Wilhelm Tell Part 36

[An arrow pierces him,--he puts his hand on his heart, and is about to sink--with a feeble voice.

Oh G.o.d, have mercy on my soul!

HARRAS.

My lord! my lord! Oh G.o.d! What's this? Whence came it?

ARMGART (starts up).

Dead, dead! He reels, he falls! 'Tis in his heart!

HARRAS (springs from his horse).

This is most horrible! Oh Heavens! sir knight, Address yourself to G.o.d and pray for mercy; You are a dying man.

GESSLER.

That shot was Tell's.

[He slides from his horse into the arms of RUDOLPH DER HARRAS, who lays him down upon the bench. TELL appears above, upon the rocks.

TELL.

Thou knowest the archer, seek no other hand.

Our cottages are free, and innocence Secure from thee: thou'lt be our curse no more.

[TELL disappears. People rush in.

STUSSI.

What is the matter? Tell me what has happened?

ARMGART.

The governor is shot,--killed by an arrow!

PEOPLE (running in).

Who has been shot?

[While the foremost of the marriage party are coming on the stage, the hindmost are still upon the heights.

The music continues.

HARRAS.

He's bleeding fast to death.

Away, for help--pursue the murderer!

Unhappy man, is't thus that thou must die?

Thou wouldst not heed the warnings that I gave thee!

STUSSI.

By heaven, his cheek is pale! His life ebbs fast.

MANY VOICES.

Who did the deed?

HARRAS.

What! Are the people mad That they make music to a murder? Silence!

[Music breaks off suddenly. People continue to flock in.

Speak, if thou canst, my lord. Hast thou no charge To intrust me with?

[GESSLER makes signs with his hand, which he repeats with vehemence, when he finds they are not understood.

What would you have me do?

Shall I to Kuessnacht? I can't guess your meaning.

Do not give way to this impatience. Leave All thoughts of earth and make your peace with Heaven.

[The whole marriage party gather round the dying man.

STUSSI.

See there! how pale he grows! Death's gathering now About his heart; his eyes grow dim and glazed.

ARMGART (holds up a child).

Look, children, how a tyrant dies!

HARRAS.

Mad hag!

Have you no touch of feeling that you look On horrors such as these without a shudder?

Help me--take hold. What, will not one a.s.sist To pull the torturing arrow from his breast?

WOMEN.

We touch the man whom G.o.d's own hand has struck!

HARRAS.

All curses light on you!

[Draws his sword.

STUSSI (seizes his arm).

Gently, sir knight!

Your power is at an end. 'Twere best forbear.

Our country's foe is fallen. We will brook No further violence. We are free men.

ALL.

The country's free!

HARRAS.

And is it come to this?

Fear and obedience at an end so soon?

[To the soldiers of the guard who are thronging in.

You see, my friends, the b.l.o.o.d.y piece of work They've acted here. 'Tis now too late for help, And to pursue the murderer were vain.

New duties claim our care. Set on to Kuessnacht, And let us save that fortress for the king!

For in an hour like this all ties of order, Fealty, and faith are scattered to the winds.