HEDWIG, wife of Tell, daughter of Fuerst.

BERTHA OF BRUNECK, a rich heiress.

ARMGART, }
MECHTHILD, }
ELSBETH, } Peasant women. 
HILDEGARD, }

WALTER, } Tell’s Sons. 
WILLIAM, }

FRIESSHARDT, } Soldiers. 
LEUTHOLD, }

RUDOLPH DER HARRAS, Gessler’s master of the horse.

JOHANNES PARRICIDA, Duke of Suabia.

STUSSI, Overseer.

THE MAYOR OF URI.

A COURIER.

MASTER STONEMASON, COMPANION AND WORKMEN.

TASKMASTER.

A CRIER.

MONKS OF THE ORDER OF CHARITY.

HORSEMEN OF GESSLER AND LANDENDERG.

MANY PEASANTS; MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE WALDSTETTEN.

WILLIAM TELL (1804)[36]

TRANSLATED BY SIR THEODORE MARTIN, K.C.B, LL.D.

ACT I

SCENE I

A high rocky shore of the lake of Lucerne opposite Schwytz.  The lake makes a bend into the land; a hut stands at a short distance from the shore; the fisher boy is rowing about in his boat.  Beyond the lake are seen the green meadows, the hamlets and farms of Schwytz, lying in the clear sunshine.  On the left are observed the peaks of the Hacken, surrounded with clouds; to the right, and in the remote distance, appear the Glaciers.  The Ranz des Vaches, and the tinkling of cattle bells, continue for some time after the rising of the curtain.

FISHER BOY (sings in his boat)
Melody of the Ranz des Vaches

The smile-dimpled lake woo’d to bathe in its deep,
A boy on its green shore had laid him to sleep;
Then heard he a melody
Floating along,
Sweet as the notes
Of an angel’s song. 
And as thrilling with pleasure he wakes from his rest,
The waters are rippling over his breast;
And a voice from the deep cries,
“With me thou must go,
I charm the young shepherd,
I lure him below.”

HERDSMAN (on the mountains)
Air—­Variation of the Ranz des Vaches

Farewell, ye green meadows,
Farewell, sunny shore,
The herdsman must leave you,
The summer is o’er. 
We go to the hills, but you’ll see us again,
When the cuckoo calls, and the merry birds sing,
When the flowers bloom afresh in glade and in glen,
And the brooks sparkle bright in the sunshine of Spring. 
Farewell, ye green meadows,
Farewell, sunny shore,
The herdsman must leave you,
The summer is o’er.

CHAMOIS HUNTER (appearing on the top of a cliff)
Second Variation of the Ranz des Vaches