twas once the instrument of despots-now
'Twill of our freedom be a lasting sign.
[Peasants, men, women, and children, some standing, others sitting
upon the beams of the shattered scaffold, all picturesquely grouped,
in a large semicircle.]
MELCH.
Thus now, my friends, with light and merry hearts,
We stand upon the wreck of tyranny;
And gloriously the work has been fulfilled,
Which we at Rootli pledged ourselves to do.
FURST.
No, not fulfilled. The work is but begun:
Courage and concord firm, we need them both;
For, be assured, the king will make all speed,
To avenge his Viceroy's death, and reinstate,
By force of arms, the tyrant we've expelled.
MELCH.
Why let him come, with all his armaments!
The foe's expelled, that press'd us from within.
The foe without we are prepared to meet!
RUODI.
The passes to our Cantons are but few;
These with our bodies we will block, we will!
BAUM.
Knit are we by a league will ne'er be rent,
And all his armies shall not make us quail.
[Enter Rosselmann and Stauffacher.]
ROSSEL. (speaking as he enters).
These are the awful judgments of the Lord!
PEAS.
What is the matter?
ROSSEL.
In what times we live!
FURST.
Say on, what is't? Ha, Werner, is it you?
What tidings?
PEAS.
What's the matter?
ROSSEL.
Hear and wonder!
STAUFF.
We are released from one great cause of dread.
ROSSEL.
The Emperor is murdered.
FURST.
Gracious Heaven!
