STAUFF.

Great things, indeed, you’ve wrought in little time.

MELCH.

I did still more than this.  The fortresses,
Rossberg and Sarnen, are the country’s dread;
For from behind their adamantine walls
The foe, like eagle from his eyrie swoops,
And, safe himself, spreads havoc o’er the land. 
With my own eyes I wish’d to weigh its strength,
So went to Sarnen, and explored the castle.

STAUFF.

How!  Venture even into the tiger’s den?

MELCH.

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!

STAUFF.

Fortune, indeed, upon your boldness smiled.

[Meanwhile the others have arrived and join MELCHTHAL and STAUFFACHER.]

Yet tell me now, I pray, who are the friends,
The worthy men, who came along with you
Make me acquainted with them, that we may
Speak frankly, man to man, and heart to heart.

MEYER.

In the three Cantons, who, sir, knows not you? 
Meyer of Sarnen is my name; and this
Is Struth of Winkelried, my sister’s son.

STAUFF.

No unknown name.  A Winkelried it was
Who slew the dragon in the fen at Weiler,
And lost his life in the encounter, too.

WINK.

That, Master Stauffacher, was my grandfather.

MELCHTHAL (pointing to two peasants).

These two are men who till the cloister lands
Of Engelberg, and live behind the forest. 
You’ll not think ill of them, because they’re serfs,
And sit not free upon the soil, like us;
They love the land, and bear a good repute.

STAUFFACHER (to them).

Give me your hands.  He has good cause for thanks
That to no man his body’s service owes. 
But worth is worth, no matter where ’tis found.

HUNN.

That is Herr Reding, sir, our old Landamman;

MEYER.

I know him well.  I am at law with him
About a piece of ancient heritage. 
Herr Reding, we are enemies in court—­
Here we are one.

[Shakes his hand.]

STAUFFACHER.

That’s well and bravely said.

WINK.  Listen!  They come.  The horn of Uri!  Hark!

[On the right and left armed men are seen descending the rocks with torches.]

MAUER.

Look, is not that the holy man of God? 
A worthy priest!  The terrors of the night,
And the way’s pains and perils scare not him,
A faithful shepherd caring for his flock. 
BAUM.  The Sacrist follows him, and Walter Fuerst. 
But where is Tell?  I do not see him there.

[WALTER FUeRST, ROeSSELMANN the Pastor, PETERMANN the Sacrist, KUONI the Shepherd WERNI the Huntsman, RUODI the Fisherman, and other countrymen, thirty-three in all, advance and take their places round the fire.]