第26章

[Enter William Tell, with his cross-bow.He enters precipitately, looks wildly round, and testifies the most violent agitation.When he reaches the centre of the stage, he throws himself upon his knees, and stretches out his hands, first towards the earth, then towards Heaven.]

BOY (observing him).

See, father! A man on's knees; who can it be?

FISHER.

He clutches at the earth with both his hands, And looks as though he were beside himself.

Boy (advancing).

What do I see? Come father, come and look!

FISHER.(approaches).

Who is it? God in Heaven! What! Wilhelm Tell!

How came you hither? Speak, Tell!

BOY.

Were you not In yonder ship, a prisoner, and in chains?

FISHER.

Were they not carrying you to Kussnacht, Tell?

TELL (rising).

I am released.

FISHER.and BOY.

Released, oh miracle!

BOY.

Whence came you here?

TELL.

From yonder vessel!

FISHER.

What?

BOY.

Where is the Viceroy?

TELL.

Drifting on the waves.

FISHER.

Is't possible? But you! How are you here?

How 'scaped you from your fetters and the storm?

TELL.

By God's most gracious providence.Attend.

FISHER.And BOY.

Say on, say on!

TELL.

You know what passed at Altdorf.

FISHER.

I do--say on!

TELL.

How I was seized and bound, And order'd by the governor to Kussnacht.

FISHER.

And how at Fluelen he embarked with you.

All this we know.Say, how have you escaped?

TELL.

I lay on deck, fast bound with cords, disarm'd, In utter hopelessness.I did not think Again to see the gladsome light of day, Nor the dear faces of my wife and boys, And eyed disconsolate the waste of waters.--FISHER.

Oh, wretched man!

TELL.

Then we put forth; the Viceroy, Rudolph der Harras, and their suite.My bow And quiver lay astern beside the helm;And just as we had reached the corner, near The little Axen,[*] Heaven ordain'd it so, That from the Gotthardt's gorge, a hurricane Swept down upon us with such headlong force, That every oarsman's heart within him sank, And all on board look'd for a watery grave.

Then heard I one of the attendant train, Turning to Gessler, in this wise accost him:

"You see our danger, and your own, my lord, And that we hover on the verge of death.

The boatmen there are powerless from fear, Nor are they confident what course to take;--Now, here is Tell, a stout and fearless man, And knows to steer with more than common skill, How if we should avail ourselves of him In this emergency?" The Viceroy then Address'd me thus: "If thou wilt undertake To bring us through this tempest safely, Tell, I might consent to free thee from thy bonds."I answer'd, "Yes, my lord; so help me God, I'll see what can be done." On this they loosed The cords that bound me, and I took my place Beside the helm, and steered as best I could, Yet ever eyed my shooting gear askance, And kept a watchful eye upon the shore, To find some point where I might leap to land;And when I had descried a shelving crag, That jutted, smooth atop, into the lake--[*] A rock on the shore of the Lake of Lucerne.

FISHER.

I know it.At the foot of the Great Axen;So steep it looks, I never could have dreamt That from a boat a man could leap to it.

TELL.

I bade the men to row with all their force Until we came before the shelving ledge.

For there, I said, the danger will be past!

Stoutly they pull'd, and soon we near'd the point;One prayer to God for His assisting grace, And, straining every muscle, I brought round The vessel's stern close to the rocky wall;Then snatching up my weapons, with a bound I swung myself upon the flattened shelf, And with my feet thrust off, with all my might, The puny bark into the watery hell.

There left it drift about, as Heaven ordains!

Thus am I here, deliver'd from the might Of the dread storm, and man's more dreadful still.

FISHER.

Tell, Tell, the Lord has manifestly wrought A miracle in thy behalf! I scarce Can credit my own eyes.But tell me, now, Whither you purpose to betake yourself?

For you will be in peril, should perchance The Viceroy 'scape this tempest with his life.

TELL.

I heard him say, as I lay bound on board, At Brunnen he proposed to disembark, And, crossing Schwytz, convey me to his castle.

FISHER.

Means he to go by land?

TELL.

So he intends.

FISHER.

Oh, then conceal yourself without delay!

Not twice will Heaven release you from his grasp.

TELL.

Which is the nearest way to Arth and Kussnacht?

FISHER.

The public road leads by the way of Steinen, But there's a nearer road, and more retired, That goes by Lowerz, which my boy can show you.

TELL (gives him his hand).

May Heaven reward your kindness! Fare ye well.

[As he is going, he comes back.]

Did not you also take the oath at Rootli?

I heard your name, methinks.

FISHER.

Yes, I was there, And took the oath of confederacy.

TELL.

Then do me this one favour; speed to Burglen--My wife is anxious at my absence--tell her That I am free, and in secure concealment.

FISHER.

But whither shall I tell her you have fled?

TELL.

You'll find her father with her, and some more, Who took the oath with you upon the Rootli;Bid them be resolute, and strong of heart,--For Tell is free and master of his arm;

They shall hear further news of me ere long.

FISHER.

What have you, then, in view? Come, tell me frankly!

TELL.

When once 'tis /done/, 'twill be in every mouth.

[Exit.]

FISHER.

Show him the way, boy.Heaven be his support!

Whate'er he has resolved, he'll execute.

[Exit.]