第28章

[He lays his hand upon the head of the child who is kneeling before him.]

From this boy's head, whereon the apple lay, Your new and better liberty shall spring;The old is crumbling down--the times are changing--And from the ruins blooms a fairer life.

STAUFF.(to Furst).

See, see, what splendour streams around his eye!

This is not Nature's last expiring flame, It is the beam of renovated life.

ATTING.

From their old towers the nobles are descending, And swearing in the towns the civic oath.

In Uechtland and Thurgau the work's begun;The noble Berne lifts her commanding head, And Freyburg is a stronghold of the free;The stirring Zurich calls her guilds to arms;And now, behold!--the ancient might of kings Is shiver'd 'gainst her everlasting walls.

[He speaks what follows with a prophetic tone; his utterance rising into enthusiasm.]

I see the princes and their haughty peers, Clad all in steel, come striding on to crush A harmless shepherd race with mailed hand.

Desp'rate the conflict; 'tis for life or death;And many a pass will tell to after years Of glorious victories sealed in foeman's blood.[*]

The peasant throws himself with naked breast, A willing victim on their serried spears;They yield--the flower of chivalry's cut down, And Freedom waves her conquering banner high.

[*] An allusion to the gallant self-devotion of Arnold Struthan of Winkelried, at the battle of Sempach [9th July, 1386], who broke the Austrian phalanx by rushing on their lances, grasping as many of them as he could reach, and concentrating them upon his breast.

The confederates rushed forward through the gap thus opened by the sacrifice of their comrade, broke and cut down their enemy's ranks, and soon became the masters of the field."Dear and faithful confederates, I will open you a passage.Protect my wife and children," were the words of Winkelried, as he rushed to death.

[Grasps the hands of Walter Furst and Stauffacher.]

Hold fast together, then,--forever fast! Let freedom's haunts be one in heart and mind! Set watches on your mountain tops, that league May answer league, when comes the hour to strike.Be one--be one--be one--[He falls back upon the cushion.His lifeless hands continue to grasp those of Furst and Stauffacher, who regard him for some moments in silence, and then retire, overcome with sorrow.Meanwhile the servants have quietly pressed into the chamber, testifying different degrees of grief.Some kneel down beside him and weep on his body: while this scene is passing, the castle bell tolls.]

RUD.(entering hurriedly).

Lives he? Oh say, can he still hear my voice?

FURST.(averting his face).

You are our seignior and protector now;

Henceforth this castle bears another name.

RUD.(gazing at the body with deep emotion).

Oh, God! Is my repentance, then, too late?

Could he not live some few brief moments more, To see the change that has come o'er my heart?

Oh, I was deaf to his true counselling voice, While yet he walked on earth.Now he is gone,--Gone, and forever,--leaving me the debt--The heavy debt I owe him--undischarged!

Oh, tell me! did he part in anger with me?

STAUFF.

When dying, he was told what you had done, And bless'd the valour that inspired your words!

RUD.(kneeling down beside the dead body).

Yes, sacred relics of a man beloved!

Thou lifeless corpse! Here, on thy death-cold hand Do I abjure all foreign ties for ever!

And to my country's cause devote myself.

I am a Switzer, and will act as one, With my whole heart and soul.

[Rises.]

Mourn for our friend, Our common parent, yet be not dismay'd!

'Tis not alone his lands that I inherit,--His heart--his spirit have devolved on me;And my young arm shall execute the task, Which in his hoary age he could not pay.