The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 254

The neighbor there dare not his neighbor trust.

WALTER.

I should want breathing room in such a land, I'd rather dwell beneath the avalanches.

TELL.

'Tis better, child, to have these glacier peaks Behind one's back than evil-minded men!

[They are about to pa.s.s on.

WALTER.

See, father, see the cap on yonder pole!

TELL.

What is the cap to us? Come, let's be gone.

[As he is going, FRIESSHARDT, presenting his pike, stops him.

FRIESSHARDT.

Stand, I command you, in the emperor's name.

TELL (seizing the pike).

What would ye? Wherefore do ye stop my path?

FRIESSHARDT.

You've broke the mandate, and must go with us.

LEUTHOLD.

You have not done obeisance to the cap.

TELL.

Friend, let me go.

FRIESSHARDT.

Away, away to prison!

WALTER.

Father to prison! Help!

[Calling to the side scene.

This way, you men!

Good people, help! They're dragging him to prison!

[ROSSELMANN, the priest, and the SACRISTAN, with three other men, enter.

SACRISTAN.

What's here amiss?

ROSSELMANN.

Why do you seize this man?

FRIESSHARDT.

He is an enemy of the king--a traitor!

TELL (seizing him with violence).

A traitor, I!

ROSSELMANN.

Friend, thou art wrong. 'Tis Tell, An honest man, and worthy citizen.

WALTER (descries FURST, and runs up to him).

Grandfather, help! they want to seize my father!

FRIESSHARDT.

Away to prison!

FURST (running in).

Stay! I offer bail.

For G.o.d's sake, Tell, what is the matter here?

[MELCHTHAL and STAUFFACHER enter.

LEUTHOLD.

He has contemned the viceroy's sovereign power, Refusing flatly to acknowledge it.

STAUFFACHER.

Has Tell done this?

MELCHTHAL.

Villain, thou knowest 'tis false!

LEUTHOLD.

He has not made obeisance to the cap.

FURST.

And shall for this to prison? Come, my friend, Take my security, and let him go.

FRIESSHARDT.

Keep your security for yourself--you'll need it.

We only do our duty. Hence with him.

MELCHTHAL (to the country people).

This is too bad--shall we stand by, and see them.

Drag him away before our very eyes?

SACRISTAN.

We are the strongest. Don't endure it, friends.

Our countrymen will back us to a man.

FRIESSHARDT.

Who dares resist the governor's commands?