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The father of Arnold Melchthal, one of the 'Brothers of Rutli, as our band is called, was recently put to a cruel death by the unjust sentence of Gessler, the governor of our own canton of Uri; and who knoweth, gentle wife, whether his jealous caprice may not induce him to single me out for his next victim?" "Single thee out, my husband!" exclaimed Annette turning pale.
MELCHTHAL. The Rossberg I will undertake to scale, I have a sweetheart in the garrison, Whom with some tender words I could persuade To lower me at night a hempen ladder. Once up, my friends will not be long behind. REDING. Are all resolved in favor of delay? Twenty to twelve is the majority.
MELCHTHAL. What extremity Remains for apprehension, where men's eyes Have ceased to be secure within their sockets? Are we defenceless? Wherefore did we learn To bend the crossbow wield the battle-axe? What living creature, but in its despair, Finds for itself a weapon of defence?
"In the year of our Lord 1307," writes an ancient chronicler, "there dwelt a pious countryman in Unterwald beyond the Kernwald, whose name was Henry of Melchthal, a wise, prudent, honest man, well to do and in good esteem among his country-folk, moreover, a firm supporter of the liberties of his country and of its adhesion to the Holy Roman Empire, on which account Beringer von Landenberg, the governor over the whole of Unterwald, was his enemy.
FURST. Were there an umpire 'twixt ourselves and Austria, Justice and law might then decide our quarrel. But our oppressor is our emperor, too, And judge supreme. 'Tis God must help us, then, And our own arm! Be yours the task to rouse The men of Schwytz; I'll rally friends in Uri. But whom are we to send to Unterwald? MELCHTHAL. Thither send me. Whom should it more concern?
See you nothing? MEYER. What is it? Ay, indeed! A rainbow in the middle of the night. MELCHTHAL. Formed by the bright reflection of the moon! FLUE. A sign most strange and wonderful, indeed! Many there be who ne'er have seen the like. SEWA. 'Tis doubled, see, a paler one above! BAUMGARTEN. A boat is gliding yonder right beneath it. MELCHTHAL. That must be Werner Stauffacher!
MELCHTHAL. Disguised in pilgrim's weeds I entered it; I saw the viceroy feasting at his board Judge if I'm master of myself or no! I saw the tyrant, and I slew him not! STAUFFACHER. Fortune, indeed, has smiled upon your boldness. Yet tell me now, I pray, who are the friends, The worthy men, who came along with you?
They appointed Walter Furst, who had red hair and looked fierce; Werner Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was always wondering how he ought to pronounce his name; and Arnold of Melchthal, who had light-yellow hair and was supposed to know a great deal about the law, to make the complaint. They called on the Governor one lovely morning in April, and were shown into the Hall of Audience.
So without a thought, We risked the worst, and rushed into the flames. FURST. But is she saved? MELCHTHAL. She is. Rudenz and I Bore her between us from the blazing pile, With crashing timbers toppling all around.
And they parted, each to sound his friends, appointing as a place of conference the Rütli. There, in the stillness of night, they often met together for council touching the work which was to be done; thither by lonely paths came Fürst and Melchthal, Stauffacher in his boat, and from Unterwalden his sister's son, Edelknecht of Rudenz.
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