REDING.

Confederates! Have all gentler means been tried?

Perchance the emperor knows not of our wrongs, It may not be his will that thus we suffer: Were it not well to make one last attempt, And lay our grievances before the throne, Ere we unsheath the sword? Force is at best A fearful thing even in a righteous cause; G.o.d only helps when man can help no more.

STAUFFACHER (to CONRAD HUNN).

Here you can give us information. Speak!

HUNN.

I was at Rheinfeld, at the emperor's palace, Deputed by the Cantons to complain Of the oppression of these governors, And claim the charter of our ancient freedom, Which each new king till now has ratified.

I found the envoys there of many a town, From Suabia and the valley of the Rhine, Who all received their parchments as they wished And straight went home again with merry heart.

They sent for me, your envoy, to the council, Where I was soon dismissed with empty comfort; "The emperor at present was engaged; Some other time he would attend to us!"

I turned away, and pa.s.sing through the hall, With heavy heart in a recess I saw The Grand Duke John [18] in tears, and by his side The n.o.ble lords of Wart and Tegerfeld, Who beckoned me, and said, "Redress yourselves.

Expect not justice from the emperor.

Does he not plunder his own brother's child, And keep from him his just inheritance?"

The duke claims his maternal property, Urging he's now of age, and 'tis full time That he should rule his people and dominions; What is the answer made to him? The king Places a chaplet on his head: "Behold, The fitting ornament," he cries, "of youth!"

MAUER.

You hear. Expect not from the emperor Or right, or justice. Then redress yourselves!

REDING.

No other course is left us. Now, advise What plan most likely to insure success.

FURST.

To shake a thraldom off that we abhor, To keep our ancient rights inviolate, As we received them from our forefathers--this, Not lawless innovation, is our aim.

Let Caesar still retain what is his due; And he that is a va.s.sal let him pay The service he is sworn to faithfully.

MEYER.

I hold my land of Austria in fief.

FURST.

Continue, then, to pay your feudal service.

WEILER.

I'm tenant of the lords of Rappersweil.

FURST.

Continue, then, to pay them rent and t.i.the.

ROSSELMANN.

Of Zurich's lady, I'm the humble va.s.sal.

FURST.

Give to the cloister what the cloister claims.

STAUFFACHER.

The empire only is my feudal lord.

FURST.

What needs must be, we'll do, but nothing further.

We'll drive these tyrants and their minions hence, And raze their towering strongholds to the ground, Yet shed, if possible, no drop of blood.

Let the emperor see that we were driven to cast The sacred duties of respect away; And when he finds we keep within our bounds, His wrath, belike, may yield to policy; For truly is that nation to be feared, That, when in arms, is temperate in its wrath.

REDING.

But, prithee, tell us how may this be done?

The enemy is armed as well as we, And, rest a.s.sured, he will not yield in peace.

STAUFFACHER.

He will, whene'er he sees us up in arms; We shall surprise him, ere he is prepared.

MEYER.

'Tis easily said, but not so easily done.

Two fortresses of strength command the country.

They shield the foe, and should the king invade us, The task would then be dangerous indeed.

Rossberg and Sarnen both must be secured, Before a sword is drawn in either Canton.

STAUFFACHER.

Should we delay, the foe will soon be warned; We are too numerous for secrecy.

MEYER.

There is no traitor in the Forest States.

ROSSELMANN.

But even zeal may heedlessly betray.

FURST.

Delay it longer, and the keep at Altdorf Will be complete,--the governor secure.

MEYER.

You think but of yourselves.

SACRISTAN.

You are unjust!

MEYER.

Unjust! said you? Dares Uri taunt us so?

REDING.

Peace, on your oath!

MEYER.

If Schwytz be leagued with Uri, Why then, indeed, we must perforce be silent.

REDING.

And let me tell you, in the Diet's name, Your hasty spirit much disturbs the peace.

Stand we not all for the same common cause?

WINKELRIED.

What, if we delay till Christmas? 'Tis then The custom for the serfs to throng the castle, Bringing the governor their annual gifts.

Thus may some ten or twelve selected men a.s.semble un.o.bserved within its walls, Bearing about their persons pikes of steel, Which may be quickly mounted upon staves, For arms are not admitted to the fort.