The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iii Part 100

Perchance the Emp'ror knows not of our wrongs; It may not be his will we suffer thus 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 e'en in a righteous cause; G.o.d only helps, when man can help no more.

STAUFFACHER (_to_ KONRAD HUNN).

Here you can give us information. Speak!

HUNN.

I was at Rheinfeld, at the Emperor's Court, Deputed by the Cantons to complain Of the oppressions of these governors, And of our liberties the charter claim 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 wish'd, And straight went home again with merry heart.

But me, your envoy, they to the council sent, Where I with empty cheer was soon dismiss'd.

"The Emperor at present was engaged; Some other time he would attend to us!"

I turn'd away, and pa.s.sing through the hall, With heavy heart, in a recess I saw The Grand Duke John[54] in tears, and by his side The n.o.ble lords of Wart and Tegerfeld, Who beckon'd 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 estates 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 fathers--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 dues.

WEIT.

I'm tenant of the lords of Rappersweil.

FuRST.

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

RoSSEL.

Of Zurich's Abbess humble va.s.sal I.

FuRST.

Give to the cloister what the cloister claims.

STAUFF.

The Empire only is my feudal lord.

FuRST.

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

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 fear'd That, arms in hand, is temperate in its wrath.

REDING.

But prithee tell us how may this be done The enemy is arm'd as well as we, And, rest a.s.sured, he will not yield in peace.

STAUFF.

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

MEYER.

Easily said, but not so easily done.

Two strongholds dominate the country--they Protect the foe, and should the king invade us, Our task would then be dangerous indeed.

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

STAUFF.

Should we delay, the foe would soon be warned.

We are too numerous for secrecy.

MEYER.

There is no traitor in the Forest States.

RoSSEL.

But even zeal may heedlessly betray.

FuRST.

Delay it no longer, and the keep at Altdorf Will be complete--the governor secure.

MEYER.

You think but of yourselves.

SACRISTAN.